Druid Class Guide for Dungeons and Dragons 5e

[@DungeonDudes]

We'd love to hear about your favourite characters from novels, movies, television, and mythology who you think would be great inspiration for a Druid character!

[@arctycfox1924]

I have always loved the Dresden Files book series by Jim Butcher. There is a character named Injun Joe who has amazing skill with magic and can shapeshift, total circle of the land Druid in my opinion

[@thomashearne4670]

Obligatory Malfurion Stormrage from the Warcraft universe

[@markdavies3700]

Hern the Hunter from Robin of Sherwood is an excellent piece of inspiration for a Druid character.

[@zeedevil4409]

Ang is a great example

[@thelowmein9143]

Beorn from The Hobbit

[@notorious.scoundrel]

My girlfriend played a druid for a one-on-one session we had and she played her as a nature wizard, which is really cool. She chose the cloistered scholar Background and literally played like a bookworm who befriended animals everywhere because she was kinda shy and favored animals over people.

[@kachfinityproductions9178]

One of my favorite druids was a game starting character from a while back. My friend and I were getting ready to start a long campaign and decided to try and create a fun duo to add to the party. He created a dwarven fighter that was specialized and obsessed with mechination and steel work. So I created a half elf druid to be the other half. We took some liberties with class description, especially with the druid. Basically, his character and mine were best friends. His dwarf was fascinated by the concept of evolution and how nature would change to solve it's own problems. My druid was enthralled by cities and the creations of intelligent races. We justified this by saying that his dwarf recognized that he could not mold and craft without the forces and complexities of nature, whether he we using fire to forge or wind to sail, etc. My druid viewed cities and machines as just another by product of nature. How is that tower, built by a human, any different that a nest built by a bird? It was a lot of fun from a role playing perspective and also at later levels had quite a bit of functionality.

[@davlamin0459]

My mind is blown. Wow. Never thought of a druid with that point of view before, or even a fighter, that way before. It makes sense.

[@Bogrin]

Very cool concept!

[@DoctorFireFarts]

This is how I RP my war forged druid. My DM brought up how contradictory it is to be a druid that is literally made out of metal, and I just pointed out that Metal is still a product of nature even if it is a product of humans. In a sense, the War Forged are one of Nature's most complex and interesting creations.

[@longdangley]

I like it if it was strictly city druid like rats and etc but to regular nature their clueless. Like understanding sewer life but not river life. They are similar but not the same. So it should be ruled as similar not same

[@DoctorFireFarts]

@@longdangley Well, full disclosure, I based the character very loosely off of the MTG card "Golos, Tireless Pilgrim" and have made him to be essentially that, a pilgrim that never needs to stop for food or water, is on alert when resting, and can cross bodies of water easily since he doesn't need to breath. His aptitude with nature comes from centuries of traveling the land after abandoning his post when he gained sentience, and over the years has learned to accept the origin of his creation and focus on attuning himself with the land. It's still a work in progress as I've only played him in a one-shot, so I'll flesh out the story a bit more when he gets dropped into a full campaign. I like that take on it, though. Would make for a very interesting city dweller druid.

[@nazynntaintedveil3087]

A couple of important points to mention about Circle of Dreams - specifically the Balm of the Summer Court power: First, it's useable at a range of 120 feet, and only requires a bonus action. This makes it something like a Cure Wounds spell (albeit a little less potent), but doesn't require touch - giving it a huge tactical advantage. This is especially true when an ally falls; you can typically get to them for healing before they even get to their first death save. Secondly, because it is a class feature and not a spell, you can use it while Wild Shaped. This means you can take the opposite tactic: take on wild form and fight alongside your melee combatants, utilizing your Balm of the Summer Court healing dice at the start of the fight. Then, once your beast form's hit points start to dwindle, you fall back and take on a more passive roll as a healer with traditional spells like Cure Wounds, Healing Word, etc. Either way, I consider Dream Druids among the best healers in the game. Their often whimsical nature also makes them a bright and fun addition to a party when it comes to roleplaying.

[@SilenceForbidden]

"Summon an army of rabbits. Turn them into T-Rexes." - Karen, the Supervillain's Secretary

[@robertsilvermyst7325]

Would you need to turn them into anything? Have you seen what rabbits can do in Monty Python films and Re: Zero? They are more dangerous than the deadliest dragon.

[@LuciferVonCarstein]

In the original, pre-Christianity version of the Arthurian lore, Merlin WAS a Druid.

[@Sirfinchyyy]

I have a series of novels based on the Pagan Merlin.

[@jotougas2211]

pascal greer what’s the series called?

[@Babbling_Wizard]

It's TRUE, but applause for your research

[@zoesequeira5388]

@@Sirfinchyyy What is the name of this series? i want to read it

[@lunarcat4278]

Hell even after the Christian synchrotism Morgan le Fay was still very much a typical Druid. Which while was a step down from her initial status as a fae (her name literally meaning Morgan the Fairy) and then even further back just actually being the Morrigan, she still has her initial druidic elements to this day

[@hippiebassdude4587]

Thank you guys so much for this video. I'm playing my first campaign and i chose druid as my character. This has helped me decide my circle, backstory, what type of druid i want to be, and has helped me figure out what kind of roleplay i want to take with him. Thank you for making my first time much easier. You guys are great!

