Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)

Last update: 10/23/2024

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Index

General Notes

General Notes for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide in Vessel of Hatred

Note: This leveling guide is optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).

Lightning Storm is a great choice for levelling a Druid, as the build works well without any Legendary Aspects and Unique Items. It is a Channeling Skill that builds up Lightning Bolts over time, up to a certain maximum number.

The build is particularly effective against groups of monsters, but it has always had problems with bosses. Due to the recent buffs to the Ultimate Skill Cataclysm, these problems are now a thing of the past. However, it is advisable to switch to a Landslide version for high Pit Dungeons in the endgame because it deals even more damage. Here is my Stormslide Endgame Build.

Until when is this leveling build playable? You can play this and all my other leveling guides on Vitablo.com for as long as you like. Some of them still perform well at Torment difficulty 4, others have their limit at Torment difficulty 3. As soon as your build no longer feels strong enough, you can switch to one of my endgame builds.

Playstyle

Playstyle for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Druide-Skill-Blutgeheul
Druide-Skill-Giftranke
Druide-Skill-Kataklysmus
Druide-Skill-Niedertrampeln
Druide-Skill-Erdspiess
Druide-Skill-Gewittersturm
  • When you first face the group of enemies, channel Lightning Storm up to the maximum number of Lightning Bolts. After that, you can use Lightning Storm without channeling and move after each bolt. In between, use Blood Howl to generate Spirit and Trample to move faster.
  • You start the fight against elite enemies with Poison Creeper to immobilize and poison them. You can also use Cataclysm on them to deal more damage. However, this is mainly important against bosses.
  • You should also not fully charge your Lightning Storm against bosses, but only up to a count of 3 Lightning Bolts. After that, you should no longer channel the Lightning Storm, but just use it as quickly as possible in one go, this way more bolts will hit the boss and he will die faster.
  • When Blood Howl and Trample are on cooldown and your Spirit is all used up, you have to resort to the basic attack Earth Spike.

Skills

Skills for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Note: Level up all your active skills first and work your way down to your Key Passive as quickly as possible. If you are missing skill points to progress on your way through the skill tree, you can invest them in some passive skills. As soon as you have leveled up all active abilities and your Key Passive Ability, continue with the missing passive skills.

Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Skilltree

Specialization

Specialization for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Icon Spirit Boon Deer

Deer → Advantageous Beast

Gain X% Movement Speed and X% Impairment Reduction.

If you want to play more defensively, you can choose Wariness.

Icon Spirit Boon Eagle

Eagle → Iron Feather

Gain X% Maximum Life.

Icon Spirit Boon Eagle

Eagle → Scythe Talons

Gain X% increased Critical Strike Chance.

Icon Spirit Boon Wolf

Wolf → Calamity

Extend the duration of Ultimate Skills by X%.

Icon Spirit Boon Snake

Snake → Calm Before the Storm

Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills have up to a X% chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skill by X seconds.

Aspects

Aspects for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Icon Aspect of Might

Aspect of Might

Defensive All Classes

Basic Skills grant X% Damage Reduction for X seconds.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Skinwalker's Aspect

Skinwalker's Aspect

Defensive Druid

When you use a Shapeshifting Skill that changes your form, Heal for X% of your Maximum Life. If you are at full Life, gain the same amount as Fortify.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Edgemaster's Aspect

Edgemaster's Aspect

Offensive All Classes

Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Aspect of the Prudent Heart

Aspect of the Prudent Heart

Defensive All Classes

After being damaged for at least X% of your Maximum Life at once, you become Immune for X seconds. Can only occur once every X seconds.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Aspect of Metamorphosis

Aspect of Metamorphosis

Mobility All Classes

When you Evade you turn into a cloud of bats, becoming Unstoppable for X seconds. Enemies along your path take X Physical damage and are inflicted with Vampiric Curse. Evade's Cooldown is increased by X seconds.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Aspect of Retaliation

Aspect of Retaliation

Offensive Druid

Your Core Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your amount of Fortify.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

The aspect only works in combination with the Skinwalker's Aspect on the chest armor.

