Are you dreaming of reaching the stars? While you might not physically soar through the cosmos in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can certainly capture the essence of celestial beings by choosing the Circle of Stars Druid subclass. This fascinating choice grants you a unique Wild Shape form that envelops you in different constellations, providing diverse abilities based on your selection of star paths.
Your gameplay can span from healing allies to launching devastating star-based attacks, influenced by the specific constellation you align with. Let’s delve into the various forms available and explore the optimal build for the Circle of Stars Druid in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Optimal Character Creation Settings for the Circle of Stars Druid
When creating your Druid, you’ll adopt dual roles: the esteemed healer and the formidable damage dealer. Thanks to powerful spells like Cure Wounds and Healing Word, Druids excel in healing, while their Wild Shape ability enhances offensive capabilities, making them fierce competitors in combat.
The Circle of Stars Druid can effectively navigate both healing and damage dealing, utilizing their unique Wild Shape to amplify their healing output or to inflict serious harm upon adversaries.
Choosing the Best Race for Your Circle of Stars Druid
Several races are well-suited for the Druid class in Baldur’s Gate 3. Here are my top recommendations:
| Race | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Wood Elf | Natural resistance to sleep and charm effects, enhanced movement speed, and Darkvision. |
| Drow | Similar advantages against charm and sleep, plus Superior Darkvision and refined weapon training for finesse weapons. |
| Forest Gnome | Gains advantages on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. They possess Darkvision and always have the Speak With Animals spell prepared. |
I recommend opting for a Forest Gnome due to their advantages on numerous saving throws and the automatic acquisition of Speak With Animals, freeing up spell slots for other vital spells.Wood Elves are excellent for their swift mobility, while Drow may be the preferred option if you aim to focus on Dexterity-based weapons with enhanced Darkvision capabilities.
Essential Starting Spells for Circle of Stars Druids
Druids have access to a wealth of spells which enhance their combat effectiveness. At the start of your adventure, you’ll select two cantrips and four initial spells. Recommended spells include:
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thorn Whip | Cantrip | Hurls a whip made of thorns at a creature, potentially pulling them closer. |
| Shillelagh | Cantrip | Empowers your staff or club, rendering it magical and enhancing its damage. |
| Cure Wounds | 1st-level spell | Heals an ally within your reach. |
| Healing Word | 1st-level spell | Heals an ally from a distance as a bonus action. |
| Thunderwave | 1st-level spell | Unleashes a forceful wave damaging all creatures in the area. |
| Entangle | 1st-level spell | Creates a vine-covered surface that turns the ground into difficult terrain and may entrap creatures. |
The cantrips Thorn Whip and Shillelagh are excellent choices, enabling you to engage enemies from afar before moving in to attack up close.Cure Wounds and Healing Word are indispensable healing spells, ideal for any supportive role. Furthermore, Thunderwave aids in controlling crowds of enemies, while Entangle fits perfectly with the Circle of Stars capabilities by immobilizing foes, allowing you to strike from a distance.
Optimal Background and Skill Selections
Druids are inherently Wisdom casters, placing a premium on your Wisdom score. Selecting a background that enhances Wisdom skills is beneficial, making the Folk Hero background an excellent choice due to its provision of Animal Handling and Survival skills.
Alternatively, the Sage background, which offers proficiency in Arcana and History, is another good option although it entails utilizing some Intelligence skills.
In terms of specific skills, Animal Handling is particularly useful, especially as you have Speak With Animals at your disposal. If you choose the Folk Hero background, consider adding the Medicine skill to your skill set.
Ideal Ability Score Recommendations
As a Druid, your foremost concerns regarding your ability scores should be Wisdom and Constitution, as these greatly influence your spellcasting prowess and overall health. Following that, prioritize Dexterity and Intelligence.
| Ability | Score |
|---|---|
| Strength | 8 |
| Dexterity | 14 |
| Constitution | 14 |
| Intelligence | 12 |
| Wisdom | 17 |
| Charisma | 10 |
Strength is largely irrelevant for Druids, as their combat is primarily Dexterity-focused. Setting Strength to 8 is practical. Aim for Dexterity at 14, maximizing your armor class due to access to light and medium armor. Next, aim for Constitution also at 14 to ensure survivability. Assign Intelligence to 12 for skill usage.
