April 28, 2021
-Build created

January 04, 2022
-Build updated for Season 4 

1. Strength - Strength should not be your focus; all you want from this stat is enough of it to equip all your desired gear. 
2. Dexterity - Just add enough points to be able to equip everything you want. 
3. Vitality - You should put all your remaining points here. 
4. Energy - Adding points to Energy is an extreme waste - don't do it. 

This Skill Tree is the main focus of this build. It will allow us to assume the form of a Werewolf and shred anything that stays in our way with sharp claws and vicious fangs. Werewolf Skill is the centerpiece of the build and other skill choices were made to complement it. 

1. Werewolf [20/20] - An ability that allows the Druid to take the form of a Wolf, imparting to him heightened combat facilities and quicker reflexes. Werewolf form gives us enhanced Attack Speed (+68% at Level 20), Bonus to Damage (+268% at Level 20), and Physical and Magic Damage Reduction (7 at level 20). This ability makes us resilient and extremely dangerous in close-quarters combat. Werewolf has received a rather substantial buff in seasons 3 and 4. 
2. Lycanthropy [20/20] - Increases Druid's Attack Rating and Life percentage-wise. This gives us a very nice passive boost to defense and offense which is hard to pass up. 
3. Feral Rage [20/20] - This powerful Skill grants the Druid the ability to steal increasing amounts of life from his enemies with successive hits, while in the Werewolf form. It also increases Druid's Damage, Attack, and Walk/Run Speeds. Without this, Werewolf form would be a mere shadow of itself. Feral Rage also synergizes with Fury. This was substantially buffed in season 4 and now synergizes with Fury. 
4. Rabies [1/20] - Prerequisite. When in werewolf form, bite your enemies to inflict them with a disease that spreads to other monsters. 
5. Fury [20/20] - Throws the Druid into a bloodthirsty frenzy and makes him attack multiple foes with a raging fervor. This is an offensive ability that costs 4 Mana and deals 3 Hits per cast. It offers a high Attack % bonus and a nicely scaling Damage % bonus. Fury has received a substantial buff in season 4. 

SUMMONING SKILLS

After maxing out the relevant Shape Shifting Skills, you will have some points left. Investing them in Heart of Wolverine is going to make the build even stronger. 

Skills:

1. Heart of Wolverine [X/20] - This ability Grants the Druid knowledge needed to summon into being a spirit that increases his skill in battle, as well as that of his party. Heart of Wolverine increases Druid's combat capabilities by quite a bit and works well as an addition to this Build's core. This ability was buffed quite substantially in season 4. 

This build doesn't use any Elemental Skills. 

Skills:

1. none. 

As per usual with PD2 Builds, you want to get as many Skill levels (Druid/Shape-Shifting Skills in this case) as possible to increase the build's overall power level. Resistances are also important, but they should never come before the offensive power. Other extremely important stats to have are Attack Rating and Increased Attack Speed. 

HELMETS

Andariel's Visage (Demonhead) - A great helmet that offers a very high Attack Speed bonus and +2 Skills increase. If Also gives quite a high Life Leech which can be extremely helpful. 

• Defense: 310-387
• Required Level: 83
• Required Strength: 102
• Durability: 20  
  • +100-150% Enhanced Defense 
  • +2 To All Skills 
  • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
  • 8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit 
  • +25-30 To Strength 
  • +10% To Maximum Poison Resist 
  • Fire Resist -30% 
  • Poison Resist +70% 
  • 15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck 
  • Level 3 Venom (20 charges) 

Aldur's Stony Gaze (Hunter's Guise) - This helmet is a decent choice for any Druid build and it's not that pricey. If you decide to go for it, we'd recommend equipping 2 or three Aldur's set pieces in total. 

• Defense: 157-171
• Required Level: 36
• Required Strength: 56
• 20
• Druid Only
  • +90 Enhanced Defense
  • 25% Faster Hit Recovery
  • 17% Mana Regeneration 
  • +40-50% Cold Resistance 
  • +5 to Light Radius 
  • +1-2 to Druid Skill Levels 
  • +1-2 to Druid Summoning Skills 
  • +15 to Energy (2 Items)
  • +15 to Energy (3 Items)

Cerberus' Bite (Blood Spirit) - This Helmet offers an amazing DPS boost, especially if you manage to get one with +4 to Shape Shifting Skills. 

