Just make sure you don't make the same mistake I did with my druid, and accidentally take only concentration spells. It gets really annoying when you can only concentrate on one spell at a time!
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I built a "cheat sheet" version of the spell list with all the concentration and saves noted. There are way too many druid spells that require concentration, IMHO.
My druid's only level 2, but I've been preparing Ice Knife every chance I get. We also have no cleric, and my character loves to hit things with her quarterstaff, so I keep Shillelagh as a cantrip, and Healing Word and Cure Wounds on standby in these lower levels.
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Speak with Animals is also great. It's a ritual so you don't need to use your spell slots to cast it. People don’t usually keep secrets from their mounts or the birds in the garden, so consider the usefulness in opening up investigations to these witnesses too. Don’t hesitate to bribe them with carrots and bird seed as needed, and perhaps even use Animal Friendship to get advantage on your skill checks. This is obviously highly dependent on the situation and the DM. At some tables this spell will be next to useless, at others it will open up a whole world of NPCs to you.
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Speak with Animals is also great. It's a ritual so you don't need to use your spell slots to cast it. People don’t usually keep secrets from their mounts or the birds in the garden, so consider the usefulness in opening up investigations to these witnesses too. Don’t hesitate to bribe them with carrots and bird seed as needed, and perhaps even use Animal Friendship to get advantage on your skill checks. This is obviously highly dependent on the situation and the DM. At some tables this spell will be next to useless, at others it will open up a whole world of NPCs to you.
I admit, I've never thought to use Speak with Animals in that way.
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Speak with Animals is also great. It's a ritual so you don't need to use your spell slots to cast it. People don’t usually keep secrets from their mounts or the birds in the garden, so consider the usefulness in opening up investigations to these witnesses too. Don’t hesitate to bribe them with carrots and bird seed as needed, and perhaps even use Animal Friendship to get advantage on your skill checks. This is obviously highly dependent on the situation and the DM. At some tables this spell will be next to useless, at others it will open up a whole world of NPCs to you.
I admit, I've never thought to use Speak with Animals in that way.
They are still animals though, with an intelligence score of 2 or 3. What they can actually remember and recognise it up to the DM.
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
2nd level Heat Metal is just OP against any weapon class. Ranged attack (60ft), no save creature takes 2d8 damage (higher slots add 1d8) but the biggest benefit is if you target a weapon they make a Con save to not drop it, alternatively target their metal armor. If they don't drop the item they have disadvantage on attack and ability checks. It doesn't require concentration and as a bonus action you can cause the damage on subsequent rounds for the duration of the spell (1min). I have kept many a mighty foe occupied while my group dealt with more pressing concerns using this spell. Armor is not quick to take off unless you cut yourself out of it, rendering it useless at which point you use another spell slot to then cast it on their weapon continuing to shut them down or drop their weapon.
2nd level Heat Metal is just OP against any weapon class. Ranged attack (60ft), no save creature takes 2d8 damage (higher slots add 1d8) but the biggest benefit is if you target a weapon they make a Con save to not drop it, alternatively target their metal armor. If they don't drop the item they have disadvantage on attack and ability checks. It doesn't require concentration and as a bonus action you can cause the damage on subsequent rounds for the duration of the spell (1min). I have kept many a mighty foe occupied while my group dealt with more pressing concerns using this spell. Armor is not quick to take off unless you cut yourself out of it, rendering it useless at which point you use another spell slot to then cast it on their weapon continuing to shut them down or drop their weapon.
Heat Metal is with concentration. And, I agree that is an awesome spell, but is situational. Depending on the adventures, not all the monsters have a metal armour or metal weapon.
Apologies you are right it does require Concentration. I disagree on it being situational. There is always something metal around and even if not in combat you can use it to heat an item you want an NPC to drop or to surprise a pickpocket.
Apologies you are right it does require Concentration. I disagree on it being situational. There is always something metal around and even if not in combat you can use it to heat an item you want an NPC to drop or to surprise a pickpocket.
Using it on an NPC to force them to drop an item or to surprise a pickpocket is pretty much the definition of a situation. In this case, these are situations that the spell works.
I can think of plenty of situations where it wouldn't be of any use (or at least wouldn't be as useful as pretty much any other damage dealing spell).
1) Fighting a group of monks who use quarterstaves and unarmed strikes 2) Fighting a dragon anywhere but on top of its treasure hoard 3) Fighting a group of elvish archers wearing leather/hide 4) Fighting literally any kind of enemy that doesn't wear armor or use weapons; including (but not limited to) aboleth, ankheg, banshee, basilisk, behir, beholders, blights, bulette, carrion crawler, chimera, chuul, cloaker ... and zombie (the ... stands for the likely DOZENS of applicable enemies for which this wouldn't affect in their natural state (obviously if you put armor on a zombie, you'll be able to use it, but that's another example of a "situation" that it works).
