Summoning Druid Guide
The Summoning Druid (Zoo Druid) is a minion-based build that commands an army of animal companions including grizzly bears, dire wolves, and ravens to overwhelm enemies while providing support through spirit totems. Grizzly provides tanking while dire wolves deliver melee damage and ravens offer utility and crowd control. This versatile build excels at safe gameplay and party support, offering a "beast master" playstyle with multiple summons, strategic positioning, and the ability to control the battlefield through coordinated animal attacks and spirit support.
First thing to do is allocate 1 point in the following Skills: Werewolf, Lycanthropy, Fury, Feral Rage, Rabies, Fire Claws, Firestorm, Molten Boulder, Fissure, Volcano, Armageddon, Hurricane, Tornado, Cyclone Armor, Twister, Shock Wave, Spirit of Barbs, Carrion Vine, Solar Creeper, Spirit Vine, and Poison Creeper. After this max out the following Skills: Grizzly, Dire Wolf, Raven, Heart of Wolverine, Oak Sage. With your extra points, max out Summon Spirit Wolf for additional pack members and then put remaining points into Carrion Vine for life and mana recovery and Solar Creeper for additional utility support.
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 since summons do the fighting. Energy can be useful for maintaining multiple summons and spirits, but gear can compensate. The rest of your points should go into Vitality for maximum life and survivability while commanding your animal army from safe positions.
Best Weapon choices include Heart of the Oak Runeword in a Flail for +3 All Skills, 40% Faster Cast Rate, and resistances to maximize summon effectiveness, or Spirit Runeword as a budget option with +2 Skills and 35% Faster Cast Rate. Beast Runeword provides Fanaticism Aura that benefits all summons significantly. Shield wise, Spirit Monarch is Best in Slot for +2 Skills and 35% Faster Cast Rate for quick summon casting, 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 yourself and summons strategically. Skin of the Vipermagi is excellent for +1 Skills and 30% Faster Cast Rate. Bramble Runeword provides +2 Skills and Thorns aura that benefits summons. Helmet, Harlequin Crest is ideal for +2 Skills, Life, and Mana for maximum summon effectiveness, or Lore Runeword as a budget +1 Skills option. For Gloves, Magefist provides +1 Fire Skills and 20% Faster Cast Rate for quick summon 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 all summon levels, 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 since summons do the killing, or Sandstorm Trek for 20% Faster Hit Recovery and poison resist. Rings, Stone of Jordan provides +1 Skills and mana for summon maintenance, 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 resistances.
For your inventory, focus on Druid Skill Charms with +Summoning Skills and life bonuses to maximize summon effectiveness and survivability. Small Charms with 7% Magic Find and resistances or life and resistances since summons handle combat. Faster Cast Rate Small Charms help with quick summon recasting when needed. Mana Small Charms support maintaining multiple summons and spirits simultaneously. Life Small Charms keep you alive while commanding your animal army. Gheeds Fortune for Magic Find, Gold Find, and reduced vendor prices.
Mercenary wise, an Act 2 Nightmare Offensive mercenary with Might Aura amplifies all summon damage significantly and stacks with Heart of Wolverine, or Act 2 Nightmare Prayer mercenary for Prayer Aura life regeneration for both you and summons. For Weapon, Insight Runeword in a Thresher base provides Meditation Aura essential for maintaining multiple summons and spirits, or Pride Runeword for Concentration Aura massive damage bonus to all summons. 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 support, or Treachery Runeword for Attack Speed and Fade proc to keep your mercenary alive while commanding your pack of grizzly bears, dire wolves, and ravens with spirit totems providing damage and life support across the battlefield.