Questions about my wolf build

[sleepy floyd]

I'm new to druid shapshifters and have some questions. Overall, I think I like it :thumbup:, but am still struggling with a few things. This will be predominently for PvM with some possible Uber running.

I've got a level 77 currently wolf build (20 Lycan, 20 Fury, 1 Raven, 1 Oak - still trying to figure out how to place the rest of the stat points), minimally stated. I was planning to stat according to Puma's coyote build or Bjam's Uber guide. I've got a Jalal's, Atmas, COH/Treachery/Enigma/Fort, Dracs, Grief, Sancuary, Mavs belt, and Aldurs boots. Pretty much using all the equipment suggested by Puma's guide. I don't want a merc, by the way.

I have some questions before I stat this character.

1. I like really the FRW of enigma, but also like how much damage I do with Fort. Is there a way I can do both with this build (maybe FRW charms with Fort?) and not sacrifice too much? IMO, a wolf really shines with speed.

2. How good is Treachery? I like the Fade look and the 60 res/15 DR, but it takes a long time for it to trigger and before it does, it doesn't seem to help much.

3. Is there a better way to handle PI than with Atma's? It doesn't proc very often for me and I've been overwhelmed a few times by PIs (like ghosts in the Arcane sanctuary) with no help from Atma's. I had to resort to Fury with Gimmers in the Arcane sanctuary in hell - not much fun. I'm still too low level to try the Azurerath.

4. I have considered 20 Fireclaws and 20 in one synergy to handle the PIs and make a Fury/FC hybrid. Do you think this build could Uber, given the right gear (Ribby, etc)

5. I can confirm that the Grief + Hunger + Lifetap trick works in Nightmare - most of the time anyway. I did die a couple times, but that was probably due more to me only having 800 life in wolf form at the time of my test. I can also confirm that the Oblivion knights cast decrep and run away when you get close, so maybe the better strategy is to just rush them. Any opinions?

6. Still haven't picked a spirit yet. My oak, while very low level, does like to wander into combat and die. Is HOW better at this in this respect?

Thanks for any advice given. sf

[BAMFSpecialOps]

1. Feral Rage can help with your speed, as can charms.

2. Treachery is alright for resist it can be a pain for it to proc fade I like CoH for overall mods.

3. You don't want a merc so him carrying Reaper's is out, Atmas or a nice elemental damage weapon on switch is pretty common. You also have crap for CB% look into that.

4. If you cover resist's, CB, Life Tap, you should still be able to do Ubers.

5. Rushing can work, also if you run around close to them if you are IM"d they will cast Decrep leaving you a window to take them out.

6. The AI on the spirits is pretty bad, both of them will go into mobs and die, it usually personal choice on which you use, if you like the life boost(which can make your life drop fast if it dies) or the little AR/Dmg boost.

[Bjam]

3) Reaper's Toll on my merc is what I use for PvM. It works great. You won't need or want him when Ubering so I don't see a problem. It also helps you decimate non-PIs.

5) Rushing works very well unless there are multiple OKs in the area. In that case one of the OKs that is farther away can hit you with IM.

I agree with the other points.

[dcrunk]

If you think about even attempting ubers 20 pts in feral rage is a must... baal can be mana hungry. I would also go 20 oak or if you like the dmg boost wolverine... really personal choice. Heard good things bout azurewrath. The elemental dmg works wonders. You really dont need atmas, better to find a switch weapon/wand. Outside uber I find that if you have a big 2 hander like Ik maul with alot of phys dmg... slap on a Lay on hands instead and you should (abit of LL) be able to pwn much if not all of the game.
Treachery runeword is great for prebuffing but if you can get yer hands on a coh then you should be fine unless yer lacking in the attack speed department. Also another note if you can get yer resists elsewhere a CoA is decent.

20 were wolf

Great about werewolves is they are diverse with gear selection, have fun with it
goodluck with yer wolf!

[sleepy floyd]

Thanks for the reply:thumbup:!

I just soloed hell (without a merc) and I have to say that I like the wolf!

I was using the grief/hunger/LT trick on some Oblivion knights in the WSK (it works much better with a bigger life bulb, by the way and much better than the rushing technique for me) and noticed something odd.

Initially I accidentally hungered a pack of physical immune hell witches and I killed them. That suprised me because I didn't think hunger was supposed to do this. I kept repeating on every PI I could find there and it worked every time for me. My gear at the time was Jalal's, Highlords, Enigma, Dracs, Grief PB, Sanctuary shield, Verdungos or Tgods, Dual Ravenfrosts, and Goreriders. I only have 1 hard point into hunger.

Anyone else notice this? I'm going to test more this weekend.

[sangfagel]

noticed something odd.

Initially I accidentally hungered a pack of physical immune hell witches and I killed them. That suprised me because I didn't think hunger was supposed to do this. I kept repeating on every PI I could find there and it worked every time for me. My gear at the time was Jalal's, Highlords, Enigma, Dracs, Grief PB, Sanctuary shield, Verdungos or Tgods, Dual Ravenfrosts, and Goreriders. I only have 1 hard point into hunger.

Anyone else notice this? I'm going to test more this weekend.

It would be very interesting if Hunger coul deal with pis... *would be*

I know VERY little about druids since my first ever fury wolf is clvl 63 right now.

Nevertheless I doubt that Hunger has a hidden mod leting it to make physical (or any else) damage to pis. I rathert belive that they dies poisoned (slvl 15 Venom from your Grief), burned of Fire Storm from your Torh and may be affected of another elemental damage from charms in your inventory.

[sleepy floyd]

Well after more careful testing tonight, I can definitely say that Hunger does not work on physical immunes:no:.

Sangfangel - I think you nailed it. It must have been my torch fire and venom from grief that was working on the PIs.

Thanks again for the help! sf