[@jaspermooren5883]

Moon Druid Barbarian multiclass: it is totally ridiculous. Raging bear with unarmoured defense, extra damage and reckless attack are just insane. Not to mention the resistance to damage while having an extra stack of hit points on top of your normal hit points. Currently playing one and it is a blast. Really fun to have a super wise barbarian who's rage is so in tune with nature it makes him turn into a bear. (At least that is how I play him). Normally I'm not really a munchkin, but this one is both conceptually awesome and mechanically super powerful.

[@Quandry1]

Its power hits a bit of a wall if you get into high level.

[@jacobhamilton2473]

So, he's the d&d equivalent of the Incredible Hulk?

[@Quandry1]

@@jacobhamilton2473 nope. More the d&d equivalent of a pro wrestler. Only looks great against your average peasant or in controlled environments designed to show it off, often accompanied by attempts of grappling cheese. It's still going to get nuked from orbit and be unimpressive against the murder machines of high level.

[@Alphadog2064]

Quandry1 yeah, the best abilities of each class are at high levels and so the multi class doesn’t get too much.

[@haleyw5677]

I just had a really fun idea for a changeling Druid because you could play it like the wild shape is an extension of their shapeshifting capabilities. It definitely would not be optimized but I feel like it is a really cool concept

[@captainkiwi77]

When your dm says only creatures you’ve seen... you go far traveler background

[@Breadmaster16]

Captain kiwi my caimpaighn does not use that rule

[@Tricerapops]

I helped my daughter make her character. I gave her the spy background assuming she is far traveled. Seeing as I'm the DM I allow this.

[@brianlav1]

@@Tricerapops I would also allow a nature check to see the druid is familiar with that animal.

[@davidhayes9657]

@@brianlav1 i only started playing recently, and the campaign we did, we didn't come across the animals that the moon druid can take advantage of, and our DM didn't allow me to make nature checks etc. I just went around tanking everything and using Shilliegh. 😂

[@mrp782]

@@davidhayes9657 got to love telling everything, don't make me beat you with my shilliegh. Lols

[@Burori1]

I love the idea of a Paleonthologist Druid, who's got an entire book full of notes on all kinds of ancient creatures to pick from, but it takes them time to reach a point, where they can use all of them! For flavor, I could see an early Wildshape being a Compsognatus, instead of a lizard and just giving them the lizard stats, maybe slightly buffed as compies were faster?

[@SRDSecondRateDMs]

I realy dig your guy's style you put out some good D&D videos

[@DungeonDudes]

Thank you!

[@Asaomar]

I'm the druid for my group's campaign. I Just wanted to comment that I loved your video and it made me want to look a little closer at the spells that I bring to the table for my group. I'm currently level 7(the rest of my group is lv5 or lv6) and one of the front line characters in the party. My main focus is damage dealing. I don't need to heal much, since we have a cleric dedicated to it, as well as a bard(she mostly does crowd control/buffs with backup heals). My character is from a long forgotten island where he worked as part of the militia protecting the island, with a focus on keeping the more dangerous wildlife away from the inhabited areas. Now that he's off on his adventure, his main quirk is he doesn't really understand just how powerful he is, and sometimes goes a bit overboard with powerful magic, when something more...simple would suffice. Think casting Tidal Wave when Create or Destroy Water would work just fine. He also sees himself(especially when backed by his friends) as more powerful than he actually is, so he tends to disregard stealth in favor of just going nuts.

[@xSilentStrangerx]

I'm re-watching this video quite a bit later because I just started a campaign with a Druid and this was an inspiring video! Thank you. As always, you're the best D Dudes!

[@seymourfields3613]

Just starting a Hill Dwarf Druid last week! You've given me s lot of help and inspiration for my backstory and play style! Thanks so much! Thumbs up!

[@demoulius1529]

My first ever character was a Druid in a 3.5e ed campaign. My favourite moment was when I had reached the level that I could wildshape into large animals and I suprised my DM by wildshaping into a Rhino whilst I was flying as an eagle (my other favourite wildshape) above one of the enemies that came at us. Im not quite sure how she decribed it but after calculating how much damage the creature would suffer the jist of it was: yeah its not coming back from this one xD

[@ConstantChaos1]

3.5 druid is so different from 5th

[@demoulius1529]

@@ConstantChaos1 yeah it really is. And for the better tbh. I was OP as heck compared to the rest of my party xD

[@ConstantChaos1]

@@demoulius1529 I agree that it was super needed but, maybe just because of who I played with, the power was needed to entice people to play, I knew alot of religious games who drew the line at cleric and ranger but considered druid a step too far

[@kdaviper]

I have a friend that played a druid in a 5v5 pvp tournament(3.5 rules I believe). His party had died except for him so he turned the landscape into a forest, than himself into a tree. He then summoned an elemental swarm to kill his enemies while they frantically chopped down trees looking for the right one. Gary gygax then shook his hand and told him he was the scariest druid he'd ever seen

[@ConstantChaos1]

@@kdaviper that sounds bad ass

[@circlepit4598]

I had a Druid in my party that wild shaped into a giant wolf spider and crawled on the ceiling of the cave, in the first part of the phandelver campaign, and then did an awesome, disgusting drop attack onto a goblin, killing it in one shot and gaining surprise for the party. Super fun and hilarious interaction!

