This is a legacy build that is not competitive for the current version of Diablo 4, and which we do not recommend using. It only exists for documentation purposes.
Hi friends! We have updated the Shifter Pulverize to be the main Pulverize build for Icy-veins going forward. Check it out here!
Shifter Pulverize Endgame Build
Build Introduction
The Pulverize Werebear Build turns the Druid into a beast, dealing crushing blows and massive Area of Effects (AoE) damage. This is a popular Druid build due to its easy access and high DPS. Trample through all endgame activities with this optimized guide! This article covers everything you need to know to get started on your Pulverize adventure, including Skill Tree Points, Paragon, Gear, and seasonal considerations.
Pulverize destroys entire groups of enemies with the Shockwave Aspect. Not only does this build have insane DPS, but it also is extremely tanky with Earthen Bulwark and Debilitating Roar as defensive Skills. Fortify is used as an additional layer of survivability.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- High Area of Effect damage
- Great survivability
- Ranged playstyle for safety
Weaknesses
- Setup has essential aspects and uniques
- Low vulnerable uptime
To see how this build compares to the other builds on our site, you can check out our build tier lists.
Build Requirements
Required Aspects
Shockwave Aspect
Shockwave Aspect is recommended to make the most out of this build. If you do not have the Shockwave Aspect yet, you can also check out our Druid Leveling Guide for new character options!
Vasily’s Prayer is a common Unique Druid Helm drop that improves quality of life but is not required to play the Pulverize Werebear build.
Build Variants
A build variant is a modified version of an existing build that changes some aspects of it, such as the damage type, specific skills or passives, and even certain items like different Uniques or Legendary Aspects. Below you will find any variant that relates to the Pulverize Werebear Druid.
Shifter Pulverize Endgame Build
Unlike the standard Pulverize Werebear Druid that stays in Werebear form, the Shifter Pulverize gets to take advantage of strong Storm/Earth combinations for higher damage, has a steadier Spirit Generation and Spirit use through a builder/spender alternator playstyle, and does not rely on Grizzly Rage uptime or ramp. Check it out at the link above!
Season of the Construct
Season 3 Patch Updates
The following list details the changes in theSeason 3Patch Update that are specific to this build. For general Season 3 information, check out our Season 3 Hub.
Patch 1.3.0
Aspect of Retaliation – Bonus damage reduced from 20–40% to 20–30%.
Overpower:
- Overpower attacks now gain +1% damage, down from +2%, per 1% of your Base Life you have in Fortify.
- Overpower attacks now gain +1% damage, down from +2%, per 1% of your Base Life that you have in bonus life above your Base Life.
This Overpower Change is largely offset by – Fixed an issue where effects that increased Max Life by a percentage (such as an Elixir of Fortitude) did not account for certain other Max Life bonuses, such as granted by an Affix on equipment.
Spirit Boot: Avian Wrath – Critical Strike Damage bonus is now Multiplicative instead of Additive.
Ring of Starless Skies –
- Previous: Casting a Core Skill reduces Resource cost of your Core Skills by 12%, up to a maximum of 40%. Resets upon using a non–Core Skill.
- New: Spending resources reduces your resource costs and increases your damage by x10% for 3 seconds, up to 40%.
Patch 1.3.3
Earth Spike
- Spirit Generation increased from 13 to 16.
- Damage increased by 10%.
Enhanced Earth Spike – Chance to Stun increased from 10% to 15%.
Seneschal Construct
The seasonal theme adds a Seneschal Construct companion to aid your character throughout their adventures in Sanctuary. The Construct’s playstyle and support is modified by Governing Stones that grant the construct abilities, with up to three Tuning Stones per Governing Stone to supplement that ability. Stones can be obtained through Vaults,Arcane Tremors, Journey rewards, or crafting.
The Uber Unique Seneschal Tuning Stones Evernight and Genesis are powerful Tuning Stones that drop from the new boss, Malphas. If obtained, they replace non-uber options.
