Can Druids Turn Into Animal And Attack

If you've ever read an Animorphs volume and thought "I wish I could turn into a hamster at volition", druid is the Dungeons & Dragons 5E class for you. Renowned for their ability to take the form of diverse members of the animal kingdom - as well as a few creatures nosotros definitely wouldn't want to consider part of that kingdom - druids harness the power of nature itself to fight their foes. Whether that nature happens to be of the state, body of water or fifty-fifty swamp is entirely dependent on what kind of druid character y'all create.

Until they hit second level, druids are unfortunately a footling weaker compared to other spellcasting classes in D&D 5E, with the number of spells a druid can initially acquire rather limited. However, they more than make up for it in one case they gain Wild Shape and the ability to turn into other creatures.

Dungeons & Dragons 5E druid class guide

• Druid starting proficiencies and equipment: Figure out what your druid is going to wear and wield, and which skills volition they take.
• How do druids cast spells?: Learn how your character uses magic and which spells they can acquire.
• What is preparation and ritual spellcasting?: These core concepts in D&D spellcasting can be tricky to get a grasp on.
• Do druids get familiars or animal companions?: Equally a class with a deep connection to nature, you might wonder if druids get these features.
• What is Wild Shape?: Larn about the signature druidic ability.
• What can you lot plough into with Wild Shape and how many times tin you use it?: Observe the dizzying possibilities of what your druid can become.
• What's the best druid circle?: Decide which of the druid circles your graphic symbol will choose.
• What's the best race to play as a druid?: Work out which i of the D&D 5E races to choose for your druid.

Second level also brings with it the opportunity to cull which circle of nature your druid is going to follow. Druid circles requite their characters additional features and spells on top of those they get from levelling upward and the Wild Shape ability. At higher levels, druids eventually gain access to some pretty powerful spells, which they'll even exist able to use even in animal form in one case they hit 18th level. Hence why druids are notorious for being absolute monsters afterward in a D&D 5E entrada.

But what kind of druid are you going to make? Allow'south find out, every bit we run through everything you need to know about the druid class in Dungeons & Dragons 5E.

Druid starting proficiencies and equipment

Druids tin can wield a surprisingly wide variety of weapons. Image: Wizards of the Declension.

When you create a D&D 5E character you'll be given the option to choose between a pick of starting proficiencies and equipment.

Proficiencies are essentially the skills that your druid will exist 'skillful' at - some of these y'all'll merely go for your form - such equally being proficient at welding daggers and darts - while others you lot'll have to pick betwixt. Information technology's important to notation that druids never clothing armour or use shields fabricated of metal. Druids can use a surprisingly wide range of weaponry, including clubs, daggers, darts, maces and even a sling.

As for possible skills yous can choose your proficiency in, druids can pick 2 from animal handling - possibly a good pick if y'all program to be making whatever furry friends - insight, medicine, nature, perception, religion and survival. Due to druids mostly beingness at their best in the great outdoors, skills such equally nature, perception and survival are all probably expert bets. Still, insight and medicine are much more common when dealing with other people, which might make for a more well-rounded character.

Finally, you'll be able to pick from a pick of unlike equipment options. Your first choice every bit a druid is between a wooden shield or simple weapon, whilst your second is betwixt a scimitar or any elementary melee weapon. Choosing a simple weapon from choice A will allow your druid to potentially wield a ranged weapon, whilst the shield gives an obvious defensive advantage. A scimitar is a decent weapon to showtime out with, merely you might adopt to use something that doles out bludgeoning impairment instead of slashing - a good reason to choose a simple melee weapon from option B instead.

How do druids bandage spells?

Spellcasting is an important aspect of the druid class. Image: Wizards of the Coast.

The druid class casts spells using its wisdom modifier, meaning that druids' spellcasting ability is determined past how expert their wisdom stat is.

Whenever you want your druid to bandage certain types of spells, the spell description will listing whether your character is rolling a spell attack against an Ac and if the target needs to brand a saving throw against it. Every bit with weapon attacks, the spell assail must exceed an enemy Ac in club to hit - with your spellcasting ability providing a modifier to your roll.

