Circle of Ancients

This druidic circle focuses on the primeval roots of life and the power that is present in past. By embodying an ancient way of life and the dinosaurs that roamed during those times, druids of the Circle of the Ancient are an esoteric group, often sticking to their own kind and only venturing out when needed.

Primitive Adaptation

When you join this circle of druids at 2nd level, your body is permanently enhanced by the ancient creatures whose power you draw upon. You gain climb and swim speeds equal to your movement speed. Additionally, you have advantage on perception checks that rely on smell.

Dinosaur Companion

Druids in the circle of ancients are in tune with the spirits of ancient beasts and can summon them to assist in battle.

Starting at 3rd level, you can use your action to summon the spirit of a dinosaur from the dinosaur table with the same limitations as your Ancient Wild Shape. The creature loses its multiattack feature, is considered a fey instead of a beast, and you and your companion cannot be the same dinosaur from the table at the same time. The creature has your same initiative and acts right after you in combat. You control what the creature does on its turn, as your connect with it makes it friendly to you and anyone you choose.

You must maintain concentration on this feature (as if concentrating on a spell) or the creature disappears. You are able to use this ability while in your Ancient Wild Shape form. This feature lasts until ended with a bonus action, you lose concentration, or the spirit is knocked to 0 hit points.

Additionally, as a bonus action, you can expend a spell slot to heal your companion 1d8 hit points per level of the spell slot expended if it is within 60ft of you.

Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest or expend a 3rd level or high spell slot to use this ability again.

Level 3: Ancient Wildshape

Starting at 3rd level you can no longer transform into any beast that is not listed on the Dinosaur Table provided by this class or that does not possess scales. The rites of your circle grant you the ability to transform into dangerous, ancient forms. Starting at 3rd level, you can use your Wild Shape to transform into a beast under the dinosaur list with a challenge rating as high as 1 (you ignore the Max. CR of the Beast Shapes table, but must abide by other limitations there).

Starting at 6th level, you can transform into a beast from the dinosaur list with a challenge rating as high as your druid level divided by 2, rounded down.

Dinosaur Table

CR	Dinosaur
1/4	Dimetrodon
1/4	Hadrosaurus
1/4	Pteranodon
1/4	Velociraptor
1	Deinonychus
2	Allosaurus
2	Plesiosaurus
2	Quetzalcoatlus
3	Anklyosaurus
4	Stegosaurus
5	Brontosaurus
5	Triceratops
8	Tyrannosaurus Rex

Ancient Spells

Your link with the great lizards of the past grants you access to certain spells. When you reach certain levels in this class, you gain access to the spells listed for that level in the Circle of the Ancients Spells table. once you gain access to one of these spells, you always have it prepared, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you can prepare each day.

DRUID LEVEL	SPELLS
3rd	Alter Self, Enlarge/Reduce
5th	Fear, Haste
7th	Dominate Beast, Freedom of Movement
9th	Commune with Nature, Tree Stride

Primal Strikes

At 6th level, your attacks in your Ancient Forms count as magical for the sake of overcoming resistances.

Ancient Affinity

Starting at 10th level, while you are transformed by Wild Shape into a dinosaur from the table, you no longer can lose concentration on your Dinosaur Companion feature by taking damage.

Additionally, you can now communicate telepathically, up to 120ft, with your Dinosaur Companion, and, as an action, you can see through its eyes and hear what it hears until the start of your next turn, gaining the benefit of any Special Sense it has. During that time, you are deaf and blind with regard to your own senses.

Evolutionary Advantage

At 14th level, your Wild Shape and Dinosaur Companion have become more powerful and are able to adapt to specific circumstances. Whenever you transform into a dinosaur using your Ancient Wild Shape, gain one of the following benefits while you are in that form:

Darkvision: You gain 120ft of darkvision.

Hooked Claws: You gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed.

Webbed Feet: You gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

Swiftfooted: You walking speed increases by 15ft.

Adapted Resilience: You have advantage on a Saving Throw of your choice.

Strengthened Hide: Your max and current hit points increase by 15.

Additionally, when you summon your Dinosaur Companion, you are able to choose one benefit from the list to affect your companion for the duration of the summoning.