Circle of the Elements

Druids of the Circle of the Elements are focused on the study of the foundation of nature, the four elements that are essential to life: air, earth, fire and water. Their intense study of the elements gives them a greater ability to harness and manipulate the elements towards their will. Going beyond the simple transmutation of the elements, their studies extend to the elemental planes as well.

These druids are considered fundamentalists by members of other circles; perhaps missing the big picture. The Circle of Elements druid would counter that to understand the elements, is to understand nature.

Each of the four elements are represented by a specific damage type, which are used in your Elemental Manipulation feature:

• Air - lightning
• Earth - acid
• Fire - fire
• Water - cold

Bonus Cantrip

When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you learn one additional cantrip of your choice that is connected to one of the four elements. The cantrip can come from any class spell list and becomes a Druid spell for you. The chosen spell must have an association with one of the four elements.

Elemental Manipulation

Starting at 2nd level, you have developed a great understanding of the elements and the synergy between them. Whenever you cast a spell that produces an elemental effect, you can manipulate the effects of the spell to use one of your known elemental substitutions instead of the original element. You learn one element you can use for substitution at 2nd level and additional ones at 6th, 10th and 14th level.

Air Substitution

Whenever you cast a spell that produces an elemental effect, you can substitute an air elemental form (lightning) for the resulting spell.

Earth Substitution

Whenever you cast a spell that produces an elemental effect, you can substitute an earth elemental form (acid) for the resulting spell.

Fire Substitution

Whenever you cast a spell that produces an elemental effect, you can substitute an fire elemental form (fire) for the resulting spell.

Water Substitution

Whenever you cast a spell that produces an elemental effect, you can substitute an water elemental form (cold) for the resulting spell.

Circle Spells

Your mystical connection to the elements infuses you with the ability to cast certain spells. At 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level you gain access to circle spells connected to the elements.

Once you gain access to a circle spell, you always have it prepared, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain access to a spell that doesn’t appear on the druid spell list, the spell is nonetheless a druid spell for you.

Druid Level	Spells
3rd	acid arrow, scorching ray
5th	fireball, protection from energy
7th	conjure minor elementals, fire shield
9th	conjure elemental, immolation

 

Elemental Resistance

Starting at 6th level, you have honed your defenses against elemental damage. You gain advantage on all saving throws against elemental damage types: cold, fire, lightning and thunder.

In addition, you can choose one of the elemental damage types and gain resistance to that damage type. This resistance remains until you choose a different damage type, after finishing a long rest.

Elemental Wild Shape

At 10th level, you can expend two uses of Wild Shape at the same time to transform into an air elemental, an earth elemental, a fire elemental, or a water elemental.

Elemental Gate

When you reach 14th level, you can travel to one of the Elemental Planes (Air, Earth, Fire or Water) or return to the Material Plane from one of the Elemental Planes. The power works similarly to the Plane Shift spell, except that if it is used to banish an unwilling creature, it only works on elemental creatures and returns them to their home plane if they fail their saving throw.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.