Wolf vs Bear?

[Starscream]

I've just power levelled a druid and havent used any skills or stats, but I want a Lycanthrope character but cant decide between a bear or wolf. What are the pros and cons of each one?

[Liquid_Evil]

I'm assuming you're pitting a Mauler against a Fury wolf as opposed to a Fireclaws of either variant. I have to get to class, but off the top of my head here's the basic differences (though some are bound to disagree).

Wolf: better AR, better FRW (with Feral charge), Fury trumps Maul in many regards so I'd say better effective damage

Bear: better life, better defense, better crowd control (with Shock Wave), sexier

[BAMFSpecialOps]

Wolf:
-Fury-like zeal fast attacks and hits multiple enemies
-Better AR
-FRW
-Rabies for PvP

Bear:
-Shockwave-best Pvm Skill
-Fire Claws for physical immunes
-Better Defense

Both have great life, both are fun, and both are great

[Starscream]

See now this just makes it more difficult lol. Now i cant decide whether I'd want one with "better effective damage" or one with "better life and defence" lol Go me for complicating things for myself lol. :rolleyes:

[Queen Mebd]

Why choose? Play a fireclaws druid and go both ways. Use bearform most of the time for the faster attack and shockwave for crowd control. Switch over to wolfform when you need the ar boost (if you really even need it - fireclaws has a great ar bonus) or for the fr/w.

[BAMFSpecialOps]

a bear with fireclaw and a wolf with fury are both great fun to play, and can be built for cheap, u could just make a fc druid and use both wolf/bear or u could make a wolf and a bear and see what u like better ; )

[superjayson]

if you like to play with fire make an fc druid, my build uses both bear & wolf so you can really you dont have to pick (althoughbearsarebetter).

fury wolfs/fc druids both have strength's and weaknesses so look at the guides posted in the stickies and decide which one interests you more.

ps liquid_evil: bears might have better defense but its still pathetic defense ;p

[AnimageCGF]

I'm going to have to change Ava's again!

I prefer not to choose which is better, I like both equal, but both shine in different areas.

[superjayson]

so in transalation you mean bears are better ? ;p

[BAMFSpecialOps]

fury/rabies FTW!

eh i had to lol

[AnimageCGF]

I actually prefer my fireclaws/rabies druid in wolf form the most, compared to my various druids.

Making a shaman, and a pure Fireclaws bear right now so test my likes soon.

[Liquid_Evil]

ps liquid_evil: bears might have better defense but its still pathetic defense ;p

So true. (But every little bit helps I suppose :tongue:)

Anyway, I'd say it depended quite a bit on your gear whether you wanted a wolf or bear. I think Wolves can be made cheaper so your wealth can go farther with more bang for your buck. Successful Maulers need more planning and better equipment, but are infinitely cooler (and are one of the few chars that don't require Drac's to make it in Hell). That's just my experience though, and I'm sure there's plenty of ways to spend your money on a wolf; they just seem easier with the breakpoints and such. Toss on an upgraded Ribcracker s/Shael, a Jalal's, Highlords, Fort, Dracs and just go to town.

Also, if you ever want to PvP, a Fury/Rabies Druid is going to be leagues better than a Mauler.

[Jary]

lol wow, these wolf or bear threads never get old

[Liquid_Evil]

If you like these, you would have definitely liked the "HoW or Oak" threads in the days of old. There could be two on the first page and someone would have to post another. They were delicious (and through them I finally realized that they were both completely inferior to SoB).

[superjayson]

why are you just using maulers for your bear examples, remember fireclaw druids ?...?!?!?

[Lizardking]

can i ask u guys why shockwave is sooo good ? I mean the damage isnt that special !

[stephan]

Stuff not moving for up to 10 seconds is, though.

[SlyFox]

Stuff not moving for up to 10 seconds is, though.

Yup, it's not always about the damage :grin:

[Findux]

can i ask u guys why shockwave is sooo good ? I mean the damage isnt that special !

It stuns normal monsters for a long time, and also stuns players in PvP. It is'nt used for damage. Look at Jary's videos with his shockwave summoner :thumbsup:

[Liquid_Evil]

Because I was trying to keep it apples to apples?

The 1 frame a Bear picks up by using FC over a wolf is more reason to use (for me at least) that variant than a FC Wolf. However, since almost 1/3 of monsters in Hell are Fire Immune, I simply like physical damage dealing chars better. And since Maul are Fury are the main phys attacks, that's where my efforts went when it came to analysis. Just my taste.

But, for Jary, here are some more of my thoughts.

