Diablo 2: Resurrected
Guides
Fury Druid Guide for PvP and PvM
PvP Rank: C Class / PvM Rank: A Class
Introduction
Fury Druids have always been a strong build for Uber Tristram and PvM and taking them into PvP is a popular endeavor. However keep in mind that you can't teleport in Werewolf form which means you'll have to rely on faster run walk from your charms and equipment in PvP to catch fast teleporters and runners. It can sometimes be very difficult for a caster or runner to evade a fast running Fury Druid and they're also great for melee vs melee fights.
Werewolf Fury Druid Skills
The top spot melee Druid goes to the Werewolf Fury Druid which is excellent at both survival and damage with excellent gear.
Recommendation: Werewolf Fury Druid
Stats: 156 Strength for equipment, enough dexterity for maxed block, all remaining points in Vitality, and 0 Energy.
Skill Points:
20 Fury
20 Werewolf
20 Lycanthropy
20 Heart of the Wolverine
1 Oak Sage
1 Hurricane (synergy for Cyclone Armor that can be used to chill other players).
All remaining points in Cyclone Armor for an elemental damage shield.
Werewolf Fury Druid Gear
Weapon Vs. Melee
Grief Phase Blade (Eth Tir Lo Mal Ral) - Grief can be used with a shield against builds that require you to block and deals the highest damage for a one hand weapon but it's considered bad manners in duels. It reaches the final attack speed breakpoint even with the lowest attack speed roll on Grief. Ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth) is the good manners option for duels but you can also use a phenomenal ethereal rare weapon with the Fool's modifier which is capable of very high damage and attack rating. Elite ethereal Fool's modifer weapons however are very expensive.
Shield vs. Melee
Stormshield (Sheal'ed) - Stormshield is the best option against physical damage builds for its 35% physical damage taken reduction, increased block chance, 60% cold resistance, 25% lightning resistance, and faster block rate. Your Stormshield should also be Shael'd for an even faster block rate which is important because Werewolf Druids have a somewhat slow block speed.
Weapon Vs. Non-melee
Ethereal Breath of the Dying Great Poleaxe (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth) - This two hand weapon deals higher damage than Grief when you don't need a shield and is range 5. An EBotD Great Poleaxe is also better for PvP than an ethereal 3os Tomb Reaver which has range 4 and ethereal Reaper's Toll which has range 2. You should also use an EBotD Great Poleaxe instead of a shield when fighting Smite Paladins because Smite can't be blocked.
Weapon Switch
Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) - Used for up to +7 to Battle Orders with a Spirit Monarch (Tal Thul Ort Amn) for +2 to all skills. You can also optionally switch to a Demon Limb weapon in town for level 23 Enchant and then switch back to your Call to Arms.
Weapon Switch (Run Speed Weapon)
Harmony Bow (Tir Ith Sol Ko) - Gives the Vigor aura which increases your run walk speed. You can switch to this bow when you are trying to get close to a ranged attacker and switch back to your high damage weapon once you are close enough to attack. Harmony can be kept in your Horadric Cube in your inventory with a +3 Shape Shifting Skills amulet and Demon Limb for level 23 Enchant.
Helmet
Jalal's Mane (Um'ed or 40/15'ed) - Gives +2 to Druid Skills, +2 to Shape Shifting Skills, 30% faster hit recovery, all resistances +30%, 20 strength, 20 energy, and 20% increased attack rating. Jalal's Mane is recommended over Cerberus' Bite because it has high all resistances and more importantly 30% faster hit recovery which helps you reach the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint.
Body
Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives up to all resistances +30%, 300% enhanced damage, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck.
Body Vs. Casters & Runners
Hustle (Shael Ko Eld) - This armor is the best option to switch to when increasing your faster run walk is important because it gives 65% faster run walk, 40% increased attack speed, 20% faster hit recovery, +6 to Evade, 10 dexterity, and all resistances +10%.
Gloves Vs. Melee
Bloodfist - For melee fights use Bloodfist for 30% faster hit recovery, +5 minimum damage, 40 life, and 10% increased attack speed. Bloodfist is recommended for the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint which is very important for Fury Druid in melee fights.
Gloves Vs. Casters
Blood Gloves - For caster fights look for crafted Blood Gloves with multiple high resistances, 20% increased attack speed, up to 10% Crushing Blow, 3% life leech, and a guaranteed 20 life which can stack with an additional life modifier.
Gloves Vs. Fire Builds
Laying of Hands - These gloves should be used against fire builds that lower your fire resistance like Holy Fire Paladins (Dragondins) and Fire Sorceresses for their 50% fire resistance and 20% faster attack speed.
Gloves PvM
Dracul's Grasp - These gloves are best in slot for PvM because they have Life Tap curse on hit which recovers a large amount of life, 10% life stolen per hit, 25% chance of open wounds, up to 15 strength, and 10 life after each kill. These gloves shouldn't be used in PvP fights because Life Tap is considered bad manners in duels.
Belt (PvP)
Verdungo's Hearty Cord - Use this belt against physical damage builds for up to 15% reduced physical damage taken, 40 vitality, replenish life +13, and 10% faster hit recovery which helps you reach the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint.
Belt (PvM)
String of Ears - This belt is the best option for PvM for up to 8% life leech (life leech has full effect in PvM but only partial effect in PvP), 15% reduced physical damage taken, and magic damage taken reduced by 15.
Belt Vs. Lightning Builds
Thundergod's Vigor - Use this belt in PvP against lightning damage builds for 20 strength, 20 vitality, 1-50 lightning damage, a 5% chance to cast level 7 Fist of Heaven when struck, 10% to maximum lightning resistance, and 20 lightning absorb.
