Druid DPS?

[robisatsea]

Hey guys, anytime I join a group and don't have primary healing responsibilities I feel really awkward. I know smart members of the group are probably expecting me to play a certain way and may be they are even observing me which effects my future ability to group. Once I've buffed the group and recharged my mana what's next? I mean besides giving the tank thorns. Any advice is appreciated, 40 druid.

[mr_jon3s]

Depends where you are grouped at. Root adds, spot heal, nuke mobs when they are low, snare, charm a pet.

[robisatsea]

So Nuke dps is always a better option than lower lvl dots and swinging?

[Sorn]

1. Ensnare unless things are dying too fast
2. Root for CC if you get adds
3. Nukes and DoTs
4. If you're outside, Harmony, SoW, wolf form, etc are all useful one way or another
5. Back-up healer comes in with spot heals depending on main healer's desires, can help preserve main healer's mana, OR just heal the casters who benefit a lot from Greater Healing since they have so few hitpoints.
6. Make funny jokes in group chat to entertain the rest during the non-stop killfest.

Druids in groups are basically back-up everything if the rest of the roles are filled.

If you're totally useless and find yourself sitting around in a group leeching exp, consider ungrouping and finding someone to duo with instead.

So Nuke dps is always a better option than lower lvl dots and swinging?

It depends. Drones of Doom and the like don't get resisted like nukes and don't draw as much aggro, but in a fast-paced group they don't do full damage and are therefore a waste of mana. In a slower group with a few adds, you can whittle away at a mob while the main tank is occupied (provided this doesn't prompt the mob to try to kill you and force the main healer to waste mana healing you).

[Kutsumo]

So Nuke dps is always a better option than lower lvl dots and swinging?

Mobs typically die too fast for dots, and you're not regaining mana when swinging your weapon in melee. It's better to med and cast spells than to stand around to melee.

Like others mentioned look at your utility role first - harmony if puller needs and you're able, CC, and patch heal as needed.

For DPS, charming a pet is by far the best DPS option if there are animals in the zone you're in. Otherwise spending extra mana on nukes is probably the best use to avoid sitting on a full mana bar.

[robisatsea]

Thanks so much. I'm off to the vendors to buy all the nuke spells I thought were useless.

[B4EQWASCOOL]

Druid charm is amazing. Not based on charisma. Go buy that spell.

[Rararboker]

Druid charm is amazing. Not based on charisma. Go buy that spell.

Listen to this man. If you can charm an animal it will contribute a lot more dps than your nukes/DoT's.

[webrunner5]

Mobs typically die too fast for dots, and you're not regaining mana when swinging your weapon in melee. It's better to med and cast spells than to stand around to melee.

Like others mentioned look at your utility role first - harmony if puller needs and you're able, CC, and patch heal as needed.

For DPS, charming a pet is by far the best DPS option if there are animals in the zone you're in. Otherwise spending extra mana on nukes is probably the best use to avoid sitting on a full mana bar.

Great Post. :cool:

[unleashedd]

dru charm NOT based on CHA? this is confirmed, or utmost heresy?

[Itap]

dru charm NOT based on CHA? this is confirmed, or utmost heresy?

Confirmed. It's based on mob level and magic resistance

[Ennewi]

+1 to animal charm. Sometimes there really aren't (m)any animals to pet, depending on the zone, but I've seen druids put mileage on sathir-caller wolf pets in KC groups and what not. If you plan on raiding at all, try grabbing up one of the soul carriers or whatever in PoS. Angry bird is pretty nice as long as you can keep from dying to it.

[Pipsqueak]

If you decide grouping isn't your thing grab any melee character go to great divide charm a Kodiak and fear kite outside the caves.

[Daldaen]

Druid charmed pets top parses in PoHate/Fear/Sky. Also in Kael using a charmed dire wolf I have been able to top the parse on Derakor when I wasn't even in camp.

I had /pet guarded my wolf in our raid camp, I aggroed Derakor and his guards, AE snared his guards and kited them around, got a target on Derakor as he got tagged by an SK into our camp, waited until main tank called assist and /pet attack. The pet did something like 100 DPS. Beating out main rogues and wizards.

