Have ever you danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? How about howling with a wolf in a lightning storm? In Diablo 4, you can do both, the latter of which is done with a Stormclaw Druid, a build for the shapeshifting Druid. And it’s one of the most popular Druid builds in Diablo 4.
Stormclaw Druid build in Diablo 4 season two
The most important key item in this specific build for Stormclaw Druid is the Greatstaff of the Crone two-handed weapon, a unique item that really is the whole reason this build works.
Greatstaff of the Crone
- Claw is now a Storm Skill and casts Storm Strike at [120 – 150] percent normal damage.
Once you’ve gotten lucky enough to obtain this item, the Stormclaw Druid build can truly begin. This build hinges on it, so get out there and farm dungeon bosses in the endgame until it’s yours.
With this unique, using Claw will also trigger Storm Strike with Claw’s high Lucky Hit rate triggering several Spirit Bond talents to create a powerful endgame build that you should only be looking to craft if you’re well beyond level 50.
Since it’s unique, Greatstaff of the Crone is challenging to come by because it’s an endgame random drop you can only obtain by getting lucky to have it appear as a drop from an enemy. It only begins to drop in World Tier Three or World Tier Four. The best way to do this is to farm Nightmare Dungeons and hope for the best.
Stormclaw Druid skill tree in Diablo 4 season two
- Basic Skill
- Storm Strike (5)
- Enhanced Storm Strike
- Wild Storm Strike
- Claw (5)
- Enhanced Claw
- Wild Claw
- Storm Strike (5)
- Core Skills
- Digitigrade Gait (3)
- Predatory Instinct (3)
- Defensive Skills
- Ancestral Fortitude
- Earthen Bulkwark
- Enhanced Earthen Bulwark
- Preserving Earthen Bulwark
- Vigilance (3)
- Blood Howl
- Enhanced Blood Howl
- Preserving Blood Howl
- Cyclone Armor
- Enhanced Cyclone Armor
- Preserving Cyclone Armor
- Wrath Skills
- Hurricane
- Enhanced Hurricane
- Savage Hurricane
- Elemental Exposure
- Endless Tempest (3)
- Bad Omen (3)
- Envenom (3)
- Neurotoxin
- Toxic Claw
- Hurricane
- Ultimate Skill
- Cataclysm
- Prime Cataclysm
- Supreme Cataclysm
- Defiance (3)
- Cataclysm
- Key Passives
- Earthen Might
The main combat gameplay loop with this build is constantly using Hurricane as much as possible, which is easy thanks to the rest of the build feeding into your Spirit regeneration as much as possible. This is done by using Claw to constantly trigger Storm Strike, making enemies Vulnerable and potentially making them immobile.
I love to run through mobs with Hurricane, dealing damage with Claw, and then use Earthen Bulwark if health gets low. Blood Howl is excellent for healing on top of that, and Cataclysm Ultimate Skill is perfect to use on cooldown, or whenever you’re surrounded by the most formidable enemies the current environment has to offer.
Although the Toxin abilities from your Wrath skills seem unusual, when you pair it with one of your Vampiric Power options, Infection, which deals additional Poison damage, you’ll find they’re slowed, and you’ll deal more damage. But if you don’t take Infection, don’t worry; you can still get the poison damage you need from the ability Toxic Claws.
Best gems for Stormclaw Druid in Diablo 4
I like to insert Topaz into my weapon here, which boosts Basic Skill Damage, which is what Claw is. This is imperative since you’ll be using Claw as your main attack most of the time.
For armor, I think Ruby is the best as you will increase your maximum Life, which is crucial if you’re playing in hardcore mode as it means you become tankier. However, Sapphire is an excellent alternative as it works best to boost Damage Reduction While Fortified, which you will get every time you use Earthen Bulwark.
For Jewelry, so your rings and amulet, the best gem is Diamond because you’ll gain resistance to all elements. However, if you’re up against a specific resistance, like Poison, it’s best to unsocket the Diamond and insert an Emerald, as it increases your Poison Resistance. There’s no point in having an all-round resistance gem if you know there’s only one element you need to resist. And when you’re finished, you can always swap one of them back.