- Evernight: The supported Skill grants you +4 to all Skills when used for 2.0s.
- Genesis: Increase the effectiveness of the supported Skill by 150%
For this build, Use Flash of Adrenaline for a strong personal damage buff, and a Ranged Governing Stone to apply strong buffs and debuffs.
Flash of Adrenaline
- Duration Support
- Tactical Support
- Fortify Support (Replace with Genesis)
For non-boss content, use Tempest with:
- Efficiency Support
- Arcing Support
- Safeguard Support (Replace with Evernight)
For Boss farming content, use Focus Fire with:
- Efficiency Support
- Safeguard Support
- Resource Support (Replace with Evernight)
Skill Tree Points and Skill Bar
Skill Bar Setup for Pulverize Druid (order does not matter)
Earth Spike 
Pulverize 
Earthen Bulwark 
Debilitating Roar 
Trample 
Grizzly Rage
| Priority Skills | Cluster |
|---|---|
| Earth Spike Level 1, Enhanced Earth Spike | Basic Skill |
| Pulverize Level 5, Enhanced Pulverize, Primal Pulverize Heart of the Wild Level 1, Abundance Level 3 Predatory Instinct Level 3, Iron Fur Level 3 | Core Skill |
| Earthen Bulwark Level 1, Enhanced Earthen Bulwark, Preserving Earthen Bulwark Debilitating Roar Level 1, Enhanced Debilitating Roar, Innate Debilitating Roar, Ancestral Fortitude Level 3 | Defensive Skill |
| Nature’s Reach Level 3 | Companion Skill |
| Trample Level 1, Enhanced Trample, Savage Trample Crushing Earth Level 3, Stone Guard Level 3, Safeguard level 2 | Wrath Skill |
| Grizzly Rage, Prime Grizzly Rage, Supreme Grizzly Rage Defiance Level 3, Natural Disaster Level 2, Resonance Level 3, Circle of Life Level 3 | Ultimate Skill |
| Earthen Might | Key Passives |
Alternative Skills
If you do not have Vasily’s Prayer Unique Helm yet, Earth Spike will transform you back to Human form and cannot be cast while in Grizzly Rage. Swap to Fierce Maul instead to remain in Werebear form. Unfortunately, this means you must get into melee range to use the Basic Attack.
If you want a more passive option to Debilitating Roar, you can take Cyclone Armor for non-physical Damage Reduction. You will not use its active effect while using Vasily’s Prayer.
Spirit Boons – The Druid Specialization
Druids unlock powerful Spirit Boon passives, giving offerings to the animal spirits to receive their blessing. Once fully unlocked, you can activate the final boon by Spirit Bonding with one of the four animal spirits to take two passives from that row.
| Boon Name | Animal | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Avian Wrath | Eagle | Gain x30% Critical Strike Damage. |
| Calamity | Wolf | Extend the duration of Ultimate Skills by 25%. |
| Calm Before the Storm | Snake | Lucky Hit: Nature Magic Skills have up to a 10% chance to reduce the Cooldown of your Ultimate Skills by 2 seconds. |
| Wariness | Deer | Take 10% reduced damage from Elites. |
| masoch*stic | Snake | Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes with Shapeshifting Skills have a chance to Heal you for 3% Maximum Life. |
If your self-healing is sufficient, change masoch*stic to a more offensive option such as the Eagle’s Scythe Talons or the Snake’s Obsidian Slam.
Paragon
The Paragon Board is a progression system unlocked at Level 50, giving player power through Common stat Nodes,Magicaffix Nodes,Rareleveled Glyphs, andLegendaryboard-exclusive Nodes. Below you will find the preferred Glyphs, Boards, and pathing recommended for making the most of the build. AllGlyphsare placed as if they are maxradius(Level 15+).
