26 days to go from 97 to 98… just now…Ding! YAY!
Still playing mostly Solo.
If TZ is WSK, I join public games.
If TZ is Mauso/Crypt, I try and find Baal public game… or run Cows with my Javazon.
If TZ is Arcane I switch to my Javazon.
Otherwise, solo’n the Zoo.
Got in a rush/impatient and started biting of more than I could chew, and had several deaths as a result, each one setting me back days in the EXP grind.
98-99… going to slow roll… too much to loose with deaths… (we’ll see how well I can keep to that).
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Poison creeper rips through normal and its meta for ladder reset teams
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I am still on my summon druid. Gotta say i still love him. Should i make a hustle weapon for my merc, for the fana aura? Or just keep toll
Tough one.
Fanata will apply to the Zoo, good… but your Merc will loose Deadly Strike, and he and the Zoo loose Decrep. … making PI’s a real pita. I mean the Spirit Wolves can and do take down PI’s, slowly, but now you’re pulling the Dire Wolves and Bear out of the way so they can get their hits in…
I like to kill everything, I think I would keep the Reapers… but have never used Hustle, so, there is that.
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I’ve never played ladder (once, a million years ago) much less on a team, but, playing solo, Poison Creeper was a gas on normal.
Even now running solo Hell TZ’s, the Creeper is nice to have, and depending on the Zone - monsters HP he still one shots some dudes, and is often ahead of the pack, being a bit of an obstacle, slowing/stopping monster advance/attacks.
I like him a lot, and only have 1 hard point in him.
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Ding! We have achieved lvl99. And it only took 3 months… LOL.
Admittedly, I did make a Wind Druid during that time, and spent a fair bit of time Farming Keys and Essences with my Amazon…
Really put myself in a bad spot with 4 deaths (in the span of a week!) coming around the 98.9 mark… trying to go too fast… making mistakes, blind tele’s and getting trapped, and not able to tele out due to being “stun-locked”.
Ended up using a Token to max Oak Sage rather than Heart of the Wolverine… and, it was clear sailing from there on in.
Not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but, around 98.6 (things were going really slow) I swapped my Act1 Merc out for a Act2 Might merc, and eventually settled on Infinity/Bramble/Andy’s. infinity was stolen from my Amazon, and Andy’s has a 15Ias/15@Res jewel in it.
Had a friend rush one of my mules to get the socket quest for the Andy’s.
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Gz! How do you feel about bramble damage? Seems like its pretty bad on hell?
Bramble, while not significant, it was noticeable since all the 4 legged Zoo got the Buff.
I was using Forti/GFace on him before, and with Bramble he became fragile, so, dug out an Andy’s (10LL) for him, and that for the most part took care of him.
Yea i Can see it works, the zoo are really lacking aoe or attack speed, even with beast. The thorns could add that kinda
I think the Thorns on Bramble, combined with the “prevent monster heal” and -83% targets defense on Infinity, with the 377 poison Damage small charm on my DooDoo… all work together to make Thorns… not so bad…
Especially on the Zoo who have little defense, so, they are getting hit, and returning not just the flat damage, but the % damage multiplier as well.
You mentioned Beast,
Unless you are shifting to bear and attacking, might I suggest you try Faith bow… which provides higher Fanata, and lets you join the attack from a safe distance… and even provide Amp Damage if you have an Atma’s laying around.
Ya, Jah Ohm Lem makes it rather spendy.
I mean the Numbers just sont add up worth a2 merc with might, pride and me with beast, i cant see why faith would be better ;(
Ok.
So, what I have noticed running a bow, is that, often times what i am shooting at - the Zoo decides to engage (rather than their typical random engagement)… this saves me from needing to cast them in game… which means I can opt for casting gear in town, and monster killing gear out in battle.
Sure, teleport redirects them, but sometimes that’s risky, so, simply aiming at the “resurrecter of monsters” will focus the Zoo, without needing a risky Tele to get them there (sometimes)
Then, if you are currenty staying in human/caster form, you are not contributing to the damage… Bow allows you to contribute and apply Amp Damage (while “sometimes” directing the Zoo) if you so choose.
Kinda played around some myself, and, it’ll always come down to play styles and priorities/preferences, but, if you care to spend a bit reading, here is what I went through with Reapers/Insight/Pride (maybe others)/Forti/Bramble… on my journey to 99.
Starts at Mar 11, but, it’s all a good read if you have time.
It’s in the Druid section of this website… so… safe.
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d2r/t/new-druid-summoner-build-that-rocks/120716/103
I do not claim to be a master of any character in the game… so, there is that.
Simply sharing my experience.
Good luck.
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You will get more damage with infy than pride on ur act 2 merc. The concentration aura from pride only affects ur dire wolves and the bear, ravens do not benefit from aura’s and spirit wolves do cold damage. Infinity has LvL 12 conviction aura which provides -83% enemy defence and -85% enemy resistances which will benefit ur entire army including ur ravens which will land more successful hits with the -83% enemy def and so will ur wolves. Besides this ur merc will help quite a bit more on single target (bosses) with the crushing blow from infy
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Now i remember 
we already had this conversation before 
and yes the faith is actually better than beast and the radius is larger on the fana aura too
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Yes.
Yourself
CrazyMage
insidious
and a friend in game, DeadlyMouse…
Were all instrumental in getting this casual player to level a sub-par build to lvl99.
I mention those folks, 'cause, go find a build guide on a Bow Druid Summoner… was an experiment to say the least.
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I think i was stuck on the idea of faith on a a1 merc, i see it makes sense with atmas! I think the zoo keeper is on hold butik next ladder. This season i Will focus on my trap assa!
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Faith act 1 works great if u go fury/summon hybrid. skip ravens, max all wolves + bear+ fury , 1 point all requisites and all remaining points go to heart of the wolverine. This build works really well with self wielding reapers toll ( pref eth with zod) or some other hard hitting two hand weapon + all the basic melee gear (Loh,string of ears,gore riders,highlords,jalal etc.). Very tanky and safe build and pretty good clearspeed for a melee build
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I have a lvl95 of that build… it is insane-o for melee… love it.
Past couple days been learning to play my Wind Druid, who started as summons (too much like my other), then went fire (hated it), then wind at lvl91.
Fooled around with Windy on and off till he hit 92, but, was a time filler - what the heck deal, nothing to think about here deal.
Played him for the last couple days and getting to know - how to play him.
Sweet Momma… he’s a monster!
Yeah been playing the fury/summon build several ladders and the faith act 1 seems to work best if u want the highest fury breakpoint. To me it feels better than act 2 might just because having the highest possible attack speed breakpoints is better for fury since its a five attack animation and works pretty much similar to zeal, attack speed = less time stuck in animation
Edit: Besides he pretty much one hit every single trash mob anyway so why not have more attack speed and act 1 has better AI and never dies with an army of wolves as meat shield
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Guys please stop, i was gonna play assa this season 