Building my first Elemental druid, advice please.

[additov]

Okay, so I've read every guide out there..
but I still have a few unanswered questions.

I have no care in the world for PvP, I would like this feedback based strictly on PvM.

My basic item setup wil be :

Helm : Jalals
Armor : Vipermagi or Enigma
Weapon : Wizspike / Hoto
Gloves : Trangs or Magefists
Rings : SOJ / 10 FCR ring
Boots : Treks or some other junk
Ammy : +2 caster ammy
Shield : Lidless.. not dumping crazy points into STr for Spirit.
Merc : Gaze, Shaft, Tomb reaver for decrep

Str : Enough for Dusk shroud. Not going for spirit. Have torch and anni too.
Dex : Base or a few for Wiz
Vit : Everything
NRG : None, base.

I'm obviously going to be maxing all the Wind spells and synergies..
but all those extra stat points.. is it worth it to put 1 point each into those fire spells to help deal with physical immunes and what not? I hear Tornado is pure physical damage.. or are those simply a waste of points?

Also.. I plan on putting as much as possible into Oak sage.. but is it worth it to use points just to get a Bear tank? Would it even ddo anything, or survive in hell? I plan on beefing up my merc so that may not be important.


Lastly.. are those vines any use at all? The mana/life vines.. would the Solar creeper be enough to void the use of an insight?

Any help or feedback would be appreciated. I'd seriously appreciate anything.

[Tangerinedream]

Nope 1 point in fireskills will be completely useless, get a merc with a thresher and your are set.

Tang

[Tangerinedream]

Carrion vine, 1 point wonder.

[Neuuubeh]

As Tangerine said, all you need is a mercenary with a Reapers toll equipped - has a 33% chance of casting Decrepify, which breaks all physical immunes I believe (-50% phys rez ).

I have Spirit Monarch on mine, isnt that bad, if you do have Enigma its rather easy to hit 156 strength with torch + annihilus. If you use Jalals mane it adds some more strength i believe - my druid ended up with 230 rofl (changed eq so its less now ;)). I'd use a Spirit sword instead of wizzards spike myself, elemental resistances arent all that crucial for non-endgame gear, and the mana and FHR added with the +2 skills is very useful.

[additov]

Hey guys sorry I was afk for a bit - but thanks for all the info.
Turns out I took your advice, carrion IS a 1 point wonder.. I didn't bother to use any points to try and get a Grizzly summon, my merc is enough and he hardly dies.. uses Reapers for the decrep and my druid tears through anything. Can solo Chaos sanc and Worldstone in Hell.

Thank you for all the input, he's turned out awesome so far.

So far :

Lvl : 88
Helm : Delerium runeword in +2 skills, +3 Tornado Helmet
Armor : Vipermagi
Rings : 2x Soj
Wep : Hoto
Shield : Lidless.. have spare Spirit but can't use till I get enough str for the Nigma
Boots : Nats boots ftw - lol
Gloves : Magefists

16/18 Dtorch, crap Anni, and a few Ele Gc's I traded for.

[lopec]

I usually find the hydras fom torch pretty usuable aswell, against cold/phys immunes. helps the merc take them down...

[lumpor]

Remember hurricane does cold damage.

Also, I'd sacrifice 100-150 life for +1 to all skills and resists any day

[Pitboss_2000]

Is it worth it to pick Ravenlore over Jalal's, and the Earthshaker over a Spirit weapon (I can't afford a HotO) for the +3 to elemental skills, or does that make your summons (vine and spirit) useless?

[lopec]

I used ravenlore the whole last ladder, but using Jalal's now... not that much difference in my eyes.

Earthshaker has a way to low FCR to be usable, sadly.

Even though I like to have a earthshifter on switch, just for show ;)

[Pitboss_2000]

Even with Trang-Oul Gloves/Magefist and FCR rings and amulet, yes? That's too bad, I'll just have to use the Spirit, then. :)

Is Tornado or Hurricane considered to be the main skill for a wind druid, by the way? (not counting immunes, ofcourse)

[lopec]

You can always try with the earthshaker, not to hard to get hold of. But at higher levels of hell, I found that I wanted much more speed..

Hurricane always on, and tornado as main skill, in my point of view.

[lumpor]

Yeah. hurricane is more of a buff