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The circle of the moon druid inDungeons & Dragonsis 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 July 23, 2025, 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 usewild shape to transform into animals, eithersmall ones that can scoutorlarge creatures meant for combat. As a circle of the moon druid, yougain several features while transformed, mainly the ability tochoose from a higher quality of creaturesfrom the get-go.
Since you’ll be spending most of your time wild shaped, you also gaintemporary hit pointsas well as abonus 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 asa bonus action,speak while transformed, andgain temporary hit pointsinstead ofhaving the beast’s healthon top of their own. Your wild shapedoesn’t end if you lose these temporary hit points.
Circle of the moon druids gainadditional 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 castcertain spells while wild shaped, like Cure Wounds, Moonbeam and Conjure Animals.
In 2014, level ten circle of the moon druids were able towild shape into elementals, somethingnot possible with the 2024 rules.Instead, you gainimproved abilities for your wild shape, likehigher damageor being able toteleport around the battlefield.
Best Species Options
The best species in the 2014 rules were the ones that gave the charactera feat at level one, while also letting said character raisewhatever ability score they needed.These features are nowgoverned 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 thatyou keep your class features, but nothing is written about your species’ traits. If your Dungeon Masterdoesn’t allow your species’ traitsto be used while wild shaped, thenbeing a humanis your best bet, since you gain an additional feat as well as access to heroic inspiration.
If you’re able to use traits while wild shaped, then the options open up significantly. Of particular note arethe halfling, letting you move through the spaces of creatures larger than you, andthe dragonborn, able to use breath weapons and fly at level five.
Best Stat Placements
Like all druids,Wisdom should be your primary statto focus on, but not only for the spellcasting bonus. Remember thatyou gain a bonus to your armor classwhile 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 andthe concentration saving throwsof 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, butdon’t let Dexterity give a negative bonusjust in case.
Since you can speak while wild shaped, havinga somewhat decent Charisma could helpto 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 havea limited pool of creatures you can transform into.You knowfour wild shape formsat level two, withthe 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 havea travel and a subterfuge form at the ready, like a riding horse or a rat, since those are always useful. For combat, we havesome recommendations below, but you should alwaysconsult with your Dungeon Masterif a given form is allowed.
1
3
2
6
9
Popular house rule choice even thoughit’s a monstrosity, has themulti attackoption.
4
12
Multi attackand abonus action attackagainst 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 onthe context of the campaign; however, you should aim for concentration spells whenever you can. That way, you can cast the spell and thenwild shape into any animal you wish, keeping the concentration going as you tank the party’s damage.
Faerie Fire
Create adimly litarea that possiblygives advantage on attacksagainst creatures in it.
Flaming Sphere
Create a spherethat you canmove as a bonus actionto dealdamageto enemies.
Call Lightning
Call down ahighly damaging lightning, being able todo so again with an actionin the following turns.
Remember that, in addition to these spells, you also gain spells you’re able to use while wild shaped if you’re using the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
Best Starting Equipment
Some campaigns start with the characters ata higher level than one; in such cases, whatever you might find as equipmentwill be irrelevantsince you’ll spend most of your timeturned into an animal.If that is your case, then you’re better off withthe gold optionfor 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 whenyou run out of wild shape charges.Keepthe cantrip Shillelaghhandy 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 backgroundis an ideal starting point. It lets youraise both Constitution and Wisdom, as well asgain extra healththrough 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 improvehow 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 whatis Inspiring Leader, letting youraise your Wisdomwhilegaining temporary hit points, not only to yourself butto the rest of the partyas well.
Best Multiclassing Options
You don’t want to spend too many levels on a different class, so you should focus on ones thatgive you something with little investment.Rangers give youaccess to Hunter’s Mark, a spell you can cast in your regular form and thenbenefit from it when wild shaped.
If you are willing to spend two levels in a different class, thenfighters are the way to go.You gain plenty ofself-sustainability with second wind, while also having access toan additional action with action surge, a feature that gets refreshed with a simple short rest.