Icon Aspect of Elements

Aspect of Elements

Offensive All Classes

Gain X% increased damage to a set of damage types for X seconds. This effect alternates between 2 sets: Fire, Lightning, and Physical. Cold, Poison, and Shadow.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Nighthowler's Aspect

Nighthowler's Aspect

Offensive Druid

Blood Howl increases Critical Strike Chance by X%. In addition, Blood Howl also affects Nearby Players for X seconds.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Icon Lightning Dancer's Aspect

Lightning Dancer's Aspect

Offensive Druid

Lightning Storm Critical Strikes spawn X Dancing Bolts that seek enemies in the area dealing X Lightning damage.

Imprint on: 1H Weapon 2H Weapon (+100%) Offhand Gloves Helm Chest Armor Pants Boots Rings Amulet (+50%)

Items & Affixes

Items & Affixes for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

General tips about your Gear

  • Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
  • Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
  • Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
! = Important Affix
= Masterwork Affix + Greater Affix
Diablo 4 Item Type Helm

Helmet

  • Cooldown Reduction
  • Life
  • Willpower
  • Spirit per Second
  • Armor as Required
  • Resistances as Required
  • Aspect of Might
Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Endurance

Defensive All Classes

  • Maximum Life
  • Total Armor
  • Dodge Chance

Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.

Icon Tempering Manual

Companion Innovation

Utility Druid

  • Wolves Attack Speed
  • Ravens Attack Speed
  • Poison Creeper Duration
  • Ravens Active Size

Diablo 4 Item Type Chest Armor

Chest Armor

  • Life
  • Willpower
  • Spirit per Second
  • Armor as Required
  • Resistances as Required
  • Skinwalker's Aspect
Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Endurance

Defensive All Classes

  • Maximum Life
  • Total Armor
  • Dodge Chance

Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.

Icon Tempering Manual

Companion Innovation

Utility Druid

  • Wolves Attack Speed
  • Ravens Attack Speed
  • Poison Creeper Duration
  • Ravens Active Size

Diablo 4 Item Type Gloves

Gloves

  • Ranks to Lightning Storm
  • Ranks to Core Skills
  • Critical Hit Chance
  • Willpower
  • Life
  • Critical Hit Damage
  • Edgemaster's Aspect
Icon Tempering Manual

Storm Finesse

Offensive Druid

  • Storm Damage
  • Lightning Bolt Damage
  • Storm Critical Strike Chance

Icon Tempering Manual

Companion Innovation

Utility Druid

  • Wolves Attack Speed
  • Ravens Attack Speed
  • Poison Creeper Duration
  • Ravens Active Size

Diablo 4 Item Type Pants

Pants

  • Life
  • Strength
  • Armor as Required
  • Resistances as Required
  • Aspect of the Prudent Heart
Icon Tempering Manual

Worldly Endurance

Defensive All Classes

  • Maximum Life
  • Total Armor
  • Dodge Chance

Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.

Icon Tempering Manual

Companion Innovation

Utility Druid

  • Wolves Attack Speed
  • Ravens Attack Speed
  • Poison Creeper Duration
  • Ravens Active Size

Diablo 4 Item Type Boots

Boots

  • Movement Speed
  • Spirit per Second
  • Willpower
  • Life
  • Armor as Required
  • Resistances as Required
  • Aspect of Metamorphosis
Icon Tempering Manual

Druid Motion

Mobility Druid

  • Movement Speed
  • Trample Cooldown Reduction
  • Ranks to Digitigrade Gait

Icon Tempering Manual

Companion Innovation

Utility Druid

  • Wolves Attack Speed
  • Ravens Attack Speed
  • Poison Creeper Duration
  • Ravens Active Size

Diablo 4 Item Type Amulet

Amulet

  • Willpower
  • Ranks to Nature's Reach
  • Ranks to Defiance
  • Ranks to Natural Disaster
  • Ranks to Wild Impulses
  • Critical Hit Chance
  • Cooldown Reduction
  • Movement Speed
  • Aspect of Retaliation
Icon Tempering Manual