TheRare Glyphsin the Paragon progression system are often the strongest player power, placed in the Glyph Sockets of each Board. Only one Glyph Socket is available per board. Six Boards are used to optimize the volume ofRare Glyphsto slot.
| Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| Werebear | • For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal +[6.24%]increased damage while in Werebear form. • Bonus (40 Willpower): You gain 10%Damage Reductionwhile in Werebear form. |
| Inner Beast | After Shapeshifting, your Spirit costs are reduced by 10% for 5 seconds, up to 30%. |
| Exploit | For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal +[3.85%]increased damage toVulnerabletargets. • Bonus (25 Dexterity): When an enemy is damaged by you, they becomeVulnerablefor 3 seconds. This cannot happen more than once every 20 seconds per enemy. |
| Survival Instincts | While in Werebear form, you deal 1% increased damage, up to 50%, for every 1% difference in current Life percent between you and the enemy. |
| Territorial | For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal +[9.6%]increased damage to Close targets. Bonus (25 Dexterity): You gain 15%Damage ReductionagainstClose Enemies. |
| Earthen Devastation | Earth Skills deal 10%[x] increased Critical Strike Damage, increased by 20%[x] of the total amount of your Bonus Damage to Crowd Controlled up to 40%[x]. |
| Earth and Sky | Grants+50.0%bonus to all Magic Nodes within range. Bonus (40 Willpower): Nature Magic Skills deal x10% increased damage to Crowd Controlled orVulnerableenemies. |
| Thunderstruck | Storm Skills deal bonus damage equal to 20%[x] of the total amount of your Damage to Close and Damage to Distant bonuses. |
| Tectonic | For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, yourEarthSkills gain3.0%[+]Critical Strike Damage. Bonus (25 Dexterity): You gain 20%[+] Lucky Hit. |
| Ancestral Guidance | After spending 75Spirit, you deal 30% increased damage for 5 seconds. (NOT TAKEN) |
| Undaunted | For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal+2.0%increased damage whileFortified. Bonus (25 Intelligence): You gain up to 10% Damage Reduction the more Fortify you have |
Starting Board
Click this link to see the Paragon path in its entirety. Paragon Board images provided by d4builds.gg.
Inner Beast
Survival Instincts
Earthen Devastation
Thunderstruck
Ancestral Guidance
Legendary Aspects and Gearing Affixes
Below are the recommendedLegendary Aspectsand Gear Affixes for each slot of the Pulverize Werebear Druid build. Gear Affixes in Bold are the ideal affixes, but alternates are added. For slots that recommend Uniques, the stat recommendations are for filler items until that Unique is obtained.
Shockwave Aspect is a core part of the Pulverize Druid build, turning Pulverize into a ranged Skill with massive AoE. Aspect of the Ursine Horror enables many beneficial passive bonuses in the Skill Tree.
| Gear Slot | Aspect Name | Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Handed Staff (+100% bonus effect) | Shockwave Aspect | Weapon DPS Willpower All Stats Overpower Damage Overpower Damage with Werebear Skills Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies |
| Amulet (+50% bonus effect) | Aspect of Retaliation OR Raw Might Aspect | Spirit Cost Reduction Ranks of Nature’s Reach, Defiance, Natural Disaster, or Resonance Movement Speed Damage Reduction while Fortified Damage Reduction while Injured Total Armor |
| Ring 1 | Aspect of the Umbral | Critical Strike Chance Max Life Lucky Hit Chance Resource Generation Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies |
| Ring 2 | Aspect of the Ursine Horror OR Aspect of the Rampaging Werebeast | Critical Strike Chance Max Life Lucky Hit Chance Resource Generation Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies |
| Gloves | Aspect of the Ursine Horror OR Aspect of the Rampaging Werebeast | Ranks to Pulverize Attack Speed Lucky Hit Willpower Critical Strike Chance Critical Strike Damage with Earth Skills |
| Helm (replaced by Vasily’s Prayer) | Ballistic Aspect | Max Life Total Armor Cooldown Reduction Willpower Basic Skill Attack Speed |
| Chest (replaced by Insatiable Fury) | Aspect of Might | Total Armor Max Life Damage Reduction While Fortified Damage reduction from Close Enemies Fortify Generation Overpower Damage |
| Pants | Aspect of Disobedience OR Aspect of Mending Stone | Max Life Damage Reduction Damage Reduction While Fortified Damage Reduction from Close Enemies Total Armor |
| Boots | Aspect of Quicksand | Movement Speed Fortify Generation Spirit Cost Reduction Damage Reduction while Injured Willpower Dodge Chance |
Gear Choice and Stats
While farming with the Pulverize Werebear Druid build, make sure to pick up all Rare Item drops that may be upgrades. There are many combinations of Gear Affix rolls possible. Amulets in particular have more than 45 Gear Affixes for the Druid! Going from two favorable Affixes to three, then four, then high Affix rolls on each Gear Slot will help focus and optimize your build to compete in the highest content. Additionally, save Legendary Items that have useful aspects in your stash to be used later, or for extracting and imprinting onto well rolled Rare Items.
