-Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction Hurricane Druid Guide (1.11)
-V1.0 (6/25/06)
-By IR0NMA1DEN
DISCLAIMER:
This is property of IR0NMA1DEN (Ben Ferrara). This may be not be
reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not
be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance
written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any
public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.
In plain English, this means that it is against the law for you to copy this
guide. If you want to print it out, that's fine, but if you wish to use any part
of it, please contact me to ask first. I will put my email address in the
CONTACT ME section of this FAQ.
=====================
- TABLE OF CONTENTS -
=====================
I. Version History
II. Purpose of the Guide
III. Overview of a Hurricane Druid
IV. Skills*
A. Elemental
B. Shape Shifting
C. Summoning
V. Attributes
VI. Equipment
A. Best Equipment
B. Alternative Equipment
VII. Inventory
VIII. Mercenary
IX. How to Use
X. Contact Me
XI. Credits/Thanks
*The Skills section is based on my Single Player test character. None of his
items or stats are impossible to get playing legitimately. None of his skills
are higher than normally possible either. His Inventory is full of bugged small
charms, but they are possible to get on the realms. I made him to have something
to look at while writing this guide for quick reference.
I. VERSION HISTORY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.0 (6/25/06) Newly released.
-=-=<>=-=-
II. PURPOSE OF THE GUIDE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm writing this guide to help players understand and make a Hurricane Druid
better. In it I will discuss proper equipment, which skills will be needed, and
how the stat points should be distributed.
-=-=<>=-=-
III. OVERVIEW OF A HURRICANE DRUID
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Hurricane Druid (aka Wind/Windy/Ele Druid) is a Druid that uses the right side
of the Elemental skill tree as his main attacks. This build gets very strong as
you approach level 80-85. It's a versatile build that can be very efficient at
both PvP (Player vs. Player) and PvM (Player vs. Monster). This is the only
build that I have successfully taken down a fully developed, top of the line
geared FoH (Fist of the Heavens) Paladin with. This build is great fun and if
you decide to make one, this guide will help you along the way.
-=-=<>=-=-
IV. SKILLS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This build starts ot very slow with it's skills. You won't be very good in a
fight until around level 70. You will mainly use the Elemental skill tree in
this build, but Summons will come into play after you have finished what you
need to do in the Elemental tree. DO NOT INVEST INTO SUMMONS UNTIL AFTER YOU
COMPLETE THE ELEMENTAL SKILL TREE! If a skill is not listed here, that means no
points will be invested into it. That having been said, let's get to work.
A. Elemental
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Elemental skills are your main focus. There's not much more I can say about this
except a reminder NOT TO USE ANYTHING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS TREE!
================
- Arctic Blast -
================
Required Level: 6
Arctic Blast is the opposite version of the Sorceress spell Inferno. Instead of
shooting a jet of fire, you'll shoot ice. This skill only need one point as a
prerequisite.
Skills Used: 1
=================
- Cyclone Armor -
=================
Required Level: 12
Cyclone Armor is a great skill that will save you lots of pain. It absorbs
Elemental damage. That means Fire, Cold, and Lightning attacks will not hurt you
until they do enough damage to the Cyclone Armor to wear it off. Poison will
still affect you. Max this skill last of all your Elemental skills.
Skills Used: 20
===========
- Twister -
===========
Required Level: 18
Twister is a pretty crappy skill. It shoots out three little cyclones that do
pitiful damage and it moves so fast it doesn't hit an enemy more than once. Sad
to say it, but this one needs to be maxed out. It synergizes with Tornado and
Hurricane.
Skills Used:20
===========
- Tornado -
===========
Required Level: 24
Tornado is a great skill, and fortunately, it synergizes with Hurricane! That
means that your two attack skills gain damage from each other. Plus it gains
even more damage from Cyclone Armor and Twister. This skill is actually going to
do more damage than Hurricane but Hurricane is sustained damage. It's physical
damage, so you don't have to worry about anything but a physical immune. Max it.
Skill Used: 20
=============
- Hurricane -
=============
Required Level: 30
This is you other main skill. It's kind of even with Tornado. It creates a
circle of wind around you. This does cold damage. Unlike how Blessed Hammer
circles, Hurricane follows you and doesn't break on walls. Max this out.
Skills Used: 20
B. Shape Shifting
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Shape Shifting skills are not used in this build. Enough said, end of story.
C. Summoning
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Summons are used as support for your Druid. You will spend the remainder of your
skill points here after you finish your Elemental skills.
=========
- Raven -
=========
Required Level: 1
Summons up to 5 Ravens to attack enemies. Just a prerequisite to Summon Grizzly.