• Defense: 335-350 
• Required Level: 63
• Required Strength: 86
• Durability: 20  
  • +[2-4] to Shape Shifting Skills (Druid Only) (varies) 
  • [60-120]% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies) 
  • [7-10]% Life Stolen per Hit (varies) 
  • 33% Chance of Open Wounds 
  • +[130-140]% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
  • +[1-2] to Feral Rage (Druid Only) (varies)
  • +[1-2] to Hunger (Druid Only) (varies)
  • 33% Deadly Strike 

WEAPONS

Kingslayer (Runeword) - This extremely powerful Runeword is one of the strongest offensive choices for this build. It offers an amazing boost to our damage output thanks to a plethora of very strong effects. You should socket it in a Two-Handed weapon with high base offensive stats. 

• Damage: Depends on base Weapon
• Required Level: 53 
• Required Dexterity: Depends on base Weapon
• Required Strength: Depends on base Weapon
• Durability: Depends on base Weapon
• Mal + Um + Gul+ Fal  
  • +30% Increased Attack Speed 
  • +230-270% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • -25% Target Defense 
  • 20% Bonus To Attack Rating 
  • 33% Chance Of Crushing Blow 
  • 50% Chance Of Open Wounds  
  • +10 To Vengeance 
  • Prevent Monster Heal 
  • +10 To Strength 
  • Repairs 1 Durability In 10 Seconds 

The Cranium Basher (Thunder Maul) - This powerful Two-Handed mace offers 20% increased attack speed, a high Enhanced Damage bonus, and a whopping 75% chance for a Crushing Blow. On top of that, it gives +25 to all resistances and has a chance to cast Amplify Damage on hit, which is great. 

• Two-Hand Damage:  (132-145) To (632-704) (382-424.5 Avg) 
• Required Level: 87 
• Required Dexterity: - 
• Required Strength: 253
• Durability: 60 
  • +240-280% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • Adds 20-25 Damage 
  • +50% Damage To Undead 
  • 75% Chance of Crushing Blow 
  • 10% Chance To Cast Level 20 Amplify Damage On Striking 
  • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
  • All Resistances +25
  • +25 To Strength 

Bonehew (Ogre Axe) - Extremely cheap and surprisingly good for this build. It gives us an extremely high Damage boost and 30% increased attack speed. And it has 2 sockets. 

• Two-Hand Damage: (103-117) to (536-609) 
• Required Level: 64 
• Required Dexterity: 75 
• Required Strength: 195
• Durability: 50 
  • +270-320% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • Level 14 Corpse Explosion (30 charges) 
  • Prevent Monster Heal 
  • 30% Increased Attack Speed 
  • 50% Chance To Cast Level 25 Bone Spear On Striking  
  • Socketed [2-4] (varies)

AMULETS

Mara's Kaleidoscope - A great combination of offensive (+2 to all skills) and defensive (+20-30 to all resistances) properties. This is one of the best Amulets in PD2 overall and it fits most of the builds, which makes it a good investment. 

• Required Level: 67
  • +2 To All Skills 
  • All Resistances +20-30 (varies) 
  • +5 To All Attributes 

Atma's Scarab - A great choice for this Build. Atma's Scarab has a chance to cast level 18 Amplify Damage on Striking which is simply amazing for our overall damage output. 

• Required Level: 60
  • 10% Chance to Cast Level 18 Amplify Damage on Striking 
  • 40-60% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies) 
  • 400 Poison Damage over 4 Seconds 
  • Poison Resist +30-60% (varies) 
  • Attacker Takes Damage of 400-600 (varies) 
  • +3 to Light Radius 

[Alternative] Rare/Magic Amulets with + Druid/Shape-Shifting Skills are great budget choices and solid fillers before you are able to get Mara's Kaleidoscope. 

• Required Level: varies. 
• In Magic Amulets, look for:
  • +3 to Shape-Shifting Skills 
• In Rare Amulets, look for:
  • +2 Druid Skills 
  • Magic Find 
  • Resistances 
  • Attributes 

ARMORS

Enigma (Runeword) - The best all-around choice; it provides pretty much everything you might want from an item, including 3 charges ob Blink (they recharge quite quickly which makes them extremely useful to have). It also gives us a nice bonus to Strength, which we need to save some attribute points. 

• Defense: Depends on base Armor 
• Required Level: 65 
• Required Strength: Depends on base Armor 
• Durability: Depends on base Armor 
• Jah + Ith + Ber  
  • +2 To All Skills 
  • +25% Faster Run/Walk 
  • Level 1 Blink* (5/5 Charges)
    Replenish 1 Charge in 3 Seconds
  • +500-775 Defense (varies) 
  • +[0-74] to Strength (+[0.5-0.75] per Character Level) (varies)
  • Increase Maximum Life 5%
  • Damage Reduced By 4%
  • 15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
  • [0-74]% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items ([0.5-0.75]% per Character Level) (varies)

Fortitude (Rune Word) - This Rune Word seems to be tailored for this build specifically; it provides A LOT of enhanced damage, high resistance bonuses, and great overall defenses. You can't go wrong with this one on a Werewolf Druid. 

