(Updated with patches)
For any of you that have seen Dbrunski’s video on the Reaper Wolf saying that’s the best version of the fury druid, well, I’m here to dispute that.
The Runeword Metamorphisis was added, so now you have 90% crushing blow, 90% deadly strike, and even faster attack speed than before. This build could probably kill ubers faster than a smiter now, if teleport wasn’t an option.
I retested this build in single player and it tears through players 8 like it’s nothing. You’ll slow down a little at times with enemies like death lords and physical immunes, but if you want to destroy Baals minions quickly and solo kill players 8 Baal in about 4 seconds this is the build for you.
This build uses the rune word Death in an Ethereal Decapitator. What’s great about this axe is that it has the highest average damage of any two handed axe and it rolls with 5 max sockets, so if you find a eth one you can just take it to larzuk for max sockets.
Death only requires a vex and a gul as the highest runes, which aren’t the worst things to trade for. You get 50% crushing blow, 49% Deadly strike, insane ED, and mana leach, but no increased attack speed. However, with the changes to the werewolf, you can attack at insane speeds with this weapon now. Honestly, this is easier to come by than an Ethereal Reaper’s Toll.
Expensive Optimal Version (I usually just play single player anyway):
Weapon: Ethereal Death Decapitator (for style points, use an ethereal glorious axe)
Off hand: Lacerator for Amp damage, and Spirit. Keep Call to arms in cube.
Amulet: Highlord’s - Best option - This is required for the Deadly strike and attack speed boost.
Ring #1: BK - extra skill point and life leech. With cannot be frozen on Metamorphosis, Raven frost is no longer necessary.
Ring#2: Anything works here. Another BK would be optimal.
Boots: Gore Rider’s: best option.
Armor: Fortitude is the best option here.
Helm: Metamorphosis. If you can get a Cham rune and a pelt with +3 Fury and 3 open sockets you’re good to go. Any other skill is a bonus.
Gloves: Laying of Hands - this is required with the huge damage to demons and the 20% IAS.
Belt - Nosforatu’s coil is pretty nice for some more attack speed, but at this point is not necessary for the attack speed breakpoint. Arach’s is the best option for another skill point.
Charms: Torch and Anni if you can get. Shapeshifter GC’s also aren’t that expensive, so get these where you can. Shapeshifting GC’s are preferable to max damage small charms. The two hander benefits more from the %ED than the single handed weapon due to the higher base damage.
Skills
• 20 to Werewolf
• 1 to Werebear (for Metamorphosis activation)
• 20 to Lycanthropy
• 20 to Fury
• 20 to Heart of Wolverine
• The rest is up to you. I put the rest into grizzly for the meat shield. The grizzly will also do some decent damage at this level.
If you can get some summon gear, you can start a game wearing that and summon a buffed up grizzly, then switch to your other gear. Summons are locked in at the gear you used to summon them with, as long as the skill itself does not disappear when gear swapping. The grizzly will likely stay alive the duration of the game.
Stats - I usually put in a little extra strength and dexterity if I’m struggling to hit something. Rest into Vitality.
Mercenary: Act 1 Cold Rogue with Faith Bow - this is critical to reach the breakpoint needed. With Metamorphosis, you can reach an even higher attack speed breakpoint than previously. Act 2 might mercenary also works very well, you’ll still attack pretty fast just not as fast as with the Act 1 merc.
Merc gear:
Weapon - Faith - other stats don’t matter too much, get as high a fanaticism aura as possible.
Armor - Treachery is pretty solid here for the attack speed and fade proc. If you’re rich, chains of honor for the life steal.
Helm - Cure is recommended with the cleansing aura. Curses wear off quickly so you don’t have to worry about your Heart of the Wolverine dying as much. If you don’t have life steal on armor, you probably want to go with vamp gaze or Andy’s helm.
Gameplay
Summon grizzly and heart of the wolverine and buff with call to arms from cube. Swap out CTA with lacerator. Shapeshift to wear bear, attack, and back to wolf to get Metamorphosis bonus.
I usually have the fury skill attached to the lacerator weapon. With high attack speed, you can proc amp damage on several enemies at once if needed. Usually you’ll be killing so quickly you won’t need it most of the time.
Uber strategy - this is a work in progress, more to come. Not being able to teleport sucks, but once you start attacking, ubers go down very quickly. I’m messing with soloing players 8 Ubers for the hell of it right now to see how feasible it is.
Edited 8/5/23 with previous patch notes