FC
1) Bear (1 frame faster, 'nuff said)
2) Wolf

Phys
1) Wolf
2) Bear (with excellent gear, Bear can pull it out)

Crowd Control
1) Bear (lvl 15 Shockwave = 10 seconds of monster stun)
2) Wolf

Coolness
1) Bear (gogo stashblocking and uniqueness)
2) Wolf

PvP
1) Wolf*
2) Bear

*I still rank Fury/Rabies above FC though (and even FC/Rabies) because Fury can't be fully absorbed and Rabies is just about the greatest PvP skill since pre 1.10 GA. Again, just my thoughts though.

edit: Don't burn me Jary, don't burn me. :wink3:

[Findux]

Coolness
1) Bear (gogo stashblocking and uniqueness)
2) Wolf

I think wolf has more style than the bear. Bears walks and runs so damn ugly :tongue:

[superjayson]

the only way a fury/rabies > fc druid is if you play like kiba. aka rabies then run to cold plains ;p

[AnimageCGF]

I have to admit Fireclaws is really warming up to me (pun intended)

I've almost entirely forgotten about my rabies/fury druid for FC. Though i'll need to make a pure FC bear before I make that decision.

I like both looks equally, even though 4 frame bear attack is kinda forced looking IMO.

[Liquid_Evil]

the only way a fury/rabies > fc druid is if you play like kiba. aka rabies then run to cold plains ;p

I usually don't stop until I hit the Stony Field.

[superjayson]

bonus points for making it through the underground passage before your opponent dies.

[Kiba]

the only way a fury/rabies > fc druid is if you play like kiba. aka rabies then run to cold plains ;p

Actually i just absorb and taunt them. Then they have to go home and cry to mommy bear.

[AnimageCGF]

You guys make this too personal with the wolf vs bear stuff.

Not quite as fun to read when you two like to make attacks at each other.

[superjayson]

hahaha it's not personal.

[Kiba]

You guys make this too personal with the wolf vs bear stuff.

Not quite as fun to read when you two like to make attacks at each other.

I don't know what your talking about.


I love superjayson. Love to make his bear kin into bear rugs.

:flowers:

Porky woulda pwned me with his FC bear if i didn't run but that wasnt the case. I stacked resistance with hotspurs and COH but he was using a Grief Phase Blade and Maul so i was forced to use my keen wolf instinct to bite & run!

[UrbanHeroics]

hahaha it's not personal.

Yea, I made a thread about this a little while ago and these guys went at it then too. Nothing is going to stop them. haha.

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=617875

Some funny stuff going on in that thread.

ps: I ended up making both fury/rabies wolf and a fireclaw bear for pvp. They were both awesome in their own ways. If I had to chose one of them though, I would have to go with the wolf on this one. It's just my personal favorite of the 2.

[Jary]

bonus points for making it through the underground passage before your opponent dies.

HAHAHahha...:azn:

Yeah. Fireclaw can be really good, it has potential. But compared to the best of best of every other build, it's about average. I still love the build 'cause it's so fun to play. My Shock-Summoner sadly killed a lotta FC nubs on West Ladder, or just throw on a grief, sorb and duke it out with my griz!

Rabies/Fury has like 0 dead matches, gotta give it to wolves heh. They're still ugly though :grin:!!!!!!!!!!

You guys make this too personal with the wolf vs bear stuff

I certainly hope so :thumbsup: lolz. Just way we are hehe. Like... I might say I hate kiba. But what I meant was I love Kiba, and here's a cup cake :jig:

[superjayson]

My Shock-Summoner sadly killed a lotta FC nubs on West Ladder,

i dont know man, alot of fc druids just suck and have no idea what they're doing. although the same can be said for wolves. ive dueled lots who thought phoenix was a viable shield, but obvi a good furywolf is better than that.

[AnimageCGF]

I've faced so many fury druids on east ladder with a 10+ frame attack that I could literally run circles around them before they finished an attack frame.

[Findux]

The same with fc druids. There are so many FC bears that hit so slooow. Sad :undecided:

[AnimageCGF]

Probably the ones that put on ebotdz and think the physical damage adding on to the fire is worth it.

its 4 frame or go insane with bears for me

[Skullbash]

I've been noticing alot of fc druids on east nl lately that think swinging a -30/30 pb is the way to go for some reason.

[AnimageCGF]

They don't understand unshifting and using that. I had a pure rabies druid try to bite me using a dweb and 20/20 monarch today. No, that wasn't his switch, because he used a CTA lol.

[SlyFox]

They don't understand unshifting and using that. I had a pure rabies druid try to bite me using a dweb and 20/20 monarch today. No, that wasn't his switch, because he used a CTA lol.

Ugh how embarrassing. Where are all the noob fc and rabies druids when I'm around, I never see them.

[AnimageCGF]

Ugh how embarrassing. Where are all the noob fc and rabies druids when I'm around, I never see them.

few and far between. Usually some rando pops into the druid grove asking for help and such, and I meet up with them. And random dueling games people say they have a shifter and go and get it and get completely embarassed.

[superjayson]

look for shapeshifting duels or druid duels games and the odd time you'll see a bunch of wolf's/fc druids who literally have no idea what they're doing.

[AnimageCGF]

look for shapeshifting duels or druid duels games and the odd time you'll see a bunch of wolf's/fc druids who literally have no idea what they're doing.

That's where I first met jayson :thumbsup:

All kidding aside. I'm pretty sure the only competent shifters belong to this site, and the other side to that are the east grovers. They're a class of their own with their elitest attitudes.