Storm Finesse

Offensive Druid

  • Storm Damage
  • Lightning Bolt Damage
  • Storm Critical Strike Chance

Icon Tempering Manual

Ultimate Efficiency – Druid

Resource Druid

  • Petrify Cooldown Reduction
  • Cataclysm Cooldown Reduction
  • Lacerate Cooldown Reduction
  • Grizzly Rage Cooldown Reduction

Diablo 4 Item Type Ring

Rings

  • Critical Hit Chance
  • Willpower
  • Life
  • Critical Hit Damage
  • Resource Cost Reduction
  • Aspect of Elements
  • Nighthowler's Aspect
Icon Tempering Manual

Storm Finesse

Offensive Druid

  • Storm Damage
  • Lightning Bolt Damage
  • Storm Critical Strike Chance

Icon Tempering Manual

Ultimate Efficiency – Druid

Resource Druid

  • Petrify Cooldown Reduction
  • Cataclysm Cooldown Reduction
  • Lacerate Cooldown Reduction
  • Grizzly Rage Cooldown Reduction

2H Polearm

Diablo 4 Item Type 2H Polearm
  • Willpower
  • Life
  • Critical Hit Chance
  • Resource Cost Reduction
  • Lightning Dancer's Aspect
Icon Tempering Manual

Lightning Augments

Weapons Druid

  • Chance for Stormstrike to Hit Twice
  • Chance for Lightning Storm to Deal Double Damage
  • Chance for Cataclysm to Deal Double Damage

Icon Tempering Manual

Storm Finesse

Offensive Druid

  • Storm Damage
  • Lightning Bolt Damage
  • Storm Critical Strike Chance

Unique Mjölnic Ryng

Mjölnic Ryng

Unique Ring

Resistance to All Elements

Shadow Resistance


Willpower

Critical Strike Chance

Movement Speed while Cataclysm is Active

Ranks to Endless Tempest


While Cataclysm is active, you gain unlimited Spirit and deal X% increased damage.

Dropped by

Lord Zir

Class

Druid

Unique Unsung Ascetic's Wraps

Unsung Ascetic's Wraps

Unique Gloves

Critical Strike Chance

Damage to Distant Enemies

Ranks to Lightning Storm

Ranks to Defiance


Lightning Storm gains 1 additional strike each times it grows. Lightning Storm Critical Strikes cause lightning to strike twice, dealing X% increased damage.

Dropped by

Beast in the Ice

Class

Druid

Unique Tibault's Will

Tibault's Will

Unique Pants

All Stats

Maximum Life

Maximum Resource

Damage Reduction while Unstoppable


You deal X% increased damage while Unstoppable and for X seconds after. When you become Unstoppable, gain X of your Primary Resource.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel

Class

All Classes

Unique Tempest Roar

Tempest Roar

Unique Helm

Willpower

Maximum Resource

Lightning Resistance

Ranks to Wild Impulses


Lucky Hit: Storm Skills have up to a X% chance to grant X Spirit. Your base Storm Skills are now also Werewolf Skills.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel

Class

Druid

Note: With Tempest Roar, you have to make a lot of changes to the build because you now play as a wolf. However, if you use the Unique Helmet, you should switch to a Landslide build, it is much stronger. So check out my Stormslide endgame build.

Unique Harlequin Crest

Harlequin Crest

Mythic Unique Helm

+800 Maximum Life

+18 Maximum Resource

+350 Armor

+20% Cooldown Reduction


Gain 20% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +4 Ranks to all Skills.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Unique Heir of Perdition

Heir of Perdition

Mythic Unique Helm

+200% Damage to Angels and Demons


+20% Critical Strike Chance

+20% Lucky Hit Chance

+20% Movement Speed

+2 Ranks to Core Skills


Succumb to hatred and earn Mother’s Favor, increasing your damage dealt by 60%(x). Briefly steal Mother’s Favor from Nearby allies by slaughtering enemies.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Unique Tyrael's Might

Tyrael's Might

Mythic Unique Chest Armor

Ignore Durability Loss


+16.5% Movement Speed

+7.5% Maximum Resistance to All Elements

+60% Resistance to All Elements

+20% Damage Reduction


While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing 195 damage.

