The Druid: DnD 5e Class Guide (Updated May 2024)
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Hidden among the dense undergrowth, Elowen watched as the orc warband entered the sacred grove. Closing her eyes, she raised her staff, the gnarled wood humming with ancient power. An instant later, a tangle of vines erupted from the ground, startling and ensnaring half a dozen of the foul creatures. Muttering a prayer to the Sacred Mother, Elowen felt her bones and skin begin to melt, thick tufts of fur bursting from her neck, her hands extending into sharp black claws. Now a great bear, she let loose a deafening roar and charged into the remaining orcish filth.
Table of Contents
- What is a Druid in DnD 5e?
- What is a Druid’s primary ability score?
- What is a Druid’s hit die and hit points?
- What are Druids proficient in?
- What equipment do Druids start with?
- What unique features do Druids have?
- How does Druid spellcasting work?
- What are the Druid subclasses?
- What species are best for Druids?
- How do you roleplay a Druid?
- What DnD 5e sourcebooks do Druids appear in?
What is a Druid in DnD 5e?
One of the most recognizable and unique DnD 5e classes, Druids are mystical guardians of nature, wielding the elemental powers of the earth itself. As diverse as the environments they are sworn protect, Druids come in many forms, from fierce guardians who fight with tooth and claw to wise healers who nurture the land and its inhabitants.
Druids remain distinct from other holy magic users in DnD 5e, particularly Monks (whose magic is powered by spiritual energy known as “Ki”) and Clerics (whose magic comes from the gods they serve). Instead, Druids derive their arcane abilities from a deep, spiritual connection to nature. This connection imbues them with unique abilities, including the ability to Wild Shape into various animal forms. Druids are also more resilient than other magic users, with the ability to survive and thrive in harsh terrain. And while many players often see Druids as stereotypical fantasy eco warriors, the fact is they are extremely versatile and offer a ton of unique character build and roleplaying potential.
Below is the Druid class table, which breaks out proficiency bonuses, features and spell slots.
| The Druid Class Table | Spell Slots per Spell Level | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | |
| 1st | +2 | Druidic, Spellcasting | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2nd | +2 | Wild Shape, Druid Circle | 2 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 3rd | +2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 4th | +2 | Wild Shape improvement, Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 5th | +3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 6th | +3 | Druid Circle feature | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 7th | +3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 8th | +3 | Wild Shape improvement, Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 9th | +4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 10th | +4 | Druid Circle feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | |
| 11th | +4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | ||
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | |
| 13th | +5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | ||
| 14th | +5 | Druid Circle feature | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |
| 15th | +5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | ||
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 17th | +6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 18th | +6 | Timeless Body, Beast Spells | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20th | +6 | Archdruid | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
What is a Druid’s Primary Ability Score?
Wisdom is a Druid’s primary ability score. Your character must have a Wisdom of 13 or higher to play a Druid or to multiclass as one. This reflects a Druid’s spiritual calling and ability to draw on the power of nature itself.
The higher your Wisdom score, the more adept you are at spellcasting and tapping into the unique Druidic abilities. This is particularly important at higher levels as it directly influences your spell attacks and saving throws.
Notably, Druids also gain a saving throw proficiency in Intelligence, which is the result of the extensive knowledge they have acquired about the natural world and its related magical energies.
What is a Druid’s Hit Die and Hit Points?
Druids have 1D8 hit dice per level. This mean at 1st Level your Druid’s hit points will be 8 + your Constitution modifier. Each level you advance you from Level 2 onwards, you gain an additional 1D8 (or an average of 5) Hit Points, plus your Constitution modifier.
This Hit Dice puts Druids in the same hit point range as Clerics (which are also spellcasters with a 1D8 hit dice), while also making them more durable than Wizards and Sorcerers (who have a D6 Hit Dice). In other words, Druids are far more resilient than many other magic users, which is a reflection of their ability survive in rugged wilderness environments.
Depending on the type of Druid build you want to make, you may want to consider going with a higher Constitution score, as this will provide more hit points and allow for added toughness in combat and exploration.
What are Druids Proficient In?
Druids have a unique set of proficiencies that reflect their nature as guardians of the wilds.
