How To Build The Best Druid In Pathfinder: WotR (2024)

One of the few classes players can find in RPGs that also exists in real life, and as the human curiosity and affinity with nature increases, so does the popularity of this versatile class. The Druid is that classic combination class that has a place in every RPG, and each version seems to vary its role to some degree. The Druid of the Pathfinder series is mostly a DPS class, and the same tradition continues in the video game version, Wrath of the Righteous.

RELATED: Things Only Pro Players Know You Can Do In Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous

The Druid is one of the easier combination classes to build and play in Pathfinder. Other similar classes in this game have two, three, or even four Ability Scores that are connected to their strengths and weaknesses. The Druid, on the other hand, can fill a variety of party roles but they only depend on one Ability Score. The choices each individual makes when it comes to their own individual build will vary from there. Druids are one of the most customizable races available, but they always have to be of a Neutral moral alignment.

The Druid - Character Creation

Ability Scores

• Wisdom: The only Ability Score mandatory for every Druid, making their initial build refreshingly simple. It's also the score that governs Perception and Religious lore skill checks.
• Consitution: It depends entirely on the build, but given that the Druid often fills the hardy survivalist archetype, a strong Constitution would make sense.
• Dexterity: Druids are associated with weapons that require high Dexterity but little in the way of finesse, such as daggers, clubs, bows, and spears.
• Strength: The Druid as a melee damage class relies on their Wild Shape as opposed to a melee weapon, so it is common for a Druid to prioritize Dexterity over Strength.
• Charisma: This class might not be as rough as the Ranger, and it can vary widely depending on the nature of the build, but it's not important for any Druid abilities.
• Intelligence: Unless a Druid is interested in Arcane spellcasting or multiclassing, this is generally the Druid dump stat.

RELATED: Things Only Pro Players Know You Can Do In Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous

Party Roles

• Damage and Healing. The most common role for the Druid in the Pathfinder universe. Some Druid subclasses rely more on healing or damage than others and take this combination into account, often allowing both.
• Damage. It depends on party composition, but if the party is already set for healing, the Druid can take the role of a pure damage dealer. This can be a melee position in animal form or at a distance with a ranged weapon.
• Healing and Support. Druids in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous are more like Clerics than Fighters, and have some generous support spells along with some decent healing abilities. They aren't often the main healer in a party but they can take that role with the right kind of build.

Racial Choices

See Also

Primalist Bloodrager Build Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous Guide | Warrior Bloodrager

• Aasimar: The Lawbringer and Plumekith Heritage choices are great options here, giving a bonus to Wisdom and Consitution or Dexterity.
• Dhampir: Only the Nosferatu-born Heritage choice includes a Wisdom bonus, and that comes with a penalty to Dexterity. It's an interesting RP choice but there are better options.
• Dwarf: With bonuses to Constitution and Wisdom, the Dwarf is a stellar Druid. This comes along with a penalty to Charisma but that doesn't have to matter to this class.
• Elf: The Dexterity bonus is nice, but the penalty to Consitution without a trade-off makes the Elf a relatively poor choice for a Druid even though it seems counter-logical given the lore.
• Gnome: The Consitution and Charisma buffs might be handy if the player doesn't mind using some extra points to buff up their Wisdom.

• Half-Elf: With a floating +2 to any ability score of your choice, and relevant skills like Keen Senses and extra resistances to enchantment spells, this is a great start to any Druid.
• Half-Orc: This race also gets a +2 to any Ability Score of your choice plus skills like Orc Ferocity, which makes it a great choice for a damage-based Druid.
• Halfling: The Dexterity bonus is useful, and the penalty to Strength doesn't really matter, so it's not the best choice but it's feasible.
• Human: Another race that gets a +2 to any ability score. Other advantages to Human Druids include extra Feats and skill points.
• Kitsune: Known for their Intelligence and Dexterity but not their Wisdom, the Kitsune still has some potential as a Druid that favors ranged weapons.
• Oread: Two of the three choices for the Oread Heritage have bonuses to Wisdom, and between these players have to choose between either Constitution or Strength. Either choice is a good one, it all depends on the ultimate build.
• Tiefling: Several of the 11 available choices for Tiefling Heritage include Wisdom buffs, but choose carefully as some of them also include penalties to other important Druid abilities.

