Every Druid Subclass Ranked In DND

Summary

• Circle of the stars offers a balance between offense and defense with unique abilities like Starry Form.
• Circle of the shepherd druids focus on aiding nature’s vulnerable creatures with powerful spirit-summoning abilities.
• Circle of the land druids are effective spellcasters, offering diverse casting options based on their chosen terrain.

Druids are one of the most popular class choices in Dungeons & Dragons, and their subclasses make for some outstanding diversity in roleplaying and combat. Druids speak their own secret language, have some spellcasting abilities, and can fill several different roles within the party.

The druid subclass is known within the lore of D&D as a circle, the equivalent of a warlock’s pact or a cleric’s domain. How you choose to play can shift radically depending on which circle your druid enters. Here are all the circles from worst to best based on how practical they can be in aiding your party in a range of campaigns.

Updated on February 7, 2025, by Jack Filsinger: With the release of the 2024 Player’s Handbook, there are so many different types of druids you can play in Dungeons & Dragons. We’ve updated this list to include the circle of the sea druid and revamped some rules for pre-existing druid subclasses like the circles of the land, stars, and moon so you have everything you need to pick the best druid subclass for yourself.

Some rules have changed for druids between the 2014 and the 2024 Player’s Handbook, including which levels druids get certain abilities. Talk to your DM to make sure you’re using the same ruleset.

8

Circle Of The Sea

Circle of the sea druids have a lot of fantastic benefits. The main benefit of this subclass is the added spells you can prepare, which include Lightning Bolt, Ice Storm, and Water Breathing. Some of these spells are big damage doers, and of course, Water Breathing is a great exploration-based spell.

However, this druid’s signature ability, in which they create Emanations of water that can push enemies and grant swimming speeds is situational at best. If you’re playing on a large land-locked continent, for example, you’re probably not going to get much use out of this key ability.

7

Circle Of Spores

Druids of the circle of spores find beauty in death and decay, which is an inevitable part of nature’s cycle. In molds and fungi, they see the potential for an abundance of resources. The spore subclass is certainly different in flavor and vibe from most druids, since instead of restoring life, you can animate a corpse. Using a charge of Wild Shape can fuel Symbiotic Entity rather than turn you into a creature.

Fungal Infestation and Spreading Spores are certainly interesting abilities and lend towards making a druid that falls away from their traditional roles in a party. There is nothing wrong with that, but perhaps be sure your companions know that you won’t be tossing out any healing spells or tanking hits as a bear while in combat. At least they can take solace in knowing their corpse will still be useful once they fall.

6

Circle Of Dreams

Druids who are members of the circle of dreams seek to fill the world with dreamy wonder. There is nothing inherently wrong or weak about selecting the dream subclass. However, other subclasses are more versatile and allow players flexibility in a broad range of circumstances.

Balm of the Summer Court, obtained at level two, is an adequate healing ability, but when compared to a shepherd subclass, it’s a bit lacking in potency. Hearth of Moonlight and Shadow make for peaceful rest under an imperceptible cover, and Hidden Paths allows for some creative bypassing of dangerous situations. This subclass also has amazing roleplay potential.

5

Circle Of Wildfire

You might expect a warlock or a sorcerer to have a summoned pet, but it’s about time that a druid got a pet that wasn’t like the tamed companions of the ranger. The abilities of your Wildfire Spirit generally focus on damaging enemies, but you can also sacrifice it to restore hit points to yourself.

One drawback of this druid circle is that it relies so heavily on fire damage, and fire resistance is a very common phenomenon in the D&D universe. Fear not, however, as your circle of wildfire spells also includes healing spells and defensive buffs, and you can choose certain feats to further diversify your offensive options.

4

Circle Of The Land

The circle of the land consists of mystics and sages who work to keep ancient knowledge and rites safe through a vast oral tradition. In terms of flavor, this story-telling druid has the potential to be the most interesting party member, unless they have an abysmal charisma modifier and ruin all their stories with monotone speaking or rambling, which is fun in a whole other way.

In practical terms, those who follow the circle of the land find themselves as effective casters. There are diverse flavors of spellcasting available depending on their chosen terrain, and there is a lot to cast without needing to prepare a formal spell. Natural Recovery for spell slots on short rests, and of course, a variety of circle spells based on different land-based ecosystems, such as arid, polar, temperate, and tropical land.

3

Circle Of The Moon

Druids of the circle of the moon are formidable protectors of the wilds. Their order meets beneath the full moon to discuss dire developments in nature. Those who wish to shift into creatures are quite welcome here. This makes the druid a powerful frontliner, with the potential to have an incredibly high armor class early on, thanks to their Circle Forms ability.

Circle of the moon druids also gain access to teleportation abilities at level ten in the form of Moonlight Step, and extra radiant damage at level 14 with their Lunar Form ability. This makes druids of this subclass highly formidable combatants.

2

Circle Of The Stars

The circle of stars druid subclass puts more emphasis on damage than healing, but it still has plenty to offer for a druid who also wants to be the party’s healer. This subclass has several unique abilities, with Starry Form only being one, which gives you access to casting abilities, healing spells, and an attack mode while in combat.

Druids from the circle of the stars can also augment their fighting abilities with a choice of Constellations, which act as buffs for certain abilities in a fight. These are likely the most versatile druids, picking and choosing their actions to fit the obstacle at hand. Choosing what you’ll do on your turn can often feel like solving a puzzle.

1

Circle Of The Shepherd

While druids care for all living creatures in the natural world, shepherd druids focus most on those animals and fey creatures who have difficulty defending themselves. One of the strongest abilities of a shepherd druid comes in the form of calling the spirits of nature to influence the world around you. There are other benefits to selecting the shepherd subclass, but these auras are so useful in virtually every situation that they tend to overshadow the rest of the subclass.

Taking a bonus action allows a druid to summon an incorporeal spirit within 60 feet. The three options give your party a variety of benefits. Bear Spirit grants you and your allies its might and endurance, Hawk Spirit gives your party keen sight, and Unicorn Spirit lends its protection to those nearby along with advantage on all ability checks made to detect creatures in the spirit’s aura. A real Swiss army knife of a subclass.