Use a Staff for Earthen Devastation.
Armor has a cap of 85% Damage Reduction, scaling against your enemy’s level. If your armor is sufficient from getting 2+ well rolled Total Armor items, it is safe to drop Aspect of Disobedience.
Higher Item Level gear provides higher stat values. Replace outdated gear often, and upgrade new gear at the Blacksmith to increase Item Levels further.
Gearing Considerations
Since Patch 1.2.0, Critical Strike Damage and Vulnerable will have baseline multiplicative damage, but additional sources from Gear Affixes, Paragon Glyphs, and Paragon Nodes will be additive instead. This means while the stats are still strong and desirable, they will not scale out of control and be absolutely necessary for min-max on gear. Other additives such as Physical Damage will be equal in value provided their conditions are met.
Since Patch 1.3.0, Overpower attacks now gain +1% damage, down from +2%, per 1% of your Base Life you have in Fortify, and Overpower attacks now gain +1% damage, down from +2%, per 1% of your Base Life that you have in bonus life above your Base Life. Nevertheless, Overpower can be a strong addition to the build as a variant stat and gearing option, with strong attacks at frequent intervals. This can be overkill in any non-push content, but great when pushing or bossing.
Unique Items
The following are the recommended Unique Items for the build.
Vasily’s Prayer – This Unique Helm turns Earth Spike into a Werebear Skill and allows it to be used while in Grizzly Rage.
Insatiable Fury – This Unique Chest Armor provides a solid damage increase, 2/4 Strong defensive affixes, and +3 Ranks to all Werebear Skills.
The following are Optional Unique items that are situational or rare drops.
Banished Lord’s Talisman – This amulet plays into a build that focuses more on Overpowers, replacing Aspect of Retaliation. This item can be a strong option against high health enemies in push content, but can be low value in farm content, as the Overpower Critical Strikes can be infrequent or overkill.
To play into Overpower, consider the following options:
- Take 3 points in Provocation and one point in Mending, replacing Heart of the Wild and Abundance. Provocation can trigger off any Bear Skill; try to make sure it is consumed using Pulverize.
- Take Spirit Boon Obsidian Slam, replacing masoch*stic.
- Use Banished Lord’s Talisman, replacing Aspect of Retaliation.
- Take the Overpower and Overpower with Werebear Skills gear affixes on Weapon.
- Use Royal Ruby on Armor and Weapon slots.
Tibault’s Will – A strong offensive and resource option with weaker Gear Affixes. Use Trample or Earthen Bulwark to trigger the effect. This is a heavy defensive tradeoff to use over a non-Unique piece with Damage Reductions, Armor or Max Life.
Ring of Starless Skies (Uber Unique) – This Uber Unique ring is good Damage and excellent Spirit Cost Reduction option. If taken, move Aspect of the Rampaging Werebeast to Amulet, replacing Aspect of Retaliation. The Gear affixes on the item are strong but does not have Max Life, which heavily scales Overpower hits.
