Druid — Wild Shape, Primal Magic and Sacred Traditions

5.5e / 2024 Druid

Primary Ability: Wisdom
Hit Die: d8
Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom
Skills: Choose two from Arcana, Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Religion and Survival
Weapons: Simple weapons
Tools: Herbalism Kit
Armor: Light armor and Shields

The released 5.5e Druid is a prepared full spellcaster whose Wild Shape is a flexible class resource rather than a replacement hit-point pool. The subclass begins at level 3; Primal Order is a level-1 class choice, not the subclass.

Spellcasting

You prepare Druid spells after a Long Rest and use Wisdom as the spellcasting ability. The number of prepared spells is fixed by the class table rather than being calculated as Druid level plus Wisdom modifier. You can use a Druidic Focus for your spells. Cantrips increase at levels 4 and 10.

Druidic

You know Druidic and can use it for hidden messages. The 2024 class also keeps Speak with Animals permanently prepared through this feature.

Primal Order

At level 1 choose Magician or Warden. Magician grants another Druid cantrip and adds Wisdom to selected Arcana or Nature checks; Warden grants martial-weapon proficiency and Medium armor training.

Wild Shape

At level 2 you can transform as a Bonus Action into one of your learned Beast forms. You begin with four forms of CR 1/4 or lower that lack a Fly Speed. At level 4 you know six forms up to CR 1/2; at level 8 you know eight forms up to CR 1 and flying forms become available.

The form lasts for half your Druid level in hours unless ended earlier. You retain personality, memories, languages, mental ability scores, class features, feats, Hit Points and Hit Dice. The Beast replaces most other game statistics. You gain temporary hit points equal to Druid level when transforming. You cannot cast spells while transformed until Beast Spells arrives, but concentration on an already-active spell can continue.

Wild Companion

At level 2 you can spend either a spell slot or a Wild Shape use to cast Find Familiar without material components. The familiar is Fey and disappears when you finish a Long Rest.

Druid Subclass

Your subclass begins at level 3 and grants further features at levels 6, 10 and 14. The freely available 2024 rules present Circle of the Land; other published circles can be used if the table permits them.

Wild Resurgence

At level 5 the spellcasting and Wild Shape resource pools begin to interact. If you have no Wild Shape uses left, you can spend a spell slot to regain one use. You can also spend one Wild Shape use to recover a 1st-level spell slot once per Long Rest.

Elemental Fury

At level 7 choose Potent Spellcasting or Primal Strike. Potent Spellcasting adds Wisdom to Druid-cantrip damage. Primal Strike adds 1d8 Cold, Fire, Lightning or Thunder damage once on each of your turns when you hit with a weapon or Beast-form attack. At level 15, the chosen option improves: Potent Spellcasting greatly extends qualifying cantrip range, while Primal Strike rises to 2d8.

Beast Spells

At level 18 you can cast spells while using Wild Shape except spells with costly or consumed material components.

Archdruid

At level 20, if initiative is rolled while you have no Wild Shape uses, you regain one. You can also convert unspent Wild Shape uses into a spell slot, with each use contributing two spell levels, once per Long Rest. The feature also slows physical aging.

Setting note: the mechanical capstone called Archdruid does not automatically grant the social office described on Druidic Hierarchy. Recognition by circles, colleges and communities is still required.

5e / 2014 Druid

Primary Ability: Wisdom
Hit Die: d8
Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom
Armor: Light armor, medium armor and Shields, with the edition’s metal restriction
Weapons: Club, dagger, dart, javelin, mace, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, sling and spear
Tools: Herbalism Kit

The 2014 Druid is a prepared full caster with a two-use Wild Shape resource that returns on a Short or Long Rest. Unlike 5.5e, transforming normally replaces your physical statistics and gives you the Beast’s hit-point pool for the duration.

Spellcasting

You prepare Druid spells using Wisdom. Your prepared-spell count equals Druid level + Wisdom modifier, with a minimum of one spell, and you regain all expended spell slots after a Long Rest. Ritual casting works for prepared Druid spells that carry the Ritual tag, and a Druidic Focus can serve as the spellcasting focus.

Druidic

You know the class’s secret Druidic language and can leave hidden messages in it. This is an edition rule; regional written traditions such as Ogham are setting material rather than a replacement for the 2014 class feature.

Wild Shape

At level 2 you can transform into a Beast you have seen. You have two uses and regain them on a Short or Long Rest. The basic progression is:

You can remain transformed for a number of hours equal to half your Druid level. In Beast form, your game statistics are largely replaced by the creature’s statistics, including its hit points, while your alignment, personality and mental ability scores remain yours. When the Beast form is reduced to 0 hit points, excess damage carries over to your normal form.