[@stormgaren]

I’m playing as a druid right now.(It’s my first game) and there was this one instance where my friend and I (at that time we were the only ones in the party) came up with a good battle strategy in where I distract sone dragon creatures so that she can investigate the portal they’re coming out of. My other friend who was the DM sabotaged our plan. So I was supposed to distract them by flaling my arms and legs, then once they noticed me I woukd turn into a cheetah and lead them away from my friend. It worked but they were apparently faster than me, and ended up catching up. So, I morphed into a mole to hide underground, then next a bird to fly away when they coukdnt find me. I never knew that druids were adaptive, but in the back of my mind I was really in character

[@brennangray8712]

it specifically states in the PHB that it has to be an animal that you have seen for wild-shape

[@trikkinikki6843]

We've only made it to level three so far, but I've been playing a Warforged Druid named Stump. I'm the only spell caster in the party (we've got a blood hunter, fighter, and rogue) so I went with Circle of Dreams for the extra healing. He was built to protect the forest who left to find information on a sickness afflicting the plants and animals. He talks with a lisp and I love him so much. Can't wait to get further in the game with him.

[@TheSergitz]

I'm actually building a druid/fighter build. I wanted to build a pure fighter but wanted to add something else and since pirates love the sea, I figure, give it a druid side cause of their connection to the sea. This guide is very helpful. I'll implement some of it as I go along

[@DamonRunnals]

Thanks for the video guys, great work. Two comments. I was a bit surprised that it wasn’t mentioned one of the most (I think) ridiculous aspects of shapeshifting HP Pool. The fact that if the Druid is “killed” in animal form the revert back and only take any carry over damage. That to me is crazy especially when you play for bear tank style. To you point of savage druids. I’m currently playing Trag a Half-Orc Druid with a circle of the shepherd subclass. As you describe he understands that nature is a brutal place. It isn’t a world where words or politics makes headway, it is a world where the strong, cunning, and crafty survive and ultimately thrive. And yet it is also a place where life and death are in balance and there is as much to be found in the celebration of bringing something into the world as there is when something goes out. I really like the tribal aspects that tie into the Half-orc heritage (his back story includes growing up in a full orc clan). I also like the subtle shift off of the classic Shaman that would exist in an Orc tribe. I worked with the DM to decide that the Druid of the clan was not a common thing and only came around every few generations - someone from the clan with the aptitude for it. It has been really fun to play a Druid who uses shapeshift much more for utility and relies on the summoning of creatures and buffing of allies as a kind of war commander style. Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

[@SeanNyte]

I TRULY APPRECIATE this video and the other associated content... I've come back to this video to give myself a refresher because you two have helped me quite a bit with my current/upcoming Druid Character... So I'm restarting your various Druid Related Videos so I can get a pretty solid idea and hopefully some answers to questions that I have about a particular Druid based Multiclass.... Almost done with this one, so on to the Subclass Video...

[@jaredthompson5641]

Thanks guys, I'm noob and this was very helpful. I recommend a Mirror is put behind your camera so you may see each other and still look at the camera. You fellas seem like conversationalist that need to look at people when you talk. For a production standpoint you should face the camera so I (we) feel included as an audience.

[@azrik6084]

My druid that I'm currently playing is the party healer, but also when it's needed they bring the stealth element into our party. Our party has no one that specializes in stealth so when we need recon or just a way to get somewhere we aren't wanted my character can provide invisibility cause she's a circle of the land druid, but also use her wild shapes to spy on people without raising suspicion.

[@nicirochi0]

Reallyy good, I'll pla my first Druid tomorrow night and this video give me so much inspiration! Thanks dudes!

[@mattmoylan4226]

You guys kinda make me want to play a Druid! You do a good job of making all classes seem fun and viable

[@fabian116205]

I really enjoy these videos great info. I'm also playing a Druid for the frist time in DnD "only played a druid in WoW" and must say I'm loving it. he is a C.G. Wood elf that is a acolyte. I also love transforming into the giant hyena the rampage special ability is amazing.

[@Wineblood]

I'm rewatching this a year later as I'm running a quest with an antagonistic druid NPC and need more info to get the right feel.

[@emilie9043]

Just started playing as a spore druid! My character has a dark history but no one in my party knows yet. Great video as I'm just hitting level 3 so im excited to look into the spells mentioned!

[@Alphadog2064]

I find myself often coming back to considering a druid with each new game I play, I consider playing druid with every game whereas other classes I completely ignore

[@novasanobody7787]

I'm a newbie to dungeons and dragons and really wanted to try it out. I was thinking of making my first class a druid. I think I can make my character have some pretty cool lore. I'm making him up to be this intellectual that views everyone below him. This video I think has sealed my choice.

