This Build SOLVES ALL of Diablo 2's Melee Issues !!! The Apocalypse Druid 

*Have you tried this build out yet!?!?* Twitch: www.twitch.tv/dbrunski125 Discord: discord.gg/xy3EynP Twitter: twitter.com/dbrunski125

So cool to see new variations appearing due to the changes. Keep up the good work!

this build is so fun. i tried everything with my druid this season to make it fun and effective. I did nado, i did fury, i did zoo-none were fun and fast. I happen to have destruction and i tested it on a standard fury and a bud was with me and reminded me about flickering flame and meta. I was like I remember a video from dbrunski about this..... omg this is the best version of the druid. I love the build. right now im using flickering flam and just some res rings with leech and its still epic. no skillers. Everone should try this build. thank you for sharing it. so fun!

I haven't played Diablo 2 for a long time now, but theoricrafting builds is what I do for fun and this includes D2/D2R as well. I've theorized a similar build to this one way before, not knowing that there is some feature of the game that actually prevented it from working (which they removed/fixed recently, from what I understand). I went for basically 2x Phoenix Runeword, casting Firestorm and leveling the synergies for it. As an active ability it used Fire Claws in Werebear form, as it had better AA breakpoints if I recall correctly. It was even more melee oriented, since yours is triggered by melee hits, but is essentially a massive AoE dmg build. I've pestered multiple of my actively playing friends to try it out, but unsuccessfully, so I'm happy to see something similar here. Thanks! :)

It's so great we got all this new content. and thank you for exploring this kinda build, this wolf looks lit as hell🔥

I made a cool druid Fury build that shines now with the changes to next hit delay. It utilizes the chance to cast Twister on hit from eth Windhammer and 2x Carrion Wind rings. You could even use the "Rain" runeword for 5% lvl 15 twister on striking and nice lvl 15 Cyclone Armour proc (which has 2/3 synergies maxed). You fully synergize the Twister damage synergies and you get a sizeable boost to your dps from the twisters your autos generate (there's a lot of them!). Further increase your damage by running Reapers Toll or Lawbringer on your merc for the -50% phys resistance (-100 for undead w/ Lawbringer). Another variation for hardcore could be Feral Rage instead of Fury and putting some points into Arctic Blast to increase the stun duration (total stun lock in a huge cone in front of you) but I feel as though the micro stuns are frequent enough.

with it being a fire character, i think the chaos run at players 8 was respectable, but I'd think it would serve better in an area with enemies with less fire resistance. I'd like to see it in cows, stony tomb, icy cellar, kurast sewers (all the lvl 85 areas w/o or with few fire immunes). I know that because the character can't teleport in were/bear/wolf form, it limits its mobility to effectively farm those places, but if that ever changes, It would be nice to see where the BEST place this build would be. Great content, love the optimizations on the most recent changes, so many people scoffed at how little the patch changed, but this build fully encompasses just how impactful those changes are, especially to the druids fire skills/metaphorphosis.

Man this build looks amazing

NHD buff has got to be one of the best implementations yet, also highlighted a few issues many of us didn't even know we had, nice vid buddy, thnx

Good stuff. I was playing Fury/Armageddon druid as my main character last season. It was pretty budget so no destruction but I played it with an Obedience wich was actually not bad at all! Its a little bit annoying to recast armageddon, thats all. I even focused on getting some MF so the clear can for sure be a lot better even with cheap gear.

Totally gonna try this on single player. I was dreading leveling up a druid, but this build looks super fun! Thanks for posting this Dbrunski! I was hoping to find a build like this, and it totally seems viable! ty ty!

I’ve been theory crafting in my head something like this or more fire claw for a good P8 stony tombs, this is pretty cool, cure would help alot in tombs too cause the poison mages

I really want to try this build. Thanks D.

Omg! Finally a build that makes me want to play a druid! The druid is the only character I have not played to death inthis game. Awesome video. You are the man!

I've been searching thru forums and I'm hoping you can clarify this.. there's debate on fury being interruptible or not by the firestorm proc on Phoenix. I've tested this shield a lot recently and though I can see various procs happening seamlessly in a sequence, sometimes the druid will do the fury animation but miss all the attacks. I've read that when the proc occurs in the first (some say last) fury attack, the proc will render the next 4 attacks useless. is that so? as always, thanks for putting out such great content!

I like this build and want to try it out, but do you have any ideas for a cheaper build with the same kind of idea with the changes in season 4?

cool build, reminds me of a dream paladin, also a workable melee build.

I’ve been day dreaming about this one for about a week now. Melee build with AOE, fire raining down like it’s a Marvel movie and yet not quite as hard on the eyes as mosaic Assassin. Nice going!

