Druids are a very fun class to play in Dungeons & Dragons. They act as the physical embodiment of the power of nature, and whereas other classes have to use magic to turn into animals, druids can simply do it at will thanks to their Wild Shape ability.

This makes them a decent class for beginners because there are a few safety nets available if they make a mistake, and the class isn't too complicated either. That being said, there are some areas where the mistakes you can make may not be entirely obvious at first glance, even for seasoned D&D players.

Circle of the Shepherd druid from Dungeons and Dragons
Circle of the Shepherd Druid Artwork by Wizards of the Coast

For the most part, druids try to not use gear that's made of metal. Items such as daggers tend to be an exception, but otherwise, druids choose the use more 'natural' materials such as bone or wood, even in regard to armor and weapons.

Nevertheless, you don't have to abandon metal entirely if you think it will lead to some interesting scenarios. Maybe your druid has to wear metal armor because your current set is ruined and there's no other option. How are they viewed by other druids if they do?

9/10 Waste Uses Of Wild Shape

A male elf druid letting a bird of prey land on his right hand
Player's Handbook Druid Artwork by Wizards of the Coast

Wild Shape is a fantastically useful ability, even at lower levels when it has more limitations. The sheer variety of animals you can transform into allows for a lot of strategy, and you can easily adapt to the situation at hand.

However, you can only use Wild Shape twice, and then you must rest in order to restore any expended uses (note that 20th level druids have unlimited uses). Luckily a short rest can also restore them, but even so, you should take care to not waste them.

8/10 Feel Like You Can Only Play A 'Good' Character

A female elf druid holding a staff and using magic to create a water spring in a desolate wasteland
Lifespring Druid by Willian Murai

It can be easy to feel like druids are mainly a class for good aligned characters, or perhaps a neutral one at best. However, this doesn't have to be the case at all. In fact, there are a few paths you can take if you wanted to play a character who is more evilly aligned, since playing as a villain can be pretty fun at times.

Perhaps they simply wish to use their power for dominance over others, or they have little care for the lives of humanoids.

7/10 Only Be A Hermit

A barbarian sitting in a sunlit forest clearing, looking at a sword with a blue gem
Kamahl's Druidic Vow by Noah Bradley

Druids tend to be depicted as folks who shut themselves away from the world, only speaking to the plants and animals. Don't forget, however, that there are going to be plenty of druid communities, as demonstrated by the fact that they have their own language, Druidic.

Therefore, don't limit yourself to only playing druids who are strongly anti-social. After all, there are going to be plenty of extroverted druids to balance out the introverted.

6/10 Only Use Big Animals For Wild Shape

A druid having a rest with a brown bear
Xanathar's Guide to Everything Druid Artwork by Wizards of the Coast

It's tempting to save Wild Shape for big combat encounters, and turning into a big bear that swipes away enemies is admittedly very fun. However, Wild Shape allows for a lot more flexibility in terms of the animals you can be, especially when you unlock those that can swim or fly.

Need to sneak into a building or eavesdrop on a conversation? That's a perfect use for a spider or a fly, and you don't need to worry about the lower HP if you're never discovered in the first place.

5/10 Be Unprepared When Choosing Spells

A male elf druid using magic to transform his arms into roots
Rootweaver Druid by Lie Setiawan

Druids, much like clerics, technically know all the spells within their spell list, but they can only have a set number prepared for use at any one time. This number is determined by your druid level and Wisdom modifier.

It also takes a long time to add new spells because your character has to spend a while praying, so you need to plan ahead when deciding which spells to prepare. (If you're unsure, have a chat with your party so you can decide more easily.)

4/10 Be Surrounded In Combat

A group of adventurers facing off against a horde of enemies
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Cover Art by Tyler Jacobson

Druids are pretty hardy in D&D because their Wild Shape forms essentially act as temporary health pools, especially if you choose something tough like a bear. However, you should still try to avoid situations where you're surrounded because multiple successful attacks can quickly drain away your health (especially if any are critical hits).

Also, any damage left over when you turn back into a humanoid is subtracted from your regular health, so depending on how many attacks are left, you could be downed before your next turn.

3/10 Think You Can Only Be A Wood Elf

Artwork of a druid accompanied by two birds
Monster Manual Druid Artwork by Wizards of the Coast

Perhaps unsurprisingly, wood elves are generally depicted as the stereotypical race for druids (especially since it's in the name). However, there are more than 20 playable races in D&D, so don't be afraid to try something out of the ordinary, like a kenku or even a Warforged.

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything also contains optional rules in regard to races in terms of ability score modifiers, so you can afford to take these risks without necessarily causing damage to your build, if that's what you're worried about.

2/10 Be Afraid To Experiment

A sitting druid casting magic from their hands
Primal Druid by Tomasz Jedruszek

Druids are able to be useful in almost any situation thanks to their spells and abilities. They can deal decent damage to both a single target and a whole group, they can be built to withstand tough combat encounters, and they have a lot of utility capabilities.

Therefore, try to experiment with your abilities when possible. Not only will this prevent your strategies from getting stale, but you'll also gain a quicker understanding of what does and doesn't work for you (and can plan around it for the future).

1/10 Limit Yourself To Circle Of The Moon

A shirtless male elf druid holding a snake-headed staff behind him
Circle of the Moon Druid by Nicholas Elias

Circle of the Moon is undoubtedly an excellent subclass for druids, because not only are you able to Wild Shape into higher CR creatures than other classes, but you can also do it as a bonus action. However, this doesn't necessarily make it the best subclass.

In fact, there are plenty of strengths to the other subclasses. Circle of the Land allows you to move through difficult terrain with ease, whilst Circle of the Shepherd makes it easier for yourself and your party to pass various ability checks.

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