In the wake ofDiablo 4’s update 2.3.1, several classes have seen improvements that have elevated their viability in the endgame meta. While the start ofDiablo 4Season 9 was dominated by Spiritborn, Sorcerer, and Necromancer builds—since Barbarians and Rogues were hit with nerfs to Overpower Damage—a new contender has emerged as a great mid-season option for players to try out. The Druid has benefited fromDiablo 4’s mid-season patch, and this update has done enough to take this class from mediocre to meta in Season 9.
Diablo 4is only scheduled to get one more updatebefore the start of Season 10 in September, with update 2.3.2 mostly addressing bugs like Uber Lilith never starting her second phase. As such, it seems like the currentDiablo 4meta is locked in for the rest of Season 9, with Druid becoming a great option for players who have finished the season for one character and want to start a new build. The Druid’s rise in viability over the course of the Sins of the Horadrim season could also be foreshadowing its place in the meta when Season 10 rolls around.
Diablo 4’s Druid Has Only Improved Over Season 9
Diablo 4 Update 2.3.1 Gave the Druid a New Tool in its Kit
Prior toDiablo 4update 2.3.1, theDruid’s best Season 9 build was the Pulverize Druid, since it could take advantage of the new Rotting Lightbringer Unique to add Poison splash damage to the Core Skill. While Pulverize Druid is still the top option for the build in Season 9, a few other builds have become standouts as well. Fleshrender Druid is another solid choice at this point in the season since it capitalizes on the power of Poison Damage inDiablo 4Season 9, and Companion Druid similarly benefits from minion builds being valuable for Season 9’s Escalating Nightmares and Horadric Strongrooms.
However, Stormclaw Druid has quietly become a viable build for the class thanks to the buff the Greatstaff of the Crone received in update 2.3.1. This rework is detailed in theDiablo 42.3.1 patch notes:
An important distinction is made with this change, as rather than Storm Strike dealing 200-350% normal damage, both Claw and Storm Strike deal 100-250% increased damage. As such, Druids get two damage sources with increases rather than one. Since Claw and Storm Strike areBasic Skills for the Druid, they don’t cost any resources to use, and the separation of damage multipliers means players will be able to deal more consistent damage at a higher ceiling when casting these skills. The only downside is that the Greatstaff of the Crone Unique is required for this build to function properly, but that is a fairly small price to pay for a build that can deal huge melee damage without expending Spirit.
Players Should Keep an Eye on the Druid for Diablo 4 Season 10
With the Druid trending upward in the second half of Season 9,Diablo 4players may want to keep an eye on the class heading into Season 10. The value of a class for any given season largely comes from how well its new Uniques stack up against other options available, and whether the class receives any nerfs or buffs with the seasonal update patch. While the Druid is in a great position right now, things could still change at the start ofDiablo 4Season 9.
Diablo 4Season 10 is also slated to gain a new seasonal mechanic in the form of Chaos Powers, which could also impact a class’s viability, much likeSeason 9’s Horadric Spellshave done.
However, the Druid in particular has a lot of breathing room that could make it a reliable class in the next season. The diversity of the Druid builds that are considered meta in Season 9 means that some Legendary Aspects or Skills could take a hit, and the Druid could come out unscathed. For comparison, the top Spiritborn builds inDiablo 4Season 9 all rely on theBalazan’s Maxtlatl Uniquefor success, so a nerf to that Unique could cause the class to lose its crown. By diversifying its portfolio of builds, the Druid is setting itself up to carry its mid-Season 9 rise intoDiablo4 Season 10.
