Druidic members of the Circle of Savagery honor the primal, raw ferocity of nature, embodying the spirit of the wildest creatures. They harness this raw power to transform into fierce hybrid forms, blending their own physical attributes with those of beasts. Their predatory instincts, savagery, and adherence to the brutal laws of nature make them formidable adversaries. Unlike other druids, their connection with nature is not rooted in harmony but in recognizing and respecting the survival of the fittest.

Savage Transformation

Starting at 2nd level, when you use your Wild Shape feature to transform into a beast, you can choose to enter a hybrid form that combines your humanoid form with the form of the chosen beast. While you are transformed in this way:

• You gain temporary hit points equal to the average hit points of your chosen beast.
• If the chosen beast's armor class, Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution scores are higher than yours, your corresponding scores rise to match them for the duration.
• Choose one physical action (e.g., Bite, Claw) that the chosen beast can make. The action is available to you while you are transformed. If this action requires a save, it uses your druid spell save DC. If the action you chose calls for the use of another action in the beast's stat block, you are able to perform it as part of the beast action.

You retain your intellect and personality while in this hybrid form, as well as your ability to speak and cast spells. However, your form is noticeably beast-like, marked by changes such as a layer of fur, predatory eyes or beastly claws. Your new form must reasonably be able to perform the beast action chosen through this feature, and your size does not change.

Bloodthirsty Ferocity

Also at 2nd level, the thrill of the hunt empowers you in combat. After you deal damage to a creature using a melee attack, you gain a stack of Ferocity. Each stack of Ferocity increases the damage of your melee attacks by +1. If your attack reduces a creature to 0 hit points, you instead gain two stacks of Ferocity.

You can gain a maximum number of Ferocity stacks equal to your proficiency bonus plus your Wisdom modifier. These stacks disappear if you are incapacitated or if you spend 1 minute not engaged in combat.

Circle Spells

Your primal connection to the beast within stirs innate spellcasting abilities within you. At 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level, you learn additional druid spells, which embody the raw and savage aspects of nature's creatures. The following spells are added to your druid spell list. 

Savagery

DRUID LEVEL	SPELLS
3rd	hunter's mark, inflict wounds, blur, gentle repose
5th	fear, haste
7th	death ward, greater invisibility
9th	hold monster, telepathic bond

 

Bestial Instincts

At 6th level, your hybrid form enhances further, adopting the prowess of your chosen beast. While you are in your hybrid transformation:

• You gain all the special senses of the chosen beast, such as darkvision, blindsight, or tremorsense.
• You gain one type of movement (such as climbing) of the chosen beast. Your speed for this movement type matches that of the beast.
• You can adopt one feature from the beast's stat block (such as the Wolf's Pack Tactics or the Giant Hyena's Rampage).
• Attacks from the beast action granted by your Savage Transformation are considered magical and silvered for the purposes of overcoming damage resistance and immunity to non-magical and non-silvered attacks.

Rite of Brutality

Starting at 10th level, you can cast your druid spells without consuming a spell slot by performing a blood rite. Performing this special kind of ritual takes 1 hour longer than the spell's regular casting time, and requires the sacrifice of a number of small or larger creatures equal to twice the spell's level. For each size category above medium, a creature counts as twice the amount of sacrifices.

Each day, you can use this feature to cast spells with a total combined level equal to or less than half your Druid level (rounded down). For example, if you're a 10th level Druid, you can perform rites equal to five spell levels worth of spells, such as one 3rd-level spell and one 2nd-level spell, or five 1st-level spells.

You can cast any druid spell that you are able to prepare in this way, and the total spell levels available to cast spells with this feature are fully replenished after you complete a long rest.

Apex Predator

At 14th level, your predatory instincts become unparalleled. Whenever you hit a creature that has less than its maximum hit points with a melee attack, it takes extra damage equal to your Druid level. The additional damage is of the same type as the damage dealt by the triggering attack.