Spell attack modifiers are calculated by adding your overall proficiency bonus to your wisdom modifier. Your druid's spellcasting save DC is what enemies have to scroll against whenever they're making a saving throw against your spells. A druid'south spellcasting DC is calculated by adding eight to their overall proficiency bonus and their wisdom modifier.

What is preparation and ritual casting?

Ritual casting can salvage your druid some spell slots. Prototype: Wizards of the Coast.

As spellcasters druids are able to fix which spells they plan to use afterwards every long residue. Selecting from the list of druid spells, your character will be able to select as many spells to set up as equal to their wisdom modifier plus their electric current level. The number of spells per level is determined by how many spell slots your druid has of each level. For example, your druid will not be able to learn more than than two second-level spells if they only have two 2nd-level spell slots. When it comes to cantrips, your druid can pick two of their choice at first level and then later learn more as they level upwardly. Whenever they accept a long rest, your druid tin can swap out as many spells as they can learn from the druid spell list.

Ritual casting allows a druid character to cast a spell if they do not take whatsoever spell slots left. Withal, the spell must accept a ritual tag - y'all can discover these on the druid spell listing - and your druid must take information technology prepared. On meridian of this, casting spells ritually takes approximately ten minutes to practice, pregnant that it's improve suited to spells that can be cast prior to or after gainsay - every bit many combat encounters don't concluding ten minutes and your druid can exercise null else whilst ritual casting. They also cannot cast ritual spells at higher spell slot levels to increase aspects such as radius, the number of targets or impairment dealt.

Practice druids go familiars or beast companions?

Are you hoping for a furry friend for your graphic symbol? Image: Wizards of the Coast.

Druids are able to transform into animals and other beasts because of their connection to nature and its inhabitants. However, this unfortunately does not mean that they can form unique bonds with other animals as a human.

Certain feats and abilities granted by the various druidic circles players can choose for the grapheme do give them some protection from wild animals and creatures - such Nature's Ward. Nevertheless, druids are not able to summon familiars in the aforementioned mode as wizards in 5E and cannot gain animal companions as the ranger class does. At that place may be spells like Speak with Animals that will enable your druid to form temporary friendships with wild fauna, but they cannot grade lifetime bonds in the aforementioned way as familiars or animal companions.

What is Wild Shape?

Some druids will exist able to turn into a dragon in later levels. Paradigm: Wizards of the Coast.

Wild Shape is a druid's signature motion. Druids get the power to use Wild Shape when they reach second level. The animal they tin transform into is determined past their electric current level. In general, however, druids are able to go animals of varying size and movement ability, with later levels opening up new types of animals for a druid to become. Eventually, certain druids can become more than fantastical beasts and fifty-fifty creatures that one wouldn't consider being close to an animal, such as elementals. When your druid reaches 18th level, they will additionally exist able to bandage spells in their Wild Shape form.

There are several important things to consider when using Wild Shape:

• All your druid's power scores are replaced by those of the animate being they accept turned into, aside from their intelligence, wisdom and charisma, along with their alignment. (If they have ane).
• Your druid retains all their existing skill proficiencies and saving throws, all well as those of the animate being they've become. If their chosen beast has better saving throw bonuses, then your druid gets to use those instead.
• You cannot apply any lair or legendary actions a beast may take.
• Your druid takes on the beast's hit points and hitting dice when transformed. Y'all change back to your normal form whenever your beast grade's hit bespeak total falls to zero, with whatsoever backlog damage transferring to your usual hitting point full.
• Commonly, you cannot bandage spells whilst in Wild Shape manner. (Though certain features permit you to do so.) However, any concentration spells you've already bandage in normal form remain.
• Any features you accept in your normal class are retained whenever you transform - such every bit a half-orc's Relentless Endurance feature. Even so, yous cannot use features that require your animal to have senses they don't accept. For instance, Dark Vision if they are blind.
• Any equipment you accept can either merge into your trunk, drop onto the floor or shift to fit your druid's new form. If you lot choose to article of clothing your equipment on your beast grade, it's upward to the DM if you tin can actually use it. For example, a rhino is unlikely to be able to wield a morningstar.

