Storm Lord 3.0 Druid BUILD for Diablo IV [S- Tier Potential]

(call upon the forces of Nature, embrace your Inner Wolf, & Claw your foes to Smite them with wrathful Storm Strikes)

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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 already 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 Storm Lord 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 (Storm Lord 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)

Key Passive / Capstone (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 longer Ultimates or more survivability.
  • option 1) Calamity: Extend the duration of Ultimate Skills by 25%.
  • 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 figh

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 pick will be the following one but check below it & the notes under the Aspects list for more info:

Top Pick Uniques for the Build

Greatstaff of the Crone (Staff)

+[17.5%] Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies

Claw is now a Storm Skill and also casts Storm Strike at [120 – 150]% normal damage.

+[16.5 – 23.5]% Damage to Close Enemies
+[9.5 – 16.5]% Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies
+[7 – 14]% Non-Physical Damage
+[X – 9] Ranks of Claw

“She has existed in Scosglen since before Fiacla-Géar walked the land. Her purpose is a mystery to us all. However, approach her with deference; she may grant you her counsel.” – Airidah, to Donan

Tempest Roar (Helm)

Lucky Hit: Storm Skills have up to a [15 – 25]% chance to grant 10 Spirit. Your base Storm Skills are now also Werewolf Skills

+[7 – 14]% Damage while Shapeshifted
[24.5 – 45.5]% Poison Resistance
+[16 – 24] Maximum Spirit
[0.031 – 0.073] Life On Kill

“Listen, child, to the music of the storm. It has its own rhythm. Its own melody. Hear how beautifully it sings, and perhaps one day you will be able to join in its harmony.” – Airidah

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 is what this build needs most BUT worth trying Topaz too
Armor: Ruby or Saphire/Topaz (dmg reduction is very needed in high tier NM dungeons).
Jewelry: Skull for Armor until they rework resistances. After the rework: 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 (Storm Lord 3.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of Disobedience / Tempest Roar (see notes below)
• Amulet: Eluding Aspect
• Chest: Aspect of Might
• Pants: Vigorous Aspect
• Gloves: Aspect of the Dark Howl
• Boots: Stormshifter’s Aspect
• Ring 1: Accelerating Aspect / Rapid Aspect (see notes below)
• Ring 2: Stormchaser’s Aspect
• Main Hand Weapon: I recommend using a 2h axe before you get the unique Staff
• Off-hand Totem: I recommend using a 2h axe before you get the unique Staff
• 2-H Weapon: Rapid Aspect / Greatstaff of the Crone (see notes below)
  (I recommend using a 2H Axe as a weapon until Greatstaff of the Crone drops. With a 1h weapon + off-hand totem you can get a bit less dps but more utility (cooldown reduction, spirit cost reduction, etc.) so if you decide to do that a 1h Axe will be the best choice)

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

- For Tempest Roar (Helm): Aspect of Disobedience gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Greatstaff of the Crone (2h Staff): Accelerating Aspect gets removed from the Ring 1 slot. Then, Rapid Aspect goes into the, now empty, Ring 1 slot to make room for the 2H Staff.

Additional Note: Since on higher Nightmare dungeon Tiers damage reduction is too important, the unique werewolf chest armor (Mad Wolf's Glee) is not recommended. BUT you can use if it drops for you up until around NMD Tiers 50-60, especially if you're maxed out and speed-running those tiers.

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 91 with 186 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.

• 186/223 Paragon Pts. (~LVL 91 with renown & altar pts): Click THIS LINK
• MAX LEVEL & MAX Paragon points spent (223/223): Click THIS LINK

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

I’ve shortlisted 36 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. NOTE: I’ve added a new “Top Priority per Slot” list but left the old unsorted list below it.

