Ice Druid doable or just go with Wizard?

[sunzoolander]

For my second playthrough (no WM 1 and 2 yet), I was going for a Russian theme with my pc and a couple custom companions. One was a pale-elf druid who could turn into a bear and was focused around freeze damage. 15/9/10/17/18/9 stats. But while winter wind was pretty solid I found that past the first tier druids were very lacking in good ice spells. Are wizards simply better equipped at dishing out that damage type? What talents would be best for a wizard/druid specialist in ice nukes?

[Odd Hermit]

The best druid spells are raw damage/pierce over time, and shock(returning/relentless storm) and/or fire(sunbeam and firebug). Choosing frost isn't a great idea right now IMO.

 

Wizard has some staple frost spells starting of course with Chill Fog at level 1. I personally don't think Wizard excels at dealing spell damage though, alacrity+their spell weapons are seemingly more efficient. They have ~okay frost nukes though, and Secrets of Rime would buff your Kalakoth's a bit.

[Boeroer]

It may not be superduperoptimal, but it's totally viable to take Secrets of Rime for a druid. You will still have access to all the other non ice spells. Most of those don't even profit from any elemental bonus damage talent. 

 

You'll have Winter Wind (which is nice), Blizzard (nice debuff on top of the damage) and Hail Storm (huge AoE). Those are nice spells for dps. I see no problem there. 

 

Actually, chanters have the most powerful freeze spells when it comes to pure damage. And they can cast it without per rest uses. But they can't spam. 

 

Wizards with Chill Fog, Shadowflame, Bitter Mooring,  Freezing Pillar and Freezing Rake are also very nice.

[Elric Galad]

In my opinion you can also grab Cold Wild Strike to fit theme.

 

Electrical damages talent is mandatory. Take also the cold talent. It's not only damages:+5 DR against cold is incredibly useful against spirits.

 

So you take electrical and cold talents and you'll have a kind "Weather Druid".

 

Be sure to take Winter Wind, Blizzard, Returning Storm and Hail Storm for spell mastery.

 

Hail storm is crush damage with ice lash. I think cold talent will only increase the lash damage, so it will be only around +5% damages.

Edited March 27, 2016 by Elric Galad

[Heijoushin]

My last game was with a druid and honestly, I wasn't wild about him (no puns intended there) IMHO The only thing druids do better than wizards spell-wise is shock damage. Their shock/stunning storm spells are awesome. Still, an ice-themed druid is cool idea and do-able I think.

[Blades of Vanatar]

Wield Whitespire for extra Blizzards.

Edited March 27, 2016 by Blades of Vanatar

[Boeroer]

My last game was with a druid and honestly, I wasn't wild about him (no puns intended there) IMHO The only thing druids do better than wizards spell-wise is shock damage. Their shock/stunning storm spells are awesome. Still, an ice-themed druid is cool idea and do-able I think.

Druid make better "tanks" than wizards.  Tanking + Returning & Relentless Storm just add up nicely. I had a lot of fun with such a druid tank. One of my favourite builds - and very simple, too.

Edited March 27, 2016 by Boeroer

[Odd Hermit]

 

My last game was with a druid and honestly, I wasn't wild about him (no puns intended there) IMHO The only thing druids do better than wizards spell-wise is shock damage. Their shock/stunning storm spells are awesome. Still, an ice-themed druid is cool idea and do-able I think.

Druid make better "tanks" than wizards.  Tanking + Returning & Relentless Storm just add up nicely. I had a lot of fun with such a druid tank. One of my favourite builds - and very simple, too.

 

 

Wizards are probably better tanks if they self buff. It's just more resource intensive.

 

 

Arcane Veil is +50 deflection(and Instant) and Wizard's Double is +40 deflection(until hit, but most things can't you at this stage of the game w/that deflection) at level 2.

 

+100 Endurance @ level 3 from Infuse with Vital Essence. +20 more deflection from Mirror Image. +15 to all elemental DRs with Bulwark, if you need it.

 

+25 more deflection from hardened veil @ level 4 if you like.

 

+20 from Llengrath's at 5

 

Most of Wizard's defensive self buffs are fast cast too. With high int you get duration enough for most encounters or at least enough to get rid of enough enemies to have things under control.

 

 

Taking just regular Arcane Veil lets you off tank in a pinch as well as letting you avoid getting wrecked by archers if they decide to target your Wizard. Concelhaut's Staff can also do solid damage and heal you. You don't have to sacrifice offensive attributes and can still afford to take Blast and use Kalakoths as well, when you're not needing an extra meat shield.

 

Druids OTOH, have... +10 base deflection. Meh.

 

My "main" tank choice at the moment is Monk though(+a support/utility chanter). Wizards can go crazy lich mode self buffery on bossy fights, but for your average encounter having a tank that doesn't need to spend a bunch of per rest stuff and also does great damage is nice.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Odd Hermit

[fiddlesticks]

Most of the good Wizard buffs can be replicated with easily craftable potions though. A Druid with Wizard's Double has the same Deflection score as a Wizard with Arcane Veil, but isn't limited by duration or per-rest restrictions and doesn't have to invest in a talent. Plus, being on the frontline allows you to make the most out of Nature's Vigor.

[Blades of Vanatar]

Plus there are Druid buffs. Wood skin for example. Both can tank. Both deal DPS. Both can CC. The only difference to me is Druids get cool ass 'looking' Shifting. Stag just looks awesome.

[ojaiike]

Plus there are Druid buffs. Wood skin for example. Both can tank. Both deal DPS. Both can CC. The only difference to me is Druids get cool ass 'looking' Shifting. Stag just looks awesome.

Well Druids are way worse at disabling, gaze of adragan, better at dps, spammy ranged fire balls/melee some lance and death ring, and better at tanking with all of them self. The bad thing about wizards is how mediocre every spell other than concelhauts staff is in level 1-2.

[ojaiike]

Plus there are Druid buffs. Wood skin for example. Both can tank. Both deal DPS. Both can CC. The only difference to me is Druids get cool ass 'looking' Shifting. Stag just looks awesome.

Well Druids are way worse at disabling, gaze of adragan, better at dps, spammy ranged fire balls/melee some lance and death ring, and better at tanking with all of them self. The bad thing about wizards is how mediocre every spell other than concelhauts staff is in level 1-2.

[Boeroer]

I meant the overall "tanking experience". Buffing takes a lot of time and costs DPS. Surely the mage will have the better stats afterwards. But a that time the druid walked in and Returning plus Relentless Storm are up. Then he doesn't get hit anyway. Also: the tanky Druid has no class talents that are worth it. He can take all the defensive talents which leads to awesome defenses to anything. All the defenses will be above 100 at an relatively early stage. I played a custom druid an Hiravias this way and that turned me from a druid-hater to a druid-lover.