I leaned harder into synergies,maxing firestorm,cano,boulder and geddon,leftover points ended up in ww just so i could hit ias bps more easily. Used fire faceted jewelers plate, 3 geddon/fury flickeringflame, metamorphosis might be better, most important part was having Brand demon xbow on the offhand. As you mentioned,life/cta isnt all that important for ss if youve already got 3k or so health,and having the ability to all but cast amp whenever you want MASSIVELY increases your dmg from geddon,cano,and boulder. This build destroys- I loved my dual pheonix geddon maul bear,who definitely did more physical damage,and was all but immortal,but this build kills so fast i dont think it matters.

Thanks for making these cool build videos.

Thanks a lot for uploading this video 🙏🏼👍🏼👍🏼

What gear would you recommend for your Merc if you are playing non-ladder and cannot make the Cure runeword?

Looks like you optimized this pretty good, although I don't use any druid build anymore without spending 4 extra points into the 1 point wonders of the zoo.

This is pretty awesome, thank you!

I made one of these guys, I used a Enigma Mage Plate and a Dragon Monarch Shield. So when the werewolf hits he procs Volcanos, Hydra, and Venom. Looks really cool. The Dragon Monarch has more defense than the Phoenix Shield. I have a Fire Sunder and a Physical Sunder. I'm using 2 Carrion Wind Rings. They have a total of +110% Poison Resist +18 Life Per hit, 20% Damage taken goes to mana. His Poison Resist is maxed plus now when he hits the rings Proc Tornados and Poison Nova's. My guy has stuff shooting EVERYWHERE. I'm using Jalal's Mane with Socketed Cham. Metamorphosis is Season 4 Ladder only. Ladder 4 is still going right now. I'm playing Non Ladder. I'm using 6 30+ Life Druid Elemental Skillers. Wouldn't you want more + to Elemental skills on this build with all the fire? This is a really cool build. The Best Druid build in my opinion.

I don’t play Druid, probably won’t ever. However the attention to detail in your videos are always such a pleasure to view. Amazing video, once again.

They gotta raise the level of the spells proc'd on destruction. Good to see some more stuff from u brun :)

I went fireclaw /armda/ fury hybrid with destruction pb, it's pretty neat

Is there a maxroll link or something for this build?

Does the mark of the bear IAS + fireclaw let you attack super fast (similar attack frames) to fury?

I made this build the other day and actually wanted to make a video about it to display how cool it is! My druid was basically a fully decked out fire druid so I tried out ravenlore, flickering flame and metamorphosis and IMO metamorphosis is the strongest. Mark of the Bear is too useful to pass up. I run this build with a Faith A1 merc instead of Infinity A2. That allows me to hit the final Fury breakpoint with 0 IAS, so I can use Draculs + Metalgrid (makes me basically immortal); edit: I also tried out Atma + Steelrend, found Dracs + Metalgrid to be better because of the survivability. On the offhand I use a Harmony bow for Vigor aura. I have 4.3k HP without BO (I max Lycanthropy) so I find that I really don't need it. Wonder what the "optimal" setup is for this build! It's a lot more fun than most melee builds with all those volcanoes and firestorms proccing :D

It's pretty cool that one of my favorite d2 streamers made an almost identical build and called it the same exact thing. I made a post on d2jsp about this at the end of s3 and talking about how op it would be in s4. Hands down my favorite build just expensive. The only difference is I use hustle runeword witch let's u hit the max ias breakpoint. Also maxed everything fire tree wise besides valcano then went fury. Firestorm procs for 1400damage. Plus massive amount of volcanos. And 20ias/10cb gloves. It has I belivie 80% crushing blow and 125% ias.

It is really expensive and to get the mark of the bear is a little annoying, but it looks like a really good melee - build, where there is actually a lot going on on your screen.

I have been using Flickering Flame + CoH on my merc with my assassin wearing Plague (cleansing).

I think it's time to stop limiting what Druids can cast while shifting. Really Happy to see old builds getting new twists this long after launch (Like OG D2:LOD Launch), AND Seeing more build slowly become more viable.

Dbrunksi’s head may be focused on D4 release, but homie still theorycrafting new builds in D2. ❤

Skin of the Flayed One is a good armor for a Prayer+Cure merc. Especially if you get and eth one and up it.

Cleansing is pretty mandatory for a build that has to get close and potentially tank a bunch. Not being cursed is HUGE. Love the build!

Cure is insanely good on a merc, also factor in builds that use Reapers and then you don't need the Chains of Honour.

Smart. You're good at this

Mosaic's success is based on how strong your base kit is, as well as having relatively cheap runewords as your most important item. Having to essentially grab the highest runes to be at a spot a fresh pally or sorc is already at is garbage.

GG I used to use spells on melee druids too for aoe

Cold A2 merc, CoH + delirium has huge crowd control.

