BIG GRIZZ 3.0 Druid BUILD for Diablo IV [A Tier Grade]

(this build’s got that BIG GRIZZ energy & uses two defensive skills, making it beary tanky)

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Diablo IV launched on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation) and I’ve had my fair share of playing and testing done. I’m now ready to start making full Builds/Theorycrafts that work for both ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters as well as late endgame. I’ll evolve & keep them updated when we get major rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Druid Class called BIG GRIZZ 3.0.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for my 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 when needed.

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 (BIG GRIZZ 3.0) 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

Wrath Skills (Required Points: 16 )

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

Class Mechanic (Spirit Boons):

The Spirit Boons system lets you pick 1 spirit Boon per bond out of 4 categories. Eventually you unlock the option to specialize into a certain bond which will let you get 2 Boons from that category. I advise using the following 2 + 1 +1 +1 for now.

• Eagle Category: take those two
  • Scythe Talons: +5% Critical Strike Chance.
  • Avian Wrath +30% Critical Strike Damage.
• Deer Category: take this one
  • Wariness: Take 10% reduced damage from Elites
• Snake Category: two decent picks here so choose whichever you like based on whether you need more survivability or ultimate CDR
  • option 1) Masochistic: Critical Strikes with Shapeshifting Skills heal you for 3% of your maximum Life.
  • option 2) Calm Before the Storm: Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills (Earth & Storm) have up to a 15% chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skill by 2 seconds.
• Wolf Category: There are also two decent picks here. Pick based on whether you need more spirit generation or more survivability.
  • option 1) Energize: Lucky Hit: Dealing damage has up to a 15% chance to restore 10 Spirit.
  • option 2) Bolster: Fortify for 10% of your Maximum Life when you use a Defensive Skill

Note: Obsidian Slam on the Snake Category is also a very interesting synergy with this build worth considering for mobbing but won’t be great on Boss fights.

Unique Items

In Diablo IV 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 Uniques inherited from the Mythical gear they supposedly replaced was scrapped even before the closed beta tests. My top picks will be the following two but check the notes under the Aspects list for more picks:

Insatiable Fury (Chest Armor)

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

+[0.07 – 0.14] Physical Damage
+[21 – 42]% Overpower Damage
[7 – 14]% Damage Reduction while Fortified
+[0.07 – 0.14] Armor

When the Days of Ash began, the great druid Nafain reminded his disciples that nothing, not even the loss of their humanity, was too great a sacrifice to protect Túr Dúlra from Astaroth’s flames.

Vasily’s Prayer (Helm) This one’s currently broken and the Fortify it gives does not scale with level/item power so it’s only half good/half worth it.

Your Earth Skills are now also Werebear Skills and Fortify you for N.

+[7 – 14]% Damage while Shapeshifted
[24.5 – 45.5]% Lightning Resistance
[0.12 – 0.26] Maximum Life
[12 – 20] Spirit On Kill

“Roots from the Great Oak growing at the seaward statue of Vasily will, on rare occasions, be found twisted back upon themselves, suffused with ferocious magic.” – Barrett’s Book of Implements

Harlequin Crest (Helm) Right now this seems like a very good option considering how broken Vasily’s Prayer is.

Gain [5-8%] Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +[2-4] Ranks to All Skills.

[0.245 – 0.455] Maximum Life
X% Cooldown Reduction
+[42 – 70]% Crafting Material Drop Rate
[14 – 28] All Stats

“This headdress was once worn by an assassin disguised as a court mage. Her treachery was unveiled, but not before she used its magic to curse the king’s entire lineage.” – The Fall of House Aston

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

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 (BIG GRIZZ 3.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of Mending Stone / Harlequin Crest OR Vasily’s Prayer (see notes below)
• Amulet: Ballistic Aspect
• Chest: Exploiter’s Aspect / Insatiable Fury (see notes below)
• Pants: Skinwalker’s Aspect
• Gloves: Aspect of The Ursine Horror
• Boots: Stormshifter’s Aspect
• Ring 1: Shockwave Aspect
• Ring 2: Aspect of Natural Balance
• 1H Weapon: Nighthowler’s Aspect
• Off-hand: Aspect of Retaliation
• 2-H Weapon: Nighthowler’s Aspect OR Aspect of Retaliation OR Aspect of Natural Balance BUT I do NOT recommend using a 2-hander

NOTES: How to re-arrange if using any of the Uniques:

- Exploiter’s Aspect stays in the Chest slot ONLY until you get the Insatiable Fury Unique Chest Armor.  For after that just discard it from the build. 
- For Vasily's Prayer (Helm): Aspect of Mending Stone gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Harlequin Crest (Helm): Aspect of Mending Stone get removed from the Helm to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Eyes in the Dark (Pants): Aspect of Control gets removed from the Ring 1 slot to make room for the Unique Ring. 

ALTERNATIVE: ALTERNATIVE: If you decide to use Mother's Embrace (Ring) in the build, you will need to sacrifice one more aspect and it may be hurting the build to loose any of the remaining aspects once you have the Helmet and Chest slots filled up with Uniques. Up to you to decide which on is okay to sacrifice for that Unique ring.

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 88 with 175 paragon points (so more paragon points will be obtained on the way to 100). The other link is what the boards will look like when fully maxed out on paragon points but i did leave the last 1 up to you to spend.

• 175/223 Paragon Pts. (~LVL 88 with renown & altar pts): Click THIS LINK
• MAX LEVEL & Paragon points spent (223/223): Click THIS LINK

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

I’ve shortlisted 45 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

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

+ X% Damage

Critical Strike Chance/Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical/Earth Skills

Critical Chance/Critical Damage with Core/Werebear/Shapeshifting/Nature/Storm Skills

Damage with Core/Werebear/Shapeshifting/Wrath/Nature Skills

Lucky Hit Chance

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

+ X Ranks to Pulverize

Overpower Damage

+ Intelligence, + Dexterity, + Willpower

+ All Stats

+ Maximum Life

Spirit Generation / Regeneration / On Kill

Resource/Spirit Cost Reduction

Cooldown Reduction

Earth/Storm Skills Cooldown Reduction

Physical/Earth Damage Bonus

Lucky Hit Chance with Physical/Earth Damage

Resistance to All Elements

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

+ % Physical/Earth Damage to Elites

+ % Critical Strike Chance with Physical/Earth 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 / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Close Enemies

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Vulnerable Damage

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Damage while Shapeshifted

Damage while in Werebear Form

Damage while Healthy

Fortify Generation

Damage while Fortified

Chance When Struck to Fortify for X Life

Movement Speed

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)

Attack Speed

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 BIG GRIZZ 3.0 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