Druid: The Circle of Dragons (5e 2024)

# Druid Subclass:

## The Circle of Dragons

"*It is appalling. That mortals dare to mimic our power, our form, is nothing short of sacrilege. They were made to kneel, not become. And yet these deluded insects drape themselves in false scales, flap mockeries of wings, and cough out pitiful breaths of flame, as if that makes them kin. Fools! Let them claw at divinity all they like. They will never be dragons. Just insolent children, playing dress-up in the skin of gods!!*"

-- Klauth, an ancient red dragon, describing the Circle of dragons
  
Across the ages, druids have taken many forms, mimicking beast and bloom alike in their reverence for the natural world. But those of the Circle of Dragons see something different in the weave of life: a purpose. A destination. They believe dragons are the living apex of nature’s design: primordial, eternal, and unbound by mortal limitation. Through rigorous transformation and communion with these ancient forces, these druids do not merely imitate dragons, they become them, piece by piece, scale by scale.

## Subclass Features

| Level | Feature |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 3rd  | Draconic Transmutation |
| 6th  | Awakened might |
| 10th | Evolving Transmutation |
| 14th | Dragon Ascendant |

#### Level 3: Draconic Transmutation

You have trained to channel the essence of dragonkind into your physical form.

As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape to assume a Draconic Transmutation instead of transforming into a beast. Only one Transmutation can be active at a time, it lasts for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down) and you gain temporary hit points equal to your druid level. Choose one dragon affinity: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison; and one of the following transmutations.

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##### Draconic Momentum
- Your movement speed increases by 10 feet. Your jump height and distance triple, and you gain resistance to fall damage.

##### Draconic Scales
- Your AC becomes 13 + your Wisdom modifier while you are not wearing armor or using a shield. You also gain resistance to the damage type of your dragon affinity.

##### Draconic Ferocity
- You grow claws, fangs, and a tail that count as natural melee weapons. These weapons deal 1d8 bludgeoning, slashing, or piercing damage, and you can use your Wisdom modifier for attack and damage rolls. Additionally, all of your melee weapon attacks deal an extra 1d6 elemental damage of your dragon affinity. This extra damage increases to 2d6 at 11th level.

##### Draconic Breath
- As an action, you exhale elemental energy of your dragon affinity in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 3d6 damage on a failed save, or half as much on a success. At the start of each of your turns, roll a d6. On a 5–6, the breath weapon becomes available again. This damage increases to 4d6 at 9th level, 5d6 at 14th level, and 6d6 at 18th level.

##### Draconic Senses
- You gain blindsight to a range of 15 feet. You also have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell or hearing.

Alternatively, you can Wild Shape into a beast as normal and apply one Draconic Transmutation to that form. You do not gain additional temporary hit points nor extend the duration of the original wildshape.

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#### Level 3: Circle of Dragons Spells

When you reach a Druid level specified in the Circle of Dragons Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.

### Circle of Dragons spells
| Druid level | Spells |
|:----:|:-------------|
| 3  | Thaumaturgy,Thunderous smite, Alter self |
| 5  | Haste |
| 7  | Staggering smite |
| 9  | Summon Dragon |

#### Level 6: Awakened Might
The slumbering power of your transformations begins to awaken.

When you use Draconic Transmutation in your humanoid form, you can choose two transmutations simultaneously. Both must use the elemental damage type of the dragon affinity you chose when activating the transformation.

In addition, once per transmutation, you can use a bonus action to emit a draconic aura of fear. Each creature of your choice within 15 feet must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or be Frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

> ### Art credit
> **First page top:** Radiance Li
> ___
> **Second page bottom:** Joshua Raphael

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#### Level 10: Evolving transmutation

Your Draconic transmutations evolve even further.

While using any Draconic Transmutation in your humanoid form, you become one size category larger and your melee weapon attack reach increases by 5 feet.

Additionally, your transmutations gain the following effects:

- **Draconic Momentum:** You grow draconic wings, gain an additional 10ft of movement speed and a Flying speed equal to your movement speed.

- **Draconic Scales:** You gain immunity to the element of the chosen Draconic affinity.

- **Draconic Ferocity:** You can make two attacks with the same attack action when you use your natural weapons.

- **Draconic Breath:** The cone of your breath weapon becomes 25 feet.

- **Draconic Senses:** The range of your Blindsight increases to 30 feet.

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#### Level 14: Dragon Ascendant

You have reached the apex of your evolutionary journey.

Once per long rest, you can use a bonus action to expend two uses of Wild Shape and assume a Full Draconic Form for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). Choose a chromatic or metallic dragon type. You become a Large creature and gain the Dragon creature type.

While in this shape, normal Wild Shape rules apply unless specified below.

- Your Str, Dex, and Con scores become equal to those of a Young Dragon of the chosen type and you gain a Burrowing or Swimming speed equal to your movement speed.
- You gain the benefits of all five Draconic Transmutations, using the affinity of the dragon of your choice.
- The range of your Awakened Might is increased by 10ft.
- You gain temporary hit points equal to three times your druid level.
- You can speak while in Draconic Form and you can cast spells.

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