Class Ruling: Druids - What can they do in Wild Shape

Druid Wild Shape is Defined well in PHB as one of their Main Class Featrues
There are several paragraphs of what a Druid can and can't do while in wild shape.
In particular:
  • "Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. "
  • "You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense."
  Home Ruling: This also applies to feats where applicable.
Example: The Mobile feat grants +10 feet movement, dash action isn't affected by difficult Terrain and you don't provoke opportunity attacks in certain specific situations. The extra movement will NOT be granted since movement is replaced by the beast statistics, however the other features will carry over to the wild shape beast.

Circle features that have alternate use of Wild Shape

There are a few circles that have features that also consume one of the Wild Shape features. The Circle of Spores Sybiotic Entity and Circle of Stars Starry Form are 2 examples. Both features state: "you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to".
Home Ruling: You can do this while in beast form.   Note: You can use Starry form while in Wild shape. However, I do want to make it consistent with Circle of Spores. The feature will end if you use Wild shape. Therefore, if you want to do this, wild shape first and then use the Starry form feature (same with circle of spores Symbiotic Entity.)

Note the Starry form will continue for its duration even if your beast shape ends.

The only really effective use at lower levels is Dragon. Both Archer and Chalice deal with spell attacks and you can't do that until 18th level. BUT at 18th level your wild shape beast can use the Archer feature.

At level 14+ the Dragon feature is very powerful. You (or your beast form) will be resistant to all bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage including magical for 10 minutes.

Extra attack vs. Multi Attack:

Note that you can't use both. If your beast has Multi-Attack and your druid has extra attacks, you don't get to use Multi-Attack as an "Extra" attack. (Sage Advice)

To see what is supplanted or augmented, take a look at beasts' statistics. ("Statistic," as a defined term, appears on MM pp.6-11):

  1. Size. Your size is replaced by that of the beast.
  2. Type. Your type is now beast, not humanoid.
  3. Alignment. Not replaced, per Wild Shape.
  4. Armor Class. Replaced.
  5. Hit Points. Replaced. So no "Tough" carryover, per Sage Advice. Temporary hit points are applied to the beast or Druid. They don't carry over in either direction.
  6. Speed. Replaced.
  7. Ability Scores. STR, DEX, CON replaced. INT, WIS, CHA not, per Wild Shape. (Initiative is modified if you have Alert feat.)
  8. Saving Throws. You retain your proficiencies and choose the higher ability modifier of yours and the beast form's if you both have the same proficiency, per Wild Shape.
  9. Skills. Same as point 8 above. Note: Both point 8 and 9 will require math on your part to add the proficiency bonus to the creatures stats if it is STR, DEX or CON. You won't get your STR, DEX or CON skill stat, just proficiency + the creature's stat modifier. If your prof bonus is higher you can use your prof bonus. If the creature's is higher, use its prof bonus. Note: All Creatures CR 4 or below have a prof bonus of 2.
  10. Vulnerabilities, Resistances, and Immunities. You keep what you have as the Druid (including any condition, curse etc.)
  11. Senses. Replaced. (Specifically called out: if your humanoid form has darkvision and the beast form doesn't, you've just lost darkvision.)
  12. Languages. "Your ability to speak... is limited to the capabilities of your beast form." (Wild Shape) But as your mental stats and "personality" aren't changed. You still understand all your languages.  You do not gain the ability to speak with other animals by wild shaping into their form.
  13. Challenge. Moot, but in case you care, you now have a CR.
  14. Special Traits. You have the traits of the Beast.
  15. Actions. You can do what the Beast can.
  16. Reactions. Same as actions
  17. Limited Usage. Whatever is in the stat block of the beast.
  18. Equipment. Beasts don't come with equipment.
  19. Legendary Actions, Lair Actions, Regional Effects. Not assumed, per Wild Shape.

Home rule: Conditions and spell effects passed when Wild Shape.

The above rules are applied when a Druid uses Wild shape and are affected by a spell. Some will override a spell condition. If the duration of the spell is longer than the wild shape, the condition will return to the Druid. Conditions are not "Removed" but may be suppressed/overridden.
Example: Slow spell
  • Slow reduces speed - Overridden when wild shape because the Wild shape has its own speed.
  • Slow lowers AC - Overridden when Wild shape because the Wild shape has its own AC.
  • -2 Penalty to DEX - Sustained - But Wild shape allows you to choose the higher DEX.
  • -2 Penalty to DEX Saving Throw's - Sustained
  • Can't make more than 1 attack Sustained (This means you can't use Multi-attack if beast has that ability.)
Example: Enlarge/Reduce spell
  • Overridden because the creature's size is replaced.


Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Frightened, Grappled, Incapacitated, Invisible, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Stunned, Unconscious and levels of Exhaustion all carry over into beast shape and will transfer back to Druid after beast shape ends.