Can Druids Have Familiars? Unveiling the Mysteries of Nature’s Companions in D&D 5e
The short answer is nuanced: Yes, druids can technically have familiars in D&D 5th Edition, but not in the same way as a wizard who learns the find familiar spell directly. A druid typically doesn’t have the find familiar spell on their spell list. However, the Circle of the Shepherd druid subclass has a unique feature called “Wild Companion” which provides an alternate way for druids to gain a familiar. Druids also gain animal companions through spells such as Find Steed and Find Greater Steed. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics of how this works, and dispel some common misconceptions surrounding druids and their potential animal companions.
Understanding the Druid and the Natural World
Druids are intrinsically tied to the natural world, drawing their power from the elements, the forests, and the animals that inhabit them. This connection manifests in their ability to Wild Shape into beasts, cast powerful nature-based spells, and command the forces of the wild. Unlike wizards, who study arcane texts and manipulate magical energies, druids revere the balance of nature and seek to protect it from corruption and imbalance. This fundamental difference in philosophy impacts how druids interact with animal companions.
The Circle of the Shepherd: A Druid’s Best Friend?
The Circle of the Shepherd subclass, introduced in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, offers a specific ability that grants a druid access to a familiar. The “Wild Companion” feature at 2nd level allows the druid to expend a use of their Wild Shape ability to cast the find familiar spell, without needing to provide the usual material components.
This is a crucial distinction. It means a Circle of the Shepherd druid doesn’t learn the find familiar spell in the traditional sense. Instead, they temporarily manifest a familiar through their connection to the natural world, using their Wild Shape ability as a conduit.
Beyond Familiars: Animal Allies
While the Circle of the Shepherd’s “Wild Companion” provides a direct route to obtaining a familiar, druids can also form bonds with animals through other means. Many druids befriend animals over time, these bonds can be very special to the druids.
What About Rangers and Animal Companions?
It’s important to distinguish between a druid’s relationship with animals and the Ranger’s Animal Companion class feature. Rangers gain a specific animal companion as a permanent part of their class progression. This companion has specific rules and benefits tied to the ranger class. Druids, even those with familiars, don’t have the same structured relationship with an animal companion in the same way that the Ranger class does.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Druids and Familiars
Here are some common questions about druids and familiars, addressing various aspects of this topic.
1. Can all druids cast find familiar?
No. Only druids of the Circle of the Shepherd subclass can effectively cast the find familiar spell using their “Wild Companion” feature. Other druids do not have this ability unless they multiclass or gain the spell through some other external source.
2. What animals can a druid choose as a familiar?
When a Circle of the Shepherd druid uses “Wild Companion” to cast find familiar, they are limited to the standard familiar forms listed in the find familiar spell description. These typically include options like a bat, cat, frog (toad), hawk, lizard, octopus, owl, rat, raven, sea horse, spider, or weasel.
3. Does a druid’s familiar gain the benefits of Wild Shape?
No. The druid’s Wild Shape ability only applies to the druid themselves, allowing them to transform into beasts. It does not affect the familiar.
4. Can a druid have multiple familiars?
No. The find familiar spell states that you can only have one familiar at a time. Casting the spell again while you already have a familiar allows you to change its form, but you cannot summon an additional familiar.
5. What happens if a druid’s familiar dies?
If a familiar drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. The druid can summon it again by casting the find familiar spell again using their “Wild Companion” feature (or through another method if they have access to the spell otherwise).
6. Can a druid use their familiar for scouting?
Yes. Familiars are excellent for scouting. Druids can perceive through their familiar’s senses, allowing them to gather information about their surroundings without putting themselves in danger.
7. Can a druid’s familiar attack?
No. Familiars cannot attack. They can take other actions, such as using the Help action or delivering touch spells.
8. Can a druid communicate with their familiar telepathically?
Yes. While the familiar is within 100 feet of the druid, they can communicate with it telepathically.
9. Does a druid need material components to cast find familiar with “Wild Companion”?
No. The “Wild Companion” feature explicitly states that the druid can cast find familiar “without material components.”
10. Can a druid of a different circle learn find familiar?
Yes, but they would need to multiclass into a class that has the find familiar spell, such as wizard, or obtain the spell through a feat like Magic Initiate.
11. How does a druid’s connection to nature affect their familiar?
While a druid’s inherent connection to nature might influence their relationship with their familiar, it doesn’t grant the familiar any special powers or abilities beyond those described in the find familiar spell.
12. Can a druid turn into their familiar using Wild Shape?
No. A druid can only use Wild Shape to transform into beasts. Familiars are typically of the beast type, but the druid cannot specifically choose to transform into their familiar’s exact form.
13. Can a druid have an animal companion in addition to a familiar?
This is largely up to the DM’s discretion. The rules as written (RAW) don’t prevent a druid from befriending and forming a close bond with an animal in addition to having a familiar, but this animal wouldn’t be a formal “animal companion” in the mechanical sense.
14. How does roleplaying a druid with a familiar differ from a wizard with a familiar?
A druid’s familiar is likely to have a stronger connection to the natural world, reflecting the druid’s reverence for nature. Their interactions might focus on observing nature, protecting the environment, or acting as a conduit for natural energies. A wizard’s familiar, on the other hand, might be more involved in arcane research or magical experimentation.
15. Where can I learn more about the mechanics of D&D and other games?
For more in-depth exploration of game mechanics, educational initiatives, and the intersection of games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society explores how games can teach you about many different things.
Conclusion: The Druid’s Path to Companionship
While druids may not have the same straightforward access to familiars as wizards or formal animal companions as rangers, they can indeed forge bonds with animals, either through the Circle of the Shepherd’s “Wild Companion” feature or through simple friendship and alliance with the creatures of the wild. Understanding the nuances of these interactions can add depth and richness to your druid character, allowing you to fully embrace their connection to the natural world. By understanding these rules, players can create rich and compelling narratives for their characters.