Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

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Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Hello folks :wave:

Its long time, since i've asked about some build, but i have nearly no experience with Druids, and espeially with Shapeshifters, so thats the reason...

Well, i'm currently building FC Bear, and although i tried to search through the different guides and write-ups, i was unable to find answer to my question...And this is simple...

Why is 6 x Shael Phase Blade used over - for example - 6 x Shael Crystal sword?My guess is base speed of the weapon, but is the difference really so huge in the end?

Physical dmg is very low on both, so this probably makes no difference, or am i wrong?Isn't better idea to use another weapon on switch and probably different attack ?Well, i warned You, i have nearly to no knowledge about druids :coffee:

Thanks for the replys, especially the quick ones :thumbup:

Liq, anyone?

Edit: Arreat says, that it is (0) base weapon speed (Crystal) VS (-30) for Blades
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Phase Blades have a better base speed. You need 110% IAS on one to swing it at 4 frame.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Thanks Liq, thats what i thought...

But because German calculator shows me some crazy results about both weapons (ie max 9frame attack for Phase blades - not sure, what i did wrong), i can't find real difference in speed...If its 4frame (for example :scratchchin:)compared to 6 frames, it is really worth such dex investment?

Edit:Well, i'm even more confused...I've found another calculator (this time especialy for druids), and it seems, that this one is much more accurate - it shows 4 frame attack for PB (-30 base weapon speed and 110IAS on weapon), but also 5 Frame attack with Crystal sword (0 base wepon speed, and 120 IAS on weapon), so i have to ask again...

Its 1 Frame attack increase really worth it?

If my calculations are right, of course...
 
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Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

A 6 shael Crystal Sword is 5 fpa for a bear. That's a 25% difference in damage with a 4 frame FC.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

stephan said:
A 6 shael Crystal Sword is 5 fpa for a bear. That's a 25% difference in damage with a 4 frame FC.
Click to expand...

Well, i have missed something again :scratchchin:

It is 5attacks/sec with Crystal VS 6.25 attacks/sec with PB...

If You are considering 5 attacks as 100%, then yes, it is 25% increase, but question remains - it is worth of such high dex investment?

Speaking about pure HC PvM, of course...

Edit:@Tubba:I really don't know, whats Your point?If survivability, than to me - less dex investment - more points in vitality - higher chance to survive...



 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

It is hard to replace that extra 25 % damage from PB, plus dexterity does add a little AR (:p), but I understand where you are coming from. One thing to point out here is if you do go with PB, bears have *horrible* blocking rates, so be careful about choosing your shield.

If you don't mind 5 frames, I would much rather use 4 socket (need 65 IAS) Griswold's Redemption (except around IM, *whistle*) maybe paired with Dracul's Grasp. Low requirements, some physical damage, and still quite speedy. I am banking on you having one of those of course. :p.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

NagisaFurukawa said:
It is hard to replace that extra 25 % damage from PB, plus dexterity does add a little AR (:p), but I understand where you are coming from. One thing to point out here is if you do go with PB, bears have *horrible* blocking rates, so be careful about choosing your shield.

If you don't mind 5 frames, I would much rather use 4 socket (need 65 IAS) Griswold's Redemption (except around IM, *whistle*) maybe paired with Dracul's Grasp. Low requirements, some physical damage, and still quite speedy. I am banking on you having one of those of course. :p.
Click to expand...

Sure :thumbup:

Thanks Nagi for this idea, its closer to what i've wanted to do with my bear then anything else...Also, i've finished to this moment fourteen Guardians (well mostly twincked ones :p ) and only two or three had noticable block percentage (ie 75% :crazyeyes:)...So, i was even thinking about going shieldless...

I do have some pretty nice GCs (Steel of Vita etc), so i can relatively easily replace losses done by missing points in dexterity...

Again, thanks for the idea :thumbup:



 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

In SC, I like 4 frame Fire Claws and would recommend netting that breakpoint above a slower, Crystal Sword bear. In HC, I see that the dex requirements of a Phase Blade are a bit on the high side, so if you're wanting to trade a slightly quicker attack for some more health, I don't see a problem with that.

edit: Or just go with the Gris Caddy like NagisaFuriskzxazkhhah suggested. Definitely a solid choice.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

RIP said:
So, i was even thinking about going shieldless...
Click to expand...

That is not a bad idea at all. I`m not too worried about the loss of life because of the points you put in dex, but block lock can be quite awful.

