There’s great beauty in communing with nature.

Druids in Dungeons & Dragons are powerful spellcasters and shapechangers, but not all their subclasses are equally effective.

That said, versatility means being careful with your choices during character creation.

Three druids from Dungeons & Dragons, specifically one from the Circle of Stars, Land, and Moon respectively

One crucial choice during this process is choosing your species.

Which of these species will be a good match for your druid?

They also get Heroic Inspiration, which can be used whenever.

Three different species, drows, elves, and dwarves in a split image in DND.

Thus, humans are a good pick if your focus is to wild shape often.

it’s possible for you to use them more times with your spell slots, too.

Still, they’re here for the same reason elves are: free spells.

A druid in a split image with a large tree, casting a Dungeons and Dragons spell

Each lineage offers you a cantrip and two spells, which work just like the elf spells.

it’s possible for you to stack it with Tough, too.

Do you feel like you’ve played every species in the book when it comes to Dungeons & Dragons?

A Lizardfolk, a Human, and an Eladrin, from DnD.

Try one of these options for expert players.

The ability to have tremorsense when needed is also fun, though it doesn’t work when transformed.

6Lizardfolk

Armor Is For The Weak

Animal-humanoid species are always suitable for any druid.

DND image showing a druid with a wolf and a board by her side.

via Wizards of the Coast

The fun part here is Natural Armor.

But the unique part here is teleporting with your bonus action.

you’ve got the option to also change which of these effects will happen when resting.

A druid flexes before a great vine with his magic staff behind his back.

Circle of the Moon Druid by Nicholas Elias

But the fun part here is Natural Armor, again.

It doesn’t work like the Lizardfolk, though.

As a Loxodon, your AC (when not wearing armor) is 12 plus your constitution bonus.

Doric the druid is posing in D&D.

Doric, Warden Of Nature by Qiya Zhang

Since constitution is important to help you with concentration, you may have a decent value already.

Many species have wings, and some even come with extra spells, too, if you want them.

But we’ll focus on owlins due to flight and skill proficiencies, which also work when transformed.

A dwarven sorcerer casts burning hands.

Brazen Dwarf, by Gabor Szikszai

2Tortle

Armor Is For The Weak, Part Three

Natural Armor strikes again.

Tortles have a fixed AC of 17, with no ability score bonus on it.

They also get a bonus for their AC.

Lizardfolk gathered around a dinner table and laughing.

Lizardfolk by Scott Murphy

Thus, all your defenses are slightly more effective.

3 different types of eladrin elves standing side by side in Dungeons & Dragons.

Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse by Wizards of the Coast

A man, elf, and loxodon from Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica

via Wizards of the Coast

Two owlins casting spells at Strixhaven in DND.

Owlins via Wizards of the Coast

Dungeons & Dragons Tortle holding a spear with a red bird perched on their shell.

Tortle via Wizards of the Coast

glowing warforged in robes standing menacingly

Warforged via Wizards Of The Coast

dungeons-and-dragons-series-game-tabletop-franchise

Tabletop

Dungeon & Dragons