Skills Used: 1
==================
- Poison Creeper -
==================
Required Level: 1
Summons a living vine that poisons enemies from underground. Just put one and
move on.
Skills Used: 1
============
- Oak Sage -
============
Required Level: 6
Summons a spirit that raises your life considerably. A very beneficial ghost to
have haunt you, huh?
Skills Used: As many as you can.
===============
- Spirit Wolf -
===============
Required Level: 6
Summons up to 5 Wolves to attack enemies. Just a prerequisite to Summon Grizzly.
Skills Used: 1
================
- Carrion Vine -
================
Summons a flesh eating worm that restores your life as it feeds. Useful to have.
Put one point here and leave it.
Skills Used: 1
=============
- Dire Wolf -
=============
Required Level: 18
Summons up to 3 Wolves to attack enemies. Just a prerequisite to Summon Grizzly.
Skills Used: 1
==================
- Summon Grizzly -
==================
Required Level: 30
Summons a Grizzly Bear to attack enemies. This is a good summon that not only
does good melee damage, but also has a lot of life. This makes it a good meat
shield. That means it's good for taking damage for you. One point is needed.
Skills Used: 1
-=-=<>=-=-
V. ATTRIBUTES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stats are desperately important to get right! Especially for this character.
You will lack sufficient life if you add stats to something that doesn't
need it. So please do this carefully.
============
- Strength -
============
You only need enough strength to wear your items. Using an Annihilus and a
Hellfire Torch, you can add up to 40 Points without using points. The way I go
about doing strength, I level up to 75 to use the Torch and Annihilus. That way,
I gain up to 40 points in stats without using points. Then I look and see what I
can put on after the boost. Some of it adds more strength. I put all that on til
I can't put on anything else without using stat points. Then I add only enough
to get the next lowest piece on til eventually I'm wearing all my stuff. This
way leaves you more points for other more helpful stats.
=============
- Dexterity -
=============
You only need enough Dexterity to wear your items. You shouldn't need to add any
points here, because the Torch and Annihilus add a lot of points.
============
- Vitality -
============
Add all other stat points here. The more life you have, the better.
==========
- Energy -
==========
Add nothing here. Your mana should be sufficient with your items and charms.
-=-=<>=-=-
VI. EQUIPMENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Equipment can make or break your character. I'll put in here what you should be
looking for. I will include a second equipment section that will be a less
expensive alternative setup. Weapon 1 is to be used with Shield 1 and Weapon 2
goes with Shield 2.
-=-=<>=-=-
A. Best Equipment
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============
- Weapon 1 -
============
Heart of the Oak - Flail
Ko + Vex + Pul + Thul
+3 To All Skills
+40% Faster Cast Rate
+75% Damage To Demons
+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage
7% Mana Stolen Per Hit
+1 To Blizzard (Sorceress Only)
+10 To Dexterity
Replenish Life +20
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
All Resistances +30-40 (varies)
Level 4 Oak Sage (25 Charges)
Level 14 Raven (60 Charges)
+50% Damage To Undead
============
- Weapon 2 -
============
Call To Arms - Flail or Crystal Sword
Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist +Ohm
Works on: All Weapons
+2 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+200-240% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+1-6 To Battle Command
+1-6 To Battle Orders
+1-4 To Battle Cry
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
============
- Shield 1 -
============
Spirit - Monarch (MADE ONLY ON LADDER)
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
============
- Shield 2 -
============
Spirit - Monarch (MADE ONLY ON LADDER)
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
=========
- Armor -
=========
Enigma - Dusk Shroud or Archon Plate
Jah + Ith + Ber
+2 To All Skills
+45% Faster Run/Walk
+1 To Teleport
+750-775 Defense
+0-74 To Strength (Based On Character Level)
Increase Maximum Life 5%
Damage Reduced By 8%
+14 Life After Each Kill
15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1-99% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
(Based On Character Level)
==========
- Ring 1 -
==========
Stone of Jordan
Required Level: 29
+1 To All Skill Levels
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
Adds 1-12 Lightning Damage
+20 To Mana
==========
- Ring 2 -
==========
Stone of Jordan
Required Level: 29
+1 To All Skill Levels
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
Adds 1-12 Lightning Damage
+20 To Mana
==========
- Amulet -
==========
Mara's Kaleidoscope
Required Level: 67
+2 To All Skill Levels
All Resistances +20-30(varies)
+5 To Energy
