I'm playing a level 6 Firbolg moon druid in a new campaign. I haven't played a spellcaster in a long time since I'm a level 13 barbarian in my other campaign. This party doesn't have a tank per se and I didn't want to be another barbarian, so I chose circle of the moon for better wild shape. The problem I'm having is how to best play a druid during combat. I know I can't cast new spells while wild shaped, but it doesn't effect concentration, so I've mainly been casting Moonbeam, then turning into an invisible wild shape for a surprise bear in the face. I can't seem to break the habit of in your face style of play after being a barbarian for so long.
As of now, I can stay in wild shape for 3 hours so if we run into baddies and I'm still a bear or the like, I can't cast new spells. I'm just looking for some advice on optimal ways to play a moon druid in combat. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
So I think that's the trick, especially at those levels where the moon druid kinda hits a power plateau. I'd just say, you're a druid! Do cool druid things. Then maybe after you've got a spell or two rolling, pop into that bear and start doing bear things. Maybe start by casting Conjure animals then pop into your bear. Now there are 3 bears! Or maybe start with Plant growth to slow down enemies to a crawl, then cast Conjure animals and summon some birds that can fly over it. Then pop into your bear. You get wild shape back on a short rest so don't be afraid to pop out between combats to use some spells.
So I think that's the trick, especially at those levels where the moon druid kinda hits a power plateau. I'd just say, you're a druid! Do cool druid things. Then maybe after you've got a spell or two rolling, pop into that bear and start doing bear things. Maybe start by casting Conjure animals then pop into your bear. Now there are 3 bears! Or maybe start with Plant growth to slow down enemies to a crawl, then cast Conjure animals and summon some birds that can fly over it. Then pop into your bear. You get wild shape back on a short rest so don't be afraid to pop out between combats to use some spells.
Oh my derp, you are correct. I get wild shape back on short rest! For some reason, this whole time, I thought it was LR.
I have so many more options as a druid than a barbarian that I'm still figuring it out. So far, I'm loving the druid though. I'll have to check out conjure animals. Thanks for the input.
Another thing to think about is ways to help out concentrating on spells. You're going to be taking hits so it'll be important to grab resilient constitution or Warcaster when you can
Moon Druids are typically all about casting a concentration spell and then wild shaping and going into battle or keeping out of harm's way to help the party.
Just take a look at your spells and you will easily see the combos that work well (spike growth, fog cloud [turn into a scorpion with blind sight and attack!], entangle, fairy fire).
Dropping wall of fire and turning into a fire elemental is fun. Run in and out of the flames at will or even grapple people and move them into the flames.
At your level casting enlarge on yourself and turning into creatures that grapple will be amazing too. Call of Lightning and go hide while you zap them.
NymbusCloudstrikeFun! It seems like the best way to play a more tanky druid during combat (my character is front line and not much of a hider) is essentially the way I've been playing: drop some spells, wild shape, attack. I'll have to play around with options more. Thanks for the advice.
so I've mainly been casting Moonbeam, then turning into an invisible wild shape for a surprise bear in the face. I can't seem to break the habit of in your face style of play after being a barbarian for so long.
.
How do you turn into an invisible wildshape? Invivisbility isn't on the spell list for moon druids though you could get it from shadow touched. In any case moonbeam and invisibilty are both concentration spells so you can not have both up at the same time.
If another member of the party is casting invisibility on you that works though I think a second level spell is a high price to pay for a single attack at advantage.
Hidden Step - As a bonus action, you can magically turn invisible 3 times per long rest. This lasts until the start of your next turn or until you attack, make a damage roll, or force someone to make a saving throw.
While a cave/polar bear is a reliable CR 2 wildshape for overall tanking/damage, it’s good to have other forms available for specific situations. Fighting a single powerful target? Wildshape into a giant constrictor snake and keep it restrained in your coils. Are other people in your party knocking people prone with spells/shoves/etc? Wildshape into a giant elk and do ridiculous damage with your hooves. Fighting near a shoreline? Wildshape into a plesiosaur and grapple + swim with terrestrials, even if they don’t drown before the combat is over most foes are significantly hindered when underwater. Being a Moon Druid isn’t just about absorbing damage, but it’s about being able to fit the situation with the right beast.