Druid Circle

Your subclass begins at level 2 and grants further features at levels 6, 10 and 14. The Basic Rules present Circle of the Land and Circle of the Moon. Land emphasises spellcasting and terrain-linked magic; Moon pushes Wild Shape toward combat and stronger forms.

Ability Score Improvements

You gain an Ability Score Improvement at levels 4, 8, 12, 16 and 19. If your table uses feats, the normal feat substitution rule applies.

Timeless Body

At level 18, primal magic slows aging dramatically: ten years of elapsed time age the Druid’s body by only one year.

Beast Spells

Also at level 18, you can perform verbal and somatic components while using Wild Shape. Material components remain unavailable while transformed unless another rule solves that limitation.

Archdruid

At level 20, Wild Shape uses become unlimited. You can also ignore verbal and somatic components of Druid spells and ignore non-costly, non-consumed material components. As with the 2024 capstone, this mechanical feature does not automatically grant social authority in the setting.

Pathfinder 1e Druid

Alignment: Any Neutral
Hit Die: d8
Skill Ranks: 4 + Intelligence modifier per level
Strong Saves: Fortitude and Will
Primary Casting Ability: Wisdom

The PF1e Druid is a prepared divine full caster with Nature Bond, Wild Shape, strong wilderness skills and a choice between animal-companion play and domain-focused magic.

Class Skills

Climb, Craft, Fly, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), Perception, Profession, Ride, Spellcraft, Survival and Swim. This makes a PF1e Druid naturally effective as a tracker, animal handler, wilderness guide and magical scholar.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The PF1e class is proficient with its traditional Druid weapon group and natural attacks used in Wild Shape. It gains light and medium armor plus shields other than tower shields, but the edition keeps the prohibition on metal armor and metal shields.

Spellcasting

PF1e Druids prepare divine spells using Wisdom. They know the whole class list and choose prepared spells each day. A prepared spell can be converted spontaneously into summon nature’s ally of the same level or lower. Orisons are prepared 0-level spells and can be cast repeatedly without being expended.

Nature Bond

At 1st level choose between an animal companion and a nature-focused domain. Domain options in the core rules include Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water and Weather. A domain grants its powers and bonus spell slots using Druid level as effective Cleric level. The companion option instead gives a persistent animal ally that advances with the Druid.

Nature Sense

You gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks.

Wild Empathy

You can improve an animal’s attitude with 1d20 + Druid level + Charisma modifier, functioning similarly to Diplomacy. Magical beasts of Intelligence 1 or 2 can also be influenced at a penalty.

Woodland Stride and Trackless Step

At level 2 you move through ordinary natural undergrowth without the usual penalties. At level 3 you stop leaving a trail in natural surroundings unless you choose to do so.

Resist Nature’s Lure

At level 4 you gain a +4 bonus on saving throws against Fey spell-like abilities.

Wild Shape

PF1e Wild Shape begins at level 4 and lasts one hour per Druid level. It uses the beast shape, elemental body and plant shape spell families rather than copying a creature’s entire stat block.

• Level 4: Small or Medium animal; functions as beast shape I.
• Level 6: Tiny or Large animal, or Small elemental; beast shape II / elemental body I.
• Level 8: Diminutive or Huge animal, Medium elemental, or Small/Medium plant; beast shape III, elemental body II, plant shape I.
• Level 10: Large elemental or Large plant; elemental body III / plant shape II.
• Level 12: Huge elemental or Huge plant; elemental body IV / plant shape III.
• Level 20: Wild Shape becomes at will.

Venom Immunity, A Thousand Faces and Timeless Body

At level 9 you become immune to poison. At level 13 you can alter your appearance at will while in normal form using the edition’s alter self-style effect. At level 15 you stop taking further age penalties and cannot be magically aged, though normal lifespan still ends naturally.

Animal Companion Route

PF1e companions use their own base-statistics progression rather than the 3.5e bonus-HD table. Their Hit Dice, base attack, saves, skill ranks, feats, natural armor, ability bonuses and tricks improve with effective Druid level. Many companions also gain size increases at specified levels. Use the PF1e companion entry for the exact creature rather than importing the 3.5e alternative-companion adjustments below.

Common PF1e Builds

• Companion Master: invests in the animal companion and support magic.
• Wild Shape Combatant: builds around natural attacks, physical form changes and form access.
• Summoner: exploits spontaneous summon nature’s ally conversion and summoning feats.
• Terrain Controller: prepares entangling, wall, fog and battlefield-shaping spells.
• Domain Druid: uses Nature Bond to deepen one elemental or natural theme.
• Healer / Utility Caster: leans into restoration, divination, travel and problem-solving magic.

