Storm Lord Druid BUILD for Diablo IV
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 Open Beta Tests are almost here and I felt motivated to make some Pre-Launch theorycrafted semi-builds that should be good for ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters when the game launches. I also plan to evolve them into FULL builds when the game is released & keep them updated when we get rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Druid Class called Storm Lord.
The Beta tests will only let us reach lvl 25 and only let us play in the first Act/Zone (Fractured Peaks) so those builds will be more useful for the actual game launch and ideally for characters around lvl 50+ or 60+. I’ve used 50+ and 60+ skill points when making the builds instead of the full 100 so that they can be used to jumpstart a player’s post-story endgame grind.
I’ve also made spreadsheets for those builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect that work well with the build so one can spend the extra skill points on the way to lvl 100 into those other skills.
This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have actual 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 on the way to lvl 100 + alternative skill options, you can check my pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Storm Lord) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.
Some of the skill icon images you see could be outdated & different from what is seen in the Full release version. I plan to replace them once the Beta ends or after the full launch
Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0 )
- (active) Storm Strike – Electricity gathers around your weapon, dealing +27.34% (X-?) damage split between your target and up to 3 nearby enemies. Type: Storm Magic Damage: Lightning Generates: 15 Spirit
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Storm Strike – Dealing damage with Storm Strike reduces your damage taken by +25% for 3 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Fierce Storm Strike – Storm Strike has a 50% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
Spirit / Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 )
- (active) Tornado – Conjure a vortex that moves outwards and curves in a random direction, dealing 105.00% (X-?) damage every second. Talents: Natural Balance, Eye of the Storm, Elemental Exposure, Natural Resonance, Fury of Nature, Perfect Storm. Type: Storm Magic Damage: Physical Spirit Cost: 38
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Tornado – Each time you cast Tornado, you have a 20% chance to spawn an additional Tornado.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Raging Tornado – Each time an enemy is damaged by a Tornado, they take 5% (multiplicative) increased damage from Tornado for 3 seconds, stacking up to 15% (multiplicative) increased damage.
- (passive) Heart of the Wild – Maximum Spirit is increased by 3.
- (upgrade – did NOT take to save points) Wild Impulses – Your Core Skills cost 5% (multiplicative) more Spirit but deal 10% (multiplicative) increased damage
- (upgrade) Abundance – Basic Skills generate 5% more Spirit.
- (passive – did NOT take to save points) Predatory Instinct – Critical Strike Chance against nearby enemies is increased by 3%.
- (upgrade – did NOT take as it’s not needed) Iron Fur – While in Werebear form, damage reduction is increased by 3%. This bonus persists for 3 seconds after leaving Werebear form.
- (upgrade – did NOT take as it’s not needed) Digitigrate Gait / Lycanthropic Speed
- (passive) did not pick other Spirit/Core passives to save points
Defensive Skills (Required Points: 6 ) I took both of the Defensive skills listed below
- (active) Cyclone Armor – Powerful winds protect you, granting 20.0% ranged damage reduction. When an enemy in melee range hits you, there is up to a 15.75% (X- ?) chance for the winds to knock it back. Type: Storm Magic
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Cyclone Armor – Enemies who are Knocked Back by Cyclone Armor are also Slowed by 40% for 3 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Preserving Cyclone Armor – Every 10 seconds, Cyclone Armor intensifies, reducing the next instance of non-Physical damage by an additional 40%.
- (passive) Ancestral Fortitude – Increase your non-physical resistances by 5%.
- (upgrade) Vigilance – You Take X% reduced damage for X seconds after using a Defensive Skill.
- (active) Blood Howl – Shapeshift into a Werewolf and howl furiously, restoring X% Life. Cooldown: 15 seconds
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Blood Howl – Kills reduce the cooldown of Blood Howl by 1 second.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Innate Blood Howl – Blood Howl also generates 20 Spirit.
Companion Skills (Required Points: 11 ) I did NOT take a companion BUT if you want to sacrifice one of the Defensive skills, I recommend the skills & upgrades below
- (active) Ravens – Active: The target area is swarmed with ravens. dealing 89.25 (X-?) damage over 6 seconds. Type: Companion Damage: Physical Cooldown: 25 seconds
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Ravens – Passive: Ravens fly above you and periodically attack your enemies for 13.85% (X-?) damage every 5 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Ferocious Ravens – Enemies inside the swarm of Ravens when it is activated become Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
- (passive) did not pick any Companion passives to save points BUT even if you take a companion I still won’t recommend the Companion passives for this build
Wrath Skills (Required Points: 16 )
- (active) Hurricane – Form a hurricane around you that deals 102.37 (X-?) damage to nearby enemies over 8 seconds. Talents: Storm and Claw, Eye of the Storm, Natural Resonance, Endless Tempest, Fury of Nature, Perfect Storm, Type: Storm Magic Damage: Physical Cooldown: 20 seconds
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Hurricane – Enemies who are damaged by Hurricane are Slowed by 25% for 2 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Savage Hurricane – Enemies who are in Hurricane’s radius have their damage reduced by 20%.
