The Best Wild Shape Animals From The DnD 2025 Monster Manual

Druids in Dungeons & Dragons have always had a deep connection to nature, and Wild Shape is one of their most defining abilities. The 2025 Monster Manual brings updated creature stats and new options, giving druids more strategic and flavorful transformations than ever before.

Whether shifting into a stealthy predator, a resilient tank, or a creature with unique utility, the right Wild Shape can change the course of an encounter. With new mechanics refining how transformations work, players have even more exciting choices at their disposal. Here are the best Wild Shape options from the 2025 Monster Manual.

8

Giant Frog

For Level Two Druids

Good low-level creatures for druids to turn into are few and far between, mostly needing to offer some form of utility that the player can’t already do with its humanoid form. The giant frog offers a few things, like swimming speed and long jumps without a running start.

The 2024 Player’s Handbook removed the swimming restriction from Wild Shape.

The biggest ability of the frog, however, it’s the ability to grapple enemies with its basic attack. Once grappled, it can swallow them, removing them from play for a turn; it might not be the most damaging ability, but in certain encounters, it can be the difference between victory and defeat.

7

Giant Lizard

For Level Two Druids

At the early stages of a campaign, druids can’t turn into majestic beasts, but they can aid the party with Wild Shape. Turning into a horse to transport a wounded companion can aid the party more than tanking damage or dealing it.

Of course, horses can’t get everywhere, and druids can’t turn into flying animals until level eight. This is where the giant lizard comes in, being able to climb along walls and ceilings without an ability check, and as a large creature, it can take an ally while doing so.

6

Black Bear

For Level Four Druids

Bears are a popular creature for druids to turn into, both for narrative and mechanical reasons. The black bear, in particular, is a mighty creature, having darkvision and able to attack twice per turn, something most classes need to wait for level five to do.

What also makes it a great all-around beast to Wild Shape into is the different speeds it has, particularly swimming and climbing speeds. While it can’t climb on ceilings like a giant lizard, the black bear can get through nearly any terrain that appears in your way.

5

Lion

For Level Eight Druids

There are many good beasts with a challenge rating of one, but the one that stands out the most in the 2025 Monster Manual is the lion, with its heavily altered stat block from its 2014 iteration. It still has pack tactics, giving it advantage when attacking an enemy with at least one ally five feet from it.

Circle of the moon druids can turn into CR one creatures at level three.

The Pounce ability, however, was removed. In its place, the lion can simply do two attacks per turn. It also has a new action, Roar, which can replace one of its attacks and can frighten a creature, incapacitating someone as far as 15 feet away from the lion.

4

Giant Constrictor Snake

For Level Six Circle Of The Moon Druids

By level six, circle of the moon druids want to be a presence on the battlefield while still using their Wild Shape to its greatest potential, and that means attacking at every possible turn. Beasts like the giant constrictor snake are ideal choices, due to them being able to attack while also using their special ability on the same turn.

Giant constrictor snakes are all about grappling opponents, and as a huge beast, they can grapple creatures that are large or smaller. This lets the druid set up combos for the rest of the party, even moving the grappled creature around for a perfectly aligned attack.

3

Ankylosaurus

For Level Nine Circle Of The Moon Druids

Everyone likes dinosaurs, so any chance druids have of turning into one always ends in a fun time. The Ankylosaurus has all the might you can expect from a prehistoric creature, with a size of huge that will let you carry the whole party on your back.

In combat, the Ankylosaurus uses its tail, so remember to roleplay that aspect of the creature. Whenever a creature huge or smaller is hit by that tail, they are knocked prone (no saving throw needed). With two attacks per turn, you’ll have the entire battlefield on the ground in no time.

2

Giant Scorpion

For Level Nine Circle Of The Moon Druids

If you are past your dinosaur phase, then you might be looking for something that deals a lot of damage in a single turn. In that case, the giant scorpion continues to be one of the best choices for the circle of the moon druids, mainly due to its triple attack.

The scorpion can attack twice with its claws, and once with the tail, with each claw grappling any enemy they hit. The damage of the scorpion was slightly nerfed from the 2014 edition of the monster, but with so many attacks, it is still the best you can get, at least at this stage of your druid’s career.

1

Elephant

For Level 12 Circle Of The Moon Druids

Curiously enough, one of the best creatures in the 2025 Monster Manual for druids to Wild Shape into can be found in the real world: the elephant. This huge beast can deal two attacks with its tusks per turn, and if it moves before the attack, it can knock the enemy prone.

This is important due to the elephant’s bonus action, Trample, dealing a lot of damage to a prone creature. While the elephant itself can set up the prone state, your party can set it up for you, letting you stay in melee range of your enemy and dealing three attacks per turn.