FC Wolf vs FC Bear

[Stomphoof]

So, I keep hearing people talk about a FireClaw Bear, but why not a Wolf? I am just curious really.

I was thinking of doing a FC Bear to try something out, but I am not sure what sort of stuff I need to focus on. Is FC dependent on your weapon damage like Fury is? Or is it pure Firedamage, and it would best to use a weapon that gives you more defensive power / life / CB?

[Jary]

every FC Bear's a FC Wolf too :grin:

Its just a matter of switching to one or the other. Generally Bear's better 'cause you swing a frame faster in bearform, get a small chunk more life and def, and are accessible to shockwave... the king pin of PvM.
Also, Bears are happy, jolly, and cuddly; wolves are anorexic and pissed all the time : / (prolly 'cause they're always hungry or somethin', I dunno)
Benefits of werewolf... much smaller, but if you're using a 115% ias Gris Caddy or azurewrath for example, you could chargeup Feral Rage for some extra physical leech. You also get a lil' more AR... not a ton, but some :wink3:

[Verashiden]

Bear Swings faster, Wolf has more AR. Just toolbox for what you're facing. My Flaming Rabies sometimes switches to Bear Form for Melee >.>

[superjayson]

Why limit yourself to just one ?

http://fcdruid.tripod.com/fc.html

check my guide out dude. Fireclaws is a great skill cause it allows you to effciently use both wolf and bear in different situations. aka more fun.

but generally bears swing faster, have more life and have the ability to stun.

wolves have better FHR/FBR frames and better AR.

[Stomphoof]

This would be PvM Jayson :P

[superjayson]

my guide still gives you a solid foundation on skills, stats and equipment to use.

Obviously theres no pvm fc druid guide around, but thats why were here.

[Stomphoof]

I am suprised that there are so many PVP guides but so few PvM.

I noticed that Werebear seems to be a one point wonder skill. interesting.

[Verashiden]

The Defense Bonus is pitiful and you don't need the extra damage.

[Stomphoof]

So a FC Bear is a good Solo Untwinked Character build for PvM?

How would you handle Fire Immunes? Maul to death and use Shockwave?

[jesterlolz]

(prolly 'cause they're always hungry or somethin', I dunno)

Thats why only werewolves can use the skill hunger.

[mustermann]

U cant play FC Bear well through hell there are just to many Fire Immune.

If u level in baalruns it doesnt matters.

If u want to play all through combine fc with maul and use ik maul, belt, gloves, boots this gives u nice ias, leech, resist, str, ele damage and with 2xshael also a nice Speed.

Maul until charged up then continue with fireclaws.
U got nice phys damage=leech + fire damage and can handel immunes without help.


For pure Fireclaw=massive fire damage at 4fpa u need convinction Aura that is too expensive for u;)

U could party wich a convinctionist or dream paladin though.


the cheap build u search is still the ww with ribcracker. An noneth reepers is not expensive so u can handle the rare phys immunes:)

[Stomphoof]

Alrighty thanks for the tips. I am having a blast with my Fury Wolf right now so I was curious about FC.

[superjayson]

Thats why only werewolves can use the skill hunger.

What ?
when in werewolf or werebear form, bite your enemies to gain life and mana


U cant play FC Bear well through hell there are just to many Fire Immune.

If u level in baalruns it doesnt matters.

If u want to play all through combine fc with maul and use ik maul, belt, gloves, boots this gives u nice ias, leech, resist, str, ele damage and with 2xshael also a nice Speed.

Maul until charged up then continue with fireclaws.
U got nice phys damage=leech + fire damage and can handel immunes without help.


For pure Fireclaw=massive fire damage at 4fpa u need convinction Aura that is too expensive for u;)

U could party wich a convinctionist or dream paladin though.


the cheap build u search is still the ww with ribcracker. An noneth reepers is not expensive so u can handle the rare phys immunes:)

yes you can play one through hell, dont give bad info bro.

Yeah obviously fire immunes will be an obstacle, but theres ways to deal with it. Using maul is one, incorporating CB and OW into your attacks is another.
Many people suggest using a griz caddy socketed with shaels to yield you better physical damage which would work even better with maul.

You did not even mention any possible uses of a merc that can help take down fire immunes too.

You also didnt mention shockwave which is the ultimate crowd control to control those packs of fire immunes you will encounter.

Unless I calculated wrong IK maul socketed with 2 shaels is a 10-frame attack I believe. That's not nice speed. Any extra off weapon IAS will only bump you down an extra frame, maybe two. Still not "nice speed".

Conviction aura will not work either as it will hardly break any fire immues in hell.

[Stomphoof]

Ok how bout this. If you were going to build a FC Druid, how would allocate skills?

Like would you max Lycan first? FC? Synergies? A little of all of the above?

[Verashiden]

U cant play FC Bear well through hell there are just to many Fire Immune.

If u level in baalruns it doesnt matters.

If u want to play all through combine fc with maul and use ik maul, belt, gloves, boots this gives u nice ias, leech, resist, str, ele damage and with 2xshael also a nice Speed.

Maul until charged up then continue with fireclaws.
U got nice phys damage=leech + fire damage and can handel immunes without help.


For pure Fireclaw=massive fire damage at 4fpa u need convinction Aura that is too expensive for u;)

U could party wich a convinctionist or dream paladin though.


the cheap build u search is still the ww with ribcracker. An noneth reepers is not expensive so u can handle the rare phys immunes:)


Lies, Shockwave them and run if untwinked.

[Stomphoof]

I would probebly shockwave and run cause I will be untwinked for the most part.

