Diablo 4 (Diablo IV) has five playable classes: Barbarian, Druid, Sorcerer, Rogue, and Necromancer. The Druid is primarily a shapeshifter class, offering players the ability to transform into a “towering bear” or a “ferocious werewolf” at will. Plus, with control over the elements of earth, wind, and storm, the Druid brings a unique playstyle to the game.
In this in-depth Diablo 4 Class Guide, we’ll cover the Druid’s abilities, skills, stat priorities, best builds, and provide tips on how to master this versatile class!
Table of Contents
Diablo 4 Druid Class Overview: Skills, Abilities, and Effects
Before delving into the buildcrafting and gameplay aspects of the Druid class in Diablo IV, it’s crucial to understand its Skills and Abilities. You can use the Ctrl+F keyboard shortcut or the “Find in Page” option in your browser’s settings to quickly locate specific abilities you’re interested in. Here are the Druid’s key Skills, Abilities, and their effects:
Druid Basic Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Earth Spike | Sunder the earth, impaling the first enemy hit for XX damage. |
| Wind Shear | Conjure a piercing blade of wind, dealing XX damage. |
| Storm Strike | Gather electricity around your weapon, dealing XX damage to your target and chaining to up to 3 surrounding enemies. Damage decreases by 20% with each chain. Gain 25% Damage Reduction for 3 seconds after using Storm Strike. |
| Claw | Transform into a Werewolf and attack an enemy with claws, dealing XX damage. |
| Maul | Transform into a Werebear and maul enemies in front of you, dealing XX damage. |
Druid Core Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Landslide | Crush enemies between 2 pillars of earth, dealing up to XX damage. |
| Lightning Storm | Conjure a growing lightning storm that deals XX damage per strike. The number of strikes increases the longer it is channelled (up to 5). |
| Tornado | Conjure a swirling tornado that deals XX damage. |
| Pulverize | Shapeshift into a Werebear and slam the ground, dealing XX damage to surrounding enemies. |
| Shred | Shapeshift into a Werewolf and perform a trio of combo attacks: 1st Attack: Deal XX damage. 2nd Attack: Deal YY damage. 3rd Attack: Perform a larger finishing move dealing ZZ damage. |
| Heart of the Wild | Increase Maximum Spirit by XX. |
| Predatory Instinct | Increase Critical Strike Chance against Close enemies by XX%. |
| Wild Impulses | Core Skills cost XX% more Spirit but deal YY% increased damage. |
| Abundance | Basic Skills generate XX% more Spirit. |
| Digitigrade Gait | Gain X% Movement Speed while in Werewolf form. Bonus persists for 3 seconds after leaving Werewolf form. |
| Iron Fur | Gain XX% Damage Reduction while in Werebear form. Bonus persists for 3 seconds after leaving Werebear form. |
Druid Defense Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Earthen Bulwark | Surround yourself with rocks for 3 seconds, creating a barrier that absorbs XX% of your Base Life in damage. |
| Cyclone Armor | Passive: Powerful winds surround you, providing XX% Non-Physical Damage Reduction. Active: Winds expand rapidly, knocking back enemies and dealing YY damage. |
| Blood Howl | Transform into a Werewolf and unleash a furious howl, healing you for XX% of your Maximum Life. |
| Debilitating Roar | Transform into a Werebear and unleash a mighty roar, reducing nearby enemies’ damage by XX% for 4 seconds. |
| Ancestral Fortitude | Increase your Non-Physical Resistances by XX%. |
| Vigilance | Gain XX% Damage Reduction for 6 seconds after using a Defensive Skill. |
Druid Companion Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Wolves | Passive: Summon 2 wolf companions that bite enemies for XX damage. Active: Direct your wolves to focus on an enemy, dealing YY damage. |
| Vine Creeper | Passive: A vine creeper periodically emerges and applies XX Poisoning damage over 6 seconds. Active: Immobilize and poison enemies. |
| Ravens | Passive: 1 Raven periodically attacks enemies for XX damage. Active: Swarms the target area, dealing YY damage over 6 seconds. |
| Call of the Wild | Your companions deal XX% bonus damage. |
| Clarity | Gain X Spirit when transforming into Human form. |
| Nature’s Reach | Deal X% increased damage to Distant enemies. Double bonus against Slowed, Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back enemies. |