This is the Sorted by Slot list of Top Priority Affixes/Rolls:

• Helm:
  • Priority 1: Cooldown Reduction
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Basic Skill Attack Speed
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Maximum Spirit
  • Priority 4: Total Armor
• Chest:
  • Priority 1: Damage Reduction from Close/Distant Enemies, Damage Reduction while Fortified
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, + X% Damage, Damage Reduction from Enemies That Are Poisoned
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats), +x Ranks to Debilitating Roar/Earthen Bulwark, Total Armor
  • Priority 4: Damage while Shapeshifted, Werewolf Skill Damage, Storm Skill Damage, Lightning Damage, Physical Damage
• Gloves:
  • Priority 1: + X ranks of Tornado
  • Priority 2: Critical Strike Chance, Damage to Injured Enemies, Attack Speed
  • Priority 3: Storm Skill Cooldown Reduction, Lucky Hit Chance, Lightning Critical Strike Damage, Critical Strike Damage with Werewolf Skills
  • Priority 4: Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies
• Pants:
  • Priority 1: Damage Reduction from Close/Distant Enemies, Damage Reduction while Fortified
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Damage Reduction while Injured
  • Priority 3: + X ranks of Hurricane, Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats)
  • Priority 4: Total Armor, Damage Reduction
• Boots:
  • Priority 1: Movement Speed, Damage Reduction while Injured
  • Priority 2: Energy Cost Reduction
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Fortify Generation
  • Priority 4: Total Armor while in Werewolf Form
• Amulet:
  • Priority 1: Cooldown Reduction, +X Ranks of Wrath Skills, Movement Speed
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, +X Ranks of a Passive you like, Storm Skill Cooldown Reduction
  • Priority 3:Damage while Shapeshifted, Werewolf/Storm Skill Damage, +X% Damage, Damage Reduction from Close or Distant Enemies/While Injured/While Fortified, Damage Reduction from Enemies That Are Poisoned
  • Priority 4: Spirit Cost Reduction
• Rings:
  • Priority 1: Vulnerable Damage, Critical Strike Damage, Core Skill Damage
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Critical Strike Chance, Damage to Injured/Close/Poisoned Enemies
  • Priority 3: Physical/Lightning Damage, Lucky Hit Chance
  • Priority 4: Resource Generation, Fortify Generation
• Main Hand Weapon: See the 2H Weapon Rolls List
• Off-hand Totem: if you decide to use 1H + Totem
  • Priority 1: Cooldown Reduction, Critical Strike Chance
  • Priority 2: Spirit Cost Reduction
  • Priority 3: Lucky Hit Chance, Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Damage Reduction while Fortified
  • Priority 4: Fortify Generation, Up to a 5% Chance to Restore X% Primary Resource, Critical Chance Against Injured
• 2-H Weapon: See the 1H Weapon Rolls List
  • Priority 1: Vulnerable Damage, Critical Strike Damage, Core Skill Damage
  • Priority 2: Damage to Injured Enemies, Damage to Close Enemies
  • Priority 3: Critical Strike Damage with Werewolf Skills, Lightning Critical Strike Damage, Damage to Poisoned Enemies
  • Priority 4: Core Stats (Int, Dex, Wil, All Stats)

This is the UNsorted by list of useful Affixes/Rolls:

+ X% Damage

Critical Strike Chance/Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical/Storm/Nature/Shapeshifting/Werewolf Skills

Critical Chance/Critical Damage with Core/Basic Skills

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

Lucky Hit Chance

+ X Ranks to Core/Defensive/Wrath Skills

+ X Ranks to Tornado/Debilitating Roar/Earthen Bulwark/Hurricane

Damage vs Injured Enemies

+ Intelligence, + Dexterity, + Willpower

+ All Stats

+ Maximum Life

Spirit Generation / Regeneration / On Kill

Resource/Spirit Cost Reduction

Cooldown Reduction

Attack Speed

Physical/Lightning Skill Damage Bonus

Lucky Hit Chance with Physical/Storm/Nature/Shapeshifting/Werewolf Skill Damage

Resistance to All Elements

Damage Against Close/Distant Enemies

+ % Physical/Lightning Damage to Elites

Vulnerable Damage / Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Damage Reduction from Enemies That Are Poisoned

Damage Reduction while Fortified

Damage Reduction for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction from Elites

+ % Damage for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% chance to Restore +X% Primary Resource

Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% chance to Heal +X Life

Damage while Healthy

Barrier Generation

Movement Speed

Fortify Generation

Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies

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

Damage vs Healthy Enemies

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

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

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

For my Diablo IV 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 Storm Lord 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