Dropped by

Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses

Class

All Classes

Runewords

Runewords for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.

1st Runeword (Chest Armor)

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Lith

Lith

Legendary Rune of Ritual

Gain: 25 Offering


Stand still for X seconds.

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Lum

Lum

Magic Rune of Invocation

Required: 5 Offering

Cooldown: 1 Second


Restore X Primary Resource. (Overflow: Increased Resource Restored)

2nd Runeword (2H Weapon)

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Yul

Yul

Legendary Rune of Ritual

Gain: 50 Offering


Cast a Skill with a Cooldown.

Icon Diablo 4 Rune Gar

Gar

Magic Rune of Invocation

Required: 25 Offering

Cooldown: 1 Second


Gain X% Critical Strike Chance for X seconds, up to X%. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Stacks)

Note: When you no longer have Resource problems, you can use the Ohm Rune instead of the Lum Rune.

Gemstones

Gemstones for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Icon Emerald

WeaponEmerald

Weapons: Critical Strike Damage

Armor: Dexterity

Jewelry: Poison Resistance

As long as you don't have the required Runes.

Icon Sapphire

ArmorSapphire

Weapons: Vulnerable Damage

Armor: Willpower

Jewelry: Cold Resistance

Icon Edelsteine und Schädel

JewelryGems and Skulls

You'll need at least 70% to all resistances. If you haven't reached those numbers yet, change your gems accordingly. If you have too many resistances on your items, you can also use skulls, but you shouldn't exceed the armor cap of 1,000.

Paragon Board

Paragon Board for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Important notice:

  • Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes.
  • Skill Order: Start with the ESSENTIAL LAYOUT and rebuild it COMPLETELY to quickly access all the important Nodes and Glyphs. Only then switch to the FINAL LAYOUT and add the missing Nodes.

Board 1

Board 1 Glyphe Icon Electrocution Electrocution

2

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Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Paragon V1-1
5 3 4 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Electrocution"

Class: Druid

For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, your Lightning Bolts and Dancing Bolts deal X% increased damage.

Additional Bonus: Enemies damaged by your Lightning Bolts or Dancing Bolts take X% increased damage from you for X seconds.

Legendary Bonus: Increase Lightning damage by X%.

Board 2: Ancestral Guidance

Board 2: Ancestral Guidance Glyphe Icon Keeper Keeper

3

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Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Paragon V1-2
5 3 4 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Ancestral Guidance"

After spending X Spirit, you deal X% increased damage for X seconds.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Keeper"

Class: Druid

Grants X% bonus to all Rare nodes within range.

Additional Bonus: You and your Companions deal X% increased Non-Physical damage.

Legendary Bonus: Increase Non-Physical damage by X%.

Board 3: Thunderstruck

Board 3: Thunderstruck Glyphe Icon Earth and Sky Earth and Sky

4

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Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Paragon V1-3
5 3 4 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Thunderstruck"

Storm Skills deal increased damage equal to X% of your Damage vs Close and Damage vs Distant bonuses, up to X%.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Earth and Sky"

Class: Druid

Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.

Additional Bonus: Nature Magic Skills deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled or Vulnerable enemies.

Legendary Bonus: Increase Nature Magic skill damage by X%.

Board 4: Lust for Carnage

Board 4: Lust for Carnage Glyphe Icon Headhunter Headhunter

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Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Paragon V1-4
5 3 4 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Lust for Carnage"

Critical Strikes with Werewolf Skills restore X Spirit.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Headhunter"

Class: Druid, Rogue, Spiritborn

Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.

Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.

Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.

