Stormslide Druid Endgame Build for Diablo 4 Season 5
Last updated on 01/10/2024
DIablo 4 Builds
Inspired by Aceofspades (GoblinInc.)
I discovered the idea for this build from Druid expert Aceofspades (GoblinInc). I developed my own build variant based on it. Check out his YouTube and Twitch channels for more great Druid builds!
General Notes
General Notes for the Stormslide Druid Build in Season 5
Note: This build has not yet been optimized and adapted for the upcoming season.
This level 100 Druid build is primarily based on your Key Passive Skill Nature's Fury, which automatically triggers Lightning Storm when you use Landslide. So you could say it is actually a Lightning Storm build, even though you actually only use Landslide. This mechanic is so strong that you will cast significantly more Lightning Storms than with a pure Lightning Storm build – I tested it extensively. This build is one of the strongest druid builds in the game right now.
Thanks to the new Mjölnic Ryng, your Cataclysm skill is constantly active in the endgame. You deal increased damage and no longer have any Spirit problems.
The build makes you also very robust, as the Symbiotic Aspect allows you to repeatedly use Cyclone Armor, which then triggers Earthen Bulwark and gives you Barrier.
How well does this build perform in the Pit / Infernal Horde?
As long as you stick to this build and your items are good enough, Tier 100 Nightmare Dungeons and high Pits are no issue for you.
How well does this build perform against bosses?
The build is one of the best boss killers in the game, so Uber Lilith and Tormented Bosses are extremely easy, even in groups of 4.
When is the build playable and which items do I need?
For the endgame build variant in this guide you'll need 3 unique items: Vasily's Prayer, Unsung Ascetic's Wraps and Mjölnic Ryng.
For high Infernal Hordes and Pits, you also require Temerity, Wildheart Hunger and Earthbreaker. So you need a few uniques, but fortunately not a single Mythic Unique. Right now, there is no other build in Diablo 4 that is as strong as this one without mythic uniques.
Playstyle
Playstyle with the Stormslide Druid Build
Playstyle and skill rotation against monsters
For the first group of enemies, use Cataclysm to set your Spirit cost to 0 and then use Landslide and Cyclone Armor permanently. Your Lightning Storm is triggered by Landslide and Earthen Bulwark by Cyclone Armor.
In between, you should regularly use Blood Howl to increase your attack speed.
If you lose life, you should use Earthen Bulwark and Blood Howl to heal yourself and to create a Barrier.
The cooldown of Cataclysm will be reduced to 0 before it expires. However, this only works if monsters live long enough, i.e. in high Infernal Hordes and against strong bosses. If you run through weaker Nightmare Dungeons and enemies die too quickly, Cataclysm will not be permanently available. In this case, you should put skill points into Innate Blood Howl instead of Preserving Blood Howl to generate Spirit.
Playstyle and skill rotation against bosses
You use the same rotation against bosses as against monsters. In Infernal Hordes, you should make sure that you focus on the Council Members who are currently staggered.
Skills
Skills for the Stormslide Druid Build
Wind Shear (1/5)
Conjure a piercing blade of wind, dealing X% damage.
Enhanced Wind Shear
Wind Shear has a X% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for X seconds.
Lightning Storm (5/5)
Conjure a growing lightning storm that deals X% damage per strike. The number of strikes increase the longer the storm is channeled up to a maximum of X at once.
Enhanced Lightning Storm
The size of your Lightning Storm is preserved for X seconds after channeling.
Raging Lightning Storm
Lightning Storm gains X additional lightning strike.
Landslide (1/5)
Crush enemies between X pillars of earth, dealing up to X% damage.
Enhanced Landslide
After Landslide damages enemies X times, the next hit will Immobilize enemies for X seconds.
Earthen Bulwark (1/5)
Rocks surround you for X seconds, granting a Barrier that absorbs X% of your Maximum Life in damage.
Enhanced Earthen Bulwark
Earthen Bulwark makes you Unstoppable while active.
Cyclone Armor (1/5)
Passive: Powerful winds surround you, granting X% Non-Physical Damage Reduction. Active: The winds rapidly expand, Knocking Back enemies and dealing X% damage.
Blood Howl (1/5)
Shapeshift into a Werewolf and howl furiously, Healing you for X% of your Maximum Life.
Enhanced Blood Howl
Kills reduce the Cooldown of Blood Howl by X second.
Preserving Blood Howl
Blood Howl also increases your Attack Speed by X% for X seconds.