• Defense: Depends on base Armor 
• Required Level: 59 
• Required Strength: Depends on base Armor 
• Durability: Depends on base Armor 
• El + Sol + Dol + Lo
  • +25% Faster Cast Rate 
  • +[250-300]% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • +200% Enhanced Defense 
  • +15 Defense 
  • +X To Life (Based on Character Level) (1-1.5 Per Level) 
  • Replenish Life +10 
  • +4% To Maximum Lightning Resist 
  • All Resistances +25-30 
  • Damage Taken Reduced By 7 
  • 12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana 
  • +1 To Light Radius 

Aldur's Deception (Shadow Plate) - This Armor offers a great balance between offensive and defensive power. If you use it in combination with another Aldur's set-piece, it will also significantly boost your Vitality. 

• Defense: 746-857 
• Required Strength: 115
• Durability: 70
• Required Level: 76
  • +[1-2] to Elemental Skills (Druid Only) (varies) 
  • +[1-2] to Shape Shifting Skills (Druid Only) (varies) 
  • +300 Defense 
  • +20 to Strength 
  • +15 to Dexterity 
  • Lightning Resist +[40-50]% (varies) 
  • Requirements -50% 
  • +15 to Vitality (2 Items) 
  • +15 to Vitality (3 Items)

RINGS

Raven Frost - This ring provides Freeze immunity which is extremely important to have. Moreover, it gives us a high Attack Rating bonus which we desperately need. 

• Required Level: 76
  • +150-250 Attack Rating (varies) 
  • 15-45 Cold Damage 
  • +15-20 Dexterity (varies) 
  • +40 Mana 
  • Cold Absorb 5-10% (varies) 
  • Cannot be Frozen 

Wisp Projector - An extremely solid offensive choice (if you've decided to go for the Heart of the Wolverine). Also, the Lightning Absorb is a great addition to your defenses. Plenty of your deaths will be caused by Lightning Damage, so this one is definitely worth picking up. 

• Required Level: 76
  • Lightning Absorb 4-6% (varies)
  • 8-15% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items 
  • +1-3 to Spirit of Barbs 
  • +1-3 to Heart of the Wolverine 
  • +1 To All Skills 

Bul-Kathos Death Band - Another great ring choice. This one is a part of the "Bul-Kathos' Children" set. It provides a solid Attack Rating and Damage boosts, and some nice resistance bonuses. 

• Required Level: 69
  • 15-30% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • 100 to Attack Rating 
  • Lightning Resist +10-20% (varies) 
  • Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 4-6% (varies) 

GLOVES

Soul Drainer (Vambraces) - This pair of gloves is essential for this build, as it lowers enemy defenses which counteracts our attack rating problems somewhat. On top of that, Soul Drainers provide nice leech effects. 

• Defense: 129 - 149 
• Required Level: 74
• Required Strength: 50 
• Durability: 16
  • +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
  • 4-7% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
  • 4-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
  • -(50-100) to Monster Defense per Hit (varies) 
  • Attacker Takes Damage of 600-860 (varies) 
  • 20% Chance to Pierce 
  • -(5-10)% to Enemy Physical Resistances (varies) 
  • Drain Life -30 

Steelrend (Ogre Gauntlets) - A very solid offensive option that will increase your DPS by boosting your damage, giving you a nice chance for Crushing Blow, and making your melee attacks deal splash damage. 

• Defense: 232-281 
• Required Level: 70 
• Required Strength: 185 
• Durability: 24
  • +[50-80]% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
  • [10-20]% Chance of Crushing Blow (varies)  
  • +[170-210] Defense (varies) 
  • +[15-20] to Strength (varies) 
  • Attacker Takes Damage of 250 
  • Melee Attacks Deal Splash Damage 

BOOTS

Gore Rider (War Boots) - A top choice for any physical damage-based build. These extremely powerful boots provide amazing offensive bonuses and a solid 30% Increased Run/Walk Speed. 