Druid Wrath Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Hurricane | Create a hurricane around you, dealing XX damage to surrounding enemies over 8 seconds. |
| Boulder | Unearth a large rolling boulder, knocking back and crushing enemies for XX damage with each hit. |
| Rabies | Transform into a Werewolf and inflict an infectious bite, dealing XX damage and applying YY Poisoning damage. |
| Trample | Transform into a Werebear, charge forward, dealing XX damage and knocking back enemies. |
| Elemental Exposure | Lucky Hit: Storm Skills have up to a 20% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for XX seconds. |
| Crushing Earth | Earth Skills deal XX% increased damage to Slowed, Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back enemies. |
| Neurotoxin | Slows poisoned enemies by XX%. |
| Mending | While in Werebear form, receive XX% additional Healing from all sources. |
| Bad Omen | Lucky Hit: Up to a 10% chance to deal additional XX damage when attacking Vulnerable, Immobilized, or Stunned enemies. |
| Charged Atmosphere | Every 18 seconds, a lightning strike hits a nearby enemy, dealing XX damage. |
| Electric Shock | Lucky Hit: Lightning damage has XX% chance to immobilize enemies for 3 seconds. |
| Endless Tempest | Increase the duration of Hurricane and Cataclysm by XX%. |
| Envenom | Poisoned enemies take XX% additional Critical Strike Damage. |
| Provocation | When in Werebear form for at least XX seconds, your next Skill will Overpower. |
| Safeguard | Earth Skills’ Critical Strikes fortify you for X% Base Life. |
| Stone Guard | While fortified for over 50% of your Maximum Life, Earth Skills deal XX% increased damage. |
| Toxic Claws | Critical Strikes with Werewolf Skills deal XX% of Base damage as Poisoning damage over 4 seconds. |
Druid Ultimate Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Petrify | Encase nearby enemies in stone, stunning them for 3 seconds. Gain increased Critical Strike Damage against them. |
| Cataclysm | Summon a massive storm for 8 seconds, with tornadoes knocking back enemies and lightning strikes dealing XX damage. |
| Lacerate | Shapeshift into a Werewolf and dash between enemies, dealing up to XX damage. |
| Grizzly Rage | Shapeshift into a Dire Werebear for 10 seconds, gaining bonus damage and Damage Reduction. |
| Defensive Posture | Increase the amount of Fortify gained from all sources by XX%. |
| Quickshift | Shapeshifting Skills deal XX% increased damage. |
| Defiance | Nature Magic Skills deal XX% increased damage to Elites. |
| Circle of Life | Nature Magic Skills that consume Spirit heal you for X% of your Maximum Life. |
| Heightened Senses | Gain XX% Damage Reduction against Elites for 5 seconds upon shapeshifting into a Werewolf or Werebear. |
| Natural Disaster | Earth Skills deal XX% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. Storm Skills deal XX% increased damage to enemies that are Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back. |
| Natural Fortitude | Shapeshifting Fortifies you for X% Base Life. |
| Nature’s Resolve | XX% chance when struck to Fortify you for 4% Base Life. |
| Resonance | Reduce Control Impairing Effects duration by XX%. Triple this effect when fortified for over 50% of your Maximum Life. |
| Thick Hide | Fortify for XX% Base Life when Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Down. |
| Unrestrained | Reduce Control Impairing Effects duration by XX%. Triple this effect when fortified for over 50% of your Maximum Life. |
Druid Key Passive Skills
| Skill | Effect |
|---|---|
| Perfect Storm | Storm Skills grant 2 Spirit and deal 20% increased damage when damaging a Vulnerable, Immobilized, or Slowed enemy. |
| Nature’s Fury | Casting an Earth Skill has a 20% chance to trigger a free Storm Skill of the same category and vice versa. |
| Earthen Might | Lucky Hit: Damaging enemies with Earth Skills has up to a 5% chance to: -Restore all Spirit. -Guarantee Critical Strikes for 5 seconds. |
| Lupine Ferocity | Every 6th Werewolf Skill hit critically strikes and deals 60% increased damage. |
| Bestial Rampage | After being a Werewolf/Werebear for 2.5 seconds, gain 20% Attack Speed/deal 20% increased damage for 15 seconds. |
| Ursine Strength | Gain 20% additional Maximum Life while in Werebear form and for 3 seconds after leaving Werebear form. |
How to Play Druid: Builds & Tips
Here are some tips for playing the two types of Druid builds in Diablo 4 based on your preferred playstyle: Shapeshifter Druid and Elemental Druid.