Belt Vs. Casters & Runners
Mavina's Belt - This belt is an option in PvP for 20% faster run walk when dueling players that you have to chase after.
Feet
Gore Riders - These boots give 30% faster run walk, 15% deadly strike, 15% crushing blow, and 10% chance of open wounds.
Feet Vs. Lightning & Cold Builds That Lower Your Resistances
Tri-Resist Faster Run Walk Boots - Look for rare 30% faster run walk boots with as close to 40% cold resistance and 40% Lightning Resistance as you and optionally fire resistance and/or faster hit recovery. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk and up to 25% lightning resistance and 25% cold resistance.
Feet Vs. Fire Builds
Infernostride - Use these boots when fighting against fire damage builds that you have to chase for 20% faster run walk, 30% fire resistance, and most importantly +10% to maximum fire resistance. Hotspur boots should be used instead when you don't need faster run walk for +15% to maximum fire resistance, 15 life, and 45% increased fire resistance.
Amulet
Metalgrid - This amulet gives a huge bonus to attack rating, defense, and up to all resistance +35% which is helpful because Fury Druids are sometimes hard pressed for resistances. You should also keep a +3 to Shape Shifting Skills amulet in your inventory for +3 to Werewolf and +3 to Lycanthropy which significantly increases your life and attack rating.
Amulet Vs. Casters & Runners
The Cat's Eye - This amulet is an option in duels if you don't need resistances when chasing runners and teleporters is your main priority and gives 30% faster run walk, 20% increased attack speed, 25 dexterity, 100 defense, and 100 defense vs missiles.
Rings
Raven Frosts - You should use two Raven Frosts which each give up to 250 attack rating, 20 dexterity, 20% cold absorb, and cannot be frozen when fighting builds that have high defense like Paladins and Barbarians and when fighting Cold Sorceresses. You can also use one Carrion Wind ring in PvP when you need poison resistance for up to 9% life leech, 55% poison resistance, and an 8% chance to cast Twisters on hit which can stun other players in PvP for a short duration.
Rings (Absorb)
You should switch one ring for a Dwarf Star which gives 15% fire absorb and 40 life when fighting fire damage builds and you can optionally switch one ring to a Wisp Projector for up to 20% lightning absorb when fighting lightning damage builds. Keep in mind however that a Wisp Projector is considered bad manners in PvP when you are also using a Thundergod's Vigor belt.
Charms
Hellfire Torch for +3 Druid skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, 1 Poison Damage Small Charm to cancel life regeneration, one Shape Shifting Skill Grand Charm with 12% faster hit recovery, Shape Shifting Skill Grand Charms with life, and a Bone Break Grand Charm when playing PvM to break physical immunities. You should also use one 5% faster hit recovery small charm to reach the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint when you're not using the Hustle runeword body armor for run walk speed because it has 20% faster hit recovery. When fighting runners and casters the rest of your small charms should have 3% faster run walk with resistances and when fighting other melee builds you should use 3 to maximum damage/attack rating/life small charms instead.
Mercenary Type
Act 2 Might Mercenary - This mercenary is the best option to increase your physical damage.
Mercenary Weapon
Ethereal Reaper's Toll - Gives high life leech and a chance to cast Decrepify which slows enemies and increases their damage taken.
Mercenary Armor
Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, up to all resistances +30%, life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck.
Mercenary Helmet
Ethereal Andariel's Visage (Ral'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% life leech, -30% fire resistance, and 30 strength. Ral runes give 30% fire resistance to counter the -30% fire resistance on this helmet but you can also use a 30% fire resistance jewel with other modifiers.
Budget Mercenary Weapon
Ethereal Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides high mana regeneration and deals high damage.
Budget Mercenary Armor
Duriel's Shell - Gives all resistances +20%, 50% cold resistance, life per level, 15 strength, and cannot be frozen.
Budget Mercenary Helmet
Tal Rasha's Helmet - Gives 10% life stolen per hit, all resistances +15%, and 60 life.
Note: Ethereal items don't lose durability on mercenaries.
Fury Druid Strategy
You can defeat many runners and teleporters in PvP once you have a very fast run walk speed but be aware that they can be difficult to catch without a very fast run walk speed especially if they are skilled duelers. Smite Paladins which are strong enough that they're considered bad manners in melee duels and Whirlwind Barbarians which are hard to hit for Fury Druids are also a tough fight but can still sometimes be beaten. Fury Druids can beat Zealots easily and elemental melee builds like Tesladins and Dragondins if they have high over stacked resistances from equipment and charms. With high life, resistances, and absorb you can also chase after Sorceresses that tickle you with their damage until they are caught and hit with a powerful Fury attack.
Fury Druid Leveling Items
Civerb's Cudgel is a great starter physical weapon that increases in damage as you level and only requires level 9. You can start using Hsarus' Belt and Gloves at level 3 once you have 30 strength for high defense and attack rating from its set bonus. You can also add an Angelic Amulet and Ring once you are level 12 for extremely high attack rating and life. A Manald Heal ring is also recommended for up to 7% mana stolen per hit as early as level 15. Aldur's weapon with 3 Shael runes socketed in it is also a great weapon upgrade option at level 42. A Smoke (Nef Lum) runeword body armor is a great option for an inexpensive starter runeword that can be used as early as level 37 for 20% faster hit recovery and more importantly all resistances +50%.
And that's all for the Werewolf Fury Druid Guide. You can also check out the most popular crafted items here Crafting Guide.