Best backup-weapon for my Druid

Hi

Lately I've been thinking on what I should use as backup-weapon on swap for my Fire Claw Druid.
I've decided against anything I can't use while shapeshifted. I just find it to bothersome, so that means all the standard (and generaly "BiS") options are out. No CtA and no telestick or anything like that.

My merc is an act 2 with Holy Freeze and Infinity (so Doom on backup for the Holy Freeze is no point, and I'm not getting Decrepify from my merc).

So far I've identified these alternatives:

#1 Hustle PhaseBlade and Stormshield
It let's me proc Burst of Speed for a nice boost to my run-speed. I'm maxed on attackspeed regardless, but runspeed is allways nice.
Also the shield can be very nice in special cases where there is extra heavy physical damage incomming (like when Lord De Seis and his fanatical Doom knights appear).

#2 Lawbringer PhaseBlade and Stormshield
Going full in on defense against heavy physical damage with Decrepify proc

#3 Plague PhaseBlade and Stormshield
Physical damage protection when needed, and instant Cure for curses and poisons with the cleanse aura.

#4 Harmony bow
Just for the run-speed, between the packs.

#5 Obedience
For the Enchant proc.


Would love to hear people's toughts on the various options, and/or if anyone has a good idea for other options.

Grief PB + Phoenix.
Grief is just too good.
Phoenix provide both ED and -28% To Enemy Fire Resistance

Destruction Phase Blade though its more for fun with the procs. My 2 cents though.

Thx for the suggestions, but can't really see when I would swap into either of those instead of using my main weapon.

To me they seem more like sugestions for alternative main weapon than for a backup-weapon to keep on weaponswap.

Call To Arms for buffs then switch back

Goggen wrote: 3 years ago

...
I've decided against anything I can't use while shapeshifted. I just find it to bothersome, so that means all the standard (and generaly "BiS") options are out. No CtA and no telestick or anything like that.

@DurienDaragoth

Giving myself a small bump here.

Would love it if someone had a viable suggestion I haven't allready tought of.... or just some toughts on the options posted.

A few cheap ideas :

- Ribcracker
- Buriza
- Reaper's toll
- Baranar's Star
- eBotD in something like an Eth GPA / GT (more expensive)

how about Rift runeword?

Or for expensive but fun, Destruction

For a budget option, consider a +3 skills Athena's Wrath. I use it as a backup to my Fury Druid primarily for the +3 buff when i'm calling summons and shapeshifting, then swap to a Ribcracker.

Far from BiS, but it can be found cheap.

Thx @cujokila +skills for my summons is an interesting suggestion and could actually do some use as a weapon kept on swap.