Ex-Druids

The PF1e class retains the edition’s alignment and conduct restrictions. A Druid who ceases to revere nature, moves to a prohibited alignment or violates the class’s Druidic-language restriction can lose class abilities until the appropriate atonement is completed. Keep this as PF1e mechanics, not a universal campaign law.

D&D 3.5e Druid

Alignment: Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral, Chaotic Neutral or Neutral Evil
Hit Die: d8
Skill Points: (4 + Intelligence modifier) ×4 at 1st level; 4 + Intelligence modifier thereafter
Strong Saves: Fortitude and Will
Primary Casting Ability: Wisdom

The 3.5e Druid is a prepared divine caster with an animal companion from level 1, Wild Shape from level 5, broad wilderness skills and one of the edition’s most expansive transformation progressions.

Class Skills

Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (nature), Listen, Profession, Ride, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival and Swim. The skill list makes the Druid a natural wilderness guide, healer, animal handler and observer even when no spell is being cast.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The 3.5e list includes club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, sickle, shortspear, sling and spear, plus natural attacks of Wild Shape forms. Druids are proficient with light and medium armor and shields other than tower shields, but the edition prohibits metal armor and metal shields. Breaking that restriction suppresses Druid spells and supernatural or spell-like class abilities for 24 hours.

Spellcasting and Spontaneous Summoning

Spellcasting is prepared, divine and Wisdom-based. To prepare or cast a spell, Wisdom must be at least 10 + spell level; the save DC is 10 + spell level + Wisdom modifier. Bonus spells come from high Wisdom. A prepared spell can be converted spontaneously into a summon nature’s ally spell of the same level or lower.

Alignment descriptors matter in 3.5e: a Druid cannot cast a spell whose alignment is opposed to the Druid’s own alignment or that of a chosen deity. Keep that rule inside this edition rather than applying it to the setting as a whole.

Bonus Languages and Druidic

Sylvan is available as a bonus-language option. Druidic is gained as a free secret language with its own alphabet under the 3.5e class rules. Teaching it to a non-Druid has mechanical consequences described under Ex-Druids below.

Animal Companion

A 1st-level Druid begins with a loyal animal companion. Base choices include badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse, owl, pony, Small or Medium viper and wolf, with porpoise, Medium shark and squid available in aquatic campaigns. The companion improves with effective Druid level through bonus Hit Dice, natural armor, Strength and Dexterity increases, bonus tricks and special abilities.

Nature Sense

At 1st level you gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks.

Wild Empathy

You can influence an animal’s attitude with a check equal to 1d20 + Druid level + Charisma modifier. Using the ability normally requires the Druid and animal to study one another within about 30 feet and usually takes a minute. Magical beasts with Intelligence 1 or 2 can also be influenced, but at a penalty.

Woodland Stride

At level 2, natural undergrowth no longer slows or harms you. Magically manipulated thorns, briars and similar terrain still work normally.

Trackless Step

At level 3, you leave no trail in natural surroundings and cannot normally be tracked unless you deliberately choose to leave tracks.

Resist Nature’s Lure

At level 4 you gain a +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like abilities of Fey.

Wild Shape

At level 5 you can assume a Small or Medium animal form once per day for up to one hour per Druid level. Changing form is a standard action and does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The form must be an animal with which the Druid is familiar, and its Hit Dice cannot exceed Druid level.

Uses increase at levels 6, 7, 10, 14 and 18. Large forms arrive at level 8, Tiny at 11 and Huge at 15. Plant-creature forms become available at level 12. Elemental Wild Shape begins at 16, improves to twice per day at 18 and three times per day at 20; the level-20 version can become a Huge elemental.

Venom Immunity

At level 9 you become immune to poison.

A Thousand Faces

At level 13 you can alter your physical appearance at will while in normal form, within the limits of disguise self; this is a physical alteration rather than an illusion and does not change possessions.

Timeless Body

At level 15 you stop taking ability-score penalties from further aging and cannot be magically aged. Existing penalties remain and normal age bonuses still accrue; the Druid can still die of old age.

Ex-Druids

Under the 3.5e class rules, ceasing to revere nature, moving to a prohibited alignment or teaching Druidic to a non-Druid causes loss of Druid spells and class abilities until the character atones. Treat this as a 3.5e mechanical rule, not as a universal statement about every druidic tradition in the setting.

The larger companion progression, alternative-companion lists and campaign-specific Lost World options are restored below under Wild Shape and Animal Allies.