Fury High-HP Druid?

[VR Fist]

Hey all, I'm a bit new and old into D2 and especially Druid building. Before wasting time building something stupid, I'd like to ask if my thoughts are good or not.
I've been trying to go through various guides but I don't see the exact info I seek, maybe I am a bit noob or whatever - just trying to get better and understand things :)

Distributing Skills
Having Fury Werewolf was my first decision, it's the way I want to play. So that means easily
- 20 Werewolf
- 20 Lycan.
- 20 Fury

I wonder about the rest. Since I'd like to have high amount of HP and it will not be hard with Werewolf and Lycan. bonuses, I think I should have
- 20 Oak Sage

So there may be only one skill left to be maxed or have at least 15 hard points into it. I am thinking about
A) Heart of Wolverine
B) Rabies

Which would bring which disadvantage and how can these disadvantages be compromised by an equipment?


Distributing Stats
Strenght - Required only
Dexterity - around 150-200, would rather distribute it to Vitality (?)
Vitality - Max
Energy - lol, 0


Or am I thinking in completely wrong way of building Fury Druid this way?

[NoisemakerArrow]

Read the guides.

[Liquid_Evil]

I'm assuming this is for PvM? If it's between HoW or Rabies, I'd go with HoW. There's enough Windys that roll with Oak that you'd be fine with another situation-dependent aura. However, I don't know if I'd go with either of those options personally.

Unsynergized Rabies is terrible in PvM and only one spirit can be active at a time (making a good chunk of your hard points essentially useless). Did you consider Grizzly Bear for a decent summon or Feral Rage for better leeching potential? Though if you're heartset on HoW vs Rabies, I'd go with HoW.

[omgwtfbbqpwned]

Sigh, stupid browser ate my huge post.

You'll need to take whether this Druid is for PvM or PvP into consideration.

Like L_E has pointed out, Rabies sucks for PvM. A fully synergized Rabies (meaning you won't be able to max out Werewolf/Oak Sage) serves as a pretty crappy/slow back-up for PI monsters, and you'd be much better off with a Reaper's on your mercenary or simply by running away. Rabies also tends to crash games. Rabies is great for PvP, but then you'd definately need a fully synergized Rabies, or at least partially (meaning you definately won't be able to max out Werewolf or Oak Sage).

HoW is probably the better option between the two, as L_E mentionned. It's party friendlier if you have a choice between two spirits (OS if team is stacked with casters, HoW if team is stacked with AR dependent builds, complement if there is more than one Druid), and they both can be used for various situations. Two spirits also gives you great versatility in PvP.

Most players feel that PvM does not require this amount of strategizing in two spirits, so many players opt for a summon. They basically skimp out in points for Werewolf and primary spirit (OS in your case), and pump Dire Wolf/Grizzly with the remainder.

As for your stats, if you are able to plan your final gear, then try and base it on that.

[VR Fist]

I'll go for PvM. Sorry for not mentioning that.

Since I can have only one summon (embarassing that I forgot I can't have both, lol) I will go with HoW. So I have:

- 20 Werewolf
- 20 Lycan.
- 20 Fury
- 20 HoW

Do you really think that Grizzly is effective on higher difficulties? If so, then I might have decided. Liquid_Evil also poined out Feral Rage which could not be bad too.

[Antonio]

Instead of putting points into Grizly, you can go with a 1 point Grizly and dump all the remaining points into Dire Wolfs, but still use Grizly as your primary tank.
You don't need your tank to kill stuff, you need it to take the hits.
With 20 points in DW and one point Grizly you will have a summon bear with 4k life. It won't do any damage, but then it's not supposed to(that's what you are there for:D)

[VR Fist]

Interesting point. If I'd like to completely overcome Grizzly and fight/depend just on my own, is there anything aside from werewolf, lycan, fury and HoW which I should max?

[omgwtfbbqpwned]

Feral Rage.