I'm curious to know, what are some of the wild shapes you like to use, and why? I've compiled a list, it'd be nice to know if you agree or disagree with what I've decided.
6-9 Giant Constrictor Snake or Giant Elk..both depend on the situation, as mobility vs tanking are both necessities. A Giant Elk with Healing Aura is great in touch encounters
10-beyond--- Fire Elemental or Eath Elemental.. although i solely play as an Air elemental if playing as if I have a 1 level dip in monk
I have yet to use wildshape for anything other than Starry form -- archer (I'm a Stars druid), but came really close to using the Croc form. I may try Starry form -- Dragon soon. just have a lot of bonus action stuff I need to manage.
Moon druids will go into a combat form most of the time and a lot of people have given views on that. The restriction of "you have seen before" makes the choice different for differnet druids (If your DM ignores this rule the "I win" option is Onyx.
Non moon druids use wild shape for utility and that depends on what you need here's a few useful options.
Transport: For a long journey I turned into a horse pulling a cart allowing the artificer to use travelling days for crafting
Climbing: Any form of spider enables you to can climb anywhere though often something like an ape does just as well
Burrowing: Being pursued by a revenant we had the idea to bury it alive in the hope it couldn't return so I turned into a giant badger
Hide in plain sight. Transform into a dog that looks like a stray and listen in on the bandits plans
Hide. Turn into a flea for the same purpose
Flight. On reaching level 8 being able to fly can help in numerous situations.
I'm L7 Circle of the Land. Our campaign uses "must have seen it first", so almost no "Giant" animals (only Giant Spider and Giant Eagle so far) and no dinosaurs. My fave Wildshapes are;
Spider - for scouting, squeezing through cracks and under doors - darkvision
Cat or Rat - when in town - darkvision
Giant Spider - in dungeons for its Darkvision, Blindsight, Spider Climb, Web attack - what's not to like?
As soon as I hit Level 8,
Owl - dungeon and night scouting with Darkvision - and for flanking enemies in combat using its Flyby
Giant Eagle - just because :) :) :)
Special note: I'm not yet Level 8 coz I took a dip (before I knew what a dip was) for 2 levels of Paladin, which has turbocharged my Wildshape;
Black Bear - Multi-attack with Divine Smite on each one!
War Horse - hoof attack (STR 18) with Divine Smite, with possibility of knocking Prone (in front of one of your characters) followed by additional hoof attack and Divine Smite. Plus, our elven Ranger once dropped out of a tree onto my back and we raced across the fields with her picking off fleeing undead like an archer from the Golden Horde :)
I finally used a wildshape other than Starry form - archer. The party needed to climb through a chasm out of an asteroid with ropes without drifting into space (there is a gravity plane)...and needed two climbers (one at each end). The Hazodee barbarian has a climb speed...and I (Lev 7 autognome stars druid) wildshaped into a Giant Wolf Spider, metalic looking of course (see my icon). We basically followed a fleeing young red dragon (we had injured) out...and luckily he didn't turn on us, but somebody had a fear ability on him so he couldn't actually move closer to us.
I remember something cool my dm for me as a druid, was he had a dungeon that was almost specifically designed to reward me. Something he noticed throughout the campaign was that I normally wouldn't get any of the parties loot, since it would go away when I shapeshifted. His solution? He created a cave system that had prehistoric bones. If I was able to succeed on an Intelligence Check, I would be allowed to shift into that creature.
So my favorite was Saber-Tooth Tiger, and later Ankylosaurus
Giant Octopus if you are or near water. I did the calculation on this beasty: it has hit points equivalent to a CR 2 beast, plus grappling ability and ink cloud.
Ape if you need to climb/throw/carry during a fight. Pairs well with Magic Stone.
Anything small and inconspicuous like a rat, cat, or bat if you are doing reconnaissance.
I've had a lot of fun with Dire Wolf, for Circle of the Moon or even otherwise. Decent in combat; good AC and excellent HP for an animal. The bite damage isn't outstanding, but it's good enough to be threatening in a fight.
Overall it's a great option for CR 1.
The main reason I enjoy them is for the flavor. To me, transforming into a massive wolf and wreaking havoc strongly speaks Druid.
Currently level 16 Land Druid. Giant Spider is probably my most used followed by Eagle/Giant Eagle. The spider for transportation of party members when climbing is needed or flying for recon.