Shapeshifter Druid
1 | Choose Your Primary Form
To maximize your Druid build’s potential and combat effectiveness, it’s essential to decide which shapeshifting form you want to focus on: Werebear or Werewolf. Each form caters to a different playstyle, and splitting skill points between both forms may result in weaker overall performance. So, make your choice:
- Werebear: This form excels in burst damage and overpowering opponents. It is generally more durable and can utilize skills like Fortify to enhance damage mitigation.
- Werewolf: This form relies on critical hits and Poison Damage over Time (DOT). While not as resilient as the Werebear, it can sustain itself through self-healing abilities like Blood Howl and passives specific to the Werewolf form.
2 | Learn to Manage Your Spirit Gauge Effectively
Unlike Elemental Druids, Shapeshifters, especially werewolves, take longer to fill their Spirit gauges. To make the most of your Core Skills, try the following strategies:
- Grouping Mobs: Bring enemies together before using your Core Skills to maximize their effectiveness and generate more Spirit.
- Destroy Objects: Gain Spirit while on the move by destroying objects in the game world using your Basic Skill.
- Kite Targets: Instead of performing the full combo of your Basic Skill, try kiting enemies by using only the first hit and immediately moving. This can be more efficient in terms of Spirit generation.
3 | Pace Yourself in Long Fights
You operate in melee range as a Shapeshifter, so it’s important to pace yourself during extended battles – especially against bosses. Here are some tips:
- Attack Windows: Continuously assess the boss’s attack patterns and openings. Dive in during these windows to deal as much damage as possible and then retreat to a safe distance until the next attack window.
- Don’t Overcommit: Be cautious not to overcommit yourself in battle. Remember that most of your Core Skills are combo-based and can be interrupted if the situation becomes unfavorable.
- Maintain a Balanced Approach: Stay patient and maintain a steady pace during fights because rushing can lead to unnecessary risks. Take your time, choose your moments wisely, and maintain control over the flow of the battle!
Elemental Druid
1 | Master Kiting
Elemental Druids possess a greater attack range compared to Shapeshifters. Make the most of this advantage by following these strategies:
- Kiting Trash Mobs: Drag groups of trash mobs together before unleashing your damage. This allows you to efficiently deal with multiple enemies while maintaining distance.
- Kiting Bosses: Bosses can also be kited effectively while still dealing damage. Pay attention to your positioning during lengthy boss fights to ensure victory.
2 | Focus on CCs and Debuffs
Elemental Druids excel in applying crowd-control (CC) effects and debuffs. Take advantage of this by utilizing your companions and ultimates to stun, weaken, and immobilize enemies. This gives you a strategic advantage by increasing damage output and resilience.
3 | Cooldown Management
Keep in mind that Elemental Druids rely more on cooldowns than Shapeshifters! To optimize your performance, consider the following:
- Avoid Spamming CCs: Don’t stack your crowd control skills on top of each other. Instead, spread them out strategically to maintain a consistent damage output against both trash mobs and bosses.
- Use Defensive Skills Wisely: Your defensive skills act as emergency buttons. Reserve them for dire situations rather than using them unnecessarily after minor attacks. Evading and repositioning are also often more effective than relying on lengthy defensive cooldowns.
Stats to Focus on for Druid in Diablo 4
Here is the recommended stat priority for Druid in Diablo IV:
| Priority | Stat | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Willpower | Increases Armor per point. It provides defensive benefits but is less impactful for optimizing DPS and, thus, is the lowest priority stat. |
|
2nd + 3rd |
Dexterity or Intelligence |
Dexterity improves critical strike chance per point. Investing in Dexterity enhances overall DPS. Intelligence improves resource generation per point. This helps manage the resource-hungry nature of the Druid class. |
| 4th | Strength | Increases Armor per point. Provides defensive benefits but is less impactful for optimizing DPS and, thus, is the lowest priority stat. |
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And there you have it! Now you’re equipped with all the necessary knowledge about the Diablo IV Druid class. You know its skills and abilities, how to effectively play as a Shapeshifter Druid or Elemental Druid, and which stats to focus on for maximum DPS. So go ahead, dive into the world of Diablo 4 as a fearsome and versatile Druid, and as the trailer said, Unleash your Beast!
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