Of course, Wisdom needs to be at 17, as it is crucial for spellcasting. Lastly, Charisma can remain at 10 unless you wish to adjust it with your Strength score.
Circle of Stars Druid Abilities and Feat Recommendations
As a Circle of Stars Druid, your unique Starry Form Wild Shape grants you special actions, including healing, a breath weapon attack, and magical archery capabilities.
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Starry Form | Transforms into three different Starry Forms, each bestowing distinct abilities: Archer (allows Luminous Arrow use as a bonus action), Chalice (grants healing whenever you cast a healing spell), and Dragon (offers Dazzling Breath and boosts concentration). |
| Cosmic Omen | Consult the stars during long rests to modify attack rolls and saving throws with Weal or Woe options. |
| Twinkling Constellations | Enhances Starry Forms with additional benefits: increased damage for Archer, enhanced healing for Chalice, and flying speed for Dragon. Allows free action switching between forms once per turn. |
| Subclass Spells | Includes Guiding Bolt and Star Map: Guiding Bolt. |
As you progress, you’ll acquire valuable Star Maps necessary for your Starry Forms and unlock additional Cosmic Omens to manipulate attack rolls and saving throws. Remember that each Starry Form uses one charge of your Wild Shape, so I recommend switching to the Archer form before combat commences to enable a robust range attack without wasting time during battle.
As you hit higher levels, you’ll also unlock numerous Feats. Consider the following:
| Feat | Description |
|---|---|
| War Caster | Grants advantage on saving throws to maintain concentration on spells. |
| Ability Score Improvement | Boosts both Dexterity and Wisdom scores by 1 to increase their effectiveness. |
| Spell Sniper | Gives an extra cantrip and reduces the threshold for scoring critical hits with spells. |
| Lucky | Provides luck points that can be used to reroll attack rolls, ability checks, or saving throws. |
It’s vital to note that Druids can be relatively fragile, meaning they receive damage more frequently. The War Caster Feat becomes invaluable for maintaining concentration while under attack. In subsequent levels, consider acquiring Spell Sniper for enhanced critical hits and added cantrip versatility, and definitely think about Ability Score Improvement to boost your Wisdom further or go with the Lucky feat for a safety net on crucial rolls.
Spell Selections for Circle of Stars Druids
Druids are unique among casters as they can modify their prepared spells outside of battle. Ensure to select your spells wisely before engaging foes. As your character evolves, consider incorporating the following spells to bolster your abilities:
| Spell | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cantrip | Hurls a whip made of thorns to potentially pull a target closer. | |
| Cantrip | Empowers your weapon to become magical and increases damage. | |
| Subclass Cantrip | Provides a bonus to ability checks. | |
| Cantrip | Enhances a target’s resistance to spell effects. | |
| 1st-level spell | Allows you to heal an ally within your reach. | |
| 1st-level spell | Heals an ally at a distance using a bonus action. | |
| 1st-level spell | Unleashes a force wave damaging all creatures in its path. | |
| 1st-level spell | Creates a vine-covered area that acts as difficult terrain. | |
| Ice Knife | 1st-level spell | Deals piercing damage upon throwing, plus ice damage in the vicinity and creates frozen terrain. |
| 2nd-level spell | Summons a damaging beam of light that can be redirected if concentration is held. | |
| 2nd-level spell | Creates a spiky ground area causing damage to any creature passing through. | |
| 3rd-level spell | Calls down lightning strikes on designated areas, maintainable for multiple turns. | |
| 3rd-level spell | Summons an area of difficult terrain using local vegetation. | |
| Conjure Woodland Being | 4th-level spell | Brings a Dryad as your aid in battle. |
| 4th-level spell | Summons a minor elemental to support you in combat. | |
| 4th-level spell | Allows a target to avoid the effects of difficult terrain and escape restraints. | |
| 5th-level spell | Summons powerful elementals to assist during fights. | |
| Mass Cure Wounds | 5th-level spell | Heals multiple allies within your vicinity. |
| 6th-level spell | Fires a damaging beam of sunlight that can blind creatures in its line. |
Druids are poised to utilize a range of devastating spells to control the battlefield. Spells such as Conjure Elemental, Conjure Minor Elemental, and Conjure Woodland Being should be cast prior to conflict to summon additional allies, enabling you to avoid front-line engagements and focus on healing and ranged attacks.
