Circle of Steel

Druids that commit themselves to the Circle of Steel gain power and control over raw metals. This connection manifests across all of their druidic abilities, altering their Wild Shape, their combat approach, and how they move about the world. Circle of Steel druids are unable to manipulate refined metals, as those items and structures have lost their connection to the natural world. 

Metal druids are often shunned by other druids, and are thus more often solitary in nature, their personalities reflecting the cold and hard nature of their chosen medium. Due to their work with heavy materials, they are often strong and muscular, unlike many stereotypical spellcasters. This means they are more adept to hand-to-hand combat, should they wish to forgo their Metallic Wild Shapes.

Iron Fist

You meld metal to cover your fist for an unarmed attack, dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage.

Metallic Circle Forms

The rites of your circle grant you the ability to transform into more metallic renditions of animal forms. Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Wild Shape to transform into a metal manifestation of a beast with a challenge rating as high as 1 (you ignore the Max. CR column of the Beast Shapes table, but must abide by the other limitations there).

When in Metallic Wild Shape, you take on the beast's stats, actions, and abilities. Due to the metallic nature of the transformation, you gain resistance to slashing and piercing damage, but take a -2 reduction in DEX.

Starting at 6th level, you can transform into a beast with a challenge rating as high as your druid level divided by 3, rounded down.

Raw Armor

You draw from the metal in the earth around you, bending it to your will, and forming it around your body to create armour.

One per long rest, you can take one action to replace your current AC with that of plate armor (AC 18). This lasts for 1 hour and requires concentration.

Primal Strike

Starting at 6th level, your attacks in beast form count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Greater Metallic Circle Forms

The rites of your circle grant you the ability to transform into more dangerous animal forms. Starting at 6th level, you can transform into a metallalic facismile of a beast with a challenge rating as high as your druid level divided by 3, rounded down. 

Take on the stats of the beast, with resistance to slashing and piercing damage and a -2 DEX penalty.

Elemental Wild Shape

At 10th level, you can expend two uses of Wild Shape at the same time to transform into an earth elemental,

Thousand Forms

By 14th level, you have learned to use magic to alter your physical form in more subtle ways. You can cast the alter self spell at will.