Circle of Evolution

Druids of the Circle of Evolution view nature not as a static system, but as an ever-shifting experiment. Through communion with the primal forces of adaptation and mutation, these druids shape life’s endless forms into new and terrifying expressions of survival. Their beast companion serves as an indispensable companion, evolving alongside the druid in body, mind, and spirit.

Level 3: Evolutionary Companion

When you choose this subclass at 3 level, you gain the ability to summon a beast companion that evolves under your guidance. As a bonus action, you may expend a use of your wild shape to summon this companion, which can take the form of any beast with a CR of 1 or less that does not have a flying speed. (The beast’s maximum CR increases as you gain levels in this class, to CR 2 at 6 level, CR 3 at 10 level, and CR 4 at 14 level.) Your companion remains present until it is reduced to 0 hit points, until you take a long rest, or until you use this ability to summon another companion. It immediately vanishes if you die.

Your companion has the following traits:

• Its hit point maximum becomes equal to five times your druid level if it is not already higher.
• It adds your proficiency bonus (instead of its own) to its attack rolls, saving throws, and skills with which it is proficient. It also adds your proficiency bonus to its AC.
• Your companion acts immediately after you in initiative, and has its own turn. It follows your verbal commands. If you are incapacitated, it will do its best to defend you.

Level 3: Shared Vitality

You and your companion share a biological link.

When you cast a spell that targets only yourself, you can choose to have it also affect your companion, provided it is within 30 feet of you.

Additionally, once per long rest, you may use an action to heal your companion by sacrificing some of your own vitality. You can roll any number of your hit dice. For each die rolled in this way, your companion gains HP equal to the roll plus your wisdom modifier. Those hit dice are then expended.

Level 6: Hasten Evolution

Starting at 6 level, you gain the ability to hasten your companion’s evolution, granting it additional abilities that would not otherwise appear for many generations. Choose two Adaptations from the Adaptation list, found at the end of this subclass description. Your beast companion gains those adaptations.

You may choose two additional Adaptations for your beast companion when you reach 10 level and 14 level in this class.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can replace one Adaptation with another that you meet the prerequisites for.

Level 10: Grow Together

Starting at 10 level, your bond with your companion allows your spells to bolster it and allows it to bolster your magical prowess in return. Whenever you cast a spell that targets your companion, it gains temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier + half of your druid level (rounded down). Temporary hit points do not stack.

Additionally, once per long rest, when your companion scores a critical hit, you can use your reaction to regain an expended spell slot of 3rd level or lower.

Level 14: Adaptive Bond

When you reach 14 level, you and your companion gain the ability to fight in perfect sync. Each of you gains advantage on all saving throws while the other is within 15 feet, and whenever your companion would take damage from any source while within 15 feet of you, you may use your reaction to halve that damage.

Additionally, you may summon your companion without expending a use of your wild shape once per long rest.

Adaptations

Companion adaptation options 

Amphibious

Your companion gains a swimming speed equal to its walking speed, and can breathe normally while underwater.

Armored Carapace

Your companion’s AC increases by 1. This bonus increases to +2 at 14th level.

Combat Maneuverability

Prerequisite: Level 6+ Druid, Swift Movement Adaptation

Your companion can dash, disengage, or hide as a bonus action.  

Elemental Affinity

Prerequisite: Level 10+ Druid, Elemental Resistance Adaptation

Your companion becomes partially elemental. It gains immunity to the damage type associated with its Elemental Exhalation and its attacks deal an additional 1d8 damage of that type.

Elemental Exhalation

Prerequisite: Level 14+ Druid, Elemental Affinity Adaptation

Choose acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder. Once per long rest, your companion can exhale elemental energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area makes a Dexterity save against your spell save DC, taking 8d8 damage of the chosen type on a failed save, or half as much on a success. (This ability does not refresh if you summon a new companion)

Elemental Resistance

Prerequisite: Level 6+ Druid

While you are within 30 feet of your companion, both of you have resistance to one damage type of your choice from among acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison. You can change the chosen type whenever you finish a long rest.

Flight

Prerequisite: Level 10+ Druid

Your companion gains a flying speed equal to twice its walking speed.

Giant

Prerequisite: Level 14+ Druid

Your companion grows into a giant version of its normal form. It deals an additional 1d8 damage with all attacks, and has additional hit points equal to twice your druid level.

Juggernaut Roll

Prerequisite: Level 14+ Druid, Armored Carapace and Thorny Hide Adaptations

As an action, your companion can roll in a straight line a distance up to its speed. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to your spell save DC. On a failed save, a target takes 4d8 piercing damage and is knocked prone. On a success, a creature takes only half damage.

Magical Strikes

Prerequisite: Level 6+ Druid

Damage dealt by your companion counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances and immunity.

Predatory Focus

Prerequisite: Level 6+ Druid

When your companion reduces a creature to 0 HP, it can immediately make another attack as a bonus action.

Ravenous Feeder

As an action, your companion may devour the corpse of a creature that has been dead for no longer than an hour. After doing so, it regains hit points equal to your druid level.

Regeneration

Prerequisite: Level 14+ Druid

At the start of its turn, your companion regains hit points equal to half your druid level (rounded down).

Spell-shatter

Prerequisite: Magical Strikes Adaptation

Once per long rest, as an action, your companion can unleash a burst of natural energy that dampens magic in the area. All active spells of 3 level or lower within 30 feet of it end as if targeted by dispel magic, and creatures cannot cast spells of 3 level or lower while within 30 feet of your companion.

Swift Movement

Your companion’s movement speed increases by 10 feet, and it can jump twice the normal distance.

Target Weakness

Prerequisite: Level 10+ Druid

Your companion’s attacks score a critical hit on a 19 or 20. Additionally when your companion scores a critical hit, it may immediately make another attack as a bonus action, and has advantage on this follow-up attack.

Thorny Hide

Whenever a creature within 5 feet of your companion hits it with a melee attack, that creature takes 1d6 piercing damage.

Venomous Glands

Prerequisite: Level 6+ Druid

The first time each turn your companion hits a creature with an attack, that attack deals an additional 1d6 poison damage, and the target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw (DC = your spell save DC) or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.