Lycan Lacerator 2.0 Druid BUILD for Diablo IV [RDY-4-Launch]

(Shapeshift into a Werewolf to Claw & Shred trough your enemies, tearing them apart)

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Diablo IV launches on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation with a 4 days Early Access (no wipe) for pre-orders (so kind of really launching June 2nd).

Diablo IV‘s Launch is almost upon us and it’s time for some Ready-For-Launch full Builds/Theorycrafts that should be good for both ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters as well as late endgame. I also plan to evolve them further when the game is released & keep them updated when we get rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Druid Class called Lycan Lacerator 2.0.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for those builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect + unique item + gems & sockets + suggested stat rolls + paragon boards that work well with the build which you can use to tinker. Alternatively, I’ve added build calculator links (mostly needed for the paragons)

This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have more in-game information as reference.

Video Version:

Skill Trees

Below you’ll see ONLY the Active & Passive skills that were selected for this build. For additional skills that can be taken + alternative skill options, you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Lycan Lacerator 2.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0)

Spirit / Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2)

Defensive Skills (Required Points: 6) I took both of the Defensive skills listed below

Companion Skills (Required Points: 11) I did NOT take a companion Active Skill

Wrath Skills (Required Points: 16 )

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23)

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

Class Mechanic (Spirit Boons):

I don’t have much info regarding the Spirit Boons but I think you can pick at least 2 from the same category (when you specialize into it) + maybe 1 more from every other category . I’d advise getting the following 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 for now.

• Eagle Category (specialize into this):
  Scythe Talons: +5% Critical Strike Chance
  Avian Wrath: +30% Critical Strike Damage
• Deer Category:
  Wariness: Take 10% reduced damage from Elites
• Snake Category: (two decent picks here so choose whichever ONE you like)
  option 1) Masochistic: Critical Stikes with Shapeshifting Skills heal you for 3% of your maximum Life.
  option 2) Overload: Lucky Hit: Lightning Damage has up to a 20% chance to cause the target to emit a static discharge, dealing 63.53% damage to surrounding enemies.
• Wolf Category:
  Bolster: Fortify for 10% of your Maximum Life when you use a Defensive Skill

Unique Item

In Diablo IV apparently (I have multiple sources that confirmed this) we can equip more than one unique item at the same time (not so ‘unique’ if we can get decked out in full uniques I guess). It seems that the one unique per build idea that Unique inherited from the Mythical gear they supposedly replaced was scrapped even before the closed beta tests. My top pick will be the following one but check the notes under the Aspects list for some additional picks:

Mad Wolf’s Glee (Chest Armor)

Werewolf form is now your true form, and you gain +2 Ranks to all Werewolf Skills.

+[0.07 – 0.14] Physical Damage
+[0.07 – 0.14] Poison Damage
[7 – 14]% Damage Reduction from Poisoned Enemies
+[16.5 – 23.5]% Movement Speed

“He was not a victim of the curse – he sought it out. As his skin split and his bones cracked, his laughter never ceased.” – Tale of the Mad Nobleman

Sockets & Gems

There are various possible good/viable choices for the gem slots. I’ve shortlisted what works by slot. I’d recommend picking one of those:

Weps: Emerald, Saphire, Ruby, Diamond, or Skull.
Armor: Saphire, Ruby, Diamond, or Skull.
Jewelry: Diamond unless you need specific resistance more than all.