I tend to think that, for the RAW, wild shape is mostly for utility not combat (as some in here have noted). Having a CR of 1, a giant spider isn't a wild shape option for a druid until level 8. I wouldn't expect a giant spider to be a formidable threat in melee combat to a monster for a party of 8th level characters. Moreover, I don't think a druid is really a class designed for melee combat. For this reason, I think it's reasonable, and wouldn't make the game unbalanced, to allow druids to wild shape into some non-beasts for combat with limitations (that I sketched out here). I don't think this breaks the game and and I think it makes the game more fun for everyone.
The requirement that a druid must have seen the thing it's wild shaping into still applies. In fact, I think this requirement is something a good DM would build into a campaign, approaching finding a magical item in a campaign for a druid.
Flavourwise, it don't think it would be too far of a stretch to allow Fey creatures. Perhaps even Elementals, too. But clearly not Fiends or Abominations. I'd be saying no to Celestials too, unless you're a Circle of the Stars maybe?
I tend to think that, for the RAW, wild shape is mostly for utility not combat (as some in here have noted). Having a CR of 1, a giant spider isn't a wild shape option for a druid until level 8. I wouldn't expect a giant spider to be a formidable threat in melee combat to a monster for a party of 8th level characters. Moreover, I don't think a druid is really a class designed for melee combat. For this reason, I think it's reasonable, and wouldn't make the game unbalanced, to allow druids to wild shape into some non-beasts for combat with limitations (that I sketched out here). I don't think this breaks the game and and I think it makes the game more fun for everyone.
The requirement that a druid must have seen the thing it's wild shaping into still applies. In fact, I think this requirement is something a good DM would build into a campaign, approaching finding a magical item in a campaign for a druid.
Apparently Druid is the least played PHB class, and it is thought to be becasue people are offput by the number of creatures they can wildshape into and never being sure what to use when. Making druids able to wildshape into non beasts will only make things worse.
There can also be a load of interactions that might not immediately com to mind, but can make things very difficult for the DM. Pixies have flight at that level even being able to cast Polymorph twice per short rest is broken.
Moon druids have been designed to use wildshape in combat (the feature name combat wildshape is the giveaway), and at high enough level they can wildshape into elementals. The newer subclasses allow the wildshape resource in combat although it is not actually wildshaping, though you might be able to flavour it that way, for example a stars druid could "wild shape" into a celestial when they invoke "stary form".
I tend to think that, for the RAW, wild shape is mostly for utility not combat (as some in here have noted). Having a CR of 1, a giant spider isn't a wild shape option for a druid until level 8. I wouldn't expect a giant spider to be a formidable threat in melee combat to a monster for a party of 8th level characters. Moreover, I don't think a druid is really a class designed for melee combat. For this reason, I think it's reasonable, and wouldn't make the game unbalanced, to allow druids to wild shape into some non-beasts for combat with limitations (that I sketched out here). I don't think this breaks the game and and I think it makes the game more fun for everyone.
The requirement that a druid must have seen the thing it's wild shaping into still applies. In fact, I think this requirement is something a good DM would build into a campaign, approaching finding a magical item in a campaign for a druid.
Apparently Druid is the least played PHB class, and it is thought to be becasue people are offput by the number of creatures they can wildshape into and never being sure what to use when. Making druids able to wildshape into non beasts will only make things worse.
There can also be a load of interactions that might not immediately com to mind, but can make things very difficult for the DM. Pixies have flight at that level even being able to cast Polymorph twice per short rest is broken.
Moon druids have been designed to use wildshape in combat (the feature name combat wildshape is the giveaway), and at high enough level they can wildshape into elementals. The newer subclasses allow the wildshape resource in combat although it is not actually wildshaping, though you might be able to flavour it that way, for example a stars druid could "wild shape" into a celestial when they invoke "stary form".
Not sure if druids are the least played class (seems like monk would be played less), but it's plausible because druids are a class that is more story driven than power. And the best druids require clever spell combinations and (returning to the topic) wild shaping. It's true, as you note, that there are many options for wild shaping, but that doesn't make it boring. IMO the problem with wild shaping is related to the core problem with druids: they're not designed for power gaming, delivering damage in combat, etc. And in the core rulebooks, wild shaping is more for utility than combat. But if druids were allowed to wild shape into some non-beasts, druids would be a much more appealing class. That said, IMO the new wild shaping options should have constraints, e.g., similar CR and wild shaping frequency rules that are in the core rulebooks, depend on druid circles, depend on having a similar alignment of the wild shape option, etc. Within these limits, IMO druids should be able to wild shape into some types of plants, feys, elementals, monstrosities, or dragons. It also makes sense to limit new wild shape options to one option per CR. It's important not to allow these additional wild shape options to make the game unbalanced. Under these conditions, druids become much more appealing to players because they can keep up with other PCs with classes that are capable damage dealers.
