Is there any gear that is really beneficial for a solo shifter I should be on the watch out for?

Is there any way, without multi classing, to get reliable aoe on a shifter? 

@AoE:

 

You mean while shifted? I don't know if per-rest abilites from items are also blocked when shifted. If not you can use trinkets and per-rest-abilites from other items to cause AoE effects.

 

Besides that you can always do stuff like Relentless Storm or Moonwell etc. before/between shifting.

 

Also the Stag form has a Carnage-like AoE ability.

 

There are scrolls and bombs, too.

today at mod nexus i found shifter class rebalance mod. It's godly good, check it out