Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last update: 10/23/2024
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
- 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.
Specialization
Specialization for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide
Deer → Advantageous Beast
Gain X% Movement Speed and X% Impairment Reduction.
If you want to play more defensively, you can choose Wariness.
Eagle → Iron Feather
Gain X% Maximum Life.
Eagle → Scythe Talons
Gain X% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Wolf → Calamity
Extend the duration of Ultimate Skills by X%.
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
Skinwalker's Aspect
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.
Aspect of Retaliation
Your Core Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your amount of Fortify.
The aspect only works in combination with the Skinwalker's Aspect on the chest armor.
Nighthowler's Aspect
Blood Howl increases Critical Strike Chance by X%. In addition, Blood Howl also affects Nearby Players for X seconds.
Lightning Dancer's Aspect
Lightning Storm Critical Strikes spawn X Dancing Bolts that seek enemies in the area dealing X Lightning damage.
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:
Helmet
- Cooldown Reduction
- Life
- Willpower
- Spirit per Second
- Armor as Required
- Resistances as Required
- Aspect of Might
Companion Innovation
- Wolves Attack Speed
- Ravens Attack Speed
- Poison Creeper Duration
- Ravens Active Size
Chest Armor
- Life
- Willpower
- Spirit per Second
- Armor as Required
- Resistances as Required
- Skinwalker's Aspect
Companion Innovation
- Wolves Attack Speed
- Ravens Attack Speed
- Poison Creeper Duration
- Ravens Active Size
Gloves
- Ranks to Lightning Storm
- Ranks to Core Skills
- Critical Hit Chance
- Willpower
- Life
- Critical Hit Damage
- Edgemaster's Aspect
Storm Finesse
- Storm Damage
- Lightning Bolt Damage
- Storm Critical Strike Chance
Companion Innovation
- Wolves Attack Speed
- Ravens Attack Speed
- Poison Creeper Duration
- Ravens Active Size
Pants
- Life
- Strength
- Armor as Required
- Resistances as Required
- Aspect of the Prudent Heart
Companion Innovation
- Wolves Attack Speed
- Ravens Attack Speed
- Poison Creeper Duration
- Ravens Active Size
Boots
- Movement Speed
- Spirit per Second
- Willpower
- Life
- Armor as Required
- Resistances as Required
- Aspect of Metamorphosis
Druid Motion
- Movement Speed
- Trample Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Digitigrade Gait
Companion Innovation
- Wolves Attack Speed
- Ravens Attack Speed
- Poison Creeper Duration
- Ravens Active Size
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
Storm Finesse
- Storm Damage
- Lightning Bolt Damage
- Storm Critical Strike Chance
Ultimate Efficiency – Druid
- Petrify Cooldown Reduction
- Cataclysm Cooldown Reduction
- Lacerate Cooldown Reduction
- Grizzly Rage Cooldown Reduction
Rings
- Critical Hit Chance
- Willpower
- Life
- Critical Hit Damage
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Aspect of Elements
- Nighthowler's Aspect
Storm Finesse
- Storm Damage
- Lightning Bolt Damage
- Storm Critical Strike Chance
Ultimate Efficiency – Druid
- Petrify Cooldown Reduction
- Cataclysm Cooldown Reduction
- Lacerate Cooldown Reduction
- Grizzly Rage Cooldown Reduction
2H Polearm
- Willpower
- Life
- Critical Hit Chance
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Lightning Dancer's Aspect
Lightning Augments
- Chance for Stormstrike to Hit Twice
- Chance for Lightning Storm to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Cataclysm to Deal Double Damage
Storm Finesse
- Storm Damage
- Lightning Bolt Damage
- Storm Critical Strike Chance
Mjölnic Ryng
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.
Lord Zir
Druid
Unsung Ascetic's Wraps
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.
Beast in the Ice
Druid
Tempest Roar
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.
Duriel, Andariel
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.
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)
Lith
Gain: 25 Offering
Stand still for X seconds.
Lum
Required: 5 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Restore X Primary Resource. (Overflow: Increased Resource Restored)
2nd Runeword (2H Weapon)
Yul
Gain: 50 Offering
Cast a Skill with a Cooldown.
Gar
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
WeaponEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
As long as you don't have the required Runes.
ArmorSapphire
Weapons: Vulnerable Damage
Armor: Willpower
Jewelry: Cold Resistance
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.
Rare Glyph "Electrocution"
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%.
Legendary Node "Ancestral Guidance"
After spending X Spirit, you deal X% increased damage for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Keeper"
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%.
Legendary Node "Thunderstruck"
Storm Skills deal increased damage equal to X% of your Damage vs Close and Damage vs Distant bonuses, up to X%.
Rare Glyph "Earth and Sky"
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%.
Legendary Node "Lust for Carnage"
Critical Strikes with Werewolf Skills restore X Spirit.
Rare Glyph "Headhunter"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Heightened Malice"
While there are X or more Poisoned enemies Nearby, you deal X% increased damage.
Rare Glyph "Spirit"
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
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.
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.
Raheir's Guard
Raheir grants you X% Armor.
Vanguard
Raheir Slows surrounding enemies by X%.
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.
Raheir's Aegis
Raheir grants you X% Resistance to All Elements.
Draw Fire
When you use a Healing Potion, Raheir Taunts enemies around him for X seconds. Can only occur once every X seconds.
Provoke
Raheir Taunts enemies around you for X seconds. You gain X% Damage Reduction for each target, up to X%.
Mocking Lure
You deal X% increased damage to enemies Taunted by Raheir.
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%.
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.
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%.
Sundering Shield
Raheir's final Crater burst inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
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.
Inspiration
Enemies affected by Raheir's Ground Slam take X% increased damage. Allies affected by Raheir's Bastion deal X% increased damage.
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%.
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.
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%.
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
Reinforcement
Earth Breaker
Trigger
Lightning Storm
Video Showcase
Video Showcase for the Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Guide
Changelog
- 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)