Circle of the Beasts

For most druids, their famous ability to transform into beasts is limited to only a small number of uses between rests. For druids of this circle, they call on the magic of nature in order to surpass the usual limits of these transformations, both in terms of number and strength.

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Magical Wild Shape

At 2nd level, you can supplement your bestial transformations with magic. You may choose to expend a spell slot instead of a usage of your Wild Shape feature when you activate it. When you Wild Shape in this way, the maximum CR of creature you can become is equal to half the level of the spell slot rounded up; you ignore the Max. CR column of the Beast Shapes table, but must abide by the other limitations there. If you Wild Shape with your base uses of the feature rather than using spell slots, then you instead follow the Beast Shapes table as usual.

However, when you Wild Shape using a spell slot, you do not assume the beast's hit points and Hit Die as usually specified in the Wild Shape feature. Instead, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to 5 times the level of the spell slot you expended. When these Temporary Hit Points are lost, you do not revert to your normal form. Instead, you only revert as a bonus action, if you fall unconscious, or after the time limit as normal (if you expend another spell slot to remain transformed beyond this limit, you gain these Temporary Hit Points again).

Finally, you gain the ability to use Wild Shape on your turn as a bonus action, rather than as an action, as the greater magical influence makes the transformations more seamless.

 

Wild Tongues

Also at 2nd level, the magical enhancements of your transformations allow you greater communication. You retain your ability to speak while transformed by your Wild Shape. If your new form usually does not have the capacity for speech, you nonetheless magically gain the ability to do so.

Additionally, while you are transformed into a beast, you are able to understand and talk with other beasts of the same type as if under the effects of the Speak with Animals spell. For example, if you were transformed into a wolf then you would be able to understand and speak with other wolves but not with any other type of beast (unless you subsequently transform into the appropriate form, at which point you would then lose the ability to understand wolves).

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.

Monstrous Wild Shape

Starting at 10th level, the magical influence over your Wild Shape allows you take on more powerful, monstrous forms. You may expend a usage of your Wild Shape (or spell slots as per your Magical Wild Shape feature) to transform into a Monstrosity you have seen before and that follows the same restrictions as your Beast forms. You do not acquire any equipment in this transformation, and so cannot use any traits or actions of monstrosities that use equipment in their usual statblocks, however you may use a monstrosity’s innate spellcasting at you DMs discretion.

You can attain a Monstrosity form in this way a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, and regain all expended uses during a Long Rest.

Vast Hybrid

By 14th level, you have learned to manifest the traits of beasts while humanoid or even in another bestial form. When you transform into a Beast with your Wild Shape, along with everything detailed in the Wild Shape feature, you can also manifest a number of additional traits up to half your Wisdom Modifier (rounded up). These additional traits can be any combination of Actions, Armor Class, Speeds, Stats, Senses, or Traits from any other Beasts you are capable of transforming into.

For example, you could transform into the base form of a Polar Bear but also gain the Sting attack of a Giant Scorpion as well as the 120ft Blindsight of a Killer Whale. Alternatively you could gain the Spider Climb of a Giant Spider, or 80ft fly Speed of a Giant Eagle, or 15 AC of a Giant Scorpion, or +6 Stealth of a Tiger, or the 22 Strength score of an Elephant, or any combination of additional Beast traits up to half your Wisdom modifier.

You can manifest hybrid traits in this way a number of times equal to half your Wisdom modifier (rounded up) and regain all expended uses during a long rest. (You can't do half modifier limited uses in the homebrew builder so you'll have to keep track yourself, sorry)

Finally, you can cast the Alter Self spell at will. It does not require concentration for you, nor does it need any verbal or somatic components.