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Wield the power of nature with an even new and better Druid in the 5th edition ofDungeons & Dragons. Druids venerate nature in every biome, from scorching deserts to lush forests and deep underground caverns, which makes them even more versatile and hardy.
5th edition Druids are versatile healers, fighters, and spellcasters with consistently high levels of power across most levels, which is similar to how they appear in other games. Druids also have a lot of potential for backstory and role-playing options, depending on other factors like their unique skills and backgrounds, and aren’t bound to any particular moral alignment.
Updated June 12, 2025 by Kristy Ambrose:The Druid has a reputation throughout the RPG world as a combination class that can fill any party role. A simple change like another set of gear or a different weapon can change a Druid’s role in the party in a dramatic way.
Although there are fewer Druids in the defense role in D&D they’re still some of the best healers and strikers in the game, and they also have the same kind of support spells that a Cleric or Ranger would have.
Best Druid Species
Shapeshifting, Elemental Control, Survival, Tracking, And Travel
Any creature that can control or manipulate the elements is ideal for a Druid. For the core species that appear in the Players Handbook (PHB), the old rules still apply when it comes to choosing a race. For species in the supplemental materials, it’s more about Backgrounds, unique abilities, and party roles.
Wood Elves
Player Handbook
A variant of the Elf, they have a +2 bonus to Dexterity and +1 to Wisdom, increased movement speed, and the Mask of the Wild ability. It remains one of the best choices for a Druid in 5e.
Fairy
The Wild Beyond The Witchlight
This isone of the best racesfor a spellcasting Druid that focuses on DPS, partly because of the power of flight but also thanks to spells like Faerie Fire. It’s also an ideal choice for a support or off-healing build.
Lotusden Halfling
Explorer’s Guide to Wildmount
One of the Halfling subraces, they get a +1 to Wisdom and Druid-like powers. These include Timberwalk and spells like Entangle and Spike Growth.
Water Genasi
Elemental Evil Player’s Companion
This species can breathe underwater and has acid resistance and two free spells, including the Acid Splash cantrip. These Druids control water and have an aquatic form, including the ability to breathe air and water.
Winged Tiefling
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
As the name suggests, this Tiefling has the power of flight with some resistance to fire and some related burning cantrips. For players that want to start their Druid build with a Tiefling, this is the best choice in D&D 5e.
High Elf
This species knows the cantrip Burning Blade, which works with any casting build. One example is the Circle of Spores because it increases the spell’s melee damage into an AoE nightmare.
Harengon
Better Perception and Insight skills combined with Lucky Footwork and Rabbit Hop when better mobility for casting or healing is required.
Ghostwise Halfling
This race has the same skill boosts as Wood Elves and gains limited telepathy, in addition to the usual bonuses of the Halfling Lineage.
Variant Human
Inspired by the most versatile race inD&D, Variant Humans can choose their ability score boosts and a starting Feat.
Firbolg
Volo’s Guide to Monsters
An exotic race, they have two innate abilities ideal for the best Druid build: Disguise Self and Detect Magic.
Owlin
Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
The power of flight is the best advantage here, and the exotic Owlin also has Darkvision and can choose any stat to buff up by 2 points.
Kenku
This mysterious race is a challenge to roleplay but is growing in popularity. +1 Wisdom and +2 to Dexterity can have several applications and start one of the best possible Druid builds in 5e.
Mountain Dwarf
One of the branches of Dwarves is currently available in the PHB, and it’s the only one that gives the character a +2 to any stat they choose. Wisdom is the obvious choice but Constitution is also ideal.
Wisdom
Perception and Insight
Powers a Druid’s spells, so this should be the highest number out of all the ability scores.
Dexterity
Agility
A benefit to AC, but more important for a melee Druid.
Constitution
Endurance
A basic survivalist skill, this might be a higher priority than Dexterity depending on the party role.
Intelligence
Reasoning, Memory
Skills like Nature, Arcana, and Religion are determined by this stat. More important to Druids who are spellcasters and healers.
Charisma
Personality, Trading
Druids who use healing spells or act as the face of the party can make this stat a higher one.
Strength
Physical power, Melee weapon damage
Some Druids specialize in melee damage and this stat is more important for them.
Circle of Dreams
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything
An ideal choice for Druids who prefer healing, this Druid has all the usual beneficial spells in addition to abilities like Balm of the Summer Court, which offers AoE healing and targeted spells at a longer range.
Circle of Wildfire
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
This Circle uses fire damage in its powerful array of spells and includes a Fire Spirit companion.
Circle of Stars
This Circle offersa nice combination of healingand damage spells for a mixed damage and healing build.
Circle of the Blighted
Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn
This Circle focuses on the power of corruption in the form of fungus, rot, and carrion feeders.
The Circle of Twilight
Unearthed Arcana
Some Druids enjoy decomposition and can manipulate the undead, but this Druid is the opposite. They seek out the Undead and the rot they bring, and fight against it using abilities like Harvest Scythe and Paths of the Death.
