** Updated 20-3-25: changed to Fleshrender, see bottom **
This season aspect of electrified claws was added:
“Shapeshifting into a new animal form causes a Lightning Bolt to strike a Nearby enemy dealing 600 Lightning damage. Your Lightning Bolts deal [x20% - 40%] increased damage and Stun for 2 seconds.”
And with VoH expansion the Chac rune:
"Requires: 20 offering
Overflow: Increased bolts spawned
Invoke the Druid’s Lightning Bolt, striking a nearby enemy"
I made a build around it and cleared a pitlevel 100 with it. It was also good enough to complete the Destroyers part in the Season journey to get the title Gelena’s Ally.
Paragon level: 263
Masterworked: 12/12
Skills: Maul (left), Shred (right), Hurricane, Cataclysm, Debilitating Roar, Cyclone armour.
Maul and Shred got minimal points invest and are only to trigger the Electried claws aspect, but it also activates Iron fur, Quickshift, Heightened senses and Bestial Rampage.
Hurricane and Cataclysm are used to add damage and to proc a lucky hit from Electric Shock and Bad Omen. The defensives are to proc Vigilance and Backlash.
Uniques: Heir of Perdition, Tyrael’s Might and Mjolnic Ring.
Aspects: Electrified claws (2-hander polearm), Changeling’s debt (amulet), Runeworker’s conduit, conceited aspect, concussive strikes and Exploiter’s.
Paragon: Starting (Electrocution), Constricting tendrils (Spirit), Heightened Malice (Fang & Claw), Ancestral Guidance (Guzzler), Survival instincts (Undaunted).
Tempers: Lightning bolt damage, Cataclysm deals double damage, Hurricane duration & size, Cataclysm cooldown reduction, movement speed and dodge.
Runes: NeoChac and IgniZec.
How does it play?
I press debilitating roar to get the x15% damage and another 15% from Backlash, followed by Cataclysm and Hurricane. Last two benefit from the extra damage for their duration. The cooldown of these three skills are around 20 seconds. As soon as debilitating roar is available I repeat the cycle.
With left / right I toggle Maul and Shred. Every shapeshift procs a lightning bolt.
My cataclysm has 94% lucky hit chance and it gives guaranteed vulnerability. Its the best skill for the lucky hit from Bad Omen and Electric Shock.
More lightning bolts are added with the Chac rune and Runeworker’s conduit.
The +Lightning bolt damage (155%-200%) is the highest +damage temper for druid. I double critted it on my two-hander for +702% damage.
I aimed for high willpower cause it improves damage. Runeworkers conduit scales well with willpower. The aspect improves my lightning bolt damage by x585%.
I tried avoid taking aspects like Apogeic furor and Vehement Brawler’s aspect because I didn’t want to make another Cataclysm build. Same goes for the Xan And Qax runes.
Athough Cataclysm isn’t meant as a huge damage source in this build, it still hits very hard cause the +lightning bolt damage increases Cataclysm damage through Mjolnic ring: “Cataclysm receives your lightning bolt benefits.” In that sense this build proves you can probably make also a strong Cataclysm build that doesn’t revolve around overpower, but around +lightning bolt damage.
Interesting S8 changes:
Charged Atmosphere:
** Previously: Every 14/11/8 seconds, a Lightning Bolt hits a Nearby enemy dealing [45%] damage. Your Lightning Bolts deal 10/20/30% increased damage.*
** Now: Every 3 seconds, a Lightning Bolt hits a Nearby enemy dealing [30/60/90%] damage. Your Lightning Bolts deal 10/20/30% increased damage.*
Overload
** Chance for lightning bolts increased from 1% to 35%.*
Lightning dancer’s aspect:
** Previous: Lightning Storm critical Strikes spawn 3 Dancing Bolts that seek enemies in the area dealing [110-155%] Lightning Damage.*
** Now: Lightning Storm and Lightning Bolt Critical Strikes have a 50% chance to spawn 3 Dancing Bolts that seek enemies in the area dealing [155-200%] Lightning Damage. Your Dancing Bolts deal 30% increased damage.*
What did I like?
Since launch this is the first time I managed to clear a pitlevel 100 and level my glyphs to 100. Maybe sounds strange, but I always avoid meta builds and make my own. And I tend to loose a character before I get that far, cause its hardcore.
So clearing a pitlevel 100 really felt like an accomplishment and I was also very happy to get Gelena’s Ally.
I suspected Cataclysm was strong, but i’m happy to see that the build also does damage even when Cataclysm is on cooldown. Electrified claws is a fun aspect.
Same goes for Lightning Bolt: its not a skill, so you really have to look through aspects and items that can boost its damage.
Sidenote: I didn’t get to trying it yet, but I think Fleshrender is very compatible with this build. The required poisonous comes from Overload, Constructing tendrils and Shred. The +Willpower and +Backlash are nice stats. The Fleshrender effect benefits from high willpower. I would change Debilitating roar for Blood Howl for more uptime.
I hope you enjoyed the read. With the new druid helmet coming next season there will probably be a lot more interesting builds possible, maybe even with lightning bolt in it.
Have fun in S8!
** Update 20-3-25: I tried Fleshrender with off-hand. I had one with a GA on willpower and a decent roll on its damage effect. I managed to clear a pitlevel 100 with a couple seconds left. It made me smile. I always had a softspot for Fleshrender but its difficult to make it work. Its fun to howl and then do AOE damage 