Best Aspects for Stormclaw Druid in Diablo 4 season two
Rapid Aspect
Basic Skills gain [15–30] percent Attack Speed.
Edgemaster’s Aspect
Skills deal up to [10–20] percent increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.
Stormshifter’s Aspect
While Hurricane is active, gain +2 Ranks to your Shapeshifting Skills.
Vigorous Aspect
Gain [10–15] percent Damage Reduction while Shapeshifted into a Werewolf.
Mighty Storm’s Aspect
The Earthen Might Key Passive also applies to your Storm Skills.
Stormclaw Druid Spirit Bonds in Diablo 4 season two
Deer
- Wariness: You’ll take 10 percent less damage from Elite enemies.
Eagle (Spirit Bonding)
- Feather: You’ll gain 14 percent more maximum Life.
- Swooping Attacks: Gain 10 percent Attack Speed.
Wolf
- Calamity: Extend the duration of Ultimate Skills by 25 percent.
Snake
- Calm Before the Storm: Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills have up to a 15 percent chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skill by two seconds.
For the most part, your Spirit Boons in season two will stay the same. However, you’ll take Wariness from the Deer and Feather from the Eagle to gain more health and take less damage from Elites. This makes the Blood Harvest and World Tier Three and Four Nightmare Dungeons feel like a piece of cake.
However, if you’re not too worried about your health and aren’t playing hardcore mode, you could drop Feather from the Eagle and take Overload from the Snake, which will help you deal more Lightning damage.
Best Vampiric Powers for the Stormclaw Druid build in Diablo 4 season two
Although we’re still testing the best Vampiric Powers, and they may change in upcoming updates, there are five Vampiric Powers that we recommend for the Stormclaw Druid, and they include the following:
- Anticipation (Minor Power: Costs One Divinity): Your Ultimate Skills gain a 20 percent Cooldown Reduction. It will also get 12 percent more damage for every nearby enemy if they’ve been affected by your DoT effects.
- Anticipation Alternative: Infection (Minor Power: Costs One Ferocity): Hitting enemies with direct damage infects them with the Pox. When you’ve inflicted the Pox eight times on an enemy, this will expunge their Infection and deal 70 percent Poison damage.
- Anticipation Alternative: Metamorphosis (Major Power: Costs Two Ferocity, Two Divinity, and Two Eternity): When you Evade, you’ll turn into a bat cloud, and you’ll become Unstoppable for four seconds. In addition, the enemies along your path will also take 160 percent Physical damage and will be inflicted with Vampiric Curse. Vampiric Curse is a status effect. Once an enemy with VC is defeated, you’ll gain a Soul stack, and when you have eight, you’ll deal damage when you use a class ability.
- Hectic (Minor Power: Costs Three Divinity): For every five Basic Skills you cast, one of your active Cooldowns will be reduced by two seconds. This means you can use your abilities much faster.
- Ravenous (Minor Power: Costs Three Ferocity): You’ll gain a Lucky Hit, with up to a 20 percent chance to increase your Attack Speed by 40 percent of your Total Movement Speed for six seconds.
- Undying (Minor Power: Costs One Eternity): By casting skills, you’ll heal yourself for three percent of your maximum Life. This bonus doubles when your health is below 50 percent Life.
- Moonrise (Major Power: Costs Six Ferocity): When you hit an enemy with a Basic Skill, you will be granted a 4 percent Attack Speed for 10 seconds. And this stacks up to five times. When you have five stacks, you’ll enter Vampiric Bloodrage and gain 160 percent Basic Skill damage and 15 percent Movement Speed for 10 seconds.
With these Vampiric Powers, you’ll gain cooldown reductions, increased attack speed, increased damage, and heals. These Powers will make your Stormclaw Druid in season two feel like the ultimate killing machine, and that’s why it’s one of the best classes this season.