+5 To Vitality
+5 To Dexterity
+5 To Strength
========
- Belt -
========
Arachnid's Mesh - Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 119-138 (varies)(Base Defense: 55-62)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 12
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Slows Target By 10%
+1 To All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Increases Maximum Mana 5%
Level 3 Venom (11 Charges)
B. Alternative Equipment
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============
- Weapon 1 -
============
Earthshaker - Battle Hammer
One-Hand Damage: 100 To 165 (132.5 Avg)
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 100
Durability: 105
Base Weapon Speed: [20]
+180% Enhanced Damage
150% Damage To Undead
5% Chance To Cast Level 7 Fissure On Attack
30% Increased Attack Speed
Hit Blinds Target
Knockback
+3 To Elemental Skills (Druid Only)
============
- Weapon 2 -
============
Call To Arms - Flail or Crystal Sword
Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist +Ohm
Works on: All Weapons
+2 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+200-240% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+1-6 To Battle Command
+1-6 To Battle Orders
+1-4 To Battle Cry
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
============
- Shield 1 -
============
Lidless Wall - Grim Shield
Defense: 91.8-347.3 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Chance to Block: Pal: 50%, Ama/Asn/Bar: 45%, Dru/Nec/Sor: 40%
Durability: 40
Paladin Smite Damage: 14 To 20
+80-130% Enhanced Defense(varies)
+1 To All Skill Levels
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3-5 To Mana After Each Kill(varies)
+10 To Energy
+1 To Light Radius
============
- Shield 2 -
============
Lidless Wall - Grim Shield
Defense: 91.8-347.3 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Chance to Block: Pal: 50%, Ama/Asn/Bar: 45%, Dru/Nec/Sor: 40%
Durability: 40
Paladin Smite Damage: 14 To 20
+80-130% Enhanced Defense(varies)
+1 To All Skill Levels
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3-5 To Mana After Each Kill(varies)
+10 To Energy
+1 To Light Radius
=========
- Armor -
=========
Skin of the Vipermagi - Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 246.4-279.4 (varies)(Base Defense: 111-126)
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
Durability: 24
+120% Enhanced Defense
+1 To All Skills
30% Faster Cast Rate
Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13(varies)
All Resistances +20-35(varies)
==========
- Helmet -
==========
Harlequin Crest - Shako
Defense: 98-141
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 12
+2 To All Skills
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1.5-148.5 To Life (Based On Character Level)
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1.5-148.5 To Mana (Based On Character Level)
Damage Reduced By 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 To Strength
+2 To Dexterity
+2 To Vitality
+2 To Energy
==========
- Gloves -
==========
Magefist - Light Gauntlets
Defense: 20.8-24.3
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
Durability: 18
+20-30% Enhanced Defense
+10 Defense
+1 To Fire Skills
20% Faster Cast Rate
Regenerate Mana 25%
Adds 1-6 Fire Damage
=========
- Boots -
=========
Sandstorm Trek - Scarabshell Boots
Defense: 158-178 (varies)(Base Defense 56-65)
Required Level: 64
Required Strength: 91
Durability: 14
Assassin Kick Damage: 60-110
+140-170% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+20% Faster Run/Walk
+ (1 Per Character Level) +1-99 Maximum Stamina (Based On Character Level)
+10-15 To Strength (varies)
+10-15 To Vitality (varies)
50% Slower Stamina Drain
Poison Resist +40-70% (varies)
Repairs 1 Durability In 20 Seconds
==========
- Ring 1 -
==========
Any Ring with some of these mods.
+Faster Cast Rate
+Life
+Mana
+Resists (any)
==========
- Ring 1 -
==========
Any Ring with some of these mods.
+Faster Cast Rate
+Life
+Mana
+Resists (any)
==========
- Amulet -
==========
Highlord's Wrath - Amulet
Required Level: 65
+1 To All Skill Levels
20% Increased Attack Speed
+ (0.375 Per Character Level) 0.375-37.125 % Deadly Strike (Based On Character
Level)
Lightning Resist +35%
Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage Of 15
========
- Belt -
========
Gloom's Trap - Mesh Belt
Defense: 79.2-102.5 (varies)(Base Defense: 35-40)
Required Level: 36
Required Strength: 58
Durability: 16
16 Boxes
+120-150% Enhanced Defense(varies)
5% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
Regenerate Mana 15%
+15 To Vitality
-3 To Light Radius
-=-=<>=-=-
VII. INVENTORY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The inventory is almost as important as your equipment. Your charms will give a
nice boost to your damage and stats. I'm sure you'll enjoy it if you can manage
to get all of this. With the remaining space, feel free to put whatever Small
Charms you want. I suggest ones that give Life, Resistances, or Faster Hit
Recovery.