My last bear died tragically with a Phase Blade and Tiamat`s Rebuke. With really, really low chance to block I still suffered block lock a lot. Your shield will probably block faster than Tiamat`s so it might work better for you, but there`s nothing wrong with warning you about it:)


 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Yeah Liq, Nagisa's idea seems very flawless and logic to me, so i want to give it a try...

@Thomh:Thanks for the warning aswell :thumbup:

Thanks for the responses, guys :thumbup:
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Not sure what Bear's block breakpoints are, but you can always add Shael runes to improve base speeds. Any extra mods at all can be beneficial. Moser's is probably best.

(from item mod list (check stickies)) Add a shael for 20% higher
Blackoak Shield Luna 50% (70%, gives big bonus to dex and life)
Stormshield Monarch 35% (55%, EVERYTHING you could need)
Moser's Blessed Circle Round Shield 30% (x2 for 70%, res all 25%)

Rhyme Any Shield 40%
Pelta Lunata Buckler 40% (60%, +10 Vit)

Guardian Angel Templar Coat 30% (armor)
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

A little selection of breakpoints for blocking.

27-8 frames
40-7 frames
65- 6 frames
86- 5 frames

I find it very counterintuitive to block slower than you`re attacking, but it might just be me.

But with the caddy the chance to block will be probably be low enough to use a shield just for the mods.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

With a kite shield, at level 80, with 20 dex, you have less than a 1% chance to block. Fill the shield with pdiamonds, I'd say. if you don't need dex for the weapon, of course.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

@Snicker:Well, i really don't think, that i will need resists so badly, but i can give it a try just for comparism...If he reaches Guardian title, i will make some write - up...(considering how much i'm busy last two months - probably not :p )
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

I didn't read through most of the thread, but I'm pretty sure that the german calculator is bugged for fireclaws. That's why you didn't get the right results.
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Thomh said:
A little selection of breakpoints for blocking.

27-8 frames
40-7 frames
65- 6 frames
86- 5 frames
Click to expand...

I do believe the 5 frame bp is 109 unless the strategy compendium lists it wrong.

----

If you do go with a low block shield, maybe consider a HHG?
Relatively low block (40%), life after kill, poison and fire resists and up to 3 sockets.
By the time you reach Hell, you'll probably be at 70ish level, making your block chance significantly small. Assuming you have around 20-40 dex.

lvl 70 + 40 dex + 40% Block Chance = 7%.


 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Straight from the Strat Comp: http://strategy.diii.net/news.php?id=551
16-9 frames
27-8 frames
40-7 frames
65- 6 frames
109- 5 frames
223- 4 frames

I actually find that pretty ridiculous. The only way to hit 5 frames is with a plain 4os shield filled with Shaels and Guardian Angel for 110% (which I believe is the maximum possible for everyone but Palys, which doesn't matter, since HS gives auto 2 frame). Why even have a 200+ breakpoint listed? (it looks like all the classes have physically unattainable breakpoints for most mods...)

After my last post, and going AFK, I was intrigued by the idea of a max block bear using Blackoak and a 6shaelPB (I like crazy theme builds that no one's done before), but now I see that its still slower than a Paly with ZERO FBR and no HS.

GRRRrrrr..... :banghead: :xxx:


I guess you could still go base dex and use Moser's for the Res, and just add Shaels to taste so that if you do block, it won't take as long as anything else...
 
Re: Druid Fire claws Bear - a simple question

Minor comment: if you have a Jeweler's Monarch (or other 4-socket shield type) of Deflecting with 4 sockets, there are some more options for better block speeds. Deflecting gives 30% faster block rate, and 4 Shaels would give 110% just on the shield, so you wouldn't need Guardian Angel's 30% FBR. But it's not like JMoD fall off of trees!

I tried various Fireclaw bear shield options, including Tiamat's (standard) and Medusa's Gaze (odd) but that was SC, wielding phase blades. 4fpa is very nice, and non-fire-immunes are dead pretty quickly. But that was SC. One nice benefit of the phase blades is that durability doesn't matter, but that is just a question of convenience, not of survival.

Perhaps going 2handed with a 6-shael weapon would be a good way of avoiding a big dex investment for 4fpa, but I haven't looked carefully at those options. I think a great axe with 6 shaels is the least-stat-intensive way to get you 4 fpa with a str 63, dex 39 investment.
 
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