What can you turn into with Wild Shape?

Druids are able to become sure beasts depending upon their level. Image: Wizards of the Coast.

Initially, your druid character volition be able to turn into a creature with a challenge rating of ¼ or lower. Challenge rating is something that dungeon masters are more likely to be familiar with, equally it'southward a terminology used to draw various enemies players might face up in their journeys. Each challenge rating is designed to residual a druid's Wild Shape power to match their electric current level, but so they don't commencement turning into woolly mammoths from 2nd level.

Druids are initially limited by whether the creature they choose is able to wing or swim - with later levels unlocking these types of creatures. As your druid levels up, they'll be able to turn into beasts of a higher challenge rating, eventually beingness able to get creatures such as a Giant Eagle. Depending on which circumvolve your druid chooses to have when they reach 2nd level, they'll be able to turn into beasts of a higher challenge rating at a lower level than usual.

When your druid start gains the ability to use Wild Shape, they'll be able to use it twice until they experience a brusque or long residue. Using Wild Shape during combat requires an unabridged action, but turning dorsum to your normal class but takes a bonus activeness. One time your druid reaches the 20th level, they will be able to apply Wild Shape an unlimited amount of times.

What'south the best druid circle?

There are two druid circles included in the Player's Handbook. Image: Wizards of the Coast.

The respond to this detail question really depends on what part of being a druid really excites you. In the Dungeons & Dragons 5E Player's Handbook ii major druid circles are listed: the Circle of the Land and the Circumvolve of the Moon. There are plenty of other druid circles to choose from in various other D&D 5E sourcebooks, likewise as in homebrew content created by the customs, just to keep things simple nosotros're going to focus on the ones featured in the Thespian's Handbook.

Whereas the Circle of the Land provides a large variety of options to help customise the kind of spells your druid gets equally they level upwardly, the Circle of the Moon is a more focused path that improves your Wild Shape characteristic.

Whichever circumvolve you cull for your druid depends on whenever you want them to be a pure beast-transforming machine or to have more than spellcasting options subsequently downwards the line. Neither choice is a bad ane, but it volition accept a significant impact on how your druid develops with every level increase, and so it's an important decision.

Circle of the Land

If you're into the idea of spellcasting, this is the circle for you. Epitome: Wizards of the Coast.

The Circle of the Land indicates that your druid has a deep connection with their homeland and the things that abound and alive in information technology. A druid of this circle specialises in harnessing their chosen habitat to perform cracking feats or to attack their enemies. If you choose the Circle of the State for your druid, they instantly get a bonus druid cantrip spell of your selection.

In addition, they also get the Natural Recovery feature - which enables your druid to regain spell slots whenever they have a short rest, instead of the long residue that's unremarkably required. The type of spell slot they tin recover depends on their electric current level, enabling them to regain spell slots equal to or less than half their level. For instance, a 2nd-level druid will exist able to regain their level ane spell slots, but not whatever level two spell slots. Regardless of your druid'southward level, they cannot regain spell slots for level six or to a higher place spells this way. They regain the use of the Natural Recovery feat whenever they take a long rest.

Later on, your druid volition be able to use Land's Pace, which prevents them from having their move impeded by the environment and gives them advantage against spells that try to do so. Nature's Ward prevents a druid from being overjoyed or frightened past various denizens of nature and grants them immunity to poison and disease. Finally, with Nature'southward Sanctuary at 14th level, whatever beasts or plants attempting to attack your druid must succeed on a wisdom saving throw to practise so.

Arguably the biggest benefit of choosing the Circle of the Country for your druid are the circumvolve spells they volition acquire over the adjacent few level increases. All of the spells your druid gains from their Circle of the Country trait are automatically prepared and do non count to the number of spells they can prepare each twenty-four hours. Some of these spells don't appear on the druid spell list - however, your druid can withal bandage them.

Which spells your druid gets depends on which surroundings they cull, with each one providing an appropriate arsenal of spells. For example, your druid will get the Ice Tempest spell if they become a Druid of the Arctic or the Control Water Spell if they choose to be a Druid of the Coast. Your selection might be driven past a desire to acquire a especially powerful prepare of spells or fifty-fifty one or ii spells that take your fancy. Or it might be driven by the kind of surroundings you lot imagine your druid originated from. Luckily, your druid will get a decent selection of offensive, supportive and utilitarian spells regardless of which environs they cull.

