Druid Circle
Circle of Rivers
Druids of this circle watch over bodies of freshwater to ensure they remain untainted. They’ve specialized in wielding watery magics while shapeshifting into creatures adept at river traversal. These druids often travel vast distances via the rivers they call home and can serve as guides for those wishing to traverse such waters.
Circle Spells
2nd Level Circle of Rivers Feature
Your mystical connection to rivers infuses you with the ability to cast some spells when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown on the Circle of Rivers Spells table.
Once you gain access to one of these spells, you always have it prepared, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain access to a spell that doesn't appear on the druid spell list, the spell is nonetheless a druid spell for you.
Circle of Rivers Spells
| Druid Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 2nd | cure wounds, create or destroy water |
| 3rd | mirror image, misty step |
| 5th | wall of water*, water breathing |
| 7th | aura of purity, control water |
| 9th | commune with nature, maelstrom* |
*Found in The Xanathar's Guide to Everything
River Forms
2nd Level Circle of Rivers feature
You gain access to the following wild shape forms at 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 16th levels. The usual restrictions as to what you can wild shape into do not apply to these forms.
While in these forms, you can perform the somatic and verbal components of spells from your Circle of Rivers Spells table.
| Druid Level | Wild Shape Option |
|---|---|
| 2nd | Pygmy Hypo*, Wolf Otter* |
| 6th | Crocodile*, Giant Toad |
| 12th | Jaguar*, Saltwater Crocodile* |
| 16th | Giant Jaguar*, Hippopotamus* |
*New creature stats listed later in document
River Dweller
2nd Level Circle of Rivers feature
You gain a swim speed equal to your walk speed and gain advantage on Wisdom (Survival) and Intelligence (Nature) checks relating to bodies of freshwater and the life that inhabits them.
Additionally, you can speak with animals who primarily dwell in bodies of freshwater as though under the effects of the speak with animals spell, and you have advantage on Wisdom (Animal Handling) checks made while interacting with them.
Call of the Rapids
6th Level Circle of Rivers feature
You may use an action to cause a river to spring into existence at a point you choose within 60ft. The point must be on a solid surface or in a body of water. The river is composed of three 10ft. deep by 10ft. wide by 20ft. long stretches of water that must each be contiguous with at least one other summoned stretch of water. Once you've created the river, you choose the direction the water flows. The water may flow uphill, over obstacles, up walls, or in other unlikely directions. As an action, you can switch the direction of the river.
Swimming upstream costs creatures double their movement, and swimming downstream costs creatures half their movement. You may have any creature that starts its turn in the river make a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature is pulled 20 feet downstream.
The river disappears after 1 minute, and once you've created a river, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest or until you expend a spell slot of 3th level or higher.
Primal Weapons
6th Level Circle of Rivers feature
If you merge into any of your wild shapes with a magical weapon you are wielding, your attacks in that wild shape count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Avatar of the Waterways
10th Level Circle of Rivers feature
You can wild shape into a giant crocodile, hippopotamus gorgops, kelpie, or mishipeshu for 1 hour. You can use your wild shape this way 2 times per day and regain all uses of this feature after completing a long rest.
The stat blocks for these creatures can be found later in the document.
Master of Currents
14th Level Circle of Rivers feature
You and creatures of your choice that you can see automatically pass all saving throws against your druid spells and effects that produce or influence water and ignore the movement penalties caused by these spells and effects.
Additionally, creatures of your choice that you can see within water produced or influenced by these spells or effects gain a swim speed equal to their move speed while within that water.
New Wild Shape Creatures
Crocodile
Large beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 37 (5d10 + 10)
- Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 3 (-4) 14 (+2) 5 (-3)
- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +3
- Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 14
- Languages ━
- Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Hold Breath. The crocodile can hold its breath for 15 minutes.
Watery Lurker. The crocodile has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while submerged in water.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the crocodile can't bite another target.
