Intro
The Druid in Diablo 2 Reimagined 2.1 presents a fascinating and highly effective summoner build, largely centered around an often-underestimated Act 3 Enchant Mercenary. This build leverages the Merc's high-level Enchant skill to provide AR & fire damage boost to a significant number of summons, creating an incredibly versatile and powerful army capable of conquering all content in the game on P8.
Here's a breakdown of its key features:
- Massive Summon Count: The core of the build revolves around summoning an impressive 36 creatures, each benefiting from the Enchant Merc's buff. This sheer volume of attackers creates a screen-filling force that overwhelms enemies.
- Act 3 Enchant Mercenary Synergy: The Fire Act 3 Merc's Enchant skill is the linchpin. While typically overlooked, in Reimagined, it provides a substantial flat fire damage addition (4k+at lvl95) to all summons, significantly boosting their offensive power beyond typical summoner builds. The Merc's survivability can also be surprisingly high with proper gearing.
- Versatility and All-Content Viability: This build is designed to be effective against anything the game throws at it. The sheer number of summons, combined with the added fire damage, allows it to deal with various monster immunities and high health pools, making it excellent for general mapping, bossing, and even the toughest challenges like P8 Ubers.
- Accessibility with New Mechanics: The introduction of new 2.1 unique jewel recipes, particularly for "Heaven" and "Fire" facets, makes acquiring the necessary gear for this build significantly more achievable.
- Scalability (Optional Revives): While 36 summons are already formidable, the build has the potential to expand even further with an additional 50+ summons by including the ‘Revive’ oskill. This offers a path for even greater power and versatility, though it's highlighted as not strictly necessary for the build to excel.
In essence, the Elite Druid build in Diablo 2 Reimagined takes a creative approach to summoner gameplay, transforming the Act 3 Enchant Merc into a powerful support engine that elevates a legion of summons into a force capable of dominating all aspects of the game, even on the highest difficulties. The improved accessibility of key unique jewels in version 2.1 further sweetens the deal for players looking for a fun and potent experience.
Stats
Strength - Enough to wear your gear
Dexterity - Enough to wear your gear
Vitality - Everything
Energy - None
Skills
1 Point :
Oak Sage
Heart of Wolverine
Spirit Barbs
Carrion Vine
Cyclone Armor
Lycanthropy
1 point all cold and wind skills
10 Points :
Summon Grizzly
5 Points :
Summon Dire Wolf
5 Points :
Summon Spirit Wolf
9 Points :
Ravens
20 Points :
Firestorm
20 Points :
Molten Boulder
10 Points :
Werebear
Gameplay
Click here for gameplay footage
Gear
Weapon - Crafted Phase Blade - Socket punch 6x - Add 6x Heaven Facets
Corrupt with either +skill or +min/max dmg
Shield - Knights Dawn - Socket punch 4x - Add 4x Heaven Facets
Corrupt with either +skill or anything else you need, upgrade to its elite level before socket punching. Provides the Holy Shield & Concentration Aura oskills.
Armor - Golems Cain - Socket punch 4x
Upgrade to elite lvl, includes Golem Mastery to pair with Metalgrid amulet ‘Iron Golem’, also provides good res and Clay Golem and Blood Golem summons.
The corrupt you are searching for is HP/All skill. Upgrade it with All resist+Max resist.
Helm - Overlord's Helm
Socket punch 4x then add 4 heaven facets.
Corrupt with whatever you can get. Upgrade it with +3 skills.
Gloves - Teleomortis Gloves.
Corrupt with IAS or elemental skill dmg. Upgrade as follows depending on your needs to reach your BPs. FCR/IAS/50HP/6%HP
Boots - Bonemesh
Provides 14 skeletons for your enchant merc to buff
Corrupt with cannot be frozen or anything else you want
Belt - Citadel Belt
Corrupt with +skill or anything else. Upgrade with FHR to reach a BP. PDR or HP if you dont care.
Amulet - Metalgrid
My fav item in the Reimagined mod, hard to acquire but needed for Golems Cain body armor. Provides Iron Golem Charge - Summon Infinity or anything you want to give your summons an edge
Corrupt with whatever you want. Upgrade with Druid Skills.
Rings - Jordan Sigil.
2x Jordan's Sigil rings. Very hard to come by. Corrupt it if you dare (pref +skill). Upgrade with anything you want
On swap
Warrior Untamed sword and any +skill shield
Charm Inventory
Charm inventory is very straight forward. 11x All Skill Grand Charms, Upgraded Torch, Upgraded Soulstone, Queen's Call.
A3 Merc's Gear
Crafted Phase Blade - Socket punch x6, add x6 Fire facets
Incarnadine Elven Plate - Upgrade to elite lvl first, Socket punch x4, add x4 Fire facets, upgrade 5 times with mx res
Overlords Helm - Socket punch x4, add x4 Fire facets, upgrade with +3 all skills
Teleomortis Gloves - Corrupt & upgrade with elemental skill dmg
Grimleaper Boots - or any of your pref
Full set of corruption coils - corrupt, and upgrade with anything you want
Sun Tormenter Shield - Socket punch x2, add x2 Fire facets
BONUS - Swap one of the rings and the helm for: Vampire's Crusade (set) ring and Lord Hades' Throne (set) helm…. for the ‘Revive’ oskill. This will add another 50+ summons for your merc to enchant. Also don't forget to upgrade helm with +3 skills and socket punch 4x and add 4x heaven facets… and corrupt if your dare
Conclusion
The Elite Summon Druid in Diablo 2 Reimagined masterfully redefines the summoner archetype by centering its immense power around the often-underutilized Act 3 Enchant Mercenary. This innovative synergy, combined with the right jewels, cultivates a formidable army of 36 (and potentially more) fire-infused summons. The result is a highly versatile and potent build capable of conquering all of Diablo 2 Reimagined's content, offering a fresh and incredibly effective approach to dominating the game.