Mechanics and Playstyle
Pulverize Werebear Druid hits hard with a massive AoE due to Shockwave Aspect. Enemies at the edge of the initial slam of Pulverize can also be hit by the following shockwave. Use this distance against elites and bosses to hit them with both portions of Pulverize for the most DPS.
Pulverize becomes an Earth Skill with Aspect of the Ursine Horror. This also automatically applies the Nature Magic Skill tag to benefit from Passives in the Skill Tree.
With Earth Spike as a Basic Attack, the build can be played entirely at a ranged distance. It can also be used during Grizzly Rage if you have Vasily’s Prayer.
This is an extremely tanky build with defensives from Earthen Bulwark, Debilitating Roar, Grizzly Rage and Iron Fur. There are plenty of Fortify sources to keep you completely Fortified at all times with Preserving Earthen Bulwark, Enhanced Debilitating Roar and Safeguard.
Damage Rotation
Use the following rotation to optimize damage.
- Activate Grizzly Rage against tough elites and bosses. This Ultimate Skill can be used fairly often due to the Spirit Boon, Calm Before the Storm.
- Cast Debilitating Roar against enemies that deal high damage.
- Cast Earthen Bulwark to break Crowd Controls or apply Barrier when needed.
- Spam Pulverize with proper positioning to hit as many enemies as possible, and overlap both portions of damage against elites and bosses.
- When you are out of Spirit, spam Earth Spike to generate resource and proc Earthen Might. Savage Trample can also be used to gain Spirit.
Gems
Listed below are the best Gems to socket into gear for each slot type.
- Weapon: Royal Emerald for Critical Strike Damage to Vulnerable Enemies.
- Armor: Royal Sapphire for Damage Reduction while Fortified.
- Jewelry: For content that requires a significant elemental resistance, use the appropriate elemental resistance gem, such as Royal Emerald for poison resistance against Duriel. Royal Diamond for general use.
Elixirs and Health Potions
Visit the Alchemist in any main town to craft helpful Elixirs that increase stats and experience gain for 30 minutes. Make sure to forage plants and pick up the necessary crafting materials during your adventures; they randomly spawn around the world. Craft the highest Precision Elixir available for Critical Strike Chance and Damage.
Be sure to return to the Alchemist often to upgrade your potion as you progress your character. Each upgrade increases the instant healing of the potion!
Changelog
- February 5, 2024: Significant changes to recommended Gear Affixes, Skill Tree and Paragon tree, to optimize for better total damage, Max Life, Resistance and Armor. Added separate Bossing and non-Bossing options to Construct Stone recommendations. Noting that Wild Impulses is underperforming from its tooltip.
- January 26, 2024: Adjustments to Construct Stone recommendations. Adjustments to Legendary Power and Unique recommendations.
- January 22, 2024: Initial review and reevaluation for Season 3 and 1.3.0 balance changes has begun.
- December 7, 2023: Fully updated the entirety of the paragon board, along with updates for Abattoir of Zir.
- October 18, 2023: Update to Vampiric Power recommendations, various tooltip updates.
- October 12, 2023: Initial review and reevaluation for Season 2 has begun.
- September 27, 2023: Ownership of page transferred, and guide reviewed. Small additions in Alternative Skills and Gear Choice and Stats. Deer Spirit Boon recommendation changed from Max Spirit to DR vs Elites. No further changes planned until season 2 review where the page may receive more significant updates or restructure. Thank you to Lexyu for all his hard work and excellent content.
- August 2nd, 2023: Patch 1.1.1 section added with a Spirit gain buff to Earth Spike.
- July 18th, 2023: Guide updated for Season 1.
- July 14th, 2023: Stat Priority List reevaluated.
- July 5th, 2023: Paragon optimized by placing Thunderstruck and Earthen Devastation as the first attached boards to gain important Rare Node Bonuses. Paragon Boards in earlier positions have lower requirements for Rare Node Bonuses.