[@Joemantler]

At about 33:00! I was just thinking about a Druid worshiper of Cernunnos. Having to hunt and eat a new animal encountered would be a great RP hook! Party is trekking across the wilderness, he spies some knew thing, and immediately starts off after it, having to hunt and kill it alone. Big things that attack the party, like elephants, who everyone has a hand in killing, he couldn't (or just wouldn't) assume the form of! :)

[@rowanash5378]

So while watching this video, I came up with the, in my mind, hilarious idea of making a multi-class Totem Barbarian/Any Druid. Then the idea becomes: Take any totem of your choice, and main it for as much barbarian as you want to be, then take at least 2 levels of druid to get Wild Shape, use your Wild Shape to *literally become your totem animal*. Thus, the image that comes to mind is the most murderous, unkillable bear to ever live.

[@DungeonDudes]

Moon Druid / Barbarian can actually be a pretty effective multiclass combination. Very creative!

[@josephhedges384]

My buddie is playing that right now but he took three levels in barbarian and is a bug bear. He is a bear in every sense of the word. A literal bear, and a large hairy gay man. His character is actually an absurd front liner with a 15 foot reach

[@joeallen7981]

I have a Druid / Ranger who wants to become a Werewolf. His most common Wild Shape is Dire Wolf, his Ranger Companion is a wolf. Everything about him is wolf based. Just waiting for the right campaign to play him in.

[@AdrianParsons]

I have to say that I *love* the idea of having to eat an animal before you can turn into it. Feels in line with the whole "the power of my foes" thing. On another note I am surprised that you mention the bear as the go to Wildshape, but don't point out that bears have a climb speed. Who needs giant lizards & spiders to walk across ceilings? Lets put the "drop" back into "Drop-Bear"!!!

[@lukematthews2560]

Great video, thanks guys! I'm playing a firbolg druid called Davenglivbarr (Dave) who hates metal because an army in plate armour (the metal men) killed his family and destroyed his village! The heat metal spell is a must! Such a great damage dealer! One of my favourite things so far was wildshaping into a spider to infiltrate a dungeon, then when a vampirling attacked the party, crawling to above it, transforming back to my 280lb 8ft self and dropping 15ft elbows first onto its head! Didn't see me coming! Then heat metal on its shackles and the thing was not happy!

[@ronaldshaw4309]

I know this is a old video but to add to the debuffs portion. Druids have some of the most options of inflicting the restrained, prone and difficult terrain (and other movement limiting conditions that don't even count for any of those i.e. plant growth.) Perfect characters for the grab him and hold him style of fighting. Couple this with their mediocre blast spells you can really make sure no one is making their dex saves.

[@Kobbler88]

I've been working on a Half Orc Druid Fighter built around entrapping and smashing.

[@ShouldaWoulda]

A fun spin on wild shape is to roll a percentage die to determine if you have control over your actions or if the animal side takes over.

[@stefanjentoft8107]

I'm just about to jump into a campaign as a circle of the land: mountain, mountain dwarf druid. He got called out of a nature-abusing clan by Sylvanus, whose identity he still doesn't really know. He now sets off to gain a more holistic understanding of nature to be able to return and bring his clan to heal. Very curious to see how it plays out, and a bit intimidated by the complexity of the class.

[@edgargryffydd9440]

how do you dudes feel about a moon druid flying up 200ft as Peregrine falcon then Diving into a 200mph [bonus action] Bear Elbow

[@theonlymatthew.l]

You will make a lovely pate' as you spread your semi liquefied form over a wide range of ground. I'm sure Dwayne Johnson will give you a golfers clap though....

[@commanderroddi7742]

This is my FAVORITE class! So flexible! Though I'm not sure Moon druids are my favorite, so far, I love Circle of the Land druids, and played a couple of varieties of them. Shepherd and star druids are strong, while I love the themes of wildfire and spore druids. Some of my favorite shapes are panther, bats, Giant Eagle or VUlture, Giant SPider and Giant constrictor snake, Dire wolf and Bears, Giant Octopus, Giant Toad and Reef shark are great water shapes, and Giant Badger is great when you MUST maintain concentration (like, for example, you were brave enough to conjure and elemental and you don't want to drop concentration ot that!). Druids get REALLY good blasty cold spels (especially, the Circle of the Land (arctic) druid. Battlefield control that are a MUST are Entangle & spike grouth early on, but once you get Plant Growth and Transmute Rock, those are MUST!. Add stuff like Longstrider, Jump, Freedom of Movement, and and damage spells like Heat Metal , Moonbean, Flame Sphere and Call Lightning, and you can use your wild shape to burrow underground, and maybe use a wild companion as your eyes and to cast stuff like cure wounds, and touch spells (like, an owl gets flyby, good perception, stealth, and flyby). Pass without trace and goodberry are must, especially picked as magic initate spells. THe healing spells like lesser restoration,and the best healing spell, polymorph. Though remember that when you polymorph your braniac wizzard to an animal that has an intelligence of 1, he becomes dumb. Conjure spells (and summon spells) are great tool. Though careful to not ruin the campaign or DM will retaiate. Faerie fire is LEGENDARY and its worth casting. Commune with Nature is great, and hallucinatory terrain is good too. . About conjuring and familiars or summons: If you are going to summon a creature, be sure YOU have the beat's/fey's/elemental's sheet even if the description sayd you DM will provide. Don't do that. Its not nice. Be considerate of your poor DM. Other interesting backgrounds I found is Accolyte or sage (if you look at the circle of the land description, they are formed of druid sages), and they may have their respect to nature as a religious thing. I try to stay away from the hermit-loner or smelly lives in the wood druid. Trying to stay away from some tropes, makes a very interesting character. (lately, I've tried to play in way where my fellow party members have to kind of guess what class I am playing... Most time they guess Druid and are right). As for multiclassing, One level in ranger is interesting to get some interesting ranger spells like zephyr strike, enstaring strike or hail of thorns and make your druid an arcer? 2nd Level fighter and circle of shepherd mixes well with action surge and second wind. I also like to go into my equipment and Kinda customise it (not the stats, but the descriptions). Like, a spores druid I played (a DUergar) had moldy hide armor and mold on his shield, which it and his staff had fungus and mushrooms growing out of them, and when I cast guardian of nature, I called the forms Great Mushroom or Feral Fungus forms, or fungal fire instead of faerie, stuff like that maks your characher great. My wildfire druid had chared armor and woodedn equipment, and a black obsidian made scimitar (my arctic land druid had one of those too). One was armed with a stone club made by a druid with the shape stone spell, and a mountain druid had a staff made similarly by using stone shape and druidcraft to mix some wood and reinforce it with stone. That would also be a way to have a druid have a warhammer or battle ax that is either stone or obsician? Talk to your DM, but that would be cool. My My Duergar druid used spiked armor that was made not of metals, but of bones later on the campaign (it was a blight druid, very thematic). Make sure your DM is good with this, but yeah, Druids are just so cool!

