Wind Druid

Learn the best skills, stats, and gear for the Wind Druid in diablo ii resurrected. Focus on Cyclone Armor, Twister, Tornado, and Hurricane.

Skills

The core offensive skills for the Wind Druid are Cyclone Armor, Twister, Tornado, and Hurricane. While Tornado and Hurricane's damage may not match skills like Fireball, Blessed Hammer, or Blizzard, they are easier to aim. Hurricane is a long-lasting area-of-effect (AoE) spell with good range, and Tornado pierces through enemies in a line. This makes the Wind Druid a slower boss killer but excellent at clearing groups of enemies. Hurricane is cast about once per minute, while Tornado is spammed when near enemies.

Cyclone Armor absorbs elemental damage, enhancing the Druid's survivability. It also acts as a synergy for Tornado, increasing its damage, and for Hurricane, increasing its duration. Cyclone Armor is also a decent spell on its own for absorbing elemental damage. Combined with Oak Sage, which boosts Vitality and resistances, the Wind Druid can become surprisingly tanky. Investing in offensive skills further increases the damage absorbed by Cyclone Armor.

Oak Sage grants the Druid and nearby allies a bonus to Max Life equal to 30% + 5% per skill level (sLv). Once past sLv20, Oak Sage provides over +100% Max Life to all allies. Oak Sage is a summon that lasts indefinitely as long as the minion survives. At lower levels, Oak Sage is vulnerable and can die to strong AoE attacks, especially against enemies like Diablo or Baal. However, it can be resummoned easily, and once elemental skills are maxed, points can be invested into Oak Sage to increase its tankiness. The summon's range starts at 20 yards and can exceed 40+ yards with skill point investment.

Optionally, you can invest a point into Summon Grizzly from the Summoning Skills tree. With enough +Skills and a high-level Oak Sage, Summon Grizzly can draw enemy fire. You will also need to purchase Summon Dire Wolf on the way to Summon Grizzly, which can also help tank. These summons are best used to buy time for lining up shots.

Wind Druid Suggested Skills

• Arctic Blast: 1 point (Prerequisite for Cyclone Armor)
• Cyclone Armor: 20 points (Prerequisite for Twister, synergy with Tornado/Hurricane, absorbs elemental damage)
• Twister: 20 points (Prerequisite for Tornado, synergy with Tornado/Hurricane)
• Tornado: 20 points (Main offensive spell, prerequisite for Hurricane, synergy with Hurricane/Cyclone Armor)
• Hurricane: 20 points (Secondary offensive spell, long duration, AoE, freezes enemies, synergy with Tornado/Cyclone Armor)
• Oak Sage: 20 points (Boosts Max Life)
• Ravens: 1 point (Prerequisite for Spirit Wolf)
• Summon Spirit Wolf: 1 point (Prerequisite for Dire Wolf)
• Summon Dire Wolf: 1 point (Prerequisite for Summon Grizzly, secondary summon)
• Summon Grizzly: 1+ points (Primary summon)
• Total: 105 Skill Points (Lv94 + Quests)

Wind Druid Level-by-Level Skills

• Level 30: Oak Sage (1), Arctic Blast (1), Cyclone Armor (10), Twister (1), Tornado (7), Hurricane (1)
• Normal Quests: Cyclone Armor (14)
• Levels 31 - 38: Tornado (15), Hurricane (9)
• Levels 39 - 43: Tornado (20)
• Levels 44 - 54: Hurricane (20)
• Nightmare Quests: Cyclone Armor (18)
• Levels 55 - 56: Cyclone Armor (20)
• Levels 57 - 75: Twister (20)
• Hell Quests: Raven (1), Summon Spirit Wolf (1), Summon Dire Wolf (1), Summon Grizzly (1)
• Levels 76 - 94: Oak Sage (max)
• Level 94+: Summon Grizzly (additional points)

Stats

The Wind Druid needs enough Strength to equip gear, with the rest of the points going into Vitality. You will be tanking hits in close combat, but with Oak Sage, Cyclone Armor, and minions, you shouldn't need to aim for Max Block. Any points invested into Vitality are amplified by Oak Sage. To equip a Spirit shield, you need 156 Strength, which is a significant investment but worthwhile.

Wind Druid Level-by-Level Stats

• Levels 2 - 9: Strength +40 (Total: 50)
• Levels 10 - 29: Vitality +100 (Total: 110)
• Levels 30 - 39: Strength +50 (Total: 100)
• Levels 40 - 44: Vitality +25 (Total: 135)
• Lam Esen’s Tome Quest: Vitality +5 (Total: 115)
• Levels 45 - 54: Strength +50 (Total: 150)
• Levels 55+: Vitality (Total: 250+)

Gear

Like most casters, the Wind Druid benefits from items that boost +Skills and +Cast Rate. +Life/Mana, +Resistances, and +Magic Find are secondary concerns. Due to their potent synergies, offensive output and survivability are exceptional even with minimal gear, especially with Oak Sage and Cyclone Armor. The Wind Druid wants much of the same gear as a Sorceress, Necromancer, or Hammerdin but requires it less to perform well, at least until Hell difficulty.

Before Hell difficulty, runewords like Spirit sword, Stealth armor, and a Lore helmet are sufficient. To perform comfortably in Hell difficulty, you will need to supplement and replace this gear.