Legendary Aspects / Powers

I will only list the Legendary Aspects that have been selected for the build and the slots in which I advise putting those. For in-depth information you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Lycan Lacerator 2.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of the Dark Howl / Tempest Roar OR Harlequin Crest (see notes below)
• Amulet: Accelerating Aspect / Exploiter’s Aspect (see notes below)
• Chest: Exploiter’s Aspect / Mad Wolf’s Glee (see notes below)
• Pants: Vigorous Aspect
• Gloves: Overcharged Aspect / Accelerating Aspect (see notes below)
• Boots: Stormshifter’s Aspect
• Ring 1: Nighthowler’s Aspect
• Ring 2: Aspect of The Unsatiated / Aspect of Retaliation (see notes below)
• 1H Weapon: Aspect of Retaliation / Waxing Gibbous (see notes below)
• Off-hand: Stormclaw’s Aspect
• 2-H Weapon: Aspect of Retaliation (is you use one before Waxing Gibbous drop, which I don’t recommend)

NOTE 1: Overcharged Aspect goes in the Gloves slot ONLY until you get the Mad Wolf's Glee Unique Chest Armor. After that, scrap it and put Accelerating Aspect in the, now empty, Gloves slot. Then place Exploiter’s Aspect in the, now empty, Amulet Slot to make room for the Unique Chest Armor.

There are three other alternative picks for Uniques you could use if you get those first: Tempest Roar (Helm), Harlequin Crest (Helm) & Waxing Gibbous (Axe)

NOTE 2: How to re-arrange the aspects for any of the alternative Unique drops: (I tried to make is as painless as possible):
- For Tempest Roar (Helm): Aspect of the Dark Howl gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Harlequin Crest (Helm): Aspect of the Dark Howl gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Waxing Gibbous (Axe): Aspect of The Unsatiated gets removed from the Ring 2 slot & Aspect of Retaliation goes in the, now empty, Ring 2 slot to make room for the Unique Axe.

Paragon Boards:

Use the links below to check the paragon boards selected and the nodes I’ve taken. One link is for what the boards will look like at lvl 87 without any paragon points from renown (so more paragon points will be obtained on the way to 100 as well as from renown. The other link will be what the boards will look like when fully maxed out on paragon points.

• LVL 87 & no Points from renown: Click THIS LINK
• MAXed out points (left the last 3 unspent): Click THIS LINK

Suggested Gear Rolls to look out for (NOT in order of priority):

I’ve shortlisted 42 different affixes that work well with the build of almost 300 total. I’ll highlight in Orange the ones I think should get higher priority

Bonus to All Damage

Critical Strike Chance/Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical/Lightning Skills

Critical Chance/Critical Damage with Core/Werewolf/Shapeshifting/Wrath/Nature/Storm Skills

Damage with Core/Werewolf/Shapeshifting/Wrath/Nature/Storm Skills

Lucky Hit Chance

+ X Ranks to Core/Werewolf/Shapeshifting/Wrath/Defensive/Nature/Storm Skills

+ X Ranks to Shred/Hurricane/Claw/Blood Howl/Debilitating Roar

Overpower Damage

Physical/Lightning Damage Bonus

Lucky Hit Chance with Physical/Lightning Damage

Resistance to All Elements

+ % Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical/Lightning Damage

+ % Physical/Lightning Damage to Elites

+ % Critical Strike Chance with Physical/Lightning Damage Against Elites

+ % Damage for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction from Elites

Damage to Close Enemies

Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Close Enemies

Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies

Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Damage to Vulnerable Enemies

Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Vulnerable Damage

Damage while Shapeshifted

Damage while in Werewolf Form

Damage while Healthy

Fortify Generation

Damage while Fortified

Chance When Struck to Fortify for X Life

+ All Stats

Damage vs Injured Enemies

Lucky Hit: Up to a +X% Chance to Execute Injured Non-Elites

Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies

Damage vs Healthy Enemies

Weapon Damage (not sure if there are any bonuses to that as rolls)

Spirit Generation / Regeneration / On Kill

Movement Speed

Attack Speed

Willpower

Resource Cost Reduction

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV RDY-4-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

For my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet

For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

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This concludes the Lycan Lacerator 2.0 Druid Build for Diablo IV. If you’re interested in the game, below are links to the various platforms where one can buy it (you can just click the links to open a new tab):

PC (Battle.Net)

XBOX

PlayStation

Official Website