[@horizon241]

My favorite druid was a recent one-off campaign where I was a Lolth worshiping Drow Elf Moon Circle Druid who would Wild Shape into a Giant Spider and consume his enemies.

[@davidzucca9946]

So I’m trying to make my first ever character and I’ve started with a Tiefling Druid. I wanted to go for the dark, unbridled side of nature like wildfires, landslides, poisonous plants, animal bones, and play him, not necessarily evil, but definitely not pure and good. It seems like a lot of the Druid’s characteristics a based in good nature. Is this a good idea, especially for a new player? Any recommendations or tips?

[@ConstantChaos1]

The 3.5 blighter seems to be a good starting point for you

[@estherk2343]

I'm also trying to build a Tiefling Druid right now, using the Circle of the Stars content from Unearthed Arcana. I'm going for sort of a lonely wandering background, where she felt a pull with the stars and cosmos looking down over nature, keeping balance. Fire damage will be inspired by stars being great balls of fire themselves, expressing as bright and cold-looking flames that burn just the same. Cold Hellfire, drawn from the stars, and wild shapes inspired by constellations. I'm excited to try it out, we'll see how choosing a tiefling goes.

[@davidzucca9946]

Esther K I like it! I ended up really enjoying my Tiefling Druid. Unfortunately, our group had a breakup which resulted in a group breakup so I didn’t get to play him past lvl 5, but he was definitely fun. I’m sure you’ll have fun with yours as well, she sound awesomely unique. I think the tiefling race definitely helps get that lonely wanderer angle.

[@ConstantChaos1]

@@davidzucca9946 dude I spent something like 40 hours making a character then the dm kicked me because I thought it was annoying that his GF unmuted her audio to interrupt ppl by burping even if (like in my case) speaking caused them physical pain because of an infection. So like I spent almost 2 whole days making a character I never got to use

[@davidzucca9946]

@@ConstantChaos1 Damn, that sucks. Yea, I got so excited, that was my first character and I really started to find his niche, and then all of a sudden everything came to a halt. Hopefully Ill be able to revive him one day.

[@Benz74M]

Thinking of house ruling CR limits for non-Moon Circle druids, bumping them thus: 2nd level, max CR 1/2 ; 4th level, max CR 1; 8th level max CR 2... Would help balance the subclasses and make them more appealing. I also have a homebrew feat "Swift Shifter" that allows a druid or other shapechangers to change form as a bonus action (like moon circle druids), *and* as a reaction when you take damage or fall more than 30 feet (allowing you to possibly transform into a beast with a flying speed, using option falling rule in XGTE to soften the fall).

[@thedisabledviking]

That sound great!

[@FourPartFox]

As an actual practicing modern Druid, I am super impressed with the level of research that went into this! (Though there's no definitive tie to Druids and those who built Stonehenge; we are the ones who revere it, though!)

[@energyscholar]

Small correction: Wildshape last for 1/2 hour per Druid level.

[@noxiouslion]

Entirely false. The PHB directly says that you can stay for a number of hours equal to half your Druid level

[@diamondflaw]

So much fun has been had by my rogue with the party druid giving him Magic Stones to use in his sneak attacks with his sling.

[@ElizabethJimenezNowButler]

I played a elf druid that had an urban background, but had left her family to join a group that I called 'Druids Without Borders'. She didn't want to be a part of the machinations of her family. They were a charity group that went around to villages and other areas that had been affected by war, natural disasters, etc to help heal and rebuild these communities. I based it off of the trope of a rich kid that doesn't want to do what her family wants so after grad school she leaves to join the Peace Corps just to stick it to them. She was pretty fun to play!