Maybe I missed something but other than Moon Druid I’m not sure having any of these additional options really helps Druids in terms of combat. Non-Moon Druids primarily use WS for utility, not combat so being able to WS into a CR 1 Fey, at 8th level, probably doesn’t add much. I haven’t gone through all the fey or monstrosities etc so maybe there is some utility I’m missing, but doesn’t seem in combat it helps more than their other features and spells.
Might be interesting for Moon Druids but I think some higher CR beasts would benefit them more.
And Druids being the least player is based on surveys and/or DDB data, or both.
Thanks. You make a fair point that Moon druids receive a disproportionate benefit from WS. That said, in addition to beasts, here are some non-beasts under 1 CR that could non-Moon druids that a player/DM might consider to make their druid better at melee combat:
Elemental: Mephit (immunities depending on type of mephit)
1/2 CR (for all 4th level druids):
Plants: Duergar Spore Servant (resistance to poison--perfect for Circle of the Spores druids), Podling (immunity to charmed & frightened), Vine Blight (immunity to blinded, deafened; disguise)
Dragon: Ambush Drake (darkvision, tremorsense, immunity to poison)
Monstrosity: Amphisbaena, Hippocamp, Zorbo
Elemental: more Mephits, Magmin
The non-beasts listed above are by no means all of the entities for each of the CRs shown. Further, the DM/player can exclude any of these types of non-beasts for any reason, e.g., druid subclass/Circle, player alignment, game balance, etc.
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Started playing 1e in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in the last year.
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I'm curious to know, what are some of the wild shapes you like to use, and why?
I've compiled a list, it'd be nice to know if you agree or disagree with what I've decided.
[Top 10] D&D Best Druid Wild Shapes
For a level 2 moon Druid the brown bear was very useful for most encounters
2-5 Brown Bear or Dire wolf
6-9 Giant Constrictor Snake or Giant Elk..both depend on the situation, as mobility vs tanking are both necessities. A Giant Elk with Healing Aura is great in touch encounters
10-beyond--- Fire Elemental or Eath Elemental.. although i solely play as an Air elemental if playing as if I have a 1 level dip in monk
I have yet to use wildshape for anything other than Starry form -- archer (I'm a Stars druid), but came really close to using the Croc form. I may try Starry form -- Dragon soon. just have a lot of bonus action stuff I need to manage.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E/RPG geek.
It depends on the druid.
Moon druids will go into a combat form most of the time and a lot of people have given views on that. The restriction of "you have seen before" makes the choice different for differnet druids (If your DM ignores this rule the "I win" option is Onyx.
Non moon druids use wild shape for utility and that depends on what you need here's a few useful options.
I'm L7 Circle of the Land. Our campaign uses "must have seen it first", so almost no "Giant" animals (only Giant Spider and Giant Eagle so far) and no dinosaurs. My fave Wildshapes are;
As soon as I hit Level 8,
Special note: I'm not yet Level 8 coz I took a dip (before I knew what a dip was) for 2 levels of Paladin, which has turbocharged my Wildshape;
I finally used a wildshape other than Starry form - archer. The party needed to climb through a chasm out of an asteroid with ropes without drifting into space (there is a gravity plane)...and needed two climbers (one at each end). The Hazodee barbarian has a climb speed...and I (Lev 7 autognome stars druid) wildshaped into a Giant Wolf Spider, metalic looking of course (see my icon). We basically followed a fleeing young red dragon (we had injured) out...and luckily he didn't turn on us, but somebody had a fear ability on him so he couldn't actually move closer to us.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E/RPG geek.
I remember something cool my dm for me as a druid, was he had a dungeon that was almost specifically designed to reward me. Something he noticed throughout the campaign was that I normally wouldn't get any of the parties loot, since it would go away when I shapeshifted. His solution? He created a cave system that had prehistoric bones. If I was able to succeed on an Intelligence Check, I would be allowed to shift into that creature.
So my favorite was Saber-Tooth Tiger, and later Ankylosaurus
DEINONYCHUS
Very OP early game wild shape. In Monsters of the Multiverse.
A GOBLIN with a big brain. (int 30)
BOOYAGH!!!!
Giant Octopus if you are or near water. I did the calculation on this beasty: it has hit points equivalent to a CR 2 beast, plus grappling ability and ink cloud.