Moreover, spells such as Moonbeam, Call Lightning, and Sunbeam enable strong area damage, while Entangle, Plant Growth, and Spike Growth serve well to restrict enemy movements.
Recommended Equipment for Circle of Stars Druids
As a Druid, you will access robust equipment selections, though some items are better catered toward certain Druid subclasses. Here are key equipment considerations:
| Equipment | Slot | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Provides +1 to spell save and attack rolls, along with the Arcane Battery ability. | |
| Woe | Weapon | Grants +1 to spell save and attack rolls while restoring health when a creature fails a saving throw against your spells. |
| Staff of Spell Power | Weapon | Similar to Woe but with unique spell attributes. |
| Armor of Moonbasking | Chest | Grants 22 temporary health upon Wild Shaping and +2 to armor class persistent in Wild Shape. |
| Armor of Landfall | Chest | Regains health when on a plant or vine surface, and grants the Plant Growth spell. |
| Chest | Boosts spell save and attack rolls and health recovery upon saving throws against spells. | |
| Head | +2 bonus to spell save and attack rolls. | |
| Shapeshifter Hat | Head | Offers an additional Wild Shape charge. |
| Cloak of Protection | Back | +1 to armor class; +1 to saving throws. |
| Cloak of the Weave | Back | +1 to spell save and attack rolls; grants the Absorb Elements ability. |
| Cloak of Displacement | Back | Imposes disadvantage on enemy attack rolls until one hits you. |
| Hands | Allows an extra target for cantrip effects. | |
| Hands | Transforms ranged spells into melee attacks; +1 to spell attack rolls. | |
| Feet | Grants Freedom of Movement and Longstrider effects. | |
| Feet | Prevents entanglement and grants Misty Step. | |
| Spell Savant Amulet | Neck | Provides an additional level 2 spell slot. |
| Neck | Grants the Healing Word and Mass Healing Word spells. | |
| Neck | Provides Spell Slot Restoration abilities. | |
| Orphic Ring | Finger | Grants the Confusion spell. |
| Ring of Regeneration | Finger | Heals health continually each turn. |
| Finger | +1 bonus to armor class and saving throws. |
In terms of weaponry, aim for a quarterstaff. Among the options available, Markoheshkir, Woe, and Staff of Spell Power stand out. I highly recommend procuring Markoheshkir, the game’s only legendary staff, due to its formidable bonuses.
Staff of Spell Power provides similar benefits but at a less rare level, meanwhile Woe allows for health restoration upon enemy spell failures, enhancing your survivability.
While the Circle of Stars Druid lacks a specific armor piece like other subclasses, the Armor of Moonbasking is a solid choice thanks to its bonuses to armor class and temporary health during Wild Shape. The Robe of the Weave is another strong option, as it boosts your armor class while improving spellcasting effectiveness.
Your headpiece should be the Hood of the Weave for maximum spellcasting efficiency or the Shapeshifter Hat for its additional Wild Shape charge.
The Cloak of Protection is essential for boosting your armor class. I typically favor the Cloak of the Weave, augmenting your spellcasting prowess significantly. Moreover, the Cloak of Displacement is invaluable for defense against melee attackers.
The Daredevil Gloves increase spell attack rolls and allow you to cast melee spells without penalties, while Gemini Gloves allow you to target additional enemies with cantrips.
The Boots of Persistence and Disintegrating Night Walkers ease movement through difficult terrain, ensuring that you maintain tactical advantage using spells like Plant Growth without hindrance.
When it comes to necklaces, I think Spellcrux Amulet is a top choice, as it allows you to recover a lost spell slot, granting further spell-casting flexibility. The Spell Savant Amulet provides an additional level 2 spell slot, and Amulet of Restoration offers further healing spells.
Lastly, I suggest the Orphic Ring for the Confusion spell, as well as the Ring of Regeneration for ongoing health restoration to enhance your survival in the thick of battle.
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