The circle of the moon druid in Dungeons & Dragons is the ultimate shapeshifter, specializing in powerful wild shape transformations that dominate combat and exploration. With the 2024 Player’s Handbook, this subclass has been enhanced, offering more versatility and improved synergy between spellcasting and beast forms.
Whether you want to tank in combat, scout the wilderness, or embody nature’s wrath, the circle of the moon druid is a flexible and formidable choice. In this guide, we’ll explore how to build a circle of the moon druid, from stat priorities to the best wild shape forms, considering both strategies and feats.
Updated on November 29, 2024, by Alfredo Robelo: The release of the 2024 Player’s Handbook made significant changes to how druids and their wild shapes work. We’ve updated this article to show the updated rules, as well as advice on how to use them.
Circle Of The Moon Highlights
All druids can use wild shape to transform into animals, either small ones that can scout or large creatures meant for combat. As a circle of the moon druid, you gain several features while transformed, mainly the ability to choose from a higher quality of creatures from the get-go.
Since you’ll be spending most of your time wild shaped, you also gain temporary hit points as well as a bonus to your armor class. The temporary hit points are equal to three times your druid level, while your armor class while wild shaped is 13 plus your Wisdom modifier, unless your chosen beast’s AC is higher.
Differences In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
Wild shape has fundamentally changed for all druids, since all of them can now use the feature as a bonus action, speak while transformed, and gain temporary hit points instead of having the beast’s health on top of their own. Your wild shape doesn’t end if you lose these temporary hit points.
Circle of the moon druids gain additional temporary hit points and an AC bonus, as discussed before, which allows them to be great tanks no matter if they transform into a bear or a rat. They can also cast certain spells while wild shaped, like Cure Wounds, Moonbeam and Conjure Animals.
In 2014, level ten circle of the moon druids were able to wild shape into elementals, something not possible with the 2024 rules. Instead, you gain improved abilities for your wild shape, like higher damage or being able to teleport around the battlefield.
Best Species Options
The best species in the 2014 rules were the ones that gave the character a feat at level one, while also letting said character raise whatever ability score they needed. These features are now governed by the character’s background (with all of them having a feat), so you are free to choose whatever species you see fit.
The rules for wild shape specify that you keep your class features, but nothing is written about your species’ traits. If your Dungeon Master doesn’t allow your species’ traits to be used while wild shaped, then being a human is your best bet, since you gain an additional feat as well as access to heroic inspiration.
If you can use traits while wild shaped, then the options open up significantly. Of particular note are the halfling, letting you move through the spaces of creatures larger than you, and the dragonborn, able to use breath weapons and fly at level five.
Best Stat Placements
Like all druids, Wisdom should be your primary stat to focus on, but not only for the spellcasting bonus. Remember that you gain a bonus to your armor class while wild shaped, and it depends solely on your Wisdom modifier, so the higher, the better.
Next, you should focus on your Constitution, both for the extra health and the concentration saving throws of your spells. You will often be casting spells in your regular form and then simply concentrate on them while fighting, but as a front-liner, you will be doing concentration saving throws nearly every fight.
There isn’t much of a need to raise Strength or Dexterity, but
don’t let Dexterity give a negative bonus
just in case.
Since you can speak while wild shaped, having a somewhat decent Charisma could help to have your words heard in social encounters.
Best Wild Shape Forms
While you don’t have to have seen a specific beast in order to be able to transform into it, you do have a limited pool of creatures you can transform into. You know four wild shape forms at level two, with the number going up to eight at level eight, although you will clearly have some favorites that you’ll transform into often.
It is recommended that you always have a travel and a subterfuge form at the ready, like a riding horse or a rat, since those are always useful. For combat, we have some recommendations below, but you should always consult with your Dungeon Master if a given form is allowed.
|
Beast |
Challenge Rating |
Druid Level |
Features |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lion |
1 |
3 |
Pack tactics, multi attack, darkvision and a roar that inflicts fear. |
|
Giant Spider |
1 |
3 |
Spider climb, poison and web enemies, darkvision. |
|
Giant Constrictor Snake |
2 |
6 |
Easy way to grapple enemies, blindsight. |
|
Rhinoceros |
2 |
6 |
Charge that does extra damage and knocks targets prone. |
|
Giant Scorpion |
3 |
9 |
Make three attacks per turn, able to grapple and poison targets. |
|
Owlbear |
3 |
9 |
Popular house rule choice even though it’s a monstrosity, has the multi attack option. |
|
Elephant |
4 |
12 |
Multi attack and a bonus action attack against prone creatures. |
Several beasts gain upgraded forms at higher levels, like the Polar Bear being an upgrade to the Brown Bear, or the Mammoth being an upgrade to the Elephant.
Best Spells
The best spells for you will highly depend on the context of the campaign; however, you should aim for concentration spells whenever you can. That way, you can cast the spell and then wild shape into any animal you wish, keeping the concentration going as you tank the party’s damage.
|
Spell |
Level |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Entangle |
1 |
Create an area of difficult terrain and possibly restrain creatures in it. |
|
Faerie Fire |
1 |
Create a dimly lit area that possibly gives advantage on attacks against creatures in it. |
|
Flaming Sphere |
2 |
Create a sphere that you can move as a bonus action to deal damage to enemies. |
|
Summon Beast |
2 |
Call a bestial spirit to aid you in combat. |
|
Call Lightning |
3 |
Call down a highly damaging lightning, being able to do so again with an action in the following turns. |
Remember that, in addition to these spells, you also gain spells you can use while wild shaped if you’re using the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
Best Starting Equipment
Some campaigns start with the characters at a higher level than one; in such cases, whatever you might find as equipment will be irrelevant since you’ll spend most of your time turned into an animal. If that is your case, then you’re better off with the gold option for starting equipment.
If you are starting at level one, then the starting equipment for druids, which includes leather armor, a shield, and a quarterstaff, is ideal, particularly for when you run out of wild shape charges. Keep the cantrip Shillelagh handy so you can use your Wisdom to attack rather than Strength.
Best Feats And Backgrounds
For new and experienced circle of the moon users, the Farmer background is an ideal starting point. It lets you raise both Constitution and Wisdom, as well as gain extra health through the Tough origin feat; you’ll need it as a front liner, particularly due to all the health you don’t have after the 2024 changes.
As for feats, several of them improve how your character performs in combat, but it is up to your Dungeon Master if said feats would work when wild shaped.
One feat that works no matter what
is Inspiring Leader
, letting you
raise your Wisdom
while
gaining temporary hit points
, not only to yourself but
to the rest of the party
as well.
Best Multiclassing Options
You don’t want to spend too many levels on a different class, so you should focus on ones that give you something with little investment. Rangers give you access to Hunter’s Mark, a spell you can cast in your regular form and then benefit from it when wild shaped.
If you are willing to spend two levels in a different class, then fighters are the way to go. You gain plenty of self-sustainability with second wind, while also having access to an additional action with action surge, a feature that gets refreshed with a simple short rest.
Next
Dungeons & Dragons: How To Build A Beast Master Ranger
Beast masters work alongside an animal companion to become fearsome fighters. Here’s how to build one in DnD.