Board 5: Heightened Malice

Board 5: Heightened Malice Glyphe Icon Spirit Spirit

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Diablo 4 Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Paragon V1-5
5 3 4 2 1

Icon Paragon Talent

Legendary Node "Heightened Malice"

While there are X or more Poisoned enemies Nearby, you deal X% increased damage.

Icon Paragon Talent

Rare Glyph "Spirit"

Class: Druid

For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X increased Critical Strike Damage.

Additional Bonus: Critical Strikes increase the damage an enemy takes from you by X% for X seconds, up to X%.

Legendary Bonus: Increase Critical Strike Damage by X%.

Work in progress.

Mercenaries

Mercenaries for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Raheir

Skilltree Raheir
Icon Valiance

Valiance

When you would be damaged for at least X of your current Life at once, Raheir comes to your aid to negate the damage, Knock Down Close enemies for X seconds, and grant you Unstoppable for X seconds.

Icon Shield Charge

Shield Charge

Raheir rushes forward aggressively, dealing X% Physical damage and Taunting nearby enemies for X seconds. Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Tower Shield
Basic Attack: Shield Bash
Raheir bashes enemies with a tower shield, dealing X% Physical damage and Fortifying you for X% of your Maximum Life.

Icon Raheir's Guard

Raheir's Guard

Raheir grants you X% Armor.

Icon Vanguard

Vanguard

Raheir Slows surrounding enemies by X%.

Icon Ground Slam

Ground Slam

Raheir brutalizes the ground, dealing X% Physical damage and Slowing enemies by X% for X seconds. Targets in the center of the slam are Slowed by X% instead.

Icon Raheir's Aegis

Raheir's Aegis

Raheir grants you X% Resistance to All Elements.

Icon Draw Fire

Draw Fire

When you use a Healing Potion, Raheir Taunts enemies around him for X seconds. Can only occur once every X seconds.

Icon Provoke

Provoke

Raheir Taunts enemies around you for X seconds. You gain X% Damage Reduction for each target, up to X%.

Icon Mocking Lure

Mocking Lure

You deal X% increased damage to enemies Taunted by Raheir.

Icon Iron Wolf's Ward

Iron Wolf's Ward

When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he Knocks Back Close enemies and Taunts Distant enemies for X seconds. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.

Icon Crater

Crater

Raheir strikes the ground 3 times, each burst dealing X% Physical damage and Pulling In enemies. The final burst additionally deals X Physical damage and Stuns enemies for X seconds.

Icon Iron Wolf's Call

Iron Wolf's Call

When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, your next X Core Skills within X seconds deal X% increased damage and cost no Resource. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.

Icon Sundering Shield

Sundering Shield

Raheir's final Crater burst inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.

Icon Bastion

Bastion

Raheir takes a protective position for X seconds, redirecting X% of the damage that would be dealt to surrounding allies to himself for X seconds. Bastion's initial cast also grants surrounding allies Unstoppable for X second.

Icon Inspiration

Inspiration

Enemies affected by Raheir's Ground Slam take X% increased damage. Allies affected by Raheir's Bastion deal X% increased damage.

Icon Iron Wolf's Virtue

Iron Wolf's Virtue

When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he Heals you for X% of your Maximum Life. Raheir's Valiance Cooldown is reduced by X%.

Icon Shield Throw

Shield Throw

Raheir throws his shield, dealing X% Physical damage and Taunting enemies for X seconds. The shield bounces up to X times and cannot bounce to the same target twice.

Icon Iron Wolf's Arrival

Iron Wolf's Arrival

When Raheir's Valiance is triggered, he also casts Ground Slam and Shield Throw. Raheir's Valiance's Cooldown is reduced by X%.

Icon Consecrated Shield

Consecrated Shield

Raheir's Shield Throw Consecrates enemies for X seconds. Directly damaging a Consecrated enemy Heals you for X% of your Maximum Life, once per target.

Varyana

Mercenary Reinforcement

Reinforcement

Earth Breaker

Mercenary Trigger

Trigger

Lightning Storm

Video Showcase

Video Showcase for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide

Changelog

Changelog

  • 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)