• Defense: 140 - 162 
• Required Level: 47
• Required Strength: 94
• Kick Damage: 39-80
• Durability: 34 
  • +160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
  • 30% Faster Run/Walk 
  • 10% Chance Of Open Wounds 
  • 15% Chance Of Crushing Blow 
  • 15% Deadly Strike 
  • Requirements -25% 
  • Attacker Takes Damage Of 5-10 (varies)  
  • +20 Maximum Stamina 

War Traveler's (Battle Boots) - The best pair if you want to increase your Loot by boosting MF stat. They also provide decent Movement Speed and extra STR/VIT. 

• Defense: 120-139 
• Required Level: 42
• Required Strength: 95
• Kick Damage: 37-64 
• Durability: 48
  • +150-190% Enhanced Defense 
  • 25% Faster Run/Walk 
  • +10 to Vitality 
  • +10 to Strength 
  • Adds 15-25 Damage 
  • +40% Slower Stamina Drain 
  • Attacker Takes Damage Of 5-10 
  • 30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items 

Aldur's Advance (Battle Boots) - This pair of Boots offers a very high bonus to Movement Speed and Life. Also, they can give you a lot of Dexterity if you combine them with other Aldur's pieces. 

• Defense: 39-47
• Required Level: 45
• Required Strength: 95
• Kick Damage: 37-64
• Durability: Indestructible  
  • Indestructible 
  • 40% Faster Run/Walk 
  • 10% Damage Taken Goes To Mana 
  • +180 Maximum Stamina 
  • Heal Stamina Plus +32% 
  • +50 To Life 
  • Set Bonuses: 
    • +15 To Dexterity (2 Item) 
    • +15 To Dexterity (3 Items) 

BELTS

Nosferatu's Coil (Vampirefang Belt) - An extremely solid belt that gives a high Attack Speed bonus and a 10% chance for a Deadly Strike. If you're after the offense, this is a top choice. 

• Defense: 56 - 63 
• Potion Slots: 16 
• Required Level: 51
• Required Strength: 50 
• Durability: 14
  • Slows Target By 10% 
  • +2 To Mana After Each Kill 
  • 3-6% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
  • +10-15 Strength (varies) 
  • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
  • 10% Deadly Strike 

Verdungo's Hearty Cord (Mithril Coil) - A very solid defensive option that offers a Faster Hit Recovery bonus, an insanely high boost to maximum stamina, and up to 40 (!) Vitality. 

• Defense: 125-158
• Potion Slots: 16 
• Required Level: 63
• Required Strength: 106
• Durability: 16
  • +90-140% Enhanced Defense 
  • 10% Faster Hit Recovery  
  • +30-40 To Vitality 
  • Replenish Life +10-13 
  • +100-120 Maximum Stamina 
  • Damage Reduced By 10-15% 

• 150% Bonus to Attack Rating (2 Items) 
• +10% Faster Cast Rate (2 Items) 
• 50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (3 Items) 
• +20% Faster Cast Rate (3 Items) 

CHARMS

1. Annihilus - Extremely powerful Charm that boosts Skills, Stats, and Resistances. It's the best Unique Small Charm, and it's limited to just 1 in your equipment. 
2. Gheed's Fortune - Pretty much a must-have if you are after the best available charms. It adds 80-160% extra gold from monsters, reduces vendor prices by up to 15%, and gives up to 40% better magic find. 
3. Hellfire Torch - The BiS Unique Large Charm that increases your Vitality, Skills, and more. 
4. Grand Charms - These should have +Shape-Shifting Skills. 
5. Small Charms - With these, you should get your desired Resistances, bonuses to Life, or bonuses to Magic Find. 

MERCENARY

We recommend picking up Act 2 Defiance Mercenary for extra damage mitigation bonuses. He should be equipped with: 

1. Infinity Rune Word in Ethereal Spear - This provides Conviction Aura, which reduces the defenses and resistances of nearby enemies and offers very high bonus damage. A top (and expensive) choice for any Act2 merc build. 
2. Fortitude Rune Word in Armor - This will ensure that your merc doesn't die (it will make him almost immortal). 
3. Steelrend Gloves - For massive damage bonus and Crushing Blow. 
4. Vampire's Gaze - For high Life Leech and damage reduction. 
5. String of Ears - Very high damage reduction and excellent survivability boost. 
6. Goblin Toe - For extra damage and the chance for a crushing blow. 

END NOTE

This is our premiere Project Diablo 2 build where we tried to include all of the important information on how to set up this character while keeping the guide as compact as possible. If we've missed something of importance, please let us know! 

If you have any Build requests, please post them in the Comments section below. We will be happy to cover your most requested builds in the future! Also, we hope that you have found this guide useful and informative. Also, we will be happy to receive constructive criticism that will help us improve our future work, so don't hesitate to give us your feedback.