Circle of the Land
Player’s Handbook
For the classic spellcasting Druid, your powers are determined by the kind of landform the player chooses: Arctic, Swamp, Mountain, Underdark, Grassland, or Forest.
Circle of the Moon
Summon fire elementals and use the Wild Shape ability as a combat form, allowing the Druid to act as the party’s main Defender.
Circle of Spores
Includes offensive abilities like necromancy and raising undead. Spore Druids gain a host of AoE spells for damage and protecting their party.
Circle of the Shepherd
This is the Circle to choose for a Druid that surrounds themselves with animal companions.
Perception
This is easily the most-rolled skill in anyD&Dcampaign, and Druids have high Wisdom anyway, so this is a natural pick.
Arcana
Arcana makes it easier for a character to remember information about spells, magical items, and arcane traditions.
Sleight of Hand
A Druid with high Dexterity and Sleight of Hand proficiency can act as the party’s lockpicker, pickpocket, and trap-finder.
Survival
It fits well with the nature of the class, but how useful it is might depend on the campaign setting.
Nature
The character remembers information about terrain, tracking, animals, and plant life.
Insight
A Druid’s high Wisdom score means they have a better chance of determining a creature’s true intentions.
Religion
Makes it easier to remember information about deities, cults, and anything related to religion.
Acrobatics
This proficiency is ideal for Druids who use ranged or melee physical damage. Swap this out for Athletics if the Druid’s better stat is Strength.
Moon Sickle
Grants a bonus to attack, damage, and saving rolls on all spells, plus an extra 1d4 on any healing spells.
Staff Of The Woodlands
D&D Player’s Handbook
+2 to attack rolls and saving throws, plus a choice of seven additional spells including Animal Friendship, Barkskin, and others.
Cloak of Protection
D&D Free Rules (2024)
Gives the wearer +1 to AC and all attack saving throws.
Dragon Scale Mail
- to AC, the ability to detect other dragon scale armors, and Resistance to a certain type of elemental damage, determined by color.
Scimitar Of Wounding
Damage done by this sword can only be healed by a Long Rest, and wounded enemies take an extra 1d4 of Necrotic damage.
Insignia Of Claws
Tyranny of Dragons
+1 to attack and damage rolls made with natural weapons, which means both fists and claws.
Description
Chef
Every party needs a cook anyway, and this adds +1 to the character’s Wisdom score.
Alert
The Druid gets a +5 to their Initiative roles. They can’t be ambushed or surprised, and hidden creatures don’t have Advantages on their attack roles.
Fey Touched
Grants the Druid a handy spell called Misty Step, which isn’t normally in the Druid’s spell cache but suits the class.
Elemental Adept
Some extra fire spells are useful to any Druid and even more useful to those of the Circle of Land.
Mobile
Speed increases by 10 ft. The character can Dash on difficult terrain and doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks in melee. Also applies while in Wild Shape form.
Observant
Gives a boost to the Druid’s Wisdom and passive Perception, so one of the most important pieces of the best 5e Druid build.
Durable
Better for a Druid who fights in melee combat or has a defender role, this Feat adds +1 to their Constitution. For each hit dice, they can restore hit points equal to 2x their Constitution modifier.
Telepathic
Use this to add +1 to Wisdom and gain the ability to read thoughts and communicate with any other creature in a 60-foot radius.
Shadow Touched
Increases any one of the following stats; Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, gives the ability to cast Invisibility once a day, and one additional spell from the schools of Illusion or Necromancy.
Astral Drifter
Spelljamer: Adventures in Space - Astral Adventurer’s Guide
The realm of the Silver Void is the home of this Druid, which makes sense for a class that relies on Wisdom-based skills like Insight and Religion. This choice is better for a spellcaster becauseit includes Cleric: Magic Initiateas part of the Divine Contact ability.
Cloistered Scholar
For Druids who focus more on spellcasting, this grants two extra languages and two more Knowledge skills. Isolation is part of the Druid’s build anyway.
Faction Agent
Think of the character Jaheira and her adherence to the Harpers in theBaldur’s Gatefranchise, as an example of a Druid from this background. It also gives a Druid Insight and the choice of a wide range of helpful skills, plus two extra languages.
Far Traveler
Wisdom is the main driving force behind this background, which relies on talents like Perception and Insight. Druids from this Background can choose an exotic homeland and use a 1d6 to determine their type of traveler, such as Exile, Pilgrim, or Sightseer.
Feylost
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
This is the fate of the Changling child, one that was stolen away as a baby and raised in the Fey. You can also learn how to play an instrument.
Hermit
A Druid would spend time in isolation, far away from human habitation, making this one almost mandatory for the ideal Druid build. This background also makes sense for players who want to double their healing abilities with homemade potions.
Outlander
A natural and obvious choice, this character was raised in the wilderness and has a close connection to the natural world, and has expertise in Athletics and Survival.
Sage
It gives the character two extra languages and two Knowledge skills, giving the player more options for customizing their Druid build in 5e.
Urban Bounty Hunter
There are plenty of D&D adventures that take place in cities. This can be situational depending on the module or setting but still makes sense overall for the Druid class.