Ape if you need to climb/throw/carry during a fight. Pairs well with Magic Stone.
Anything small and inconspicuous like a rat, cat, or bat if you are doing reconnaissance.
I've had a lot of fun with Dire Wolf, for Circle of the Moon or even otherwise. Decent in combat; good AC and excellent HP for an animal. The bite damage isn't outstanding, but it's good enough to be threatening in a fight.
Overall it's a great option for CR 1.
The main reason I enjoy them is for the flavor. To me, transforming into a massive wolf and wreaking havoc strongly speaks Druid.
In my experience...
Currently level 16 Land Druid. Giant Spider is probably my most used followed by Eagle/Giant Eagle. The spider for transportation of party members when climbing is needed or flying for recon.
I tend to think that, for the RAW, wild shape is mostly for utility not combat (as some in here have noted). Having a CR of 1, a giant spider isn't a wild shape option for a druid until level 8. I wouldn't expect a giant spider to be a formidable threat in melee combat to a monster for a party of 8th level characters. Moreover, I don't think a druid is really a class designed for melee combat. For this reason, I think it's reasonable, and wouldn't make the game unbalanced, to allow druids to wild shape into some non-beasts for combat with limitations (that I sketched out here). I don't think this breaks the game and and I think it makes the game more fun for everyone.
The requirement that a druid must have seen the thing it's wild shaping into still applies. In fact, I think this requirement is something a good DM would build into a campaign, approaching finding a magical item in a campaign for a druid.
Started playing 1e in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in the last year.
Flavourwise, it don't think it would be too far of a stretch to allow Fey creatures. Perhaps even Elementals, too. But clearly not Fiends or Abominations. I'd be saying no to Celestials too, unless you're a Circle of the Stars maybe?
Apparently Druid is the least played PHB class, and it is thought to be becasue people are offput by the number of creatures they can wildshape into and never being sure what to use when. Making druids able to wildshape into non beasts will only make things worse.
There can also be a load of interactions that might not immediately com to mind, but can make things very difficult for the DM. Pixies have flight at that level even being able to cast Polymorph twice per short rest is broken.
Moon druids have been designed to use wildshape in combat (the feature name combat wildshape is the giveaway), and at high enough level they can wildshape into elementals. The newer subclasses allow the wildshape resource in combat although it is not actually wildshaping, though you might be able to flavour it that way, for example a stars druid could "wild shape" into a celestial when they invoke "stary form".
Not sure if druids are the least played class (seems like monk would be played less), but it's plausible because druids are a class that is more story driven than power. And the best druids require clever spell combinations and (returning to the topic) wild shaping. It's true, as you note, that there are many options for wild shaping, but that doesn't make it boring. IMO the problem with wild shaping is related to the core problem with druids: they're not designed for power gaming, delivering damage in combat, etc. And in the core rulebooks, wild shaping is more for utility than combat. But if druids were allowed to wild shape into some non-beasts, druids would be a much more appealing class. That said, IMO the new wild shaping options should have constraints, e.g., similar CR and wild shaping frequency rules that are in the core rulebooks, depend on druid circles, depend on having a similar alignment of the wild shape option, etc. Within these limits, IMO druids should be able to wild shape into some types of plants, feys, elementals, monstrosities, or dragons. It also makes sense to limit new wild shape options to one option per CR. It's important not to allow these additional wild shape options to make the game unbalanced. Under these conditions, druids become much more appealing to players because they can keep up with other PCs with classes that are capable damage dealers.
Started playing 1e in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in the last year.
Maybe I missed something but other than Moon Druid I’m not sure having any of these additional options really helps Druids in terms of combat. Non-Moon Druids primarily use WS for utility, not combat so being able to WS into a CR 1 Fey, at 8th level, probably doesn’t add much. I haven’t gone through all the fey or monstrosities etc so maybe there is some utility I’m missing, but doesn’t seem in combat it helps more than their other features and spells.
Might be interesting for Moon Druids but I think some higher CR beasts would benefit them more.
And Druids being the least player is based on surveys and/or DDB data, or both.
Thanks. You make a fair point that Moon druids receive a disproportionate benefit from WS. That said, in addition to beasts, here are some non-beasts under 1 CR that could non-Moon druids that a player/DM might consider to make their druid better at melee combat:
The non-beasts listed above are by no means all of the entities for each of the CRs shown. Further, the DM/player can exclude any of these types of non-beasts for any reason, e.g., druid subclass/Circle, player alignment, game balance, etc.
Started playing 1e in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in the last year.