The Druid's Wild Shape feature helps them excel in nearly any party role. Need to go on a stealthy reconnaissance mission? Turn into a spider. Need to rush into the heat of battle? Turn into a bear. Need to scout ahead for the party? Turn into an eagle.

Druids saw changes to Wild Shape in the new Player's Handbook, and the updated Monster Manual expands their shape-shifting options with over 90 Beast stat blocks! While this article won't cover them all, we outline some standout choices for various adventuring scenarios.

• How Wild Shape Works
• Combat Options
• Exploration Options
• Reskinning Beast Stat Blocks

New Beasts, New Wild Shape Rules

In the new Player's Handbook, Druids saw some notable changes to their Wild Shape feature, including:

Action Economy. Shape-shifting into an animal with Wild Shape now takes a Bonus Action.

Known Forms. A Druid begins with four known Beast forms and can change one of these forms whenever they finish a Long Rest. The number of known forms increases with Druid level.

Swim Speed. Druids can now assume the form of Beasts with a Swim Speed at any level.

Temporary Hit Points. When Druids use Wild Shape, they no longer adopt their Beast form's Hit Point total. Instead, when they use Wild Shape, they gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to their Druid level. Because Wild Shape is no longer limited by the Beast form's Hit Points, a Druid's Wild Shape only ends early if the Druid has the Incapacitated condition, dies, or uses Wild Shape again.

More Uses. The number of Wild Shape uses increases to 3 at level 6 and 4 at level 17. Druids regain one expended use after finishing a Short Rest and all expended uses after finishing a Long Rest.

Circle of the Moon. The Circle of the Moon subclass has been reworked, improving its survivability and damage-dealing capabilities while in using Wild Shape.

How Wild Shape Works

New to shape-shifting into animals? It's recommended to read over the Druid's Wild Shape ability before diving into this article. That way, you'll know how this feature works, the criteria for choosing Beast forms, and what features are affected by assuming a Wild Shape form.

Combat Options

Artist: KATERINA LADON

Need to let your claws, teeth, or…tongue do the talking? Here are some Beasts that will help you unleash your wild side on your enemies.

CR: 1/4

• Giant Bat: The Giant Bat has a Fly Speed of 60 feet and, thanks to its Large size, can airlift Small or Medium allies into the heart of battle—and its Blindsight with a range of 120 feet make it perfect for a nighttime ambush!
• Wolf: The Wolf is a reliable choice at CR 1/4. The potential Advantage on attack rolls offered by Pack Tactics is always welcome, and the Wolf can knock their target Prone on a hit, setting up your allies to make melee attack rolls against it with Advantage.

CR: 1/2

• Ape: The Ape has a Climb Speed, which you can use to easily reposition yourself out of your enemies' reach. The Ape is also one of the few Beast options with a ranged attack option, enabling them to make an attack at a target up to 25 feet away (or up to 50 feet away with Disadvantage).
• Black Bear: The Black Bear's Multiattack make it a great choice for a Druid looking to dive into the fray and shred their enemies, and its Darkvision combined with Climb and Swim Speed allow it to fight in nearly any natural terrain.
• Crocodile: If you want to control the battlefield by imposing the Restrained condition on your enemies, the Crocodile is a great choice! The Restrained condition not only gives a creature Disadvantage on all attack rolls, but it also means that all attack rolls targeting the creature are made with Advantage.
• Reef Shark: If you need to fight underwater at this CR, the Reef Shark is a solid pick. On top of a vicious Bite attack, it has Pack Tactics to help gain Advantage on attack rolls and Blindsight out to 30 feet, which can help in the murky depths!

CR 1

Artist: BORJA PINDADO

• Brown Bear: The Brown Bear is a bigger, badder version of the Black Bear. It deals more damage and knocks Large or smaller targets Prone when it hits with its Claw attack.
• Dire Wolf: The Dire Wolf is a bigger, faster, higher AC version of the regular Wolf, and boasts a stronger Bite!
• Giant Octopus: If you need to fight underwater, the Giant Octopus can impose the Grappled and Restrained conditions on a target, making it a great option for crowd control. If the combat starts going poorly or you simply need to reposition, you can use the Ink Cloud Reaction to make an area Heavily Obscured and move after taking damage.
• Giant Toad: With the Giant Toad, you gobble down up to Medium-sized targets! Creatures swallowed by a Giant Toad have the Blinded and Restrained conditions and take Acid damage and the end of each of the toad's turns, making it a solid crowd control option. 
• Lion: The Lion has Multiattack, allowing it to use Roar to potentially impose the Frightened condition on an opponent and attack with Rend in the same turn (or simply make two attacks).

