D2R Armageddon Druid Build Guide

Introduction

Armageddon Druids are elemental spellcasters who focus on the power of fire. With recent buffs for season 4, the Armageddon Druid is now an S-tier build, given the removal of No-hit-delay (NHD) which allows the Druid to simultaneously hit with his myriad of fire spells. Prior to the update, damage was limited to one source, so casting spells together would result in only the first spell hit applying damage. This buff, significant effects builds like the Armageddon druid, Mosaic Assassin, and tick damage based builds which previously have had limited damage output when cycling through the full array of spells.

This guide will cover everything from skill allocation, stat distribution, gear recommendations, and leveling tips to help you get started, as well as end-game optimizations for veterans.

Skills Allocation

Your main goal is to maximize the power of the Armageddon skill and its synergies, which you can now use effectively as part of your spell cycle for additional damage. Allocate your skill points as follows:

Elemental Tree
-Armageddon (20 points): One of your primary damage-dealing skill with huge AoE. Comparable to a wider area -Hurricane which should be the backdrop of your damage output, pre-cast on enemies before cycling through your target based damage spells.
-Volcano (20 points): Strong synergy for Armageddon, increasing its damage and provides a powerful focussed damage output spell, great for enemies with less mobility.
-Fissure (20 points): Pre-requisite for Armageddon and primary damage dealer with good AoE.
-Molten Boulder (Another powerful directed spell which is great for early leveling and cyclable now with your other fire spells).

Shape-Shifting Tree: None
While hybrid Fire/Werewolf or Werebear builds are not uncommon, the recent buffs have primarily empowered the Fire specialists given NHA has diminished utility in builds not focussed on maximizing your spell cycle damage. Therefore it is not recommended.

Summoning Tree

Oak Sage (20 point): Provides a huge passive bonus to your and your party's life, comparable to a Barbarian’s BO and stackable, this is a fantastic early ladder party skill, which should considerably boost the survivability of your entire party, especially when paired with a BO Barb. 

Grizzly bear and prerequisites (1 point): An additional damage soaker, with buffs in 2.4 allowing all your summons to fight at once.

Stat Distribution

Allocate your stat points in the following manner:

Strength: Enough points to wear your desired gear. This should be none or low when using Enigma but you may require investment here for early ladder or lower budget builds. 

Dexterity: Invest enough points to achieve max block (75%) with your chosen shield or none if you are opting into a vitality based build. Spirit wielders should opt into vitality given the poor block rate of the shield. 

Vitality: All remaining points should be placed into vitality to increase your life pool which is further enhanced by Oak Sage. 

Energy: No points are needed in energy, as your mana pool is not a priority and can be remedied with potions. 

Breakpoints:

Faster Cast Rate (FCR) Breakpoints:

Faster Hit Recovery (FHR) Breakpoints:

Gear Recommendations

The following gear suggestions aim to balance survivability, damage output, and Druid Breakpoints. The Best in slot will be listed along with the best budget option. Remember, if you are trying different builds use the breakpoint tables provided to ensure you hit the desired breakpoints for FCR and FCR. Additionally try to ensure you have maxed resistances in hell and a good life pool. 

Weapon:
Best in Slot: Heart of the Oak
The best and most balanced option given its Faster Cast Rate, + skills, and resistances. +3 skills is unmatched in this slot, and the 40 FCR closely contests Suicide Branch and Wizspike’s 50. Up to 40 to all resistances is also great for the weapon slot. 

Alternative: Suicide Branch
Suicide branch is a popular druid weapon due to it being the highest in slot FCR item, and offering a direct boost to life which is further boosted by Oak sage and battle orders. While lacking the raw resistances of wizspike, Suicide also grants +1 to all skills.

Budget: Wizard Spike
Wizard Spike is a cheap, and powerful dagger that grants 50FCR and 75 to all resistances. Most popular in hardcore mode, this is a great budget placeholder. 

Shield: 
Best in Slot: Spirit Monarch (Runeword)
Effective caster shield that will boost your damage the most with +2 skills. Spirit also offers up to 35FCR (roll-dependent) resistances, and a big boost to faster hit recovery (55).

Alternative: Stormshield for its high block rate, damage reduction, and resistances.

Helm:
Best in Slot: Ravenlore for + skills, resistances, and increased elemental damage. These can be made in bases that have existing +skills to your fire skills (up to 2 skills +3). Ravenlore is the highest DPS option.

Alternative: Shako is a fantastic mid game or MF option that provides good general stats and +2 to all skills, as well as life, mana, damage reduction and socketability.

Budget: Crown of Peasants is a budget alternative that can be found easily, or traded for perfect gems. Use this for your leveling. 

Armor: 
Best in Slot: Enigma is unquestionably the best in slot due to the versatility and mobility it offers with FCR, its huge boost to str, and other useful mods including +2 skills. This is integral for ensuring your late game run speed is maintained. 

Alternative: Chains of Honour is a good runeword with generally strong caster buffs. The resistances are huge but the mobility you lose from Enigma and the relatively high cost of this armor means it is not widely used. 

Budget: Any decent unique caster or defensive armor can serve as a suitable temp. Guardian Angel, Que-Hegan’s, Vipermagi are all valid options.

Gloves:
Magefist for Faster Cast Rate and +1 to Fire Skills. Use these in all instances.

Boots:
Best in Slot: Aldur's Advance for life boost, Fire Resist, and increased movement speed, offsetting fire Sunder. These can also be considered the budget option given how easily they are found. 

Belt:
Best in Slot: Arachnid Mesh for +1 to all skills and Faster Cast Rate. This will ensure you can maintain high FCR, while boosting your damage and utility spells. 

Alternative: Verdungo’s is a good option that makes you tankier. You can use this if you are having difficulty surviving and want more Damage Reduction and life. 

Amulet: 
Best in Slot: Mara's Kaleidoscope for +2 to all skills and up to resistances. This is the best amulet for casters all round, and sees wide use among all caster and some non-caster builds.

Budget: Magic amulet with 2 druid skills can service as a temp until you find something better. A rare amulet with any useful mod, including resistances, life or mana, or FCR can also be valuable. 

Rings:
Best in slot: Stone of Jordan or Bul Kathos for the +1 to skills (choose between life or mana).

Budget: Rare ring with any useful mod can suffice as a temp. FCR rings can help you reach higher teleport and casting framerates. 

Charms:
Annihilus and Hellfire Torch for + skills, attributes, and resistances.
Fire skill grand charms for increased damage.
Small charms with life, resistances, and Faster Hit Recovery.

Mercenary:

Hire an Act 2 Nightmare Defensive Mercenary for the Holy Freeze aura, which will slow enemies around you, improving your survivability. Prayer is also a good option, particularly if you are opting into an insight merc rather than infinity. If so, also consider using a Cure runeword helmet which further synergizes with meditation and prayer. The build we will provide is the most powerful variant, the Infinity merc. 

1. Infinity (Conviction, breaks immunities, and boosts your damage output)
2. Fortitude (highest damage for merc and resists)
3. Andariels (Highest leech and strong merc mods for damage)

Conclusion

By following this guide, you will have a solid foundation for your Armageddon Druid in Season 4. Remember that with these recent changes, there is a lot left to be discovered, and perhaps ways to further enhance this build, so remember to experiment. With the removal of NHD, this has undoubtedly reached the top tier for PvP and PvM content.

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