Definitely. So far, I've transformed into a bear, dire wolf, giant spider, elk, and a saber-tooth tiger. Early on, the giant spider restrained one enemy in its web and the party killed it before it could really attack since it kept failing checks. I still haven't had a chance to use any of the water wild shapes and I'm not likely to for a while, but wild shape is fun.
NymbusCloudstrikeFun! It seems like the best way to play a more tanky druid during combat (my character is front line and not much of a hider) is essentially the way I've been playing: drop some spells, wild shape, attack. I'll have to play around with options more. Thanks for the advice.
Glad I could help. Like others have mentioned if you are going to be a tank with concentration definitely up your CON scores and take Resilient CON or War Caster to help with those concentration checks. I always take Resilient CON. If your DM is cool with magic items being worn by your wild shape the Amulet of Health is a great addition.
Glad I could help. Like others have mentioned if you are going to be a tank with concentration definitely up your CON scores and take Resilient CON or War Caster to help with those concentration checks. I always take Resilient CON. If your DM is cool with magic items being worn by your wild shape the Amulet of Health is a great addition.
Glad I could help. Like others have mentioned if you are going to be a tank with concentration definitely up your CON scores and take Resilient CON or War Caster to help with those concentration checks. I always take Resilient CON. If your DM is cool with magic items being worn by your wild shape the Amulet of Health is a great addition.
Another thing to think about is ways to help out concentrating on spells. You're going to be taking hits so it'll be important to grab resilient constitution or Warcaster when you can
I just checked with my DM and swapped my level 4 ASI for resilient con. Yay.
Don’t forget you’re a pretty solid caster outside of wild shape. With a shield you can have quite decent AC so even out-of-form you’re a decent off-tank, and you can save a wildshape to suddenly grow heaps more HP in an emergency. In other words, it can be well worth considering sometimes just being a caster who isn’t afraid of taking some hits, as long as you have a wildshape up your sleeve if things go wrong. If you see a good opportunity to drop some AOE spells or whatever, then yeah, don’t be afraid to plant your feet and let loose. You’re less dependent than some other casters on conserving spells slots. Let it rip!
Goodberry is a pretty decent return on investment for between-fight healing, so you can put some first level spell slots into that at the start of the day and the party can use what is in effect one of your healing spells while you’re still a bear or whatever.
You can do a short rest in wildshape, which of course refreshes your 2-per-short-rest. Good if you’re in some form that (for example) gets advantage on perception checks to watch for trouble.
Not really combat, but remember that big critters are not always the best option. A tiny spider is often bloody excellent to, for example, walk under a door, bamf back into yourself, and unlock the door from the inside. Or ride tucked away on the end of someone’s cloak. Or spy from a crevice. Or escape the prison. Or run away, turn a corner, and hide.
If you’ve had experience as a barb, a quick touch of multiclass can be worthwhile. Concentration spells can be a bit of a pain to set up and maintain if you are tank-druid, but you can rage just fine in wildshape, and you get the advantage of unarmoured defence (depending on what you’ve turned into) that might give you better AC. A single level dip in Barbarian can make you that much more effective – rage is basically a brilliant twice-per-day spell you can cast while in wildshape.
Taking half damage on a wildshape druid who has access to massive amounts of hp can be quite absurd. Could even be worth going to level 3 for the Bear Totem…
Glad I could help. Like others have mentioned if you are going to be a tank with concentration definitely up your CON scores and take Resilient CON or War Caster to help with those concentration checks. I always take Resilient CON. If your DM is cool with magic items being worn by your wild shape the Amulet of Health is a great addition.
Another thing to think about is ways to help out concentrating on spells. You're going to be taking hits so it'll be important to grab resilient constitution or Warcaster when you can
I just checked with my DM and swapped my level 4 ASI for resilient con. Yay.
Make sure you remember to add the +1 Con to your Wild Shapes - all feats apply to all shapes unless otherwise noted, and it's rare for them to be otherwise noted (iirc the SAC has a note that Durable doesn't apply to Wild Shapes).