Charmed pet is #1 option if you understand how to control it (Ensnare EVERY charmed pet. NEVER stand in its Melee range and eat hits trying to recharm. ALWAYS kite away the pet and recharm without getting hit). They are solid DPS in Kael, Dragon Necropolis, Siren Grotto, West Wastes, and PoMischief for any group you have. They will be far more efficient than any DoT or Nuke you can cast.

[Civenge]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned before. Besides charming, the next highest damage you will get is by putting a damage shield on the tank. Its unresistable damage, its relatively cheap mana, and it lasts for several minutes. Seriously, do it.

[Ennewi]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned before. Besides charming, the next highest damage you will get is by putting a damage shield on the tank.

OP snuck it in towards the end.

Once I've buffed the group and recharged my mana what's next? I mean besides giving the tank thorns. Any advice is appreciated, 40 druid.

It is really decent though and not enough druids keep it up on tank consistently imo.

[Pyrion]

Druid nukes are arguable second or third best (about on par with mage) in the game. You ARE a decent nuker. You can fill the role of a wizard, nuking down hard mobs and casters. while saving mana on easy mobs.

[webrunner5]

Druids are a Hell of a Lot better high end than most people give them credit for. :(

Any class solo is slow going as heck solo, and having a evac, porter in a group is a God Send in Velious, not counting Dots, DD, Charm. :)

[Pyrocat]

Druids are a Hell of a Lot better high end than most people give them credit for. :(

Any class solo is slow going as heck solo, and having a evac, porter in a group is a God Send in Velious, not counting Dots, DD, Charm. :)

Better than most people give them credit for? Maybe. But worse than pretty much any other class in a group. They have crap mana regen and their nukes are easily resisted and take a lot of mana. Their buffs are outclassed by shamans and clerics (until POTG). Their CC comes down to root and snare, which a necro can do and necros get mez as well.

Want a healer? get a cleric, or a shaman for good buffs/slow + same/better heals than druid

Want DPS? get a rogue, monk, wizard, mage, necro, enchanter, ranger, warrior, all of whom do better DPS than a druid. Heck an SK with a decent weapon probably does better sustained DPS than a druid nuking/medding. Exception: druids who have the balls to charm DPS, and access to an appropriate level animal mob. This is very rarely the case in my experience.

Want crowd control? get an enchanter, bard, or necro, all of whom have better CC tools, or get a paladin for root/offtanking.

Want ports? sure, get a druid, but groups don't really need the ability to travel, they usually form up in the dungeon they'll be grouping in.

Want evac? sure, get a druid, but you'd probably be better served getting a bard or enchanter to CC so you won't need to evac.

Source: played a druid on live Kunark - Luclin. They are pretty great at traveling and soloing, but in groups they just don't have any single strong role so they end up being mediocre at several roles. The only time druids are really useful in groups is a) when they can add charm animal DPS or b) when you can't find a single shaman or cleric LFG and you need heals.

[Itap]

Better than most people give them credit for? Maybe. But worse than pretty much any other class in a group. They have crap mana regen and their nukes are easily resisted and take a lot of mana. Their buffs are outclassed by shamans and clerics (until POTG). Their CC comes down to root and snare, which a necro can do and necros get mez as well.

Want a healer? get a cleric, or a shaman for good buffs + same/better heals than druid

Want DPS? get a rogue, monk, wizard, mage, necro, enchanter, ranger, warrior, all of whom do better DPS than a druid. Heck an SK with a decent weapon probably does better sustained DPS than a druid nuking/medding. Exception: druids who have the balls to charm DPS, and access to an appropriate level animal mob. This is very rarely the case in my experience.

Want crowd control? get an enchanter, bard, or necro, all of whom have better CC tools, or get a paladin for root/offtanking.

Want ports? sure, get a druid, but groups don't really need the ability to travel, they usually form up in the dungeon they'll be grouping in.

Want evac? sure, get a druid, but you'd probably be better served getting a bard or enchanter to CC so you won't need to evac.

Source: played a druid on live Kunark - Luclin. They are pretty great at traveling and soloing, but in groups they just don't have any single strong role and end up being mediocre and quite a few things.

