2024 · 5.5e and 2014 · 5e
Wild Shape: what changed in the 2024 rules
The 2024 rules change Wild Shape in three big ways: you keep your own hit points, you learn a fixed set of forms, and every druid transforms as a bonus action. Here is every difference side by side.
At a glance
| 2014 rules · 5e | 2024 rules · 5.5e | |
|---|---|---|
| Transforming | An action. Circle of the Moon: a bonus action | A bonus action, for every druid |
| Which beasts | Any beast you have seen | A set of known forms: 4, 6 at level 4, 8 at level 8 |
| Uses | 2, unlimited at level 20. All come back on a short or long rest | 2, 3 at level 6, 4 at level 17. One comes back on a short rest, all on a long rest |
| Hit points | You take the beast’s hit points. At 0 you change back, and leftover damage carries to your own | You keep your own hit points and gain temporary hit points: your level, or 3 × your level for Circle of the Moon |
| Armor Class | The beast’s | The beast’s, or 13 + your Wisdom modifier for Circle of the Moon when that’s higher |
| Highest CR | CR 1/4, CR 1/2 at level 4, CR 1 at level 8 | CR 1/4, CR 1/2 at level 4, CR 1 at level 8 |
| Swimming forms | From level 4 | Any level |
| Flying forms | From level 8 | From level 8 |
| Circle chosen | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| How long it lasts | Hours equal to half your level, rounded down | The same |
Hit points: the biggest change
In the 2014 rules your hit points are swapped for the beast’s. You fight on the beast’s pool, and when it runs out you change back with your own hit points waiting underneath. A form with more hit points keeps you in the fight longer, which is why big beasts were the usual picks.
In the 2024 rules you keep your own hit points the whole time, and transforming gives you temporary hit points instead. Every form gives the same amount, so the choice comes down to Armor Class, attacks and movement.
An example: a level 6 Circle of the Moon druid with 45 hit points, as a Brown Bear. Under the 2014 rules they fight on the bear’s 34 hit points and then their own 45. Under the 2024 rules they have their own 45 plus 18 temporary hit points.
Known forms
A 2014 druid can become any beast they have seen that fits the level limits, which leaves a lot to the table. A 2024 druid learns a fixed set of forms: 4, 6 at level 4, 8 at level 8. You can swap one known form for another when you finish a long rest.
Circle of the Moon
Circle of the Moon is the Wild Shape circle in both editions, but the way it gets there changed. In 2014 it reaches bigger beasts early and fights on their hit points. In 2024 it gets its own Armor Class and a large pool of temporary hit points, and its highest CR grows with level.
| 2014 rules · 5e | 2024 rules · 5.5e | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest CR | CR 1, CR 2 at level 6, CR 3 at level 9, CR 4 at level 12, CR 5 at level 15, CR 6 at level 18 | CR 1, CR 2 at level 6, CR 3 at level 9, CR 4 at level 12, CR 5 at level 15, CR 6 at level 18 |
| Transforming | A bonus action | A bonus action, like every druid |
| Armor Class | The beast’s | 13 + Wisdom modifier when it beats the beast’s (16 with Wisdom 16) |
| Hit points | The beast’s, as for any druid | Your own, plus 3 × your level as temporary hit points |
| Swimming and flying | The same limits as any druid | Flying from level 8, as for any druid |
| Elementals | Air, earth, fire or water elemental from level 10, for two uses | None |
| Healing in beast form | A bonus action and a spell slot: 1d8 per slot level | — |
Circle of the Moon has other features in both editions that don’t change a form’s stat block; they aren’t covered here. See Circle of the Moon by level for every level’s numbers.
Sources
Summarized in our own words from SRD 5.2.1 p. 42 (2024 Wild Shape), SRD 5.1 pp. 20–21 (2014 Wild Shape), and the Player’s Handbook for Circle of the Moon (2014: p. 69). Check your own book for the full rules; your DM has the last word.
More guides: Forms by level · Circle of the Moon by level · Every Wild Shape form