That's correct, in the 2024 Player's Handbook the wording on Wild Shape was changed such that it no longer preserves your species features. It does preserve your class features and feats.
this is an unfortunate change. punishes you for choosing anything other then human if you intend to wild shape.
It's not a change, though. The 2014 version of Wild Shape explicitly stated that you don't retain special senses unless your new form also has that sense, and it gives darkvision as a specific example of that.
Human is the choice that let's you keep everything in Wild Shape, but that isn't necessarily all you want to consider.
Elven trance can allow additional short rests while the team is still resting. Why not start the day with a familiar and extra first level slot while still having full number of Wild Shapes. Really good at 20 as well.
Elf and Tiefling offer spell options useful before jumping into Wild Shape.
Aasimar, Dragonborn and Goliath have access to utility options which may allow you to overcome hurdles without Wild Shape uses.
I think depending on your campaign Elves may be a strong choice
this is an unfortunate change. punishes you for choosing anything other then human if you intend to wild shape.
It's not a change, though. The 2014 version of Wild Shape explicitly stated that you don't retain special senses unless your new form also has that sense, and it gives darkvision as a specific example of that.
It is a change previously you could use the abilities if it made sense. dragonborn breath for example was usable if your form had lungs, too many of you guys happy with bad changes.
Human is the choice that let's you keep everything in Wild Shape, but that isn't necessarily all you want to consider.
Elven trance can allow additional short rests while the team is still resting. Why not start the day with a familiar and extra first level slot while still having full number of Wild Shapes. Really good at 20 as well.
Elf and Tiefling offer spell options useful before jumping into Wild Shape.
Aasimar, Dragonborn and Goliath have access to utility options which may allow you to overcome hurdles without Wild Shape uses.
I think depending on your campaign Elves may be a strong choice
this is an unfortunate change. punishes you for choosing anything other then human if you intend to wild shape.
It's not a change, though. The 2014 version of Wild Shape explicitly stated that you don't retain special senses unless your new form also has that sense, and it gives darkvision as a specific example of that.
It is a change previously you could use the abilities if it made sense. dragonborn breath for example was usable if your form had lungs, too many of you guys happy with bad changes.
To be clear, I was talking about darkvision specifically, which as I said is not a change from the 2014 version. I haven't expressed an opinion on whether that's "bad" or not.
this is an unfortunate change. punishes you for choosing anything other then human if you intend to wild shape.
It's not a change, though. The 2014 version of Wild Shape explicitly stated that you don't retain special senses unless your new form also has that sense, and it gives darkvision as a specific example of that.
It is a change previously you could use the abilities if it made sense. dragonborn breath for example was usable if your form had lungs, too many of you guys happy with bad changes.
I disagree. The 2014 version was ambiguous and subject to variation by table.
If I wild shape into a pig, can I use a Grung's poisonous skin? I have skin? Venomous races (Yuan-ti?) would have venom sacs in addition to fangs or other delivery methods, they can't deliver poison with a gorilla's bite. Dragonborn wild shaped into non-draconic forms don't have the draconic anatomy to use their breath weapon or their resistances. Tieflings wild shaped into a bear aren't transforming into a Fiendish Bear. They are going to be as flammable as any other bear.
I think you are used to extremely liberal interpretations of what carried over. Interpretations that were likely never RAI. In 2024, they tightened up the language and also let Druids speak while wild shaped, which they couldn't do before.
Well, while you retain your feats in Wild Shape, the second origin feat is a species trait so arguably you should lose that…
Obviously, few DMs would rule it that way. But it highlights the lack of clarity and consistency. Also: if feats carry over, does the associated physical ASI?
Well, while you retain your feats in Wild Shape, the second origin feat is a species trait so arguably you should lose that…
Obviously, few DMs would rule it that way. But it highlights the lack of clarity and consistency. Also: if feats carry over, does the associated physical ASI?
Since feats are explicitly mentioned as being retained, while species traits aren't explicitly mentioned as being replaced, I think it's a case of "specific beats general" and all feats, including any offered by a species feature, are retained. The language used boils down to "Everything is replaced except for [a bunch of other stuff] and feats".
The rules for wild shape also specifically say that STR/CON/DEX are replaced by the beast's stat block. I would say that a Physical ASI does not carry over even though the rest of the feat's features do.
Yeah, it just depends how you view the ASI. Are your starting stats the equivalent of the beast stat block, which can then be augmented via feats? Or do feats fundamentally change your stats.
Rules as written are ambiguous, so I think it’s legitimate to view it either way.
But can a Dragonborn, who is a Circle of Dragons druid, use their breath and draconic flight abilities, since the form allows for it as it has wings and it's own breath attack? The wording says you keep your creature type even while in dragon form.
But can a Dragonborn, who is a Circle of Dragons druid, use their breath and draconic flight abilities, since the form allows for it as it has wings and it's own breath attack? The wording says you keep your creature type even while in dragon form.
Dragonborn Druids have always been able to use their Breath Weapon in beast form as long as the beast form is capable of exhaling; it doesn't require the form have its own breath weapon. See here.
As for Draconic Flight, I suppose so, but probably only after level 10 (Circle of Dragons says you don't have fully formed wings until then) and it doesn't really provide any benefit over what the dragon form has already.
Creature type doesn't seem to have any bearing on this.
But can a Dragonborn, who is a Circle of Dragons druid, use their breath and draconic flight abilities, since the form allows for it as it has wings and it's own breath attack? The wording says you keep your creature type even while in dragon form.
