Circle of the Beast (5e Subclass)
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Circle of the Beast
This is an subclass for the Druid class. Some Druids feel a stronger connection to the primal and wild side of nature forgoing most weapons for more features and improved wild shape and armor for greater senses. As a result of your dedication, nature has granted you an animal companion as well as features from the circles of the Land and Moon. (See Player's Handbook)
At 1st level, while only wearing clothing made specifically from furs or hide (no armor) you may add your Wisdom modifier to your AC.
- Animal Companion
At the 1st level, you learn the find familiar spell and can cast it as a ritual. The spell doesn't count against your number of spells known, or use up a spell slot. You can also have your companion gain the effects of the find steed spell if it takes the form such as a horse, a pony, a tiger, or any suitable creature. The creature is a beast rather than the normal celestial, fey, or fiend.
You may use your animal companion as your spellcasting focus. While your animal companion is dismissed you can only cast cantrips.
- Primal Magic
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, you now use one level higher on the Druid table for Cantrips known, Spells known, and Spell Slots while in Wild Shape.
- Improved Wild Shape
When you choose this circle at 2nd level, while your Animal Companion is present, you can stay in beast shape indefinitely if you are a creature with a challenge rating of 0. This increases to include up to challenge rating 1/4 at 4th level, challenge rating 1/2 at 6th, and challenge rating 1 at 10th. Despite the increased duration of your Wild Shape, you still retain only 2 wild shape uses per short rest, meaning that while you may have any form at any time, you can only change form a limited number of times.
While your Animal Companion is present and you are in a form you can stay in indefinitely you gain access to the features Beast Spells, the druid feature normally gained at 18th level.
- Features gained from the Circle of the Moon
- Combat Wild Shape
At 2nd level, you gain the Combat Wild Shape feature from the Circle of the Moon. See Player's Handbook
- Circle Forms
At the 10th level, see Player's Handbook
Use your Wild Shape to transform into a beast with a challenge rating as high as your druid level divided by 3, rounded down.
- Features gained from the Circle of the Land
- Nature's Sanctuary
This circle provides this feature at the 14th level, as the feature granted by the Circle of the Land, PHB 69. To use this feature, your Animal Companion must be present.
The features; Unarmored Defense, Beast Spells, Nature's Sanctuary, Combat Wild Shape, and Thousand Forms, are originally from the Player's Handbook and only Unarmored Defense has been described here due to specific alterations. See the player's handbook for the other descriptions.
Thanks to Entropicscholar for assistance in this subclass.
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