Death Roll. One creature the crocodile has grappled in the water must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw, taking 17 (4d6 + 3) piercing damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
Giant Crocodile
Huge beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 85 (9d12 + 27)
- Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 22 (+6) 10 (+0) 17 (+3) 3 (-4) 14 (+2) 5 (-3)
- Skills Perception +5, Stealth +3
- Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 15
- Languages ━
- Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Hold Breath. The crocodile can hold its breath for 15 minutes.
Watery Lurker. The crocodile has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while submerged in water.
Actions
Multiattack. The crocodile makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its tail. It can't make both attacks against the same target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) piercing damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the crocodile can't bite another target.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target not grappled by the crocodile. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Death Roll. One creature the crocodile has grappled in the water must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw, taking 44 (7d10 + 6) piercing damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
Giant Jaguar
Large beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 52 (7d10 + 14)
- Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 4 (-3) 14 (+2) 9 (-1)
- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Ambusher. The jaguar has advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures.
Keen Sight. The jaguar has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Mask of the Jungle. The jaguar has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide using foliage and may do so even if it is only lightly obscured while hiding this way.
Surprise Attack. If the jaguar hits a surprised creature with a bite attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 13 (3d8) damage from the attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The jaguar makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws. If both attacks hit the same target, the jaguar automatically grapples it (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the jaguar can't attack another target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage.
Panthers
Some jaguars are born with black coats. Referred to as panthers, these cats are more suited to sneaking through darker environments. You can represent this by changing their Mask of the Jungle ability to function in areas of dim light rather than foliage.
Giant Jaguars. These primeval beasts are the larger ancestors of modern jaguars. Adapted to hunting
megafauna, giant jaguars stalk environments where
their large prey is plentiful. They count even the
largest and most fearsome of beasts as their prey, and
most humanoids they find are little more than helpless snacks.
Hippopotamus
Large beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural Armor)
- Hit Points 76 (8d10 + 32)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 21 (+5) 8 (-1) 18 (+4) 4 (-3) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
- Skills Intimidation +7
- Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 11
- Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Blood Sweat. The hippopotamus has advantage on saving throws against disease.
Dense. The hippopotamus can move along the ground while underwater without having its movement speed reduced and does not suffer disadvantage on its bite attack while underwater.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d12 + 5) piercing damage.
Bonus Actions
Aggressive. The hippopotamus moves up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.
Hippopotamus Gorgops
Huge beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 115 (10d12 + 50)
- Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 23 (+6) 8 (-1) 20 (+5) 4 (-3) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
- Skills Intimidation +9
- Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 11
- Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Blood Sweat. The hippopotamus has advantage on saving throws against disease.
Dense. The hippopotamus can move along the ground while underwater without having its movement speed reduced and does not suffer disadvantage on its bite attack while underwater.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 32 (4d12 + 6) piercing damage.
Bonus Actions
Aggressive. The hippopotamus moves up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.
Hippopotamus Gorgops. These monstrous creatures are primeval relatives of the modern hippopotamus. Growing 15 feet long, 7 feet high, and weighing nearly 10,000 pounds, the hippopotamus gorgops is a titan of the rivers. Adventurers exploring remote and uncharted rivers may suddenly find themselves staring into the yawning jaws of these terrifying behemoths.
Jaguar
Medium beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5)
- Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 17 (+3) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 4 (-3) 14 (+2) 9 (-1)
- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Ambusher. The jaguar has advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures.
Keen Sight. The jaguar has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Mask of the Jungle. The jaguar has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide using foliage and may do so even if it is only lightly obscured while hiding this way.
Surprise Attack. If the jaguar hits a surprised creature with a bite attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The jaguar makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws. If both attacks hit the same target, the jaguar automatically grapples it (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the jaguar can't attack another target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Kelpies. These are the most notorious and well-known of the water horses, as well as the female variant of these fey creatures. In their natural form, kelpies have long, reedy manes that drape across their pale, greenish complexions, and their eyes possess an eerily beautiful and haunting glow. When not in the water, kelpies drip with heavy mud, and their reeds weigh them down, preventing them from achieving the same level of land mobility as other horses. As such, they tend to stay closer to their homes than other water horses, preferring instead to lure creatures into their river domain.