CR 2

• Allosaurus: The Allosaurus is like a smaller, faster version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. If this predatory dinosaur moves 30+ feet straight toward a Large or smaller creature before hitting it with its Claws attack, it can knock the target Prone and make an extra Bite attack against it.
• Giant Boar and Rhinoceros: These two options are quite similar in that they're both Large Beasts that can Gore an opponent and deal extra damage if they charge at least 20 feet toward the target first. If you are at or below half of your total Hit Points, the Giant Boar's Bloodied Fury trait will grant you Advantage on melee attack rolls. But if you aren't injured yet, you may prefer the Rhino's Gore attack for its greater damage and higher attack bonus.
• Giant Constrictor Snake: The Giant Constrictor Snake is your first opportunity to grapple a Large creature while in Wild Shape. Time to hold that Beholder or Owlbear in place!
• Hunter Shark: The Hunter Shark is a good swimming option for this CR. Its Bite attack can be made with Advantage if the target doesn't have all its Hit Points, and it boasts Blindsight with a range of 60 feet.
• Saber-Toothed Tiger: The Saber-Toothed Tiger is a formidable predator. This massive feline has the Multiattack action, and it can use Nimble Escape to Disengage or Hide as a Bonus Action.

CR 3

Artist: MICHELE GIORGI

• Ankylosaurus: This massive, heavily armored dinosaur is able to knock even Huge targets Prone!
• Giant Scorpion: The Giant Scorpion can attack three times with its Multiattack, deal Poison damage with its stinger, grapple up to two Large creatures at a time, and has Blindsight with a range of 60 feet.
• Killer Whale: The aquatic options keep getting bigger! The Killer Whale is faster than the Hunter Shark and deals more damage on a Bite, but keep in mind the Hunter Shark has Advantage on attack rolls against targets that don't have all its Hit Points.

CR 4

• Hippopotamus: A new addition to the Monster Manual, the Hippopotamus's appeal is pretty straightforward—Bite twice, deal impressive damage. It's also a suitable underwater option because it has a Swim Speed of 30 feet and can hold its breath for 10 minutes.

CR 5

• Giant Crocodile: This Huge Beast is a menace on the battlefield. With its Multiattack, you can use its Tail attack to knock a Large or smaller target Prone, then make a Bite attack with Advantage to impose the Grappled and Restrained conditions on a hit.
• Giant Shark: The Giant Shark deals as much damage per bite as the Killer Whale, it can attack twice using Multiattack, and it has Advantage on attack rolls against targets that don't have all their Hit Points, making it an absolute terror beneath the waves.
• Triceratops: The Triceratops picks up where the Giant Boar and the Rhinoceros leave off. Like them, the Triceratops can deal extra damage and knock its target Prone if it moves 20+ feet straight toward its target before it hits with its Gore attack. But the Triceratops also gets Multiattack, allowing it to attack twice per turn instead of once, and deals more damage overall.

CR 6

• Giant Squid: The Giant Squid is the highest CR Beast with a Swim Speed a Circle of the Moon Druid can choose from the new Monster Manual. It can impose the Grappled condition on up to two targets at a time, pull Grappled targets closer, and its Bite attack deals devastating damage. It is extremely fast, with a Swim Speed of 80 feet, and can use its Ink Cloud Reaction to heavily obscure an area and move up to its Swim Speed after taking damage.

Exploration Options

Artist: KATERINA LADON

These forms below make for excellent scouts or transports, but keep in mind that your time in Beast form is limited! Each use of Wild Shape lasts a number of hours equal to half your Druid level.

Once you reach level 6, you'll be able to expend three uses of Wild Shape to travel for 9 hours per day before you need a Short Rest to continue.

