Idea for a character that only fights when they can turn into their Earth Elemental form. Moon Druid obviously. I have some questions.
1. Do the Earth Elemental’s “Slam” attacks count as natural weapon attacks or unarmed attacks? Does it even count as using the “Attack Action” like a wolf’s “Bite”?
2. If the Earth Elemental is shaped like a playable race (but bigger) can it still wear the equipment the character has on? (And benefit)
3. Can an Earth Elemental RAGE or would the character need to RAGE before transforming?
4. Can an Earth Elemental Grapple enemies? (I’d imagine it’s hands can form fingers)
5. How can I get the Elemental’s AC above 17?
6. Can any Wildshape (including Elementals) use the Sentinel Feat?
1. Not unarmed strikes. unarmed strikes are defined as a specific thing.
2. From wildshape:
You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature’s shape and size. Your equipment doesn’t change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can’t wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.
You'll have to take it up with your DM, but you don't get to choose that you aren't large as an earth elemental, and your equipment doesn't change size.
3. Yes you can rage in either order. "You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so."
4. Yes.
5. Good question. Only items that you can still wear will affect you, but your spells or other players may be able to help here. An earth elemental can probably carry a shield.
6. Yes. "You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so."
So if my character is a Dragonborn (for example) who turns into an Earth Elemental that is mostly SHAPED like a Dragonborn but is “Large” (of course) could he still wear his magically stretchy pants?
Feels like there’s a lot of things that would still fit on a large creature of any shape. Like scarfs for example.
So the Elemental’s attacks are not “unarmed strikes”. Ok, but are they “natural weapons”? The attack “Slam” seems like it’s just punching.
1. Do the Earth Elemental’s “Slam” attacks count as natural weapon attacks or unarmed attacks? Does it even count as using the “Attack Action” like a wolf’s “Bite”?
Neither the wolf nor the earth elemental use the "attack action" per se. They choose an action from their stat block. The earth elemental is using a natural weapon even though the slam attack is classified as a "Melee Weapon Attack".
The term "melee weapon attack" is problematic but it is very consistently used in monster stat blocks so it's just something that the players have to get used to. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with melee weapons. It's just a term that specifies that the attack is a melee attack (as opposed to a ranged attack) and that it is an attack that is not classified as a spell attack.
So if my character is a Dragonborn (for example) who turns into an Earth Elemental that is mostly SHAPED like a Dragonborn but is “Large” (of course) could he still wear his magically stretchy pants?
Feels like there’s a lot of things that would still fit on a large creature of any shape. Like scarfs for example.
This one has been debated on these forums. Magic items tell you that they are generally capable of fitting any PC that finds them, but Wild shape tells you that wild shaping does not change your equipment's size. These two rules are in conflict and it is not certain which is more specific (and therefore which would apply). I am on the side that the wild shape rule is very specific not only in its wording but in that it only applies to the equipment of druids and only when wild shaping, and not to all PCs most of the rest of the time, so I say that there are no magically stretch pants that would change size when you wild shape. Others disagree, saying that "equipment" mentioned in wild shape is general, but magic items specifically change size to fit the user.
So the Elemental’s attacks are not “unarmed strikes”. Ok, but are they “natural weapons”? The attack “Slam” seems like it’s just punching.
Natural weapons seem to be anything that is from a part of the creature itself, so sure probably.
Alright so last question here. I’m trying to find a way of using my Bonus Action to attack again as an Elemental (or any Wildshape)
I know that Multiattack does not trigger effects like Extra Attack or War Priest. According to your answers neither Multiattack nor Slam is counted as an unarmed attack so that means Martial Arts is also not triggered. That only leaves Berserker Barbarian’s Frenzy as the only option. However this would prevent me from keeping Concentration on useful spells.
So, could this work?
I take 5 levels in Monk/Fighter/Barbarian to unlock Extra Attack and 1 level in Cleric to unlock War Priest.
Then, instead of using Multiattack to attack with Slam twice I just use Slam twice using the Extra Attack feature and then use another attack with War Priest for a total of 3 Slams.
I’m asking about the possible things I can do with the character. To understand the mechanics.
As for your other question, a lot actually. Have you only ever played DnD games that are entirely about combat and dealing damage?
Druids get access to lot of good utility and support spells that can aid their allies in and out of combat. The idea here is that until the character reaches level 10 they AVOID combat as much as possible and if they find themselves in combat they simply aid their allies instead of drawing enemy attention or dealing damage.
Isn’t that crazy? That there’s more than 1 way to play a TTRPG? Absolutely insane innit?
Don't get all defensive. I am only asking because you are talking about a character build that doesn't come online until after most campaigns end, doesn't even start to work until the mid to end of most campaigns, has 5 levels of another class for a redundant feature -- and apparently doesn't do any of the things its built around in the meantime. True enough, there are plenty of things Druids can do with their spells -- battle field control and summoning and healing. Yet your build isn't focused on that.