Circle of the Moon

Push your druid's Wild Shape ability to its greatest limits. Image: Wizards of the Coast.

Druids in the Circle of the Moon are much more in tune with their inner creature. Unlike the Circle of the Land, the Circle of the Moon provides much less variety and focuses on the Wild Shape feature instead of boosting a druid'southward spellcasting roster and ability. Nevertheless, players wanting to play a druid purely because they can shape-shift would be silly not to choose the Circle of the Moon. The benefits this circle grants a druid are very powerful and can make them into an absolute menace on and off the battleground.

The first big do good druids proceeds from the Circle of the Moon is the Gainsay Wild Shape feature, which is learned equally soon as they cull the circle. This gives the druid the ability to use Wild Shape as a bonus action during combat, which is a huge game-changer for the grapheme. They tin also spend another bonus action to employ a spell slot to regain 1d8 worth of hitting points. This essentially turns your druid into more of a direct fighter than a spellcaster, which absolutely fits the theme of this circle.

In addition to Combat Wild Shape, your druid will get the Circle Forms ability as before long as they choose the Circle of the Moon. This feature enables them to begin transforming into more powerful beasts than they usually would be able to. Instead of having to wait until eighth level, your druid tin immediately begin transforming into beasts of a challenge rating every bit high as 1. When they accomplish sixth level, your druid can start transforming into beasts with a challenge rating as high as their current level divided by three. This means that by 6th level, your druid tin can start transforming into beasts of a claiming rating of 2 - something that druids in the Circle of the Land tin can never do.

More powerful transformation options can be a good exchange for fewer spells. Epitome: Wizards of the Coast.

At 6th level your druid benefits from the Primal Strike feature, ensuring that their attacks in beast form are able to interruption through any immunities to non-magical attacks or damage that an enemy might have.

When your druid reaches 10th level, they'll have the choice to plow into an elemental past spending two uses of Wild Shape. Elementals can be air, earth, burn or water-based and will have unique abilities, resistances, immunities and features relating to each. This ability widens your options for shape-shifting, especially when a specific blazon of harm is going to be incredibly effective during an run into.

Finally, when your druid reaches the 14th level they will be able to cast the Alter Self spell at will. Essentially, your druid has gotten to the point where their body is so malleable that they are able to modify their form in such a way that they don't need to necessarily apply Wild Shape to accept claws, teeth or breathe underwater. They can only look whatever manner they like - the perfect way of getting an instant makeover.

What's the best race to play as a druid?

Some 5E races take benefits that tin brand for a amend druid. Image: Wizards of the Declension.

Apparently, any race tin can work fine with every grade in Dungeons & Dragons, and the new options to make a grapheme entirely devoid of racial traits included in sourcebook Tasha's Cauldron of Everything are definitely a stride in the correct direction. Nonetheless, if yous are planning to use D&D 5E's racial trait modifiers and features, you might exist wondering which options might fit best with the druid class.

The forest-domicile wood elf is an obvious choice when you're making a druid graphic symbol, and not just because they get an increase to their wisdom ability score - although that is a major benefit, every bit druids use their wisdom stat to cast spells. Wood elves get the Mask of the Wild characteristic, which enables them to hide behind heavy weather patterns - a natural occurrence in the wild landscapes that druids tend to roam.

Humans work fairly well as druids because y'all'll go an increase to your wisdom power score - along with all the other ability scores - from the off and tin acquire some useful skills and an actress feature they'll be able to do good from even in beast form.

This besides goes for half-elves, who are able to gain proficiency in two skills of their choice straight away - which can once again be used by your druid when in fauna form. They also have reward in saving throws against Charmed which, when combined with the potential for your druid to proceeds the Nature's Ward characteristic, could make your grapheme incredibly resistant to falling under anyone'southward sway.

Source: https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dungeons-and-dragons-5e/how-to/dnd-5e-druid-class-explained

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