A lot of truth in this post, and I main a druid. Ive pretty much solo'd 1-55 and plan on staying in bear pits till 60. Were just not the best additions to a 6 man group, but perhaps that will change a little when we get our new heals.

We can CC, heal, DPS, buff etc, but there is always a class that can do better in most cases. When i do group, and theres a charmable animal available, I ALWAYS charm. It brings better dps than we ever could.

On raids I usually will charm (if available) and spot heal/buff. Kiting is an option too, but normally not needed.

[Itap]

In comparison;

(Druid) Natures Touch (60) - 400 mana for 978 HP, 5.5 second cast time

(Cleric) Divine Light (53) - 350 mana for 910 HP, 4.5 second cast time

[Pyrocat]

In comparison;

(Druid) Natures Touch (60) - 400 mana for 978 HP, 5.5 second cast time

(Cleric) Divine Light (53) - 350 mana for 910 HP, 4.5 second cast time

(Shaman) Torpor (60) - 200 mana for 1200 or 1500 HP (over several tics), 6 second cast time.

And clerics have complete heal and an array of other healing spells. Nature's Touch isn't in the game yet. When it is added, yes, Druids will become better healers, but they will still be outclassed by Clerics and Shamans with Torpor.

[Itap]

(Shaman) Torpor (60) - 200 mana for 1200 or 1500 HP (over several tics), 6 second cast time.

And clerics have complete heal and an array of other healing spells. Nature's Touch isn't in the game yet. When it is added, yes, Druids will become better healers, but they will still be outclassed by Clerics and Shamans with Torpor.

Oh no doubt, you cant compare to a Torpor Shaman or a CH, but like you said, it will make us a little more efficient and actually be able to heal for exp groups.

[robisatsea]

It's a little disappointing to hear that druids make lame teammates but hey, it seems to me there are plenty of people out there willing to give me a charity group as long as I make a lot of noise in lfg. Besides playing a druid first allowed me to make some descent cash, travel around easily and familiarize myself with the geography. I'll probably play a cleric ultimately because I enjoy grouping more than solo but playing a druid has been thoroughly enjoyable.

[thufir]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned before. Besides charming, the next highest damage you will get is by putting a damage shield on the tank. Its unresistable damage, its relatively cheap mana, and it lasts for several minutes. Seriously, do it.

I have met druids who insist damage shields aren't mana-efficient. It makes me so sad. You had one job, brambler.

[Sorn]

Tanks in groups with me have a perma-DS.

[webrunner5]

Druid hate on here is ok but...IF you can't get a Cleric, Shaman, Enchanter in your group you just going to say F it and camp?? :(

I am sure a lot of people kissed the ass of a Druid from level 14 to 52, now they are dog shit all of a sudden? :o

I am not saying they are the second coming of JC, just now there is Ranger Hate, Wizard hate, Druid hate, Pally hate, SK Hate.

People, you are running out of damned classes you want. :eek: If you think the perfect 6 classes are just going to drop out of the sky and group with you, you are crazy as hell. :D Take what you can get and be happy as a pig in shit.

A LOT of people on here blow ass as an Enchanter, Monk, even Warrior. Not like everyone is PERFECT like some people act like on these Forums who think their name is going to draw cool shit for a group.

If there is 6 people in a zone and you are going to blow away a Druid to NOT be in it, well good luck on that attitude when you NEED a f'ing port to get your corpse back when you wipe without a perfect Cleric, or I will not even group mentality.. :p

I see one hell of a lot of dead bodies in WL, and Kael. Maybe 4 people in a group doesn't cut it in reality.

[Arkanjil]

I love druids :)

[slekan]

Druids are excellent pullers and support, duo/trio with necro/chanter that charms and you're set

I would avoid any full group at the higher levels, that exp isnt good at all once you get a good duo/trio going

[maestrom]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned before. Besides charming, the next highest damage you will get is by putting a damage shield on the tank. Its unresistable damage, its relatively cheap mana, and it lasts for several minutes. Seriously, do it.

Assume we have a mob that swings 3 times every 2 seconds and manages to get roughly 1 swing per second over a fight. Then you have your 12 point DS on the tank. Assume 2 mobs on the tank. Your druid is doing 24 DPS while sitting on his or her butt medding. Throw in nukes and charms and you've got some real damage.