So if you are only building a character to a mechanical end, then fine.
There are a handful of options for bonus action attacks that are weapon/spell free. Some of them don't require the attack action. There are still plenty of uses of your bonus action that aren't on this list, some of which are spells you have access to.
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Idea for a character that only fights when they can turn into their Earth Elemental form. Moon Druid obviously. I have some questions.
1. Do the Earth Elemental’s “Slam” attacks count as natural weapon attacks or unarmed attacks? Does it even count as using the “Attack Action” like a wolf’s “Bite”?
2. If the Earth Elemental is shaped like a playable race (but bigger) can it still wear the equipment the character has on? (And benefit)
3. Can an Earth Elemental RAGE or would the character need to RAGE before transforming?
4. Can an Earth Elemental Grapple enemies? (I’d imagine it’s hands can form fingers)
5. How can I get the Elemental’s AC above 17?
6. Can any Wildshape (including Elementals) use the Sentinel Feat?
1. Not unarmed strikes. unarmed strikes are defined as a specific thing.
2. From wildshape:
You'll have to take it up with your DM, but you don't get to choose that you aren't large as an earth elemental, and your equipment doesn't change size.
3. Yes you can rage in either order. "You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so."
4. Yes.
5. Good question. Only items that you can still wear will affect you, but your spells or other players may be able to help here. An earth elemental can probably carry a shield.
6. Yes. "You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so."
So if my character is a Dragonborn (for example) who turns into an Earth Elemental that is mostly SHAPED like a Dragonborn but is “Large” (of course) could he still wear his magically stretchy pants?
Feels like there’s a lot of things that would still fit on a large creature of any shape. Like scarfs for example.
So the Elemental’s attacks are not “unarmed strikes”. Ok, but are they “natural weapons”? The attack “Slam” seems like it’s just punching.
Neither the wolf nor the earth elemental use the "attack action" per se. They choose an action from their stat block. The earth elemental is using a natural weapon even though the slam attack is classified as a "Melee Weapon Attack".
The term "melee weapon attack" is problematic but it is very consistently used in monster stat blocks so it's just something that the players have to get used to. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with melee weapons. It's just a term that specifies that the attack is a melee attack (as opposed to a ranged attack) and that it is an attack that is not classified as a spell attack.
This one has been debated on these forums. Magic items tell you that they are generally capable of fitting any PC that finds them, but Wild shape tells you that wild shaping does not change your equipment's size. These two rules are in conflict and it is not certain which is more specific (and therefore which would apply). I am on the side that the wild shape rule is very specific not only in its wording but in that it only applies to the equipment of druids and only when wild shaping, and not to all PCs most of the rest of the time, so I say that there are no magically stretch pants that would change size when you wild shape. Others disagree, saying that "equipment" mentioned in wild shape is general, but magic items specifically change size to fit the user.
Natural weapons seem to be anything that is from a part of the creature itself, so sure probably.
Alright so last question here. I’m trying to find a way of using my Bonus Action to attack again as an Elemental (or any Wildshape)
I know that Multiattack does not trigger effects like Extra Attack or War Priest. According to your answers neither Multiattack nor Slam is counted as an unarmed attack so that means Martial Arts is also not triggered. That only leaves Berserker Barbarian’s Frenzy as the only option. However this would prevent me from keeping Concentration on useful spells.
So, could this work?
I take 5 levels in Monk/Fighter/Barbarian to unlock Extra Attack and 1 level in Cleric to unlock War Priest.
Then, instead of using Multiattack to attack with Slam twice I just use Slam twice using the Extra Attack feature and then use another attack with War Priest for a total of 3 Slams.
You're asking about a build that doesn't become functional until level 16. What do your first 15 levels look like?
On that note, what does a character that only fights in elemental form look like for its first 10 levels?
I’m asking about the possible things I can do with the character. To understand the mechanics.
As for your other question, a lot actually. Have you only ever played DnD games that are entirely about combat and dealing damage?
Druids get access to lot of good utility and support spells that can aid their allies in and out of combat. The idea here is that until the character reaches level 10 they AVOID combat as much as possible and if they find themselves in combat they simply aid their allies instead of drawing enemy attention or dealing damage.
Isn’t that crazy? That there’s more than 1 way to play a TTRPG? Absolutely insane innit?
Don't get all defensive. I am only asking because you are talking about a character build that doesn't come online until after most campaigns end, doesn't even start to work until the mid to end of most campaigns, has 5 levels of another class for a redundant feature -- and apparently doesn't do any of the things its built around in the meantime. True enough, there are plenty of things Druids can do with their spells -- battle field control and summoning and healing. Yet your build isn't focused on that.
So if you are only building a character to a mechanical end, then fine.
There are a handful of options for bonus action attacks that are weapon/spell free. Some of them don't require the attack action. There are still plenty of uses of your bonus action that aren't on this list, some of which are spells you have access to.