I'm playing a level 6 Firbolg moon druid in a new campaign. I haven't played a spellcaster in a long time since I'm a level 13 barbarian in my other campaign. This party doesn't have a tank per se and I didn't want to be another barbarian, so I chose circle of the moon for better wild shape. The problem I'm having is how to best play a druid during combat. I know I can't cast new spells while wild shaped, but it doesn't effect concentration, so I've mainly been casting Moonbeam, then turning into an invisible wild shape for a surprise bear in the face. I can't seem to break the habit of in your face style of play after being a barbarian for so long.
As of now, I can stay in wild shape for 3 hours so if we run into baddies and I'm still a bear or the like, I can't cast new spells. I'm just looking for some advice on optimal ways to play a moon druid in combat. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
If you want to tank, Barkskin is a much more common solution than Moonbeam, which has crippling flaws like you need your action to move it and it will hurt friendlies (including you!).
At level 6, these are the best wild shapes (assuming you're not fighting underwater):
Giant Elk: If you're not using Barkskin and medium barding is off the table (I don't know your DM, and it's popular for DMs to deny Druids access to non-metal medium armor), the best AC you have available while shaped at CR 2, especially if you buy studded leather barding for your Elk. If anyone else in the party can knock your enemy prone, your damage output will be incredible - Giant Elks are designed as herd animals (they can knock prone and hurt prone enemies a lot but not on the same turn).
From CR 1, Giant Spiders have the same AC going on, and are an excellent "travel shape" due to Spider Climb + Darkvision + Blindsight.
Also from CR 1, Dire Wolves have the same naked AC (they won't scale as well in studded leather barding) and thanks to pack tactics will usually be able to hit what they want to nibble on, which also means they're pretty good at dispensing prone. Need light to see, but excellent hearing (and smell, if that ever comes up).
Cave Bear: No-nonsense DPR - doesn't inflict any conditions, and relatively fragile (which you can help a lot with Barkskin), but has Darkvision, which can be a pretty huge deal. I am pretty sure this hits the hardest of your CR 2 forms.
When you reach level 8, Quetzalcoatlus becomes your new "main" form. For it and the forms above, especially if you have pack tactics, you should be embracing the mounted combat rules if possible and carrying a party member into battle on your back. Moon Druids are the best mounts in the game.
Don’t forget you’re a pretty solid caster outside of wild shape. With a shield you can have quite decent AC so even out-of-form you’re a decent off-tank, and you can save a wildshape to suddenly grow heaps more HP in an emergency. In other words, it can be well worth considering sometimes just being a caster who isn’t afraid of taking some hits, as long as you have a wildshape up your sleeve if things go wrong. If you see a good opportunity to drop some AOE spells or whatever, then yeah, don’t be afraid to plant your feet and let loose. You’re less dependent than some other casters on conserving spells slots. Let it rip!
Goodberry is a pretty decent return on investment for between-fight healing, so you can put some first level spell slots into that at the start of the day and the party can use what is in effect one of your healing spells while you’re still a bear or whatever.
You can do a short rest in wildshape, which of course refreshes your 2-per-short-rest. Good if you’re in some form that (for example) gets advantage on perception checks to watch for trouble.
Not really combat, but remember that big critters are not always the best option. A tiny spider is often bloody excellent to, for example, walk under a door, bamf back into yourself, and unlock the door from the inside. Or ride tucked away on the end of someone’s cloak. Or spy from a crevice. Or escape the prison. Or run away, turn a corner, and hide.
If you’ve had experience as a barb, a quick touch of multiclass can be worthwhile. Concentration spells can be a bit of a pain to set up and maintain if you are tank-druid, but you can rage just fine in wildshape, and you get the advantage of unarmoured defence (depending on what you’ve turned into) that might give you better AC. A single level dip in Barbarian can make you that much more effective – rage is basically a brilliant twice-per-day spell you can cast while in wildshape.
Taking half damage on a wildshape druid who has access to massive amounts of hp can be quite absurd. Could even be worth going to level 3 for the Bear Totem…
The AC thing is true. My level 6 druid has the same AC as my level 13 barbarian.