Finally Destruction getting some love! I am a big fan of the Riftsin (Rift kicksin with Death Sentries) and wanted to ask if you think a similar hybrid build of the new Wake of Fire (instead of DS) and Destruction PB + Phoenix + Flickering Flame could be viable? I tested quickly on hero editor and it seems to slay chaos until ~players 7 where it really slows down.

Have you tried Dual Phoenix with a similar build, but focusing on Firestorm procs? It goes up to like 80% with 2 Phoenix, so it would proc like 4 times every fury...

Cure for the Merc helm is definitely good, but wouldn't you rather just have a Delirium for the crowd control especially on P8? You're not curse-reliant with a Reaper's Toll or something so it'd basically be free and help with Merc survival

build looks cool thanks db

Are the runeword Destruction and your helmet can be onlyade in ladder?

I’ve argued this before; the druid should be able to cast all spells in werewolf/werebear form to include tornado, hurricane etc

It’s very expensive but man is it a sight to play! All the volcanos going off is crazy looking 🌋

i would say flickering flame in a good base is the better option considered you have -17 fire ress on that build. but i do really like the idea of the build

I did mess around with this weapon as well and would rather recomend hustle for armor instead forti for faster attackspeed breakpoints. Anyway its lacking of survivability due to the low life leech. I found it more stable to use a 40% grief, forti and phoenix monarch. You need 40% ias on the phaseblade to reach the latest possible breakpoint with a lvl 33 werwolf skill. Now with draculs and high physical damage you will survice much more stable and better. Compared to an auradin the druid can't get any life back from his elemantal skills and the aura provided from the phoenix shield needs bodies on the floor to replish any life back. So, yes with this modification you won't see any vulcanos, but the dmg overall at players 8 is much higher. You will notice a significant difference at players 8 baal. The same way you can create a nice hurrican twister druid with windhammer.

Certainly looks flashy and fun but 10 HRs is a little expensive for what it does. I would like to know how it handles p8 stony tombs!

is that necessary to have high physical damage? I mean you can give 5 hard points into fury just to have the 5 hits combo, and all remaining points into fire skills, so now you can use CoH and choose the blessed aim merc, at this point just need a infinity to do all that fire power

I've been thinking awhile about making a Druid and i think this is the one id like to try

damnnnnnnnnnnn dbruh! That's the build I'm using since the beginning of 2023 lol But I'm using a perfect Ravenlore instead (- enemy 20 fire res), with a fire facet in it. Also I'm using CoH instead of Fortitude, for the + to all skills and + damage to demons

Is this build available on non ladder or strictly ladder?

Man, that next hit delay update is bigger then I thought.

Nice DB. I just built a double dragon + HOJ firedin, just charging around with conviction on and most stuff melts on just pulse damage. Should check it out if you haven't already.

You should also try hurricane/warewolf druid using rw doom.

Such a cool build. It is very sick looking love to see it

Can you uber with this if u switch belt to Tgods for mephisto?

What do you think about rocking double phoenix hybrid with firestorm synergies maxed?

Looks fun. Decp would be very annoying without tele So.. My merc will be using that helm. Using cta without losing the buffs from metamorphosis would be nice. I cant remember if they changed the cast delays for shifting out to humane and back to wolf.

How is it possible to cast armageddon when you are in bear or wolf form??

Is this better than the earthshifter build?

Você é TOP, cara! (translation: You are TOP, brother!) Hope we all can get more D2R Druids lessons and good moments.

being a ssf player i still have some melee issues...

The problem is "Destruction" comes with the price of Enigma,Hoto and Grief/Fortidute.Definately not ladder build but for non-ladder seems solid

Love your videos DB!

I'd go for an eth Stormlash with synergized nados and hurricane. If I ever dropped an eth Stormlash on single... but only managed eth Horizon's so far... For fire I might actually prefer double Phoenix for the 80% ctc lvl 22 firestorm. Although I think a plain physical fury build might outperform both with the changes, just put a Brand bow on swap.

I tried the Fire Bear one, and even tho it is still a meme build, boy it's fun to play. Yes it's a single target, but you are killing/hitting everything so fast you don't even notice... On top of that you are tanky and healthy as hell. I do like this idea of Apocalypse Woof that procs doom wherever he goes, if I get more JAHs and BERs I can 'waste' I'll surely make one and see how he goes.

nice, but pure physical fury with death decapilator would do it probably faster for a real fragment of rune price..but its looking fine:), guess that nice way to go when you wanna farm till the end of the season with classic fury druid..

Try maul werebear with an act 5 barb with that decrepify sword and full sazabi!