- Armor: Light armor, medium armor and shields (NOTE: Druids will not wear armor or use shields made of metal)
- Weapons: Clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaffs, scimitars, sickles, slings and spears
- Tools: Herbalism kit
- Saving Throws: Intelligence and Wisdom
- Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Religion and Survival
What Equipment Do Druids Start With?
As a Level 1 Druid, you begin your adventures with the following equipment:
- Wooden shield or any simple weapon
- A scimitar or any simple melee weapon
- Leather armor, an explorer’s pack and a druidic focus (i.e. a sprig of holly, an eagle feather, an amulet, a wooden staff etc.)
What Unique Features Do Druids Have?
Druid are equipped with several unique abilities that reflect their ability to tap into the divine powers of their god. This includes:
- Druidic: You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language automatically spot such a message.
- Wild Shape: Starting at 2nd level, as an action you can magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. You can use this feature twice before a short or long rest. Your druid level determines the beasts you can transform into, as shown in the Wild Shape table below. You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die. While you are transformed, the following rules apply:
- Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast (although you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores
- You retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature (in the case of duplicates, take whatever skill is higher)
- When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. If you drop to 0 hit points, you revert back to normal and the damage carries over.
- You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form.
- You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form or is worn by you (your equipment doesn’t change size or shape to match the new form)
| Wild Shape Table | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Max. CR | Limitations | Example |
| 2nd | 1/4 | No flying or swimming speed | Wolf |
| 4th | 1/2 | No flying speed | Crocodile |
| 8th | 1 | None | Giant eagle |
- Timeless Body: At 18th level, for every 10 years that pass, your body ages only 1 year.
- Beast Spells: At 18th level, you can cast many of your druid spells in any shape you assume using Wild Shape. You can perform the somatic and verbal components of a druid spell while in a beast shape, but you aren’t able to provide material components.
- Archdruid: At 20th level, you can use your Wild Shape an unlimited number of times. Additionally, you can ignore the verbal and somatic components of your druid spells, as well as any material components that lack a cost and aren’t consumed by a spell. You gain this benefit in both your normal shape and while in Wild Shape form.
How do Druid Spells Work in DnD 5e?
As a Druid your spellcasting abilities are granted by the divine power of nature itself. Because of this, you’re able to cast any spell you wish from the Druid Spell list as long as you are of sufficient level.
To be able to use a Druid spell, you must “prepares” it each day by sitting in silent prayer for at least 1 minute per spell level. At that point the spell takes up a spell slot that corresponds with its level. At the end of a long rest, you can then prepare new Druid spells (again, up to a maximum number of your available spellslots).
Wisdom is a Druid’s primary spellcasting ability as follows:
- Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier
- Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier
Druids are officially “full-casters,” meaning that their spell list progression moves at the same speed as Wizards, Sorcerers, Bards and Clerics. This differs from “half-casters” which are Paladins and Rangers whose spell level progression moves at half the speed.
What are the Druid Subclasses in DnD 5e?
Currently, there are 7 official Druid subclasses for DnD 5e known as “Circles,” which represent the holy gatherings of druids which meet in the depths of the wilderness, each of which worships a particular god or wild power. Druids are able to select a Circle subclass at Level 2.
- Circle of Dreams: You are a guardian of the border between the Feywild and the mortal world, tapping into the magic of nature to heal and aid your allies. This subclass grants you abilities to cure wounds, provide safe rest and offer protection.
- Circle of the Land: You have a deep connection to a specific natural terrain, such as forests, mountains or coastlines. This subclass enhances your magical abilities, allowing you to draw upon the arcane essence of your chosen land for additional spells.
- Circle of the Moon: You specialize in transforming into more powerful animals and even elemental forms. This subclass focuses on improving your combat effectiveness in beast form, granting you the ability to become larger, stronger and more formidable creatures.
- Circle of the Shepherd: You are a protector of nature’s creatures, communicating with and nurturing them. This subclass gives you powers to summon and strengthen spirit totems, enhancing the abilities of your allies and conjured beasts.
