Fissure Druid Guide
The Fissure Druid (Earth Splitter) is a pure fire elemental build that uses the Fissure skill to create traveling cracks in the earth that deal devastating fire damage in lines across the battlefield. Fissure provides excellent area coverage and high fire damage while synergy skills like Volcano and Molten Boulder amplify damage output. This distinctive build excels at long-range combat and area denial, offering an "earth fire mage" playstyle with traveling fire damage, safe ranged combat, and the ability to control large areas through strategic fissure placement.
First thing to do is allocate 1 point in the following Skills: Raven, Summon Spirit Wolf, Dire Wolf, Werewolf, Lycanthropy, Fury, Feral Rage, Rabies, Grizzly, Firestorm, Molten Boulder, Volcano, Armageddon, Hurricane, Tornado, Cyclone Armor, Twister, Shock Wave, Oak Sage, Heart of Wolverine, Spirit of Barbs, Carrion Vine, Solar Creeper, and Spirit Vine. After this max out the following Skills: Fissure, Volcano, Molten Boulder, Armageddon. With your extra points, max out Oak Sage for life bonuses and then put remaining points into Grizzly for tank support and Hurricane for additional elemental damage.
When it comes to your Attributes, start with acquiring a Hellfire Torch and an Annihilus Charm. Put those in your inventory and then add Strength, enough to wear your gear. Dexterity should be minimal unless needed for gear requirements. Energy can be useful for Fissure spam and maintaining spirits, but gear can compensate. The rest of your points should go into Vitality for maximum life and survivability while casting Fissure from range with Oak Sage life bonuses.
Best Weapon choices include Heart of the Oak Runeword in a Flail for +3 All Skills, 40% Faster Cast Rate, and resistances to maximize Fissure effectiveness, or Spirit Runeword as a budget option with +2 Skills and 35% Faster Cast Rate. Leaf Runeword in a Staff provides +3 Fire Skills and 33% Faster Cast Rate as an excellent early option for fire builds. Shield wise, Spirit Monarch is Best in Slot for +2 Skills and 35% Faster Cast Rate for optimal Fissure casting speed, or Lidless Wall for +1 Skills and 20% Faster Cast Rate as budget alternative. When it comes to your Armor, Enigma Runeword in a Mage Plate base is Best in Slot for +2 Skills and Teleport utility for positioning Fissures strategically. Skin of the Vipermagi is excellent for +1 Skills and 30% Faster Cast Rate. Ormus' Robes provides +3 Fire Skills and up to 15% Fire Damage specifically for fire builds. Helmet, Harlequin Crest is ideal for +2 Skills, Life, and Mana for maximum Fissure effectiveness, or Lore Runeword as a budget +1 Skills option. For Gloves, Magefist provides +1 Fire Skills and 20% Faster Cast Rate perfect for Fissure casting, or Trang-Oul's Claws for 20% Faster Cast Rate and cold resist. For the Belt, Arachnid Mesh is perfect for +1 Skills and 20% Faster Cast Rate to enhance Fissure damage, or Goldwrap for 30% Extra Gold and 10% Faster Cast Rate. When it comes to Boots, War Traveler for Magic Find and strength/vitality bonuses, or Infernostride for fire damage and 30% Faster Run/Walk that synergizes with the fire theme. Rings, Stone of Jordan provides +1 Skills and mana for Fissure spam, pair with Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band for +1 Skills and Life Leech. Amulet you can opt for Mara's Kaleidoscope for +2 Skills and resistances, Tal Rasha's Adjudication for +2 Skills and magic find, or a rare amulet with +2 Druid Skills, Faster Cast Rate, and fire damage.
For your inventory, focus on Druid Skill Charms with +Elemental Skills and life bonuses to maximize Fissure fire damage. Small Charms with 7% Magic Find and resistances or life and resistances for efficient farming. Fire damage Small Charms enhance Fissure effectiveness. Faster Cast Rate Small Charms help reach the 99% FCR breakpoint for optimal casting speed. Mana Small Charms support sustained Fissure casting and spirit maintenance. Gheeds Fortune for Magic Find, Gold Find, and reduced vendor prices.
Mercenary wise, an Act 2 Nightmare Offensive mercenary with Might Aura can amplify any physical damage component, or Act 2 Nightmare Prayer mercenary for Prayer Aura life regeneration support. For Weapon, Insight Runeword in a Thresher base is essential for Meditation Aura to support Fissure spam and spirit maintenance, or Infinity Runeword for Conviction Aura to reduce fire resistance dramatically and make Fissures devastating. Helmet options include Vampire Gaze for Damage Reduction and Life Leech, or Andariel's Visage for Attack Speed and Strength. Armor you want Fortitude Runeword in an Ethereal Sacred Armor base for mercenary survivability and damage, or Treachery Runeword for Attack Speed and Fade proc to keep your mercenary alive while you cast Fissure from safe distances, creating lines of traveling fire damage with your Oak Sage and Grizzly providing additional support and protection.