[@OffBitterShane]

Oh man! Me, my brother, and two of our friends played a campaign on Roll20, and it was a three person party. I tend to make it a point to try new races and classes when I make new characters, so this campaign saw me playing Dench, the half orc druid. My brother decided to play a half elf sorcerer and our buddy played an elf fighter (that actually wasn't any good at fighting). Dench ended up becoming the party tank, as a moon druid, and he is, as I lovingly describe him, my "muscle druid." 18 Strength, 15 Constitution, and a paltry 12 Wisdom. He was an outcast from human society and didn't appreciate the savagery for savagery's sake he saw in the orcs. He found solace in nature, where the strong survive, but there is balance in all things. Our first session, we are creeping up on a cave full of cultists. Dench Wild Shapes into a giant spider, climbing the walls and scuttling about on the ceiling, doing reconnaissance. He returns to the party, assumes his humanoid form, and briefs the party. Soon, they have a plan formulated, and Dench returns to his giant spider form. He infiltrates again, on the ceiling, his companions behind him. He drops from the ceiling as the sorcerer casts Fog Cloud, assassination cultists left and right k. the confusion! Oh, man, so many stories! Not the best caster druid, but the roleplay was amazing.

[@redblu]

You guys are the absolute best!! I always love learning from you!

[@jonathanguzman5743]

Captain Planet! My heart jumped a beat when I heard you guys talk about it

[@OpenWorldGirlMR]

I’m currently playing Druid in tomb of annihilation and let me tell you, if you plan on playing through this campaign please have a Druid in your group it’ll be a huge advantage.

[@alanschaub147]

It’s impressive how many modern and historical sources you two reference in these videos.

[@Laurender]

Just got to level 2 on a Ghostwise Halfling Druid. Can't wait to telepathically communicate in wild shape :)

[@TerrariaGolem]

Oh no. I'm gonna be Lizard Folk Dino Druid next campaign

[@BlackShadow1991]

Thank you for making these guides, Dudes, they are fun, informative and well made :D

[@abelperez4784]

Hey do you think you could put a poll on each video for which class to cover next? Also could you do a cleric guide next?

[@DungeonDudes]

You're in luck! We just re-shot the cleric Guide yesterday (we'd shot it earlier, but the files were damaged). It should drop sometime in the next two or three weeks once we get it edited and polished! We are aiming finish the rest of the class guides by the end of the summer, so at this stage it's more about which ones we finish research, writing, filming, and editing first. We've only got the Bard, Monk, Paladin, and Warlock left!

[@jerry247]

The problem with the pixie trick is that the player only chooses CR, the Dm picks the creatures summined.

[@ticozayas6430]

depends on the dm (as with most rules)... mine lets me choose cr and what creatures i summon

[@jand.4737]

Moon druid on Chult (or other homebrew settings with dinosaurs) can even transform into the Quetzalcoatlus, which is Huge and might give a ride for most of the other players. And the CR is not even THAT high, so you can use that relatively early. Giant Toad can consume smaller creatures. Using that can be weird.

[@DungeonDudes]

Our druid uses this form -- the only weakness of it is that the form is so fragile. It can deal a lot of damage with the Dive attack and is very useful utility, but man, our Druid just gets shot out of the sky so often.

[@jand.4737]

The utility purpose is the one I was looking for. Yes, that form is fragile and it also might attract hunters or scare people who have never seen a gigantic flying dinosaur before. Basically depends on how your DM lets people react to that.

[@jand.4737]

Though, high level paladins ride pegasus or griffons (or even nightmares) that might get you in trouble as well.

[@zacharyfreeman8579]

I've never played D&D but I'm planning to start and the #1 class I'm going to play after I get some experience is the Druid followed closely by the Bard.

[@miket3827]

So I'm building an asimar druid. They do get a bonus cantrip due to the race, and a bonus to wisdom and charisma. There are some charming spells, which can help.

[@PvE2PvP]

Circle of the moon druid is one of my go to classes when I roll bad lol.

[@frasernagle4436]

An over looked combo is the Tortle Druid.. 17 base AC, with some cool abilities. I currently am playing a campaign with said combo, and god damn is it great. Having such a high AC with shields and armor make the Druid even more adaptable.

[@davewantz1766]

Poison Ivy is a good example because she can commune with The Green, which is the spirit of life and plants. Same with swamp thing.

[@Bewitched_Science]

I play a druid/bard in my campaign with the background of noble. It's an interesting build, but it works given the high elf, circle of the moon, and school of glamour bard. As for characters, Polgara and Belgarath from David Eddings books would be some good Druidic Sorcerers.

[@samerinaa]

I'm excited.. I think I relate to this class the most ♡

[@SahalafidN]

I play a Fallen Aasimar Circle of the Spore druid (Eberron setting), who have a Knight background, named Zraq ir'Jonz (I think its sounds epic :P ). He is the Black Ship of his family who liek to read, and spend time in the family graveyard, he have a bit gothic vibe in hte outside, but he realy is a coruious one. Very social and kinda handsome fella, but sometimes its hard to fit in a social situation. His father was a knight so he had to train like he wanted to, so I use a two handed falchion. The start of the campaign he got to to Sharn, so everything is new to him, nad a bit lost in the big city, but when he had to go down the cities underbelly, he found a lot of beautifull stuff there, like colorfull molds and fungis. My primary stat is Strength and its so fun to play him! Maybe im not the most effective in the party but I always find the way to be helpfull to everyone :)

[@nathanmoore599]

Great video guys! I'm currently playing a Moon Elf Druid of the land.