- Circle of Spores: You harness the life and decay aspects of nature, using fungal spores to fuel your magic. This subclass allows you to animate dead plants and creatures, deal necrotic damage to enemies and gain temporary health boosts.
- Circle of Stars: You draw on the mystic power of the stars and constellations, using them to guide and protect. This subclass provides abilities to transform starlight into protective and restorative magic or harness it for divination and attacks.
- Circle of Wildfire: You believe in renewal through fire, using flames to clear decay and make way for new life. This subclass lets you summon a wildfire spirit, cast fire-related spells and heal or bolster your allies with the purifying power of fire.
What Species are Best for Druids?
While Druids encompass a wide range of species, in general ones that boost to your Wisdom score may be the best option if you’re looking to channel more spellcasting firepower. This includes:
- Wood Elf: With a +1 bonus to Wisdom, Wood Elves make excellent Druids, enhancing their spellcasting abilities. Traits like Fleet of Foot for increased movement speed and Mask of the Wild for superior hiding capabilities in natural environments align perfectly with a Druid’s affinity for nature.
- Ghostwise Halfling: Unique among Halflings, Ghostwise members get a +1 Wisdom boost. Their ability to communicate telepathically complements a Druid’s mystical nature, and typical Halfling traits like Lucky and Nimble help them avoid danger while navigating the wilds.
- Hill Dwarf: Hill Dwarves gain a +1 Wisdom bonus, directly improving Druid spellcasting. Their Dwarven Toughness trait also grants them additional hit points, making them more resilient in the face of physical threats, which is ideal for a Druid who might find themselves in the thick of nature’s fury.
- Human: Humans offer incredible flexibility due to their ability to adjust their ability scores freely. This includes the option to increase their Wisdom, which directly benefits their Druid spellcasting.
How Do You Roleplay a Druid?
Playing a Druid can be an incredibly fun experience. And while many DnD 5e players have their own preconceived notions of what this class entails, you can in fact customize your build to create a character that’s more than just a stereotype. Below are a few possible Druid roleplaying archetypes to get your started.
- Sentinel of the Wild: Vigilant against those who would harm the environment, you wander the wilds, ready to thwart loggers, polluters, poachers, and unnatural threats. Your commitment to conservation often puts you at odds with civilization, but your actions ensure the balance of nature is maintained.
- Beast Whisperer: You have a profound bond with animals and able to communicate and empathize with them as no other can. You are constantly wandering in an effort to find and connect with new creatures.
- Wildshape Wanderer: Mastering the art of transformation, you use your Wild Shape ability to assume different animal forms as a way to better understand these creatures and their unique perspectives by literally seeing the world through their eyes.
- Herbalist Healer: With deep knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies, you heal and support your allies using the gifts of the earth. Your poultices and potions are as potent as any spell, curing ailments and warding off disease.
- Mystic Shaman: Bridging the physical and spiritual worlds, you commune with nature spirits and ancestors for wisdom and power. This deep spiritual connection provides you with insights and magical abilities that are mysterious to those outside your circle.
- Druidic Lorekeeper: You seek out and protect the the ancient traditions, stories and languages of druidic culture. As a sage and historian of the natural world, your knowledge is vast but you are always seeking to learn more.
- Planar Naturalist: Intrigued by the natural aspects of other planes of existence, you explore and study environments from the Feywild to the Elemental Planes. Your unique experiences make you adept at dealing with extraplanar entities and using your knowledge to protect your home plane.
- Hermetic Mystic: You thrive in lands of extremes, be it windswept arctic tundra or a scorching desert. You find sacredness and beauty where others see only desolation and death, and your magic is attuned to the harsh world around you.
What DnD 5e sourcebooks do Druids appear in?
While the Druid has been a base class in Dungeons & Dragons for decades, they have experienced significant changes across the various editions. For DnD 5e, you can find covering Druids in the following sourcebooks.
- Player’s Handbook: Includes base Druid class, plus Circle of the Land and Circle of the Moon.
- Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: Circle of Dreams and Circle of the Shepherd.
- Guildmaster’s Guide to Ravnica: Circle of Spores.
- Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything: Circle of Stars and Circle of Wildfire.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
