D2R Season 9: Maul Druid Build Guide

Dec-16-2024

 

This Maul Druid build for Diablo II: Resurrected Hardcore Mode in Season 9 sounds like an absolute powerhouse! It combines an immense amount of survivability with devastating single-target damage, making it perfect for taking on the most challenging content, like Uber Bosses, in the game. Here's a quick breakdown of this build.

 

 

Why Choose the Maul Druid?

Maul Druid is a Build that holds both exceptional tankiness and high damage output and is one of the most tanky builds in the game. With the right gear, it can easily achieve over 3,500 HP, and in some cases, even reach upwards of 5,000 HP, providing an incredible buffer against damage.

 

The Maul Druid’s primary skill, Maul, allows the player to deal significant damage by stacking charges that boost attack speed and damage with each successful hit, creating a powerful offensive synergy.

 

The Maul Druid isn't the best for fighting lots of enemies at once, but it shines in one-on-one battles, especially against tough bosses. When you transform into a Werebear, your defense becomes super strong, making it hard for even the hardest bosses to hurt you. This lets you safely play through some of the most challenging parts of d2r ladder season 9.

 

Playstyle

The Maul Druid playstyle revolves around maintaining a balance between tankiness and offensive power while managing various forms and buffs. In most cases, you'll be in Werebear Form to utilize your primary skill, Maul, which is a essential way to dealing high damage.

 

Before heading into battle, ensure that all your pets are summoned to enhance your survivability and damage output, especially when using buffs from CTA and Spirit. Every three minutes, you’ll switch to Werewolf Form to activate the “Mark of the Wolf” buff from your helmet, using Feral Rage to quickly proc it for added strength. This form also provides life leech per attack, improving your survivability. While Werebear Form is your primary stance, occasionally using Shockwave can stun enemies in crucial situations, although it’s not intended for clearing maps.

 

Keep a close eye on your pets, particularly the Oak Sage and Heart of the Wolverine, as their buffs are vital for your success. Resummon the Grizzly Bear when needed to create distractions and buy yourself time to recover or escape from dangerous situations. This playstyle requires thoughtful management of forms, skills, and pets to maximize both your offensive and defensive capabilities.

 

 

Stats Allocation

- Strength: 200–300 points, primarily for damage and HP.

- Dexterity: Only invest as needed for gear requirements.

- Vitality: Focus most of your points here to maximize your life pool.

- Energy: No points needed.

 

The Maul Druid in Diablo II: Resurrected is unique because it benefits from a lot of strength, unlike most builds that just meet the minimum requirements. More strength means more damage with melee weapons, so it's recommended to invest heavily in this attribute.

 

However, you should balance it with vitality to increase your health pool significantly, making you a tanky character. You don't need to worry much about allocating points to dexterity if you follow the gear recommendations provided later in this guide.

 

Key Skills

- Max Maul, Werebear, and Lycanthropy for damage and defense.

- Max Oak Sage and Heart of the Wolverine for life, damage, and attack rating boosts.

- A point in Shockwave, Feral Rage, and Hunger for utility, survivability, and life leech.

 

The Maul Druid build focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of the Maul and Werebear skills. Every point spent on Werebear enhances both damage and defense, while leveling Maul increases attack speed, damage, and stun duration. Oak Sage and Heart of the Wolverine are also maxed for their beneficial stats.

 

Summoning skills like Dire Wolf boost your Grizzly Bear's HP, and Hunger is taken for life and mana steal. Feral Rage ensures you maintain Mark of the Wolf. Early levels can use Firestorm and Molten Boulder to reach level 12 quickly, then reallocate points to Maul and Werebear.

 

Increased Attack Speed (IAS) is crucial; using an IAS calculator helps optimize it based on your gear and active skills. Faster Hit Recovery is also valuable but requires less investment, with a target of around 54% FHR being sufficient.

 

Gear Recommendations

Helmet: Metamorphosis for its Mark of the Wolf and Mark of the Bear buffs, but Jalal's Mane and Guillaume's Face are solid alternatives.

Body Armor: Treachery for attack speed or Fortitude for enhanced defense and damage.

Weapon: Consider the Breath of the Dying in an Ethereal Archon Staff for insane DPS and life leech, or the Ribcracker for Crushing Blow and IAS.

Shield: Phoenix for enhanced damage or Stormshield for maximum physical damage resistance in Hardcore.

Gloves: Laying of Hands for damage against demons, or Dracul's Grasp for life leech and Open Wounds.

Boots: Gore Rider for additional Crushing Blow and Deadly Strike.

Rings: Dual leech rings, Raven Frost for Freeze Immunity, or Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band for life leech and bonus damage.

 

Mercenary Choices

In different acts, you can choose different Mercenary. In Act 1, choosing Faith for the Fanaticism Aura, but be mindful of her survivability. In Act 2, choosing Pride for the Concentration Aura and better survivability.

 

The Maul Druid build is all about becoming a walking fortress with enormous damage potential. It's especially appealing for Hardcore mode players who want a reliable, tough character that can handle the hardest content without dying easily.