[@MyRedeemed22]

What I want is a Shape shift centric Druid class, like the old Morph. Give up your magic, go all the way into making your morphing your power.

[@TerrariaGolem]

Yaaas

[@anthrophilosophia]

I know it's not a druid specific spell, but I find it neat how geas also has Celtic roots

[@drholistic8130]

Im in a campaign that play every week sometimes 2 times a week. Ive played a divination wizard for 1.5 years. Now im planning achaotic good goblin druid that love mushrooms.

[@QeepingItReal]

i always thought it would be neat if a druid and paladin or fighter teamed up to say take down an elemental summoner but then later would be at odds with an aspiring new lord (he could even be lawful good) who wanted to start a castle in a wild land. or in the other order.

[@invaderzak11]

This video gave me an idea for a skinwalker character. I had no idea the Druid was this cool.

[@resilientfarmsanddesignstu1702]

This is how I run Druids in my campaign. First, I ascribe to the school that limits Druidic shapeshifting powers to creatures that they have personally encountered. Having said that, I also assume that they have encountered several such creatures in the past from their childhood who live in the area of the world where they grew up. The PC and I then discuss their back history and agree upon a list of those creatures. Most, but perhaps not all, of these creatures, should be those that are commonly encountered in the area. Second, the Druid’s magic is derived from Nature. As they are most attuned to the ecological environments of their place of birth, their spells reflect that ecosystem. Both the kind, and the strength of spells are so affected. Thus a Druid from a water world landscape will have Druidic spells that effect the ecosystem components that prevail in that ecosystem and will not have spells that effect the ecosystem components that prevail in a desert ecosystem for example and vice versa. The strength of their spells is likewise affected. While in or near their homeland, their spells are more powerful, when far from their homeland, they are less powerful. When on or proximal to the ocean or another such water body (even if far from their home water world), the spells of a Druid who comes from a water world will be more powerful. When in the midst of a desert, less powerful - except in the oasis, where they are again more powerful. Such a Druid is not however powerless in the desert as wind is abundant in both ocean and desert ecosystems. Where water energy is concentrated, such as near flowing water, crashing waves, waterfalls, rapids etc., water spell-casting and shape-shifting power is greater. Where sand dunes are actively forming, or on the tops of cliffs and mountains or in constricted areas or during windy weather windy spells are more powerful. This is not to say that wind cannot be summoned on a calm day, it is however more difficult, takes more effort and takes longer to summon as it is not already present in the environment in that time and place. Only by spending time in other ecosystems can a Druid obtain more mastery over the ecosystems that prevail in those areas. Thus they are encouraged to venture into the unknown to gain experience and competence but are advised to do so with caution as they will be vulnerable while they are learning. While slightly more complex, this leads to a far more interesting, challenging, satisfying and I would say, realistic experience for the Druid as PC and for their party.

[@voiceofthemartyrs]

Currently playing an Eldrin Druid that is the party healer exiled from her order due to being pronounced a heretic from a higher Druid of her order on a quest for atonement from the arch Druid of the order. She’s accompanied by a Dragonborn Paladin to guide and protect her on this journey

[@cyric1873]

What are your thoughts or opinions on Kalashtars? Bonus to Wisdom and the ability the speak telepathically which is great is your shape cannot speak.

[@arielshligman2146]

front line druid are great take circle of spores use flame blade for 3d6 per attack plus the necrotic damge you do as a reaction

[@WolfmanXD]

I have a druid that I made for a one shot. His name is yew, he's a mark of healing halfling circle of the moon druid. Being that he's a halfling he couldn't shapeshift into full sized animals, so he would turn into baby forms of them, with all the stats of the adult forms. That's about as far as I got with him. But I liked the character a lot, that I'll probably flesh him out if I get a chance to use him in a full campaign.

[@lidlonez]

Thank you very informative and awesome.

[@puelsavloff8000]

I love this guide!!! Always come back to it jejej it would be great if you revisit this in light of Tasha and everithing you have grown this years. (Im argentinian so i hope i was understandable in my writing 😅)

[@claywebber2058]

The restriction on wild shaping into an animal the Druid has seen is not a house rule, it’s baked into the PHB

[@Reepicheep-1]

Lv 15 Druid, Animal Shapes. Instant army of (whatevers) who retain intelligence/allignment. Villiage in peril suddenly becomes army of Trolls! Bring It, BBEG! (I've seen troll in both CR4 & CR5, pick your source.) Or could be wolves, bears, etc. And druid can alter shapes at will, up to 24 hours.

[@beard78748]

Just started playing as a Forest Gnome Druid. I rolled a natural 18 and decided it would be fun to play a less common race.

[@scotto7047]

Whilst I like these guides, I often haven't played my character anything close to the suggested build. My current guy is a half orc druid/rogue. Robin hood type I guess. Probably interested in the "savagery" style of nature. Circle of the Land and hardly any of the spells you recommend. Interesting.