That's a good point on saving wild shape for after I take some hits. I still tend to play with the barbarian mindset of run into combat and fk sht up, so my druid is very tanky. Actually, he's the main tank of the party, but you're right that wildshaping into small creatures could be good depending on the situation.
I thought about multiclassing druid (2 levels) with barb (3) since the bear totem and mood druid mesh so well together, but I want to play something different than barbarian. My barbarian is a totem warrior.
Make sure you remember to add the +1 Con to your Wild Shapes - all feats apply to all shapes unless otherwise noted, and it's rare for them to be otherwise noted (iirc the SAC has a note that Durable doesn't apply to Wild Shapes).
Make sure you remember to add the +1 Con to your Wild Shapes - all feats apply to all shapes unless otherwise noted, and it's rare for them to be otherwise noted (iirc the SAC has a note that Durable doesn't apply to Wild Shapes).
Good to know. Thanks.
One of the big reasons for taking Resiliant Con is as you will often be in wild shape, on the front line with very low AC while concentrating on a spell, but yes remember to add the +1 as well as the proficiency bonus to saves (though it only makes a difference on creatures with an odd Con)
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I'm playing a level 6 Firbolg moon druid in a new campaign. I haven't played a spellcaster in a long time since I'm a level 13 barbarian in my other campaign. This party doesn't have a tank per se and I didn't want to be another barbarian, so I chose circle of the moon for better wild shape. The problem I'm having is how to best play a druid during combat. I know I can't cast new spells while wild shaped, but it doesn't effect concentration, so I've mainly been casting Moonbeam, then turning into an invisible wild shape for a surprise bear in the face. I can't seem to break the habit of in your face style of play after being a barbarian for so long.
As of now, I can stay in wild shape for 3 hours so if we run into baddies and I'm still a bear or the like, I can't cast new spells. I'm just looking for some advice on optimal ways to play a moon druid in combat. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
So I think that's the trick, especially at those levels where the moon druid kinda hits a power plateau. I'd just say, you're a druid! Do cool druid things. Then maybe after you've got a spell or two rolling, pop into that bear and start doing bear things. Maybe start by casting Conjure animals then pop into your bear. Now there are 3 bears! Or maybe start with Plant growth to slow down enemies to a crawl, then cast Conjure animals and summon some birds that can fly over it. Then pop into your bear. You get wild shape back on a short rest so don't be afraid to pop out between combats to use some spells.
Oh my derp, you are correct. I get wild shape back on short rest! For some reason, this whole time, I thought it was LR.
I have so many more options as a druid than a barbarian that I'm still figuring it out. So far, I'm loving the druid though. I'll have to check out conjure animals. Thanks for the input.
Another thing to think about is ways to help out concentrating on spells. You're going to be taking hits so it'll be important to grab resilient constitution or Warcaster when you can
Good point. Thanks.
Moon Druids are typically all about casting a concentration spell and then wild shaping and going into battle or keeping out of harm's way to help the party.
Just take a look at your spells and you will easily see the combos that work well (spike growth, fog cloud [turn into a scorpion with blind sight and attack!], entangle, fairy fire).
Dropping wall of fire and turning into a fire elemental is fun. Run in and out of the flames at will or even grapple people and move them into the flames.
At your level casting enlarge on yourself and turning into creatures that grapple will be amazing too. Call of Lightning and go hide while you zap them.
NymbusCloudstrikeFun! It seems like the best way to play a more tanky druid during combat (my character is front line and not much of a hider) is essentially the way I've been playing: drop some spells, wild shape, attack. I'll have to play around with options more. Thanks for the advice.
How do you turn into an invisible wildshape? Invivisbility isn't on the spell list for moon druids though you could get it from shadow touched. In any case moonbeam and invisibilty are both concentration spells so you can not have both up at the same time.
If another member of the party is casting invisibility on you that works though I think a second level spell is a high price to pay for a single attack at advantage.
It's part of being Firbolg:
While a cave/polar bear is a reliable CR 2 wildshape for overall tanking/damage, it’s good to have other forms available for specific situations. Fighting a single powerful target? Wildshape into a giant constrictor snake and keep it restrained in your coils. Are other people in your party knocking people prone with spells/shoves/etc? Wildshape into a giant elk and do ridiculous damage with your hooves. Fighting near a shoreline? Wildshape into a plesiosaur and grapple + swim with terrestrials, even if they don’t drown before the combat is over most foes are significantly hindered when underwater. Being a Moon Druid isn’t just about absorbing damage, but it’s about being able to fit the situation with the right beast.