Too many people dimiss shifters when they try them, which I guess seperates us from the way-too-popular characters, where people have run of the mill pvp sorcs, barbs, and paladins.

[SlyFox]

That's where I first met jayson :thumbsup:

All kidding aside. I'm pretty sure the only competent shifters belong to this site, and the other side to that are the east grovers. They're a class of their own with their elitest attitudes.

Too many people dimiss shifters when they try them, which I guess seperates us from the way-too-popular characters, where people have run of the mill pvp sorcs, barbs, and paladins.

East grovers, fond memories.. I've only hung out there twice. Both times a dueled a different guy claiming they were "Top 20" :rolleyes: I destroyed the first guy and the second guy beat me something like 3-2 "Only using fury". Not very good Top 20's if a fury/rabies druid can beat you using fury ^^.

[Queen Mebd]

Heh, I think a lot of Grovers do that, claim they're "top this" or "number that." Granted they might not be too far off since there aren't all that many competent shifters out there, but the clique mentality probably keeps them from dueling anyone outside the Grove or their own circles, so there's not much of a way to validate such claims. At least they didn't complain about you using something that was bm, like ravens or a Grief or something silly. I'd bet on a druid from the forums here over the Grove any day of the week.

[SlyFox]

Oh btw, they did complain about ravens ^^. Thanks for the reminder.:thumbsup:

[Queen Mebd]

It's official, I don't get people.

It's a druid skill castable by druids, not an aura from a weapon or piece of gear, not lifetap from gloves, not a cross-class skill. And it's only one bloody point, it's not like pure fury wolves are at a loss for extra skill points. :duh:

[Findux]

People are also complaining about recasting Oak sage... :|

[superjayson]

East grovers, fond memories.. I've only hung out there twice. Both times a dueled a different guy claiming they were "Top 20" :rolleyes: I destroyed the first guy and the second guy beat me something like 3-2 "Only using fury". Not very good Top 20's if a fury/rabies druid can beat you using fury ^^.


i dueled the "#1 fc druid on east" and completely owned him 2-0. Then he had a hissy fit and started talking crap to me and said i wasnt GM cause i use raven's and shockwave. It didnt end there either, when ever i would enter the grove he'd start talking more crap and getting all his bum buddies to talk crap to me as well. They said i wasn't a "true grover", whatever that is.

i got lots of other stories too. like when a buddy of mine got pk'd by 3 of them then repeatedly nk'd over and over. want to know why ? because he used cleglaw's for one duel. they said he wasn't a "true grover" either. that channel is pathetic, not worth anyones time.

[Porky]

Porky woulda pwned me with his FC bear if i didn't run
I concur. .

[Kiba]

I concur. .

But thus it wasn't the case Mr.Teddybear.

[AnimageCGF]

Too much animosity here as well between you all, it's almost as bad as the grove. I just have fun? Doesn't matter what druid form i'm in, I make the most of it.

[Queen Mebd]

Too much animosity here as well between you all, it's almost as bad as the grove. I just have fun? Doesn't matter what druid form i'm in, I make the most of it.

I wouldn't call it animosity, it's more like a friendly rivalry. Something to keep us busy round these parts when we're not posting links to the stickies in 'where's a guide for this' threads.

[AnimageCGF]

I miss d2's prime day now. Pretty sure the game was still huge 2 years ago once I got online with it.

I miss the days when everyone posting, still had characters and actively played. I cant even get good friends anymore on east to pvm. PVP I dont even get to have that much fun anymore with everyone running around without rules.

Nothing like going into a duel game with 5 smiters and a FC zon.

[SlyFox]

Too much animosity here as well between you all, it's almost as bad as the grove. I just have fun? Doesn't matter what druid form i'm in, I make the most of it.

Animosity?? We're all just having fun. Mebd's right it's just "friendly rivalry."

Maybe you should make a move back to East NL ^^.

[Findux]

Too much animosity here as well between you all, it's almost as bad as the grove. I just have fun? Doesn't matter what druid form i'm in, I make the most of it.

?? :shocked: :shocked:

It's just jokes and there are nothing else than friendly talk in here.

[superjayson]

yeah its all jokes. we're all really bear lovers here.
down with wolves.

[Findux]

Bears = gays

Have'nt you read?

[Kirah]

Greetings and welcome to the wild world of wolves!

Animosity? Nah, we just love the make fun of each other. Don't worry, superjayson will always promote bears and the rest of us run wolves. Many times, we're pretty crazy at taking an idea and working like heck to try to make the concept work in Diablo. Most of the time we messup, but occasionally we succeed. Then we make stickies to show everyone else how to be crazy too. :)

good luck and good hunting!
Kirah

[AnimageCGF]

Greetings and welcome to the wild world of wolves!

Animosity? Nah, we just love the make fun of each other. Don't worry, superjayson will always promote bears and the rest of us run wolves. Many times, we're pretty crazy at taking an idea and working like heck to try to make the concept work in Diablo. Most of the time we messup, but occasionally we succeed. Then we make stickies to show everyone else how to be crazy too. :)

good luck and good hunting!
Kirah

Erm, if that was aimed at me, I've been here longer than most of you >>