With the introduction of the new 2024 D&D 5.5e Players Handbook đź›’, Druids have received some significant revisions. Almost no aspect has been left untouched: from Wild Shape to subclasses and combat styles, there have been a whole host of changes. The changes to animal form in particular are causing a lot of discussion on Reddit. We have summarized the most important changes here.
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What changes to Wild Shape for Druids in D&D 5.5e?
- Bonus action instead of action: Druids now only need one bonus action to take animal form. This provides more options, especially in combat. Duration corresponds to the druid level in hours.
- Speaking: Wild Shape no longer breaks speech. Druids can communicate in animal form.
- Temporary hit points instead of own hit pool: Instead of adopting the animal form’s hit points, druids retain their own hit points and gain temporary hit points equal to their druid level.
These changes for druids in 5.5e have been met with mixed feelings. Many players have used their animal form to bring massive hit points into combat. If a druid saved their animal form for combat, they could use up the animal’s hit points before they could use their own. This option is now basically no longer available, as the temporary hit points are negligible.
Players who played as Druids in D&D 5e in their animal form are celebrating the new possibilities that arise from the changes to the druid in D&D 5.5e. In particular, the ability to continue to communicate with their troops is a powerful feature.
Wild Shape: Spells, Spell Slots, and Wild Shape Charges
- Wild Resurgence (from level 5): When all Wild Shape charges have been exhausted, a spell slot can be consumed to restore one charge. This also works in reverse: a Wild Shape charge can be sacrificed for a level 1 spell slot.
- Beast Spells (from level 18): Druids can cast spells in beast form as long as no material component is required.
Wild Shape: “Known Forms” and selection options
- Druids learn a limited number of Wild Shape forms (“Known Forms”). The number and CR (Challenge Rating) limit increase with level.
Flexible adaptation: During a long rest, a known form can be exchanged for another.
The aim of this change to the Druid in D&D is to reduce the amount of time spent flipping through the Monster Manual during gameplay. Everyone knows the druid who had to rummage through all the animals right after the initiative roll. These changes help to prevent these delays.
Druid or Primal Order: Focus on spells or melee
- Loss of Medium Armor Proficiency
- Druids now choose a Primal Order. The aim is to steer the druid toward either a martial or magical direction early on.
- Magician: Adds an extra cantrip. For Arcana and Nature checks, the Wisdom modifier is added to the Intelligence modifier.
- Warden: Grants proficiency bonuses to medium armor classes and war weapons. The Warden thus regains the proficiency on medium armor classes lost by other druids.
- Elemental Fury, where one of the options can be selected:
- Primal Strike (melee combat): Adds 1d8 (later 2d8) of cold/fire/thunder/lightning damage to weapon attacks or attacks in animal form once per turn.
- Potent Spellcasting (cantrips): Adds the Wisdom modifier to cantrip damage; at level 15, increases the range of cantrips to 300 feet.
What circles are there for the druid in D&D 5.5e?
- Circle of the Moon: Improves Armor Class in animal form to 13 + Wisdom modifier (or the animal form’s AC, if higher). Druids of this circle also gain temporary hit points equal to three times their druid level, deal more radiant damage, and receive “Moonlight Step” (similar to Misty Step, teleporting over 30 feet as a bonus action).
- Circle of the Land: Druids can now attune to the surrounding terrain and land after a long rest. Previously, the druid had to choose a land type at creation. Druids of this circle can call upon the land for aid (Land’s Aid), either to deal massive damage or to heal.
- Circle of the Sea: A new Circle based on the storm and the wildness of the sea, equipping its druids with an aura that deals damage and knocks down enemies. Focus on thunder, lightning, and cold damage.
- Circle of the Stars: Remains largely unchanged from 5e. The class was introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything in 2020.
Conclusion: More options and greater flexibility, but no more Bear Tank
Overall, the Druid class in D&D 5.5e has received well-thought-out updates:
- Faster, more flexible use of Wild Shape, including the ability to communicate.
- Choice between a focus on spells or melee, with thematically appropriate buffs.
- New circles with clear play styles and fresh gameplay.
- Wild Resurgence and Beast Spells broaden options in combat and beyond.
- Generally less focus on powerful tanking, but much more varied, modern, and balanced.
The Reddit community views the changes overall as more balanced and versatile. The druid has become more variable and flexible in his playstyle. However, those who have used their druid as a living meat shield in bear form might need to convince their group to stick with the D&D 5e Player’s Handbook 🛒 from 2014.