- (passive) Elemental Exposure – Lucky Hit: Your Storm Skills have up to 20% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for 1.0 seconds.
- (upgrade 1) Endless Tempest – Increase the duration of Hurricane and Cataclysm by 5%.
- (upgrade 2 – did NOT pick this one) Charged Atmosphere – Every 18 seconds, a Lightning Strike hits a nearby enemy dealing 47.25% (X-?) damage.
- (upgrade 3 – did NOT pick this one) Bad Omen – Lucky Hit: Up to a 10% chance when dealing damage to a Vulnerable, Immobilized or Stunned enemy that a Lightning Strike also hits dealing 57.75% (X-?} damage.
- (upgrade 4 – did NOT pick this one) Electric Shock – Lucky Hit: Dealing Lightning damage to enemies has a 5% chance to Immobilize them for 3 seconds. If the target is already Immobilized, the Lightning damage dealt to them is increased by X% instead.
- (active) Ravens – Active: The target area is swarmed with ravens. dealing 89.25 (X-?) damage over 6 seconds. Type: Companion Damage: Physical Cooldown: 25 seconds
- (1st upgrade) Enhanced Ravens – Passive: Ravens fly above you and periodically attack your enemies for 13.85% (X-?) damage every 5 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade – my pick of the 2) Ferocious Ravens – Enemies inside the swarm of Ravens when it is activated become Vulnerable for 3 seconds.
- (passive) did not pick any other Wrath passives
Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )
- (active) Cataclysm – A massive storm follows you for 8 seconds Tornadoes knock back enemies, and lightning strikes wildly dealing 54.60% (X-?) damage. Cooldown: 80 seconds
- (1st upgrade) Prime Cataclysm – Cataclysm’s duration is increased by 2 seconds.
- (2nd upgrade) Supreme Cataclysm – Lightning strikes from Cataclysm make enemies Vulnerable for 2 seconds.
- (passive) Defiance – Nature Magic skills deal 4% (multiplicative) increased damage to Elites.
- (passive) Natural Disaster – Your Earth Skills deal 4% (multiplicative) increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. Your Storm Skills deal 4% (multiplicative) increased damage to enemies that are Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back.
- (passive – did NOT pick to save points) Circle of Life – Nature Magic skills that consume Spirit restore 1% of your maximum Life.
- (passive – did NOT pick to save points) Resonance – Nature Magic skills deal 2% (multiplicative) increased damage. Triple this bonus if an Earth Skill is the next skill cast after a Storm Skill, or a Storm Skill is the next skill cast after an Earth Skill.
- (passive – did NOT pick to save points) Defensive Posture – Increase the Damage Reduction gained while you are Fortified by an additional +3%.
- (upgrade – did NOT pick to save points) Thick Hide – Whenever you are Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Down, Fortify for X.
- (upgrade – did NOT pick to save points) Nature’s Resolve – 5% chance when struck to Fortify you for X
- (passive) did not pick any other Ultimate passives
Specializations (Required Points: 33 )
- (passive) Perfect Storm – Your Storm Skills grant 2 Spirit and deal 20% (multiplicative) increased damage when damaging a Vulnerable, Immobilized or Slowed enemy.
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 + maybe 1 more from another. I’ll leave this empty for now.
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 pre-launch builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Storm Lord) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.
- Helm: Storm Beast’s Aspect
- Amulet: Aspect of Shared Misery
- Chest: Skinwalker’s Aspect
- Pants: Cyclonic Force
- Gloves: Stormshifter’s Aspect
- Boots: Ghostwalker Aspect
- Ring 1: Aspect of The Umbral
- Ring 2: Overcharged Aspect
- 1H Weapon (see note below): Nighthowler’s Aspect
- Off-hand (see note below): Aspect of The Tempest
- 2-H Weapon (see note below): Nighthowler’s Aspect
NOTE: I recommend using 1H + offhand so that you can get an extra aspect. If you go for 2-Handed and put Aspect of The Ursine Horror in the Gloves Slot you could move Aspect of Quicksand to the Chest Slot, while removing Skinwalker's Aspect from the setup or replacing Mending Stone in the Pants slot with it (skinwalker).
Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):
For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet
For my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet
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This concludes the Storm Lord 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)