Cataclysm (1/1)
A massive storm follows you for X seconds. Twisters Knock Back enemies dealing X% damage, and lightning strikes wildly dealing X% damage.
Prime Cataclysm
Cataclysm's duration is increased by X seconds.
Supreme Cataclysm
Lightning strikes from Cataclysm make enemies Vulnerable for X seconds.
Ancestral Fortitude (1/3)
Increase your Non-Physical Resistances by X%.
Vigilance (3/3)
You gain X% Damage Reduction for X seconds after using a Defensive Skill.
Nature's Reach (3/3)
Deal X% increased damage to Distant enemies. Double this bonus if they are also Slowed, Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back.
Elemental Exposure (1/3)
Lucky Hit: Your Storm Skills have up to a X% chance to make enemies Vulnerable for X seconds.
Endless Tempest (3/3)
Increase the duration of Hurricane and Cataclysm by X%.
Crushing Earthe (3/3)
Earth Skills deal X% increased damage to Slowed, Stunned, Immobilized or Knocked Back enemies.
Safeguard (1/3)
Critical Strikes with Earth Skills Fortify you for X% of your Maximum Life.
Stone Guard (3/3)
While you have Fortify for over X% of your Maximum Life, your Earth Skills deal X% increased damage.
Mending (3/3)
While in Werebear form, you receive X% additional Healing from all sources and gain X% increased Maximum Life.
Neurotoxin (1/3)
Poisoned enemies are slowed by X%.
Envenom (3/3)
You and your Companions gain X% bonus Critical Strike Damage against Poisoned enemies.
Defiance (3/3)
Nature Magic Skills deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Natural Disaster (3/3)
Your Earth Skills deal X% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies. Your Storm Skills deal X% increased damage to enemies that are Stunned, Immobilized or Knocked Back.
Quickshift (3/3)
Shapeshifting into a new animal form grants X% increased damage, up to X%. This bonus is lost after X seconds in Human form
Heightened Senses (3/3)
When Shapeshifting, Werebear grants X% Damage Reduction and Werewolf grants X% Movement Speed. Both bonuses persist as long as you are in either animal form and are doubled while both are active. They are lost after X seconds in Human form.
Nature's Fury (1/1)
Casting an Earth Skill has a X% chance to trigger a free Storm Skill of the same category, and vice versa. In addition, these free Skills count as both Earth and Storm Skills.
Skilltree notes:
- Landslide's only function is to trigger Lightning Storm, so 1 skill point in Landslide is enough.
- You must use Cyclone Armor permanently to trigger Earthen Bulwark. You only use Earthen Bulwark in emergencies.
- If you can use Cataclysm often enough, you no longer need the four skill points in Endless Storm and can move them to Wild Impulses.
- Envenom is skilled because you poison enemies with the legendary Paragon node Constricting Tendrils.
Specialization
Spirit Boons for the Stormslide Druid Build
Deer → Wariness
Take X% reduced damage from Elites.
Eagle → Iron Feather
Gain X% Maximum Life.
If you are robust enough, you can switch to Swooping Attacks.
Eagle → Avian Wrath
Gain X% Critical Strike Damage.
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 Stormslide Druid Build
Symbiotic Aspect
When the Nature's Fury Key Passive triggers a free Skill, your non-Ultimate Cooldowns of the opposite type are reduced by X seconds.
Aspect of Natural Balance
Casting a Storm Skill grants your Earth Skills X% Critical Strike Damage for X seconds. Casting a Earth Skill increases the Critical Strike Chance of Storm Skills by X% for X seconds.
Aspect of Retaliation
Your Core Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your amount of Fortify.
Aspect of The Aftershock
Landslide's earth pillars each strike a second time and deal an additional X% bonus damage per hit.
Notice: Not every item slot always has exactly one aspect. Since aspects can be imprinted on different item types depending on the category, they can often be interchanged with each other.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Stormslide Druid Build
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:
Vasily's Prayer
Willpower
Maximum Life
Armor
Ranks to Defensive Posture
Your Earth Skills are now also Werebear Skills and Fortify you for X% of your Maximum Health.
Varshan
Druid
Chest Armor
- Maximum Life
- Willpower
- Resistances as required (expect cold)
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Natural Schemes
- Thorns
- Crowd Control Duration
- Barrier Generation
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
Temerity
Your Potion Also Briefly Grants Movement Speed
Maximum Life
Healing Received
Damage Reduction while Healthy
Lucky Hit: Up to a X% Chance to Heal X Life
Effects that Heal you beyond X% Life grant you a Barrier up to X% of your Maximum Life that lasts for X seconds. You may now drink your Healing Potion while at full Life.