RELATED: Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous - How To Build A Bloodrager

The Druid Subclasses

• Blight Druid. This Druid can either love and cultivate the blight or seek to destroy it. They lose the skill Nature Bond but gain Blight Bond in its place.
• Defender of the True World. Defends the natural world from the chaos of the Fey and has special abilities to help them, but gives up Spontaneous Summoning.
• Drovier. A dedicated member of the pack, herd, or flock, a Drovier maintains several Animal Companions as their own family.
• Elemental Rampager. The classic shapeshifter subclass, this Druid wields the power of nature in the form of teeth and claws as their primary means of dealing damage.
• Feyspeaker. More like animals than any civilized race with their connection to the spiritual side of nature, Feyspeakers have been touched by that other plane and sense it acutely.
• Primal Druid. A Druid that hearkens back to prehistoric times and gets its power from creatures like dinosaurs and ancient, massive plants. A unique skill for this subclass is Primal Size, and you can imagine how interesting this Animal Companion option can get.

Prestige Classes And Multiclassing Options

Regular Classes

• Barbarian. Both classes rely on Wisdom for the abilities and neither is into armor, plus how cool would it be to have a Druid with Rage powers?
• Cleric. Another Wisdom-based class, this is a good choice for a Druid that wants to take a dedicated healing role and wants to enhance their abilities.
• Hunter. There's some overlap here when it comes to skills like Perception and Animal Companion, but Hunters can cast spontaneously and also use Wisdom, so it might be worth picking up a level or two for the extra casting abilities.
• Inquisitor. It would have to be a Druid with an attitude to make the RP and lore work, but they both use Wisdom, and an Inquisitor can give a Druid handy abilities like spontaneous casting.
• Kineticist. If you're controlling the elements, why not bend them as well and use them to smash your enemies at close range? The Psychokineticist uses Wisdom-based skills and their physical abilities compliment a Druid's casting in an interesting way.
• Monk. It's easy to see the Druid as a type of Monk, and the combination makes sense when it comes to common traits like ranged weapons and light or no armor.
• Ranger. Rangers have useful abilities like Quarry and Favored Enemy, which is great when pursuing an enemy as part of a group, a common scenario in Pathfinder: WotR.
• Warpriest. A Cleric with more of a damage-based casting focus, Warpriest is a good choice for a Druid that's also focused on damage, whether it's spellcasting or physical.

Prestige Classes

• Arcane Trickster. A progression usually taken by Rogues with casting abilities, Druids also have the Stealth-related skills required for this Prestige Class. With some basic Arcane knowledge, easily obtainable through a Feat or skill focus choice, they can become Arcane Tricksters.
• Assassin. Druids already have the Stealth skill, and the only other requirement is to be of an Evil moral alignment. Neutral is the prerequisite for the Druid, not Good, so those with an Evil alignment can graduate into the Assassin Prestige Class.
• Mystic Theurge. A common choice for Clerics who wish to expand their healing abilities, specifically for wartime, and Druids who are healers can also consider this progression.
• Hellknight Signifier. This fearsome Hellknight order isn't only for melee fighters, but for Divine casters as well. Druids must be of a Lawful alignment to level into this Prestige Class.
• Student of War. A logical progression for a Druid who has a dedicated enemy or takes a leadership position in their party. It also makes sense in the context of the game, since the protagonist is literally leading an army as part of the story.

RELATED: Best Side Quests In Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous

Examples of Druid Builds

The Natural Healer

• Party Role: Healing, including support spells that improve Luck, AC, and Crowd Control.
• Ideal Race: Ironsoul Oread or Aasimar Lawbringer, for the Wisdom and Constitution bonuses.
• Best Subclass: Feyspeaker, because the connection to the Fey gives this Druid a better resilience to Enchantment spells and effects.
• Important Ability Scores: Wisdom, which governs how many spells this Druid can cast per level and how effective they are. Dexterity, which governs spell hit rating, is a close second.

Wild Warrior

• Party Role: Damage, mainly in melee range and usually in animal form.
• Ideal Race: Half-orc, for inherent skills like Orc Ferocity.
• Best Subclass: Primal Druid or Elemental Rampager for the increased melee damage abilities.
• Important Ability Scores: After Wisdom, this Druid needs points in Consitution and Strength to retain their effectiveness in melee combat.

Forest Guardian - The Mononoke Build

• Party Role: Mainly damage, but this Druid also takes on off-healing and support spells.
• Ideal Race: Half-elf or Human, either of which is easily customizable for this versatile role.
• Best Subclass: Drovier, since this build is all about managing your pack.
• Important Ability Scores: After Wisdom, Constitution is an important ability for this Druid. They're going to take on different roles in combat, which means moving through the battlefield and getting into melee range.

NEXT: Hidden Plotlines Everyone Missed In Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous