For lack of pleasantries, we know the Druid is bad right now.
However, the Druid has issues that may be able to be fixed later in the game development than build .8. I believe the amount online that has been stated about the PC Druid experience is one thing and the console issues are another.
I got all 5 classes to 25 and created a second Sorcerer. I stopped playing today because I really wanted to enjoy a specific class. No other game has nailed the Druid, much less even attempt to put the class into a game. With Xbox containing a lack of AARGs, there is no way to play games like Last Epoch. POE may not be appealing to the many people because of its overwhelming layout and underwhelming visuals.
Jumping into the game with all this in mind, I was excited to play Druid, having seen or heard nothing about it beyond knowing what a Druid is and some of the dynamics of what a class would entail. Druid is clunky. Yes the Beta is clunky because it is a beta, but the class is clunky.
From the very beginning you cycle through the base damage skills trying to find something that feels like it would help you make it through the first set of enemies. None of them work in a way that makes you feel like you are progressing as a Druid our your way to mastering your class. “No Spirit” is soon your new catchphrase for your 9-11 hour road to level 25. Compared to the other classes this class felt as though we were on the 3rd world tier difficulty at many points. On Xbox, being able to pin point wolves and ravens to attack was difficulty. If there was an icon with the potential animation and a double confirm press, I think that would be better.
I worry that the Druid critiques will end with how much damage they can do. However the issue for me is, I feel like the class was hard to manage even when dodging. The model feels as if it scraps the edges of fences when dodging back and still gets hit. When walking around dungeons, he feels like he runs into walls at a farther out than other classes.
The skills, again, are subpar. Specifically the skills that would make sense as a Druid. Whereas a wizard masters fire and the other elements, the Druid here has skills that do not seem to meet the bar. The animation for the the werewolf looks way too buffed out of the character vs the Bear. Furthermore, the quality of the skill feels weak as well. whereas the necromancer get numerous followers with no skill points required, I am hard pressed to understand why the Druid needs at least 3 to have companions who seemingly do less than a level 1 necro’s pets at level 25.
The Druid is a great concept of a class and I would be happy to play it day one despite everything listed here if simply made stronger. However, the game would only be fulfilling if his movement was less clunky, skills more refined, and maybe animations touched up to suit the world better.