Lord Zir
All Classes
Note: You heal yourself with Blood Howl and the life pet hit affix on your one-handed weapon, creating a permanent Barrier.
Wildheart Hunger
Attacks Reduce Evade's Cooldown by X Seconds
Movement Speed
Shapeshifting Attack Speed
Cold Resistance
Ranks to Heightened Senses
Shapeshifting into a new animal form increases the value of your Bestial Rampage bonuses by X%, up to X%. This bonus decays by X% per second.
Lord Zir
Druid
Amulet
- Cooldown Reduction
- Ranks to Quickshift
- Ranks to Envenom
- Ranks to Defiance
- Ranks to Nature's Reach
- Critical Strike Chance
Natural Finesse
- Damage
- Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies
- Damage to Close Enemies
- Damage to Distant Enemies
Ultimate Efficiency – Druid
- Petrify Cooldown Reduction
- Cataclysm Cooldown Reduction
- Lacerate Cooldown Reduction
- Grizzly Rage Cooldown Reduction
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
Earthbreaker
Resistance to All Elements
Cold Resistance
Critical Strike Chance
Earth Attack Speed
Chance for Landslide Projectiles to Cast Twice
Ranks to Landslide
Casts of Landslide leave behind Tectonic Spikes that deal X Physical damage over X seconds. Spawning a Landslide pillar within Tectonic Spikes has a X% chance to spawn two instead.
Grigoire
Druid
Dagger
- Willpower
- Life per Hit
- Maximum Life
Earth Augments
- Chance for Earth Spike Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Landslide Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Boulder Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Stone Burst Projectiles to Cast Twice
Natural Finesse
- Damage
- Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies
- Damage to Close Enemies
- Damage to Distant Enemies
Note: You should play with Dagger and Totem to be able to use Landslide faster, and you need the extra slots for important aspects.
Totem
- Cooldown Reduction
- Critical Strike Chance
- Willpower
- Maximum Life
Earth Augments
- Chance for Earth Spike Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Landslide Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Boulder Projectiles to Cast Twice
- Chance for Stone Burst Projectiles to Cast Twice
Natural Finesse
- Damage
- Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies
- Damage to Close Enemies
- Damage to Distant Enemies
Tibault's Will
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.
Duriel, Andariel
All Classes
Note: If you are robust enough, you can switch to Tibault's Will to increase your damage.
Tyrael's Might
Ignore Durability Loss
Movement Speed
Maximum Resistance to All Elements
Resistance to All Elements
Damage Reduction
While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing X damage.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Note: The only useful Mythic Unique for this build is Tyrael's Might. In this scenario, you should switch to legendary pants so that you don't lose the Symbiotic Aspect.
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Stormslide Druid Build
WaffenEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
RüstungRuby
Weapons: Overpower Damage
Armor: Strength
Jewelry: Fire Resistance
JewelryGems
Depending on your needs, you can increase resistances with diamonds, rubies, topaz, amethysts, emeralds or sapphires. Your resistances should be at least 70% with level 100.
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Stormslide Druid Build
Fulminate
Rare Glyph "Fulminate"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased Lightning damage.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased Lightning damage to both Healthy and Injured enemies.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Lightning 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 "Werebear"
For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage while in Werebear form.
Additional Bonus: You gain X% Damage Reduction while in Werebear form.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage while in Werebear form by X%.
Legendary Node "Constricting Tendrils"
Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills have up to a X% chance to entangle the enemy with vines, Immobilizing them for X seconds and Poisoning them for X% of the Base damage dealt over X seconds.
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 "Earthen Devastation"
Your Earth Skills deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage, increased by X% of your Damage vs Crowd Controlled bonus, up to X%.
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 "Survival Instincts"
While in Werebear form, you deal X% increased damage, up to X%, for every X% difference in current Life percent between you and the enemy.
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%.
Legendary Node "Heightened Malice"
While there are X or more Poisoned enemies Nearby, you deal X% increased damage.
Inspired by Aceofspades (GoblinInc.)
I discovered the idea for this build from Druid expert Aceofspades (GoblinInc). I developed my own build variant based on it. Check out his YouTube and Twitch channels for more great Druid builds!
Changelog
- 08/24/2024 – Updated for season 5