Can Wildshaped Druids spend Wildshape Hit Dice?

[SmiloDan]

A druid in wildshape gains the beast's Hit Dice. Can a druid spend those Hit Dice to regain hit points?

[SmiloDan]

Also, what are some good CR 2 or less beasts to wildshape into? I'm looking at the Allosaurus, Cave Bear, and Aurochs.

It's for a human (Sentinel) barbarian 1/Circle of the Moon druid 6.

I want to synergize Rage and Wildshape, and also Unarmored Defense and Wildshape. Many beasts get a +1 to AC using Unarmored Defense in place of their natural armor bonus to AC, occasionally +2 to AC.

It looks like the 5E designers thought of everything! LOL!

[Kalshane]

Since the rules specifically state you gain the beast's hit dice (and I can't think of any use for hit dice in 5E other than regaining hit points) then you can spend them during a short rest to heal your beast form (provided you have enough duration left on your beast shape to remain in that form.)

I've never played a druid, so I haven't really delved into the beast shape options. I would say that if you're planning on combining rage with beast shaping, look for creatures with multiple attacks (so you can add your rage damage bonus multiple times a round.)

[Petty Alchemy]

As I understand it, yes, but only to heal the wildshaped form, not the druid's base. Seems kinda cheesy, though moon druids are naturally cheesy at low levels.

I'm a fan of the Giant Constrictor (despite warnings against such forms) for controlling enemies, since restrained is a powerful condition to inflict.

[SmiloDan]

I'm planning on the druid doing battlefield control, so restraining would be amazing!