** Update 22-7-2025: switched chest to Shroud of false death. Cleared pitlvl 83, glyphs at 84/85, paragon 243 **
In season 9 Earth spike is a popular build. This build also uses Earth Spike, but its based around Gathlen’s Birthright. Ill first explain it and the details are at the bottom.
I use Earth spike as my main damage source. Cause of Nature’s Fury this also procs Wind Shear and Storm Strike.
The unique ability of Gathlen’s Birthright is that it gives you the Perfect Storm and Earthen Might key passives. This means that Earth Spike will benefit from the Earthen Might proc and Nature’s Fury damage buff (x40%), and that the Wind Shear and Storm Strike procs benefit from all three key passives cause they count als both Storm and Earth skills (Nature’s fury).
To make maximum use of Gathlen’s you want a build with a lot of crits. This season they changed Seismic-Shift aspect so that it now casts two rows of spikes instead of one. With the weapon temper you can increase the chance it casts twice. If you take Wild Earth Spike it hits twice if the target is stunned or immobilized. The casts also have a 40% chance to proc both wind Shear and Storm Strike.
This are a lot of hits so its a good build to make use of Gathlen’s.
I added Cataclysm for the Paingorger gauntlets. Its the best skill to mark enemies cause its range is screen wide, maybe beyond. This is needed because Earth spike also goes screen wide or further.
Is it better then a bear version of Earth Spike?
I dont know, but I play hardcore on WT4 and completed Destroyer’s on the Season Journey. Highest pit clear is 78 with my glyphs also at 78.
But my gear is still not fully optimized. I havent got +Basic Skills on my pants yet, cause I still need +Resistances. Furthermore I havent got my fifth glyph filled yet, missing the Heightened Malice legendary node, and three of my offensive aspects aren’t maxed out.
So there’s definitly more potential in the build.
If its better might be relevant for some, but I just wanted to make maximum use of Gathlen’s. Its a human build, thats always nice to play once in a while. You can see a different side of the druid, not the standard Werebear of Werewolf form.
Is Gathlen’s a worthwhile unique?
Yes. The nice thing is that they added an inherent +15% attackspeed when Anima of the Forest procs. When the attackspeed increases, you know the extra key passives kick in. Its a simple added mechanic, but it does a lot to the feeling. You feel the extra power.
I think the unique is better then some give it credit for.
Biggest weakness of the build
The biggest weakness is life regeneration. On druid a lot of builds end up with animal forms. Then I pick the Masochistic boon and I don’t have to worry about life regen. But in human form this isn’t possible.
Of course I could have put one point in Blood Howl, but I don’t want to shapeshift. I want to be human.
This means I really have to watch my health and press the health pot once in a while. I’m still trying to improve the build on this. Once my resistances are sorted out more, Ill probably switch to a chest with a GA on Cyclone armour (already in my chest). Triple critting this can give +8 to Cyclone armour and it will increase my surivability a lot. Then I can take the Undying aspect to get the necessary life regen. Another option is a ring with a GA on life regeneration (1000 instead of 666 compared to the other slots).
I also used Temerity, but the +basic skills ranks are on pants. So not optimal.
Biggest scare: on WT3 when I thought I evaded Lord Zir’s frontal attack, but still got hit. I went from 20k life to a couple thousand. Bosses still are the biggest threat and do too much damage compared to their worldtier.
Most difficult to acquire: an ancestral Shard of Verathiel. I probably got the drop around Paragon 200. Probably did around 20-25 hordes to get it. Maybe unlucky with this one.
Paragon: 231
Unbuffed life: 17635
Skills: Earth Spike 5/5, enhanced, wild, Wind Shear 5/5, enhanced, wild, Storm Strike 5/5, enhanced, wild. Only put Earth spike on the action bar.
Earthen Bulwark 1/5, enhanced, preserving. This is for the Que rune, to have the best version of Bulwark. Cyclone armour 1/5, Ancestral fortitude 3/3.
Wolves 1/5. This is only because I use Spirit Bond. This is the aspect I might replace with undying aspect. Humanity 3/3, Nature’s reach 3/3, Feral Aptitude 3/3.
Endless Tempest 3/3, Neurotoxin 1/3, Envenom 3/3, Crushing earth 3/3, Stone Guard 3/3.
Cataclysm 5/5, prime, supreme. Defiance 3/3, Natural disaster 3/3, Catastrophe 3/3, Defensive Posture 3/3, Nature’s Fury.
Uniques: Gathlen’s Birthright, Paingorger’s Gauntlets and Shard of Verathiel.
Aspects: Might, Spirit Bond, Ballistic, Adaptability (amulet), Impending Deluge, Seismic-Shift, Moonrise.
Boards: Starter (Human), Sinister Tendrils (Undaunted), Heightened Malice (Spirit), Earthen Devestation (Earth and Sky), Ancestal Guidance (not filled yet). The required poisoning comes from the Sinister Tendrils legendary node.
Runes: NeoQue (Bulwark) and NocGar (+25% crit chance).
Spirit boons: Gift of the Stag, Iron Feather, Avian Wrath, Calamity and Calm before the Storm.
Tempers: Barrier generation, Total armour, Movement speed, Cataclysm cooldown reduction (rings+amulet), Chance for earth spike to cast twice on weapon, +damage while fortified.