Hats off to the elemental druids...

[Cap'n Briggs]

Out of all the different characters that I have built up over the years, I would have to say the elemental druid one of the hardest (PVM), at least for me.

I don't know how you guys do it, but the elemental tree has got to be the lamest of all the tree skills in the game. I tried the fire side, but scratched that after trying out the skills...was not very impressed. Plus it is not possible, as far as I know, to get complete synergy...which I think counts here because the damage numbers look really small to me.

So I went for a windy, which seems like a good build since the synergies can be maxed completely, with plenty of left over points to go into other areas. But still, for the first 30 or so levels, all you get is a paltry twister skill that really isn't all that effective. Then you also get tornado, but it also isn't very good early on. Any way you look at it, its a tough go for this guy in early levels. (I know you guys are probably saying just rush him, but that is SO lame in my point of view. Getting there is most of the fun IMHO, but whatever, I play how I like. ;) )

I am totally at a loss for words here because of this. I have read on this and other forums about how windy druids can deal out the uber damage, but from what I have seen, I don't see how it is possible. Just for the hell of it, I created a 99 windy druid with the appropriate skills maxed in hell and even then the damage was not very convincing. (Single player of course, very useful for testing builds)

I guess it must really come down to having the most uber equipment to have a good windy druid...or am I missing something here? I have played every class and maxed most of them, but none of them gave me this much trouble. I am not sure if its worth it even trying to find the stuff to equip this guy. That is why I salute all you elementals, this is a build that definitely takes perseverence, at least more than I am willing to put into it. :)

[Oilerfan]

Yea the wind skills arn't very well suited for PvM, completely random patterns so it can be hard to hit something from a range.

I'd have to say the hardest thing I've had to use in PvM was a pure bone necro, not poison but the actual bone spells, talk about low damage AND life.

[IPimpFatChicks]

The way you play i would agree that a druid may not be the build for you. However my three main chars i can hell rush without a problem would be a hammerdin, summon necro, and wind druid. I would say my barb also but iron maiden in chaos sanc is a real b!+**. They aren't very useful early on as you said especially in single player but if you equip them right (to me an enigma is a must because you can tele onto enemies and its a guaranteed hit, just like hammerdins do) and build them correctly, they are extremely effective. They are also very good characters to have when playing in a party, cause you have a few wolves than can assist in killing but mainly take damage from monsters so that players aren't getting attacked, oak gives life to the whole group, hurricane applies cold damage and slows enemies and you also have a attack that can deal high dmg though unpredictable.

[Daventry]

Walkin' with the wolves will keep you alive. Summon until you become wind and fight side by side. Nightmare is the best level without gear. Being weak in nightmare is a lot more fun than being too strong in hell. =D

[Nektu]

I've found that only putting equal amounts of points into all the fire skills and putting a grip to the wind side, the combo of both Hurricane and Armaggedon are great! Armaggedon gets 14% bonuses from everything except Firestorm which it gets a duration bonus of sorts. And it does a good amount of damage even at lowere lvls. And it'll follow you were you go like Hurricane. But having a few in the summon tree for a raven and a few summon wolves are nice to have.

[Daventry]

Cap' if you want to live against pvm, put those first 5 points into dire wolf. Why care about oak when you shouldn't even be taking hits. You can easily become full wind while spending some points into summons.

-5 points from oak won't make your character any weaker, just your legion stronger. The first 30 levels with twister is a joke.