Put this build on Maxroll build list. This look fun to play :). And really like that not so good runeword find use.

can this build fight ubers? the only thing i havent done in this game is make an uber killing toon. ive played here and there since the original diablo 2 before LOD. so being able to finish that last task would be great. i was actually thinking about doing the death or grief fury druid this current ladder season (7) because i just recently came back to play. this build looks super fun and if it could kill ubers that would be legit af.

Looks fun but i would argue if this is most fun melee build. Assassin mosaic also looks fun😮

Really wish they’d just add some melee splash damage like PD2

How did this dbruski turn grey so fast? Is that fashion these days or real grey

We miss you DB, live your best life!

I hope druid can teleport when morphing.

Fire Claws + Armageddon werewolf is perfectly viable with just an obedience and very basic stuff. I played that two seasons ago and i played elemental this season. Without endgame gear, fire claws is twice as fast as the ele druid, while being much safer and much more enjoyable.

Another good video from my bro ❤🎉

Would love to try this build but getting the gear together would be next to impossible for me is there a more budget friendly option

You did a great job! Can you compare this build with "Furrycain" build? Windhammer with twister sinergy plus Hurricain, Reapers toll merc. Think this build less meme;)

Pretty awesome tbh, nice build

This in no way fixes the games issues with melee. The main problems with melee in a nutshell is its either not strong enough (for various reasons), or you need crazy rare or expensive gear to become strong enough. You're not really fixing the gear problem with this build. You need VEX x3, LO x2, BER x4, JAH x2, KO, CHAM for all the gear (including merc), then your setup is also using a perfect fire sunder charm and a full inventory of skillers. All for a build which you admit still can't directly complete with meta. Is it powerful & fun? Sure. But it doesn't really solve any problems.

im pretty sure it wont but ill ask just to be sure. would 2 destruction runewords stack on frenzy barb? how is that working

I always wanted runeword "Destruction" to have a viable use at least. Love the looks of fire druid abilities. Thanks for sharing! A bit sad its that expensive though haha. Cant quite afford it yet in my single player journey

creative but crazy expensive, hard to justify vs. pure fury or pure fire caster druid

There’s probably some substitutions you could make to have a more budget friendly build, for those that are hating, it would just be a bit less dmg, but not impossible to play with. It would be nice if they tuned the HR drops in the game. Of course there’s the easy way of just jumping on JSP and using that credit card to charge 100$ worth of forum gold. That’s probably what it would take to obtain the gear in this video on this one character if you were attempting to play fresh on ladder. You could play non ladder and maybe this would be more realistic but I personally don’t find much fun in not taking part of the current season. The character progression and story only lasts 3 days or so if your really into it and put the time in. The content itself just gets a little old after 20 years or even just the 2-3 years D2R has been out that it just gets so old so fast even after taking long breaks from the game. There really should be some loot adjustments or events it’s the only incentive I see anymore it just takes way too long to actually find items you need. The build looks really fun though!

15 HRs for mediocre clear speed? Sure. No. Looks fun tho.

Still waiting for another video :) hope you’re doing great! Bonne journée! 🇨🇦

What about dual wielding those weapons for double proc? Would that work?

how u got so many skills points???

Still a Meme build, waaay too expensive for the returns, you can use the Windhammer ogre maul build around twister procs, use hurricane instead, and gain a higher chance proc that deals more AOE dmg and stun, dealing more damage over all both AOE and physical with crowd control from stun and cold. Throw on a carrion wind or two for additional twister procs for more stuns, switch to A5 merc with Plague/Lawbringer twisters and your fury benefit from the decrep, and you have a better cleansing aura with lower res to help buff hurricane or stick with infin and swap in an atmas scarab. Either variation performs better at P8 than this. Destruction for its cost needs a buff period, if volcano proc was closer to level 20 it would be far more effective but as it stands now building around its procs being as low lvl(Volcano) and low chance(molten boulder). The points invested for a bit of damage in the hardest immunity to break can be better spent elsewhere. Your runes can be better invested elsewhere.

the CoH cure merc is definitely better but ya its expensive, andys/fort for budget

Soooo... any reason why Destruction is better than Earthsifter? 5-3-3-3-6 frame Fury is easily reachable now even with a Thunder Maul (lvl 32 Werewolf + Mark of the Bear + exactly 60 IAS for example). That's a Nosferatu's + Highlord + Gloves for example, and then you can have a Lo/Ber/Facet/whatever in the Eartshifter or even better an eth Earthshifter, and that's a big big bonker. Sure you lose Phoenix, but get a giant physical boost and a massive +7 to Geddon. 4x faceted armor can be used or a mix match of 15/15 jewels and facets, or just Fortitude/CoH or whatever you want really.

This is great news for Druid lovers :)

can i do this on werebear mode? (sry if he already said that i haven't seen the video but i want a fire bear)