Upping buridruid's equipment.

[mouseman]

I'm already set on upping some stuff like goldwrap and magefists for my other chars, but I'm wondering about upping my buridruid's equipment.

General question: will the enchanted damage percentages etc change, or only the base stats? Someone said that upping an item is gambling, does that mean only that upping a near perfect item can result to exceptional/elite item that's base damage/defense is low? Isn't it still way better (if you can use it with the requirements)?

Buriza - will the strength requirement be the same as in colossus crossbow (163 I think)?. Which will do more damage - points spent on strenght to get the upped version or points spent straight to dex? Keep in mind that I use Lionheart + Jalal's (for resists, but will get huge (20+25=45) strenght bonuses also).

String of ears - I don't see any reason why not to upgrade this one.

Shaftop - Don't know which one to use, this or lionheart (in 43x def scarab husk) (since I really need the 30 to all res in lionheart).

Jalal's mane - is there any reason why not? The strenght requirements aren't that high in other elite druid helms.

I'm not sure which gloves/boots I will use, but any help here too will be appriciated.

Also, could an upped withwild be a good weapon for a fury druid? If so, what would you socket?

[Ed from Russia]

Reasons not to up are: (1) higher requirements and (2) cost of runes/pgems. Base stats change, while %increases stay the same (e.g. damage, defense). Sometimes base stats vary slightly, I think the value is determined randomly when you up. But still: if you have good stats before upping, it will stay good.

Buriza: higher damage when upped, also when taking dex into consideration. Only drawback is lower vitality/life.

Shaftstop/Lionheart: Lionheart has no extra def so I only use it on ranged attackers and for leveling (until I can use CoH or Fort). Shaftstop is always useful.

String/Jalals: if you up it you can't use it when you're leveling through NM. If you mind that also get a non-upped version.

Gloves: Draculs or (upped) Bloodfist are good choices for melee.
Boots: Gore Riders, for all your melee characters.

Never heard of people using WWS for a Fury Druid. Most common choices nowadays are Ribcracker (for PvM) and Tombreaver or eBOTD(for PvP).

[mouseman]

CoH ? Fort ?

I'm planning on upgrading the items after nm, so I can use them all the way.

Thanks for the advice.

[illestkhmai]

CoH ? Fort ?

I'm planning on upgrading the items after nm, so I can use them all the way.

Thanks for the advice.

I'd go for fort, good dmg.

[BAMFSpecialOps]

another thing to consider is druids dont have great def. to start with, upping and item is gonna give u higher reqs. while not helpin much on the def.

as for fort/coh
coh-65 res all, a lil dr, str, leech*iirc*
fort-up to 30 res all, 300% ed, ctc chilling armor, and life

[superjayson]

up'ing armor on druids is a waste of time and rune's. although most of us do it for style points anyways. style above all.

but in terms of actual use the extra bit of defense you get will be really insignificant.

[BAMFSpecialOps]

style still wins tho, if it costs a few more points in str its worth it since druids still get nice life bonuses to balance it out

[Jary]

If you're making a really sick upon sick Mauler Bear, like maybe best of the best and you're shooting for 13k+ defense it would be a good idea.

If you're gonna go all out Buriza, I recommend up'ing it I've done before and its verry nice. After lvl 92+, you end up getting similar ~damage as an ebotd zerker (greater interval of course) and at the same fpa. As you prolly know, the damage formula for Bows/Crossbows is factored from (dexterity + strength), so I recommend after you sink all your points in strength for the bow, to just go to town in dexterity and finish off the last 100 points in vitality. You sound like cost isn't an issue so that would be my choice.