[@bouncyblight2001]

I’m currently trying to figure out how to make a botanist type character that creates carnivorous plants to help him in battle. My best bet so far is a Druid with circle of healing or something like that

[@AmaroqFan]

I made a Tiefling Druid that became one with nature when she gave up on trying to become part of society. She has done several things with her Wild Shape that may help others be inspired in their creativity in using the ability. As a fox, scouted and noted the schedule of guards on duty on the castle walls. As a mouse, squeezed under a locked door to open it for the party from the inside. As a dog, took a letter and delivered it to an informant in a public town square without notice. As a mule, carried an injured party member to safety. As a boar, challenged the leader of a herd of boar, won, and led the herd away from town. As a cat, snuck into a prison to find captured party members and let them know rescue was on the way. While being chased through a city, she turned a corner as wild shaped into a horse and standing still as the town guard ran right passed. As a fish, escaped a city on lockdown by swimming through the bars blocking the exit via the river. And lastly, She cast spiderclimb on a barbarian that needed to carry 4 people down a shear wall before wild shaping into a mouse and riding in the barbarian's pocket so as to not add more weight to his carrying capacity and leave room on his shoulders for the others to hold on. We're not even halfway through the campaign.

[@doctor-kq2uc]

I play as a druid in one of the campaigns I'm in we recently had to fight a bunch of goblins in a cave a bunch of them were in a 20 by 20 Circle room so I used my last second level spell slot to cast Spike growth trapping a huge number of goblins in the room with the floor covered in spikes for every 5 feet they moved they would take 2d4 damage I also have Thorn whip so i was sitting out side the room using thorn whip which if it hits it pulls whoever you hit 10 feet closes so that would be 1d6 for the whip and 4d4 for the 10 feet

[@Klaital1]

A pretty major thing that was completely skipped over in this video regarding the Conjure Woodland Beings is that the player DOES NOT choose what creatures are summoned, they only choose the challenge rating, the DM chooses what actually shows up. So the pixies transforming everyone to t-rexes only happens if the DM chooses the pixies (which they probably aren't going to do too often)

[@julianwallman4343]

Played as a Minotaur druid hermit, dude turned into a super smart tank that used to lose his shit at kobolds regularly haha

[@phlojem285]

I recently made a Human Druid who was raised in a Goblin Tribe who thought he too was a Goblin. On a fateful day, during battle with an opposing Tribe of Goblins, Klaah, Beast Speaker of the Glosh tribe met his most feared foe, a powerful magic user of the Blerg tribe.The Blerg spellcaster asked Klaah why he a Human was helping the Goblins. To this Klaah looked at himself and finally saw what he was. "You... How did you do this?" asked Klaah. "Do what?" "Turn me into a Human!" he yelled in mostly anger. The ancient looking Goblin, confused said "I... didn't do that" "You LIE! I was a Goblin but five minutes ago!" After a fierce battle, Klaah defeated his enemy, but saw that he was still human. After much thought, he concluded that the only thing that could force him to be another type of humanoid would have to be ancient and powerful magic. After securing victory for his people, Klaah crept away, so his family would not see the ugliness he now possessed, and vowed to find some form of powerful artifact to change him back into a Goblin

[@kimberlainodriscoll4781]

I play a druid who embraces nature's chaos. Death and violence are natural like fire and storms. As such she acts in an unpredictable feral manner. She eats raw meat and smokes mushrooms via a long stemmed pipe. When scolding a NPC or party member she thumps them with a stick to drive her point home. She summons wolf packs in battle (8 at a time). If they are killed off, she'll immediately summon 8 more. She can do this 3 times in all for 24 total wolves. She really fun to play this way.

[@brucemccauley6099]

Shepherd I love summoning:)

[@LunaNatz]

The video is so helpful but quick question, do you HAVE to pick a circle for a druid?

[@Seinari]

I'm playing a lvl 5 character which is 4 lvls in druid and one in barbarian, which means I can use both wild shape and rage

[@aprilrichards762]

I'm old but a cartoon I loved as a kid, "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors", Jayce's little sister, Flora, was created by Jayce's father, Audric, from a plant. She talks to plants and animals. She is a druid.

[@necrophiliacin_lace628]

very good info. I'm currently thinking of multiclassing my Necromancer with Druid. thinking the Necromancer is looking for balance in his life and he sees the life in death and the death in life. He already has an animal friend in a pseudodragon I came across on our campaign. but I've always been kind of a support class character, so I think it's a good fit while giving me more options in combat.

[@hugo910216]

I had a druid with a few home brew features When consuming a part of an animal you not only get the ability to transform into that animal but at later levels learned how to fuse aspekts of consumed animals Example ankylosaurus from the djungle of chult (a walking tank of a dinosaurie) + a cobra gave me a creature that was a tank that spits a blinding poisen from the mouth and bludgeon you to death with its clubbed tail. Saddly my druid died rather early but just thinking of the posibilities makes me want to pick up that character again XD

[@Fraginator]

I have found that the best way to get around the inability to speak in wild shape is the Ghostwise Halfling. They have a limited form of telepathy that allows them to speak into others' minds directly...

[@DungeonDudes]

Neat catch, I like that idea.

[@theonlymatthew.l]

Kalashtar I think would be even better. 60 ft range on their telepathy and they can give others the ability to speak back to them in the same manner.

[@jasaneverwood1573]

You guys may want to make a follow up to this video and discuss the new Druidic Circle “Circle of Spores”.