For the enterprising Druid, what creatures are the best for each stage of a Druid's Wild Shape? I was looking over the class features and it with each Bestiary, it appears more and more options become available. What animals, elementals, plants, and magical beasts would you suggest as the ability progresses in power? Suggest utility shapes raw combat prowess alike.
This depends entirely on what you want your Druid to do with Wildshape.
|
Generally, for DPR, you want to roll with any creature that has Pounce and preferably no Rake, and rather 4 claws/1 bite. Most creatures that have Pounce, have Rake, 2 claws/1 bite. It just makes for a weaker full attack after pouncing, in the following rounds. Beast form overall, varies for what you want/need. There are a plethora of animals to choose from and they all have their perks. You still get the same stat bonuses either way.
For defensive purposes, plant shape wins. Anything with Regen or FastHeal(whatever it's called) is your best friend, period. For the purpose of DPR, I think the Quickwood is best due to all of it's tentacles and 50'+ reach.(if I remember right)
For elemental, it really varies a lot. Earth and Fire are probably the most offensive and defensive at the same time. Air seems to be the highest mobility(and you get to freaking fly!!) but still with high evasive bonuses. Water is all about taking some hits, due to that very high con bonus. As for their abilities.. those speak for themselves.
That's what comes to mind!
Also, you cannot wildshape into a magical beast. Sadly. :T
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm quite partial to Behemoth Hippos, myself. Although a Carnivorous Crystal Ooze is better if you are a cave druid. Either way, these are great if you take a dip into Barbarian for Vital Strike / Furious Finish.
Definitely used a vampiric fiendish behemoth hippo-shaped druid to kill several PCs in a fight. They hit very very hard.
Generally, if you want damage you go dinosaur. If your GM doesn't allow GMs, you go tiger. If you don't expect much full attacking, you go with hippos and vital strike (make that one hit count). There are a few plant forms that can pull off constrict and lots of tentacle attacks, but they are generally slow and you don't get all their abilities.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If your GM doesn't allow GMs, you go tiger.
I wouldn't; GMs are way too powerful as a wild shape option.
Valid point. Also worth noting, and of course unrelated to any spurious claims of typos in any post I've ever written, is that tigers are good options if you are not allowed to use dinosaurs.
|
|
For defensive purposes, plant shape wins. Anything with Regen or FastHeal(whatever it's called) is your best friend, period. For the purpose of DPR, I think the Quickwood is best due to all of it's tentacles and 50'+ reach.(if I remember right)
Speaking of fast healing, if you can fit in the Fast Healer feat (probably need a dip of unbreakable fighter)and a high con, then you basically become unkillable because you are healing you fast healing amount + 1/2 your con bonus every round.
Yay I get to post an awesome guide I read.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hey Kazumetsa,
I've got a level 8 melee druid. I've only ever seen animals that have 2 claws/1 bite and rake, not 4 claws/1 bite. Are there any shapes you know that have this?
Magical Beasts do hahaha. Sadly we can't shape into those >.<
Here is a reliable list of the bestiary you can look though. Bestiary for us Druids
Speaking of fast healing, if you can fit in the Fast Healer feat (probably need a dip of unbreakable fighter)and a high con, then you basically become unkillable because you are healing you fast healing amount + 1/2 your con bonus every round.
Whoa. Nice find!! I want to see that in action one day.