Annihilus - Small Charm
Required Level: 70
+1 To All Skills
+10-20 To All Attributes (varies)
+10-20 To All Resistances (varies)
+5-10% To Experience Gained (varies)
Hellfire Torch - Large Charm
Required level: 76
25% Chance of casting Lvl 10 Firestorm on striking (Uber Diablo's, not Druid)
+3 to one character class's Skills (varies, eg.Paladin, Necromancer)
+8 Light Radius
+10-20 All Resistances (varies)
+10-20 All Stats (varies)
Lvl 30 Hydra Charges (10/10)
Natural Grand Charm (x9)*
+1 to Elemental Skill Levels (Druid Only)
*Feel free to pay out the ass for +Life or +Fater Hit Recovery mods on these. I
leave the choice up to you.
-=-=<>=-=-
VIII. MERCENARY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will not bother mentioning anything about the other Mercenary types in this
FAQ. I despise the use of Rogues, IronWolves, and Barbarian Mercenaries. None of
them actually support you aside from fighting a little bit. So I'll put in my 2
cents about the Desert Mercenary.
The Desert Mercenary from Act 2 is a Spear/Polearm User. He also comes with a
Paladin Aura. Get the Nightmare Defensive Mercenary. He has Holy Freeze for his
aura. This cuts through even immunity to chill your enemies. I got my idea on
the armor and weapon choices from a fellow FAQ writer for Diablo II, Kirbix. He
writes very thorough and informative guides. Check them out one of these days at
GameFAQs.com. I suggest upgrading the Guardian Angel into a Hellforge Plate.
This can only be done on Ladder, but we have a few on Non-Ladder.
==========
- Weapon -
==========
Infinity - Ethereal Cryptic Axe
Ber + Mal + Ber + Ist
50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Chain Lightning When You Kill An Enemy
Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Run/Walk
+255-325% Enhanced Damage
-(45-55)% To Enemy Lightning Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
0.5 To Vitality (Per Character Level)
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Level 21 Cyclone Armor (30 Charges)
=========
- Armor -
=========
Guardian Angel - Templar Coat
Defense: 708.4-825 (varies)(Base Defense: 252-274)
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 118
Durability: 60
+180-200% Enhanced Defense(varies)
+20% Increased Chance Of Blocking
+30% Faster Block Rate
+ (2.5 Per Character Level) 2.5-247.5 To Attack Rating Against Demons (Based On
Character Level)
+1 To Paladin Skill Levels
+4 To Light Radius
15% To Maximum Poison Resist
15% To Maximum Cold Resist
15% To Maximum Lightning Resist
15% To Maximum Fire Resist
==========
- Helmet -
==========
Andariel's Visage - Demonhead (Ladder Only)
Defense: 310-387 (varies)(Base Defense: 101-154)
Required Level: 83
Required Strength: 102
Durability: 20
+100-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+2 To All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+25-30 To Strength (varies)
+10% To Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -30%
Poison Resist +70%
15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck
Level 3 Venom (20 charges)
-=-=<>=-=-
IX. HOW TO USE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For almost any fight, cast Battle Command. Then switch back to your Weapon and
Shield 1 and Summon your Grizzly, your Oak Sage, and your Carrion Vine. Then
cast Cyclone Armor. Switch back to Weapon/Shield 2 and recast Battle Command,
followed by Battle Orders. Make sure your Mercenary, Grizzly and Oak Sage got
it. Switch back to Weapon/Shield 1 and cast Hurricane. Then stand back a little
bit from your enemies so that the Hurricane is hitting them while your
Mercenary and Summons are fighting it. Cast Tornado at the enemy/enemies like
mad until they die. I will put a list of my preferred Skill Hotkeys here. The
left click skill should not have a hotkey. You don't need to change it.
Left Click - Tornado
F1 - Hurricane
F2 - Teleport
F3 - Cyclone Armor
F4 - Battle Command
F5 - Battle Orders
F6 - Oak Sage
F7 - Summon Grizzly
F8 - Carrion Vine
F9 - Raven (Optional. I don't use them.)
-=-=<>=-=-
X. CONTACT ME
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you wish to comment on any of this material or you still have questions,
feel free to email me. Keep in mind that ALL hate mail will be deleted. Don't
waste your time even writing it. If you seriously have the time on your hands to
write me a hate mail, I suggest getting a job or something.
If you wish to use any of this guide, please contact me to ask permission and
please credit me in the event that I grant that permission. Thank you.
Email: FinalFantasyO_o@msn.com
-=-=<>=-=-
XI. CREDITS/THANKS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GameFAQs.com for posting my guides.
ExarKunnn for the stats on the Non-Ladder Runewords.
BCD for some of the stats on the Unique items.
Sir Alex for some of the stats on the Unique items.
Kirbix for the stats on the Hellfire Torch.
DeckardCain for the stats on the Ladder Runewords.