Dragonborn Druids have always been able to use their Breath Weapon in beast form as long as the beast form is capable of exhaling; it doesn't require the form have its own breath weapon. See here.
Just to clarify, Jeremy Crawford opinions outside of Sage Advice are at best indicators of RAI, not RAW.
From the Sage Advice Compendium (emphasis added)
Official rulings on how to interpret rules are made here in the Sage Advice Compendium. The public statements of the D&D team, or anyone else at Wizards of the Coast, are not official rulings; they are advice. The tweets of Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford), the game’s principal rules designer, are sometimes a preview of rulings that will appear here.
The statement about Dragonborn Druids has never made it into the Sage Advice Compendium so it falls in the advice category.
Can druids no longer use these and does Jermey Crawford have a video talking about it ?
That's correct, in the 2024 Player's Handbook the wording on Wild Shape was changed such that it no longer preserves your species features. It does preserve your class features and feats.
This is Crawford's video talking about the Druid updates, I don't know if he actually mentions that change specifically: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uXJ8zIu7wQ
pronouns: he/she/they
Some abilities still carry over because you retain your hp, skills and feats.
Humans - keep everything
Elves - keep bonus skill
Dwarf - keep bonus hp
Note a wierd situation comes up with elves that are afflicted with sleep in Wild Shape, they revert back, become immune and wake up.
So, does an elf with Darkvision lose it when it wild shapes?
Yes, unless of course the beast form has darkvision itself.
pronouns: he/she/they
this is an unfortunate change. punishes you for choosing anything other then human if you intend to wild shape.
It's not a change, though. The 2014 version of Wild Shape explicitly stated that you don't retain special senses unless your new form also has that sense, and it gives darkvision as a specific example of that.
pronouns: he/she/they
Human is the choice that let's you keep everything in Wild Shape, but that isn't necessarily all you want to consider.
Elven trance can allow additional short rests while the team is still resting. Why not start the day with a familiar and extra first level slot while still having full number of Wild Shapes. Really good at 20 as well.
Elf and Tiefling offer spell options useful before jumping into Wild Shape.
Aasimar, Dragonborn and Goliath have access to utility options which may allow you to overcome hurdles without Wild Shape uses.
I think depending on your campaign Elves may be a strong choice
It is a change previously you could use the abilities if it made sense. dragonborn breath for example was usable if your form had lungs, too many of you guys happy with bad changes.
its dumb and punishing. no excuse .
To be clear, I was talking about darkvision specifically, which as I said is not a change from the 2014 version. I haven't expressed an opinion on whether that's "bad" or not.
pronouns: he/she/they
oh ya vision never transferred of course . sorry was talking to other guy.
I disagree. The 2014 version was ambiguous and subject to variation by table.
If I wild shape into a pig, can I use a Grung's poisonous skin? I have skin? Venomous races (Yuan-ti?) would have venom sacs in addition to fangs or other delivery methods, they can't deliver poison with a gorilla's bite. Dragonborn wild shaped into non-draconic forms don't have the draconic anatomy to use their breath weapon or their resistances. Tieflings wild shaped into a bear aren't transforming into a Fiendish Bear. They are going to be as flammable as any other bear.
I think you are used to extremely liberal interpretations of what carried over. Interpretations that were likely never RAI. In 2024, they tightened up the language and also let Druids speak while wild shaped, which they couldn't do before.
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Well, while you retain your feats in Wild Shape, the second origin feat is a species trait so arguably you should lose that…
Obviously, few DMs would rule it that way. But it highlights the lack of clarity and consistency. Also: if feats carry over, does the associated physical ASI?
Since feats are explicitly mentioned as being retained, while species traits aren't explicitly mentioned as being replaced, I think it's a case of "specific beats general" and all feats, including any offered by a species feature, are retained. The language used boils down to "Everything is replaced except for [a bunch of other stuff] and feats".
As for the ASI, my personal read on it is that they don't carry over, but there's a whole thread of people talking about it here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/215759-wild-shape-and-half-feats-in-2024
pronouns: he/she/they
The rules for wild shape also specifically say that STR/CON/DEX are replaced by the beast's stat block. I would say that a Physical ASI does not carry over even though the rest of the feat's features do.
Yeah, it just depends how you view the ASI. Are your starting stats the equivalent of the beast stat block, which can then be augmented via feats? Or do feats fundamentally change your stats.
Rules as written are ambiguous, so I think it’s legitimate to view it either way.
But can a Dragonborn, who is a Circle of Dragons druid, use their breath and draconic flight abilities, since the form allows for it as it has wings and it's own breath attack? The wording says you keep your creature type even while in dragon form.
Dragonborn Druids have always been able to use their Breath Weapon in beast form as long as the beast form is capable of exhaling; it doesn't require the form have its own breath weapon. See here.
As for Draconic Flight, I suppose so, but probably only after level 10 (Circle of Dragons says you don't have fully formed wings until then) and it doesn't really provide any benefit over what the dragon form has already.
Creature type doesn't seem to have any bearing on this.
pronouns: he/she/they
Just to clarify, Jeremy Crawford opinions outside of Sage Advice are at best indicators of RAI, not RAW.
From the Sage Advice Compendium (emphasis added)
The statement about Dragonborn Druids has never made it into the Sage Advice Compendium so it falls in the advice category.
How to add Tooltips.