Among myDungeons & Dragonsplayers , the Circle of the Moon subclass for druid was among the plot ’s most popular options for its transparent strength , but the 2024 revision severely soften this beloved druid material body . The Moon druid was able to accede Wild Shape as a Bonus Action instead of an natural process , and it clear access to considerably more knock-down Beast forms than a typical druid . demon would need to get through the Hit Point total of a Beast form prior to even beginning to damage the druid ’s dependable HP.This made them peachy tanks , being unambiguously toilsome to drink down .

Our experiment with the new rules confirmed the 2024revision heightenedDnD ’s martial - caster divide . My players usingpaladin and monk are far weak than their 2014 version . Feats players relied on with their 2014 martial characters , like Great Weapon Master , Sharpshooter , and Crossbow Expert , are all bad in the 2024 rules . In most case , spellcasting classes received entirely unneeded addition in their king , but the Circle of the Moon subclass is a rare case among caster where the 2014 druid by far beat out its 2024 counterpart . What was once amongDnD ’s very near tanking builds is now simply second-rate .

The 2014 D&D Moon Druid Was Among The Best Tanks In The Game

The Wild Shape Master Was On Par With The Totem Warrior Barbarian For Durability

The 2024DnDPlayer ’s Handbookretains frustrating ambiguitiesin its rules , as Wild Shape kept the amaze absence seizure of innovation that offloads the character of game designer to me , as the Dungeon Master . It state that , “ the DM make up one’s mind whether it ’s practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment,”instead of render actual rules for it . Despite this frustratingly nebulous game blueprint , Wild Shape stay popular at my table , and I ’ve created my own house rules for handling magic items in Beast forms . In the 2014 rules , Moon Druid have excellent mileage out of their subclass features .

Many donjon & Dragons games add new players partway through . Experienced player know the right means , and the wrong room , to join a plot in progress .

My focus as a DM is on storytelling and immersive role - playing , but when I runDnD , its “ Gamist ” pattern absolutely factors in . Idon’t run simulated challenges inDnD ; instead , I postdate the 2014Dungeon Master ’s Guideon its urge encounter per adventuring day , facilitating challenge by attrition and resource direction . Because the encounters are balanced ground on theatrical role tier , I do n’t pull in any punches , and ply antagonists as lethally as possible , without holding anything back . The Moon druid ’s Beast forms were a godsend for extending party resources across long adventuring days , soaking hits the heroes might have accept otherwise .

Cover art from a 2e Advanced D&D Forgotten Realms supplement showing two warriors fighting.

Moon was thebestDnDdruid Circle option , consort to many players , for obvious reasons . A level six Moon druid can turn into a CR 2 Beast , like a Polar Bear , which has 42 HP.Enemies had to jaw through that 42 HP to even commence actually damaging the druid , and the druid can use Wild Shape to come back to the Beast shape as a fillip action if its HP is consume . That HP aggregate is properly around a level 6 Cleric or Monk with a 12 Constitution score , so it is considerable for the degree . 2024 ’s Moon druid suffers .

2024 D&D’s Revised Circle Of The Moon Is Much Weaker

Higher AC Does Not Compensate For The Massive Loss Of The 2014 Druid’s Hit Points

According to the new rules in the revised2024Dungeons & Dragons Player ’s Handbook , druid​​​​​​​s no longer gain the HP sum of the Beast strain they take on , but only Temporary HP equal to their druid​​​​​​​ level , weakening Wild Shape across the board . The Circle of the Moon , alternatively , gains HP adequate to three times their druid story , which is still a pregnant loss from the actual HP provided by Beast forms , per their statblocks . alternatively of gaining 42 HP from a Polar Bear Wild Shape , like in the 2014 rules , level six moon druids only gain 18 Temporary HP .

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Once , the Moon druid was easily amongDnD ’s best character builds for tanking , but with the 2024 revisions , none of my player had any interest in play the archetype any longer , and I do n’t blame them . The subclass does potentially improve its Armor Class for its Wild Shape forms , now adequate to 13 plus soundness changer , which is often high than the typically low AC of most Beasts . This does small to countervail the monolithic HP going , as damage number from much more than plan of attack against AC , factor in spells and goliath abilities that are resisted by Saving Throws instead .

Adam Scott from Severance holding a d20 with D&D characters in the background.

Dungeons & Dragonsplayers have lose a valued playstyle with the Moon druid nerf .

There aremany take exception gamey - levelDnDmonsters , and groups playing Tier 3 and 4 secret plan may see some benefit from the level 14 Moon druid characteristic . Wild Shaped Moon Druid can deal an extra 2d10 Radiant Damage once per turn at this level and can help reposition company member with Moonlight Step . These small increases in damage and mobility do n’t come close to ready up for the Moon druid​​​​​​​ ’s tanking potential being whole guttedby the redesigned Wild Shape mechanism . gain ground a small damage bump does n’t offset the fact that Wild Shape extend about half the HP it once did .

The New D&D Moon Druid Trades Power For Simplicity

A Subclass Being Entry-Level Friendly Does Not Make It Worthwhile In D&D

intersection like thenewDnD2024 starter box setshould dead shoot for for simplicity above all else , since these are typically plan to introduce brand - new players to the tabletop role - playing game spare-time activity . The 5e system remains one of the simplest editions ofDnDever made , however , and the Moon druid changes seem aimed at make the subclass easier to play , even if it is far less effective . Gaining a plane amount of impermanent HP based on character level certainly urinate the subclass more realizable for stigma - new players , butit also makes it less useful for warhorse of the plot .

The raw Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual makes some changes to teras categories , but it fails to answer questions raised by the Player ’s Handbook .

My role player ' monks became useless in 2024 , with the once - per - turn demarcation to Stunning Strike . Paladins likewise lost relevance , with Smite ask a Bonus Action to set off it . Fighter , Goth , and Texas Ranger characters suffer due to the feats they swear on being significantly weakened . Where martial category took a hit , most casters came out smell like roses in the revisal . The Moon druid was a uncommon character concept , as a full caster who could wade into melee and tank as well as a Totem Warrior Goth . dungeon & Dragonsplayers have lose a valued playstyle with the Moon druid nerf .

D&D 2025 Monster Manual

donjon and Dragons is a popular tabletop game in the beginning invented in 1974 by   Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson .   The phantasy role - playing game brings together thespian for a political campaign with various part , including abilities , races , fibre course of instruction , monsters , and treasure . The game has drastically thrive since the ' 70s , with legion updated loge Set and expansion .

D&D 2024 Made My Party’s Favorite Druid Subclass So Much Worse - D&D art of the Cave Bear monster

A druid from Dungeons & Dragons holding a cardinal-like bird on his finger in front of a city backdrop from the Forgotten Realms setting.

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A druid spellcaster surrounded by plant and animal life in D&D’s 2024 Player’s Handbook.

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Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.

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