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
Just make sure you don't make the same mistake I did with my druid, and accidentally take only concentration spells. It gets really annoying when you can only concentrate on one spell at a time!
Uhm...just to be clear, you can prepare ANY spells for the day, choosing from the entire druid spell list...you don't only choose and keep specific spells.
I'm new to spell casting in D&D and i was wondering what are the best spells for druid?
Jacob
well here my personal list for low level spells:
Cantrips: Produce Flame (for ranged attack), Guidance
1st level: Entangle, Faerie Fire, GoodBerries, Animal Friendship
2nd level: Enhance ability, moonbeam, flame blade, pass without trace, spike growth
3rd level: conjure whatever, plant growth, sleet storm, call lightining
My personal favorites at lower levels are Earth Tremor, Ice Knife and Moonbeam
Healing word has really come in handy in saving many-a-character's life in the games I have played.
Even though you may have picked a druid with the notion that healing will take a back seat, you can still keep it has a ace in your back pocket.
Just make sure you don't make the same mistake I did with my druid, and accidentally take only concentration spells. It gets really annoying when you can only concentrate on one spell at a time!
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I built a "cheat sheet" version of the spell list with all the concentration and saves noted. There are way too many druid spells that require concentration, IMHO.
My druid's only level 2, but I've been preparing Ice Knife every chance I get. We also have no cleric, and my character loves to hit things with her quarterstaff, so I keep Shillelagh as a cantrip, and Healing Word and Cure Wounds on standby in these lower levels.
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Speak with Animals is also great. It's a ritual so you don't need to use your spell slots to cast it. People don’t usually keep secrets from their mounts or the birds in the garden, so consider the usefulness in opening up investigations to these witnesses too. Don’t hesitate to bribe them with carrots and bird seed as needed, and perhaps even use Animal Friendship to get advantage on your skill checks. This is obviously highly dependent on the situation and the DM. At some tables this spell will be next to useless, at others it will open up a whole world of NPCs to you.
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“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
Oh man you are absolutely right. Indeed, Shillelagh is the most used spell of my druid.
2nd level Heat Metal is just OP against any weapon class. Ranged attack (60ft), no save creature takes 2d8 damage (higher slots add 1d8) but the biggest benefit is if you target a weapon they make a Con save to not drop it, alternatively target their metal armor. If they don't drop the item they have disadvantage on attack and ability checks. It doesn't require concentration and as a bonus action you can cause the damage on subsequent rounds for the duration of the spell (1min). I have kept many a mighty foe occupied while my group dealt with more pressing concerns using this spell. Armor is not quick to take off unless you cut yourself out of it, rendering it useless at which point you use another spell slot to then cast it on their weapon continuing to shut them down or drop their weapon.
Apologies you are right it does require Concentration. I disagree on it being situational. There is always something metal around and even if not in combat you can use it to heat an item you want an NPC to drop or to surprise a pickpocket.
Yes I agree for humanoids. But take the case of beasts, dragons, elemental, some undead...they do not carry any metal objects.
I can think of plenty of situations where it wouldn't be of any use (or at least wouldn't be as useful as pretty much any other damage dealing spell).
1) Fighting a group of monks who use quarterstaves and unarmed strikes
2) Fighting a dragon anywhere but on top of its treasure hoard
3) Fighting a group of elvish archers wearing leather/hide
4) Fighting literally any kind of enemy that doesn't wear armor or use weapons; including (but not limited to) aboleth, ankheg, banshee, basilisk, behir, beholders, blights, bulette, carrion crawler, chimera, chuul, cloaker ... and zombie (the ... stands for the likely DOZENS of applicable enemies for which this wouldn't affect in their natural state (obviously if you put armor on a zombie, you'll be able to use it, but that's another example of a "situation" that it works).
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want
Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
Let me add a couple of combos:
Call lightening+ shape change.
Thunderwave and Spike growth
Other notes:
Moonbeam is great with lycanthropes, especially at low levels when no one has magic weapons
Faerie Fire is ALWAYS useful. Your rogues will love you AND it significantly reduces misses for all party.
Wind Wall has a lot of use by blocking missles, stopping gaseous form escape, etc.
Awaken for trees is always fun.
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DM -- Elanon -- Homebrew world
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Slim -- Halfling Cleric -- CoS (future Lord of Waterdeep 😁)
Bran -- Human Wizard - RoT
Making D&D mistakes and having fun since 1977!