Beguiling Predators. Kelpies prefer to prey upon lone, vulnerable targets, using their charms to separate an individual from nearby companions. They will then lure the victim out into the water, and once the isolated target touches the kelpie, it will quickly pull it to the bottom of its river home and well out of the reach of any help from its companions.
Charming Fey Steeds. River-dwelling fey prize kelpies as reliable and enchanting steeds, and especially powerful fey may have entire herds of kelpies at their command. They may even grant the services of these kelpies to those in their favor. This can result in some kelpies aiding noble heroes and serving as stalwart steeds in battles against other aquatic monstrosities.
Other kelpies are put to more sinister use. Hags enjoy utilizing kelpies to lure travelers into their clutches and will also employ kelpies in larger schemes, where they are used as spies. Hags will sometimes “gift” a kelpie disguised as a beautiful horse to someone. The kelpie then serves as a secret servant for the hag until the time comes to betray its would-be owner.
Kelpie
Large fey, chaotic neutral
- Armor Class 13
- Hit Points 82 (11d10 + 22)
- Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 18 (+4)
- Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +7
- Skills Deception +7, Perception +5, Performance +7
- Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 15
- Languages Aquan, Sylvan
- Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Amphibious. The kelpie can breathe air and water..
Charming Gaze. At the start of its turns, the kelpie can choose a creature it can see within 100 feet and force it to make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it becomes charmed and drops whatever it's holding. A creature charmed this way is incapacitated and spends each turn moving towards the kelpie by the most direct route available in an attempt to mount it. It doesn't avoid opportunity attacks but won't move into direct harm.
The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, and each time it takes damage, ending the effect on a success. The effect also ends if this ability is used to charm a different creature. A creature that breaks free of the charm is immune to this ability for the next 24 hours.
Actions
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
Suffocating Grasp. Each creature grappled by the kelpie and submerged in water must make a DC 15 Constitution. On a failed save, a creature takes 31 (7d8) necrotic damage and starts to suffocate if it can't breathe water. On a pass, it takes half as much damage and does not begin suffocating.
Change Shape. The kelpie polymorphs into a large terrestrial beast or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It automatically reverts to its true form if it dies or is submerged in water.
Reactions
Adhere. When a large or smaller creature hits the kelpie with a melee attack or touches it, the kelpie can adhere that creature to itself, causing it to automatically become grappled by the kelpie (escape DC 15).
Mishipeshu
Medium fiend, neutral evil
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13)
- Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 17 (+3) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2)
- Saving Throws Dex +6, Cha +5
- Skills Perception +6, Stealth +6
- Damage Resistances acid, cold, lightning, thunder
- Senses darkvision 90 ft., passive Perception 16
- Languages Abyssal, Aquan, Druidic, Infernal, telepathy 60 ft.
- Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Ambusher. The mishipeshu has advantage on attack rolls against surprised creatures.
Amphibious. The mishipeshu can breathe air and water.
Charge. If the mishipeshu moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a target and then hits it with a ram attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Keen Sight. The mishipeshu has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Surprise Attack. If the mishipeshu hits a surprised creature with a bite attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 9 (2d8) damage from the attack.
Actions
Multiattack. The mishipeshu makes three attacks: each one with a different weapon. If it hits the same target with a bite and claw attack, the mishipeshu automatically grapples it (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the mishipeshu can't bite or claw another target.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Razer Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage.
Mishipeshu. This monstrous creature appears to be a large, aquatic cat equipped with copper horns and a long razor-sharp fin capable of slicing through steel. Mishipeshu serve as the malevolent guardians of rivers and lakes, and though they are fiendish in nature, they work with druidic sects to protect the specific bodies of water they are bound to.