CR 0 - 1/4

Artist: SUZANNE HELMIGH

• Cat (CR 0): Cats are a great Beast form to scout in. These Tiny felines have +4 to Dexterity (Stealth) checks and +3 to Wisdom (Perception) checks, Darkvision with a range of 60 feet, a 40-foot Climb Speed, and its jump distance is determined using its Dexterity rather than its Strength.
• Camel (CR 1/8): The Camel is a transportation or draft animal better suited for nighttime travel than some other options because it has Darkvision with a range of 60 feet. Camels also have a Speed of 50 feet, which is faster than Draft Horses but not quite as fast as Riding Horses or Warhorses.
• Giant Badger (CR 1/4): Giant Badgers have a natural aptitude for underground exploration. When it's time to dig your way to your next destination, you can use the Giant Badger's Burrow Speed and Darkvision to infiltrate and navigate tunnels. If you stumble into any nasty insects or monsters on the way, the Giant Badger also has Resistance to Poison damage.
• Eagle (CR 0) or Hawk (CR 0): The Eagle and Hawk are great options for exploration during the daytime, with a 60-foot Fly Speed and +6 to Wisdom (Perception) checks. I personally prefer the Hawk for its slightly higher Dexterity, but you may prefer the Eagle for its slightly higher Strength, Constitution, and damage.
• Octopus (CR 0): If you're exploring underwater, the enigmatic Octopus can maneuver through a space as narrow as 1 inch. Additionally, it can use its Ink Cloud Reaction to make an area Heavily Obscured and move up to its Swim Speed after taking damage, allowing for quick getaways.
• Owl (CR 0): The Owl is well-suited to nighttime scouting, with a 60-foot Fly Speed, and Darkvision with a range of 120 feet. Its Flyby trait helps it flee an enemy's reach if it gets ambushed. The Owl's +5 bonus to Wisdom (Perception) and Dexterity (Stealth) checks can keep you hidden from your enemies while you spy on them.
• Rat (CR 0): Another prolific infiltrator! The Rat has +2 to Wisdom (Perception) checks and Darkvision with a range of 30 feet, appears innocuous in most settings, and doesn't provoke Opportunity Attacks if someone decides to try to catch you!
• Riding Horse (CR 1/4): The Riding Horse can carry an ally or two through tough terrain in between adventures, or help quickly ferry a message. If you need to move lots of equipment rather than people, you may want to go with the Draft Horse (CR 1/4) instead. When you can Wild Shape into creatures of CR 1/2, you may want to consider the Warhorse (CR 1/2), as it moves just as quickly as the Riding Horse but with strength of the Draft Horse (and a stronger attack).
• Spider (CR 0): While many wish they could be a fly on the wall of their enemies' conversations, Druids can be a spider in the corner! Beyond being able to fit into all the nooks and crannies of an enemy's lair, these arachnids have the Spider Climb trait, allowing them to walk up walls and upside down along ceilings.

CR 1/2

• Giant Goat: For when you need to pull nearly as much weight as a Draft Horse, but you want Darkvision or a Climb Speed—or you simply want to be the goat.
• Giant Seahorse: The Giant Seahorse is an agile underwater creature. Its 40-foot Swim Speed is better than the Reef Shark's 30 feet, and it can use its Bubble Dash Bonus Action to move up to half its Swim Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

CR 1

• Tiger: While the Lion excels at combat, the Tiger is well-suited for exploration. The Tiger has +7 to Dexterity(Stealth) checks, also boasts a Darkvision with a range of 60 feet, and if it gets caught in a tough spot, it can use Nimble Escape to take the Disengage or Hide action as a Bonus Action.

CR 4 - 6

• Elephant (CR 4) or Mammoth (CR 6): When you're this big, you can carry the whole party! Granted, you'll be (much) easier to spot, but a pachyderm is probably a better ambush deterrent than, say, a horse.

Reskinning Beast Stat Blocks

Artist: KATERINA LADON

There are millions of animal species on earth, and possibly a comparable number in your fantasy setting. The stat blocks in the new Monster Manual provide a wide variety of Beasts that you can easily use to represent other similar creatures.

For example, the Panther stat block can also represent a mountain lion, while the Giant Goat stat block might represent a buffalo.

Be sure to ask your Dungeon Master before reskinning one stat block as another!

Wild Shaping Your Future

The new Monster Manual is a veritable zoo full of Beasts to inspire your Wild Shapes.

Whether you want to soar through the skies, explore the darkest depths, or be the elephant in the room, you'll find a stat block waiting for you. When you've selected your Known Forms and are ready to roll some dice—fly, swim, gallop, or slither over to the Character Builder and get your Druid suited up for some wild adventure!

Damen Cook (@damen_joseph) is a lifelong fantasy reader, writer, and gamer. If he woke up tomorrow in Faerûn, he would bolt through the nearest fey crossing and drink from every stream and eat fruit from every tree in the Feywild until he found that sweet, sweet wild magic.