Definitely. So far, I've transformed into a bear, dire wolf, giant spider, elk, and a saber-tooth tiger. Early on, the giant spider restrained one enemy in its web and the party killed it before it could really attack since it kept failing checks. I still haven't had a chance to use any of the water wild shapes and I'm not likely to for a while, but wild shape is fun.
Glad I could help. Like others have mentioned if you are going to be a tank with concentration definitely up your CON scores and take Resilient CON or War Caster to help with those concentration checks. I always take Resilient CON. If your DM is cool with magic items being worn by your wild shape the Amulet of Health is a great addition.
Thanks. I'll check into it.
I just checked with my DM and swapped my level 4 ASI for resilient con. Yay.
Don’t forget you’re a pretty solid caster outside of wild shape. With a shield you can have quite decent AC so even out-of-form you’re a decent off-tank, and you can save a wildshape to suddenly grow heaps more HP in an emergency. In other words, it can be well worth considering sometimes just being a caster who isn’t afraid of taking some hits, as long as you have a wildshape up your sleeve if things go wrong. If you see a good opportunity to drop some AOE spells or whatever, then yeah, don’t be afraid to plant your feet and let loose. You’re less dependent than some other casters on conserving spells slots. Let it rip!
Goodberry is a pretty decent return on investment for between-fight healing, so you can put some first level spell slots into that at the start of the day and the party can use what is in effect one of your healing spells while you’re still a bear or whatever.
You can do a short rest in wildshape, which of course refreshes your 2-per-short-rest. Good if you’re in some form that (for example) gets advantage on perception checks to watch for trouble.
Not really combat, but remember that big critters are not always the best option. A tiny spider is often bloody excellent to, for example, walk under a door, bamf back into yourself, and unlock the door from the inside. Or ride tucked away on the end of someone’s cloak. Or spy from a crevice. Or escape the prison. Or run away, turn a corner, and hide.
If you’ve had experience as a barb, a quick touch of multiclass can be worthwhile. Concentration spells can be a bit of a pain to set up and maintain if you are tank-druid, but you can rage just fine in wildshape, and you get the advantage of unarmoured defence (depending on what you’ve turned into) that might give you better AC. A single level dip in Barbarian can make you that much more effective – rage is basically a brilliant twice-per-day spell you can cast while in wildshape.
Taking half damage on a wildshape druid who has access to massive amounts of hp can be quite absurd. Could even be worth going to level 3 for the Bear Totem…
Make sure you remember to add the +1 Con to your Wild Shapes - all feats apply to all shapes unless otherwise noted, and it's rare for them to be otherwise noted (iirc the SAC has a note that Durable doesn't apply to Wild Shapes).
If you want to tank, Barkskin is a much more common solution than Moonbeam, which has crippling flaws like you need your action to move it and it will hurt friendlies (including you!).
At level 6, these are the best wild shapes (assuming you're not fighting underwater):
When you reach level 8, Quetzalcoatlus becomes your new "main" form. For it and the forms above, especially if you have pack tactics, you should be embracing the mounted combat rules if possible and carrying a party member into battle on your back. Moon Druids are the best mounts in the game.
The AC thing is true. My level 6 druid has the same AC as my level 13 barbarian.
That's a good point on saving wild shape for after I take some hits. I still tend to play with the barbarian mindset of run into combat and fk sht up, so my druid is very tanky. Actually, he's the main tank of the party, but you're right that wildshaping into small creatures could be good depending on the situation.
I thought about multiclassing druid (2 levels) with barb (3) since the bear totem and mood druid mesh so well together, but I want to play something different than barbarian. My barbarian is a totem warrior.
Good to know. Thanks.
One of the big reasons for taking Resiliant Con is as you will often be in wild shape, on the front line with very low AC while concentrating on a spell, but yes remember to add the +1 as well as the proficiency bonus to saves (though it only makes a difference on creatures with an odd Con)