[superjayson]

id just stick with the fury wolf dude.
You said you're having a blast with it. Plus playing with the char you'll learn more about druids, cause you do ask alot of questions ;p which is good. it will also be good experience for you.

[Stomphoof]

Oh I know :) Just getting MORE info :D

Never said when I would make the FC druid now have I :D

I am like a knowledge sponge. Absorbent and Slightly Mushy.

[jesterlolz]

when in werewolf or werebear form, bite your enemies to gain life and mana

Woops, I read the post and thought it would be funny if it was werewolf only, so I checked Arreat Summit, I saw only the werewolf only in the phrase "werewolf and werebear only".

[superjayson]

hahha no worries.

[mustermann]

The thing is that u will probably get about 10k fire damage with maxing all synergies.
This is not the much it sounds because u have zero lifeleech.

I mean the weapon u need for fury is a ribcracker, the fc needs a shaeled pb.
Shael=2pg then its about 15pg (need a 6soxx pb or "waste" a socket quest for it.U dont have 2cdkeys so u cant rush urself a chara through for this and a socket quest cost some pgs if someone gives u his).
For 15pg u can get a 270ed ribcracker easily.

The Rest of Equipement is pretty much the same too.

The cheaper thing at the fc druid is hat u can upgrade by buying shape skillers, but its the same with fury.
Not thast effective on ur ar but gives u life and damage,ar too:)

U absolutely need to get to hell and play there if u want to get some equip.

In diablo2 as in all other online rpg u wont get any money if not in the highest levelst, the rest is just worthless crap!

So get a character high, play with it and the next will get much more faster if i believe how long it took me to make my first lvl60 in wow...the Paladin 1-70 after the upgrade was faster then 1-60 (and palas arent the uber killers in wow)


Leveling in Diablo2 is much more easy, u can level lvl80 in 2hours (uber trist) or at least in 1day (normal running) (wow takes lets say a month and maaaaany hours or u take the one and only level guid wich i wont mention and follow it and be therre in 2weeks of heavy work)

[superjayson]

pg ? are you talking forum gold here or something ?

i dont know what to say to the rest of the and no offence, crap you just said.

i dont know why your comparing wow to d2.

ive done everything you say you cant do with an FC Druid.

so end of this debate I guess.

[Eilo Rytyj]

pg = perfect gems

[Jary]

(need a 6soxx pb or "waste" a socket quest for it.U dont have 2cdkeys so u cant rush urself a chara through for this and a socket quest cost some pgs if someone gives u his)

::scratches head confused::

"Aighty..Jayson, I'll give you 6 pg's for one of your Socket Q's..." :grin:

Mustard,
There's nothing wrong with using Ribby bro, against FI's or w/e, but you'll prolly just want it on the switch. But in the end you'll want a slightly faster weapon and a Stormshield to get some damage reduction and protect yourself from all the range mobs :)
Fireclaw works 'cause it deals killer quick damage at 4-5 fpa with no "slowdown" on its initial swing like FUry... it's all about killing speed. The faster you can kill enemy-to-enemy without flinching the greater your survivability. Aka, faster you kill, being able to block, and use of shockwave. If you factor in those 3 that sorta negates need for leech... that's why you have a belt with Pots, yo :)

[superjayson]

^ Word to my brother from another mother

[Verashiden]

::scratches head confused::

"Aighty..Jayson, I'll give you 6 pg's for one of your Socket Q's..." :grin:

Mustard,
There's nothing wrong with using Ribby bro, against FI's or w/e, but you'll prolly just want it on the switch. But in the end you'll want a slightly faster weapon and a Stormshield to get some damage reduction and protect yourself from all the range mobs :)
Fireclaw works 'cause it deals killer quick damage at 4-5 fpa with no "slowdown" on its initial swing like FUry... it's all about killing speed. The faster you can kill enemy-to-enemy without flinching the greater your survivability. Aka, faster you kill, being able to block, and use of shockwave. If you factor in those 3 that sorta negates need for leech... that's why you have a belt with Pots, yo :)

Psh, just use Shaeled Azure Wrath on Switch. Werd to my pimp stick :D.

[mustermann]

wow didnt want to start a discussion:D


i dont know why your comparing wow to d2.
i compared my lvlspeed at wow with the speed in diablo2.
All i meant to say was that the second time everything goes faster.


ive done everything you say you cant do with an FC Druid.
hmkay well done.
Did it without swich weap?without reapers?

Psh, just use Shaeled Azure Wrath on Switch. Werd to my pimp stick :D
He cant afford a shaeld azure.

All he can afford is probably a 6shael pb or a ribcracker until he gets higher levels.

Du u all really recommend playing a FcBear without having a good merc weapon or azure on switch?

but...dont want to dicsuss on that:)

[Verashiden]

Yes, because SW makes you so ridiculously safe it'll make your eyes bleed.

[superjayson]

im able to deal with fire immunes with shockwave + ow and what ever physical damage i have from my weapon + werebear.

some monsters take a few slower than others, but if i really wanted to focus more pvm wise it could be alot easier.

shockwave = best pvm skill druid has.

[MYK]

Couldn't Carrion Vine help out with health regain along with potions?

How well does poison creeper draw fire from say... some archers or spear cats?

[Verashiden]

I'd say a good volley depending on where it goes after it poisons.

Also, and I forgot to mention, Gores + 4 frame attack = ridiculous CB.

[Stomphoof]

Wow never knew I would spark such a discussion.

How does Shockwave work exactly? does it have a huge blast like an actual shockwave? Or is it in a cone or something?

[frums]

its somewhat like multishot from ama if you know how that works
and if you dont: it depends on how far away you have your mouse from your char, if its nearby, its a very wide angle, when its further away its a smaller angle :)