While they protect the sanctity of their watery homes, they do so with cruel brutality. Any creature that contaminates their waters in the slightest is subject to their terrible ire, and trespassers are often ambushed and torn to pieces without ever knowing what they did to incur the mishipeshu's wrath.
Pygmy Hippo
Medium beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 12 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 19 (3d8 + 6)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 4 (-3) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
- Skills Intimidation +0
- Senses Darkvision 30 Ft passive Perception 11
- Languages None
- Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Dense. The hippopotamus can move along the ground while underwater without having it's movement speed reduced, and does not suffer disadvantage on it's bite attack while underwater.
Hold Breath. The hippopotamus can hold its breath for 5 minutes.
Blood Sweat. The hippopotamus has advantage on saving throws against disease.
Aggressive. As a bonus action, the hippopotamus can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 + 2) piercing damage.
Pygmy Hippos. This smaller cousin to the common hippopotamus is quite elusive. Pygmy hippos only reach 6 feet in length, 3 feet in height, and weigh in at up to 600 pounds. This, combined with their reclusive and solitary nature, makes them difficult to locate.
They are much less common than other hippos, and
their group sizes are much smaller, though local druids
and other forest folk will often befriend them. Smaller
forest dwellers, such as forest gnomes, will sometimes
use pygmy hippos as mounts and beasts of burden and
are very protective of their hippopotamid friends.
Saltwater Crocodile
Large beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 52 (7d10+14)
- Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 3 (-4) 14 (+2) 5 (-3)
- Skills Stealth +3, Perception +4
- Senses darkvision 30 Ft., passive Perception 14.
- Languages None
- Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Watery Lurker. The crocodile has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while submerged in water.
Hold Breath. The crocodile can hold its breath for 15 minutes.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage. The target is grappled (escape DC 15) Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the crocodile can't bite another target.
Death Roll. One creature the crocodile has grappled in the water it must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, on a taking 26 (4d10 + 4) piercing damage damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Wolf Otter
Medium beast, unaligned
- Armor Class 13 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points 17 (3d8+3)
- Speed 20 ft. swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
- Skills Perception +3
- Senses passive Perception 13
- Languages None
- Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Keen Sight. The otter has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Hold Breath. The otter can hold its breath for 10 minutes.
Pack Tactics. The otter has advantage on an Attack roll against a creature if at least one of the it's allies is within 5 ft. of the creature and the ally isn't Incapacitated.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Wolf Otters. These ancient creatures are the largest otters to have ever lived. True to their name, wolf otters can grow to the size of a wolf. With a bite force equivalent to a bear, these primeval creatures have a wide range of prey options.
While not commonly known to most folk, wolf otters make effective patrol and hunting animals when working with druids or other powerful beings of nature who live near remote riverways. A pack of aggressive wolf otters can easily spell doom for a group of inexperienced explorers trespassing through their territory.
Art Credit
- Tishana, Voice of Thunder - Anna Steinbauer, Wizards of the Coast.
- Woodland Stream - Efflam Mercier, Wizards of the Coast
- Tierleben 1920 - Wilhelm Kuhnert
- Natural Order - Terese Nielsen, Wizards of the Coast
- Breaching Hippocamp - Christopher Burdett, Wizards of the Coast
- Frost Lynx - Ilse Gort, Wizards of the Coast
- Pygmy Hippo - Steve White, Wizards of the Coast
- Otter - Archibald Thorburn
1.1.0 Changes
- Added additional effects to River Dweller feature
1.1.1 Changes
- Document cleanup
1.1.2 Changes
- Avatar of the Waterways can only be used 2 times per day.
- Typo fixes
1.2.0 Changes
- Document clean up
- Mishipeshu art still needs to be replaced
1.2.1 Changes
- Add placeholder Mishipeshu art
Referenced Content
- Crocodilians 1.1.0
- Hippopotamus 1.0.0
- Jaguars 1.1.0
- Mishipeshu 1.0.0
- Otters 1.0.0
- Water Horses 1.0.0