I am going to be playing a druid in an ongoing home game that is at 9th level with Mythic tier 1. I haven't decided whether or not to use an archetype. In order to save time I plan on using vital strike and just doing one massive attack a round rather then having 5 or 6 small attacks. I was curious if anyone new any good forms for each size(medium and up) that primarily focus on tail attacks.
Also would it be better to focus on forms that do big bite attacks instead?
Any other general advice would be appreciated as well.
I've never done much shopping around, I just always used this cause I love it: Stegosaurus
Plus trip!
I've never done much shopping around, I just always used this cause I love it: Stegosaurus
Plus trip!
I looked at that and plan on using it when I have the change to go huge(or gargantuan if i do mythic powerful shape) but being in a dungeon most of the time being that large isn't really possible.
If you want the most bang for your buck, go with the Behemoth Hippopotamus' bite.
If you want the highest single damage attack by a large animal, that's the Arsinoitherium. Its gore attack does 4d8+strength mod damage.
If you were to have improved natural attack (requires BAB +4), that would be 6d8+Str Mod.
If you then were to cast strongjaw on yourself (4th level Druid Spell avail at level 7), you'll do 12d8+str mod.
If you then do a vital strike (requires BAB +6) on top of that, you'll do 24d8+str mod damage.
Make sure you also have Magic Fang running (bypass magic damage reduction) or get Eldrich Claws feat (requires BAB +6 as well).
Now, of course, if you took 1 level as a Barbarian and had the Furious Finish feat, you would assume your roll would produce max damage and end your rage, so that's about ~200 damage at one time.
The same could be done as a Behemoth Hippo (which also grants the +grab ability), but as you mentioned the limitation is the size.
Thanks so much for your guys imput
So my DM is being generous and allowing me to craft an item that has a continuous squeeze spell active so that helps a lot with the size issue.
So I am thinking in terms of feats doing this:
Half-Giant
Druid 8/Fighter 1
1???
3Craft Wonderous
5natural spell
7Power Attack
9Improved Natural Attack(bite)
9vital strike
Taking that level of fighter at level 9 to be able to get heavy armor and vital strike. I am not sure if taking the level of fighter is going to be worth the loss of a level of druid though. The other alternative would be to go for Sauian Shaman and then sticking with the Stegosaurus as my main form since this will let me keep all my druid levels and give me vital strike as a bonus feat at level 9.
I'd switch out the level of fighter for a level of barbarian. You REALLY want the Furious Finish feat on a one hit build.
EDIT: The Behemoth Hippopotamus has much longer reach than the Arsinoitherium.
Well, in terms of feats for a combat wild-shaped druid (which is what I play btw), I would recommend these:
Early: Toughness (you'll need the HP since your armor sucks)
Before 4th level: Natural Spell (can't cast while shaped otherwise, which starts at 4th level)
When you get BAB +4: Improved Natural Attack (bite)
When you get BAB +6: Vital Strike
Sometime: Get Heavy Armor Proficiency. Wildshape armor is so expensive that early on just focusing on some protection magic items and maybe a wand of mage armor will do you just fine. Take forms that that +grab (DIRE TIGER, all 3 primary attacks have +grab, haha) when your armor is weak and focus on damage forms when your armor is taken care of.
Now, you could mix it up earlier if you're really all about getting the most with the feat Shaping Focus, which will give you 4 levels of Druid Wildshaping power while you focus on another class (say Fighter or Barbarian). However, you will lose some of your spell casting power, which is pretty big actually.
As for spells, you'll probably want to focus on:
Level 1 Spells: Frostbite & Longstrider
Level 2 Spells: Flaming Sphere, Resist Energy
Level 3 Spells: Greater Magic Fang!!, Summon Nature's Ally III
Level 4 Spells: Strong Jaw!!, Volcanic Storm, Air Walk, Dispel Magic, Touch of Slime (save or die soon)
You'll be almost as good as fighter in melee, almost as good as a wizard at spellcasting, a modest healer, great tracker (Scent), and good at summoning.
Or, you can hit just a little bit harder? I'd stay with druid for the flexibility. 1 level of Barbarian for Furious Finish, that's about it.
The furious finish looks nice but I am not sure if I can pull it off till level 13. If i dropped that level of fighter i won't get vital strike till 11 and then won't have another feat till 13. I could give up improved natural attack and grab vital strike in that spot then do furious finish at 11. Since I'll have Mythic vital strike it might be worth it to not take the level of fighter and put vital strike in the improved natural attack slot then just wait till level 11 to take that level in barbarian and furious finish away.
Edit: Never mind. I am dumb and keep forgetting vital strike doesn't require power attack.