Wildshape Development Notes

Wildshape Tiers

• Tier 1: Level 1-4
  • Land-based
  • Proficiency +2
  • Small Creature Size or smaller
  • Attacks per action: 1 (Proficiency - 1)
• Tier 2: Level 5-8
  • Sea-based
  • Proficiency +3
  • Medium Creature Size or smaller
  • Attacks per action: 2 (Proficiency - 1)
• Tier 3: Level 9-12
  • Sky-based
  • Proficiency +4
  • Large Creature Size or smaller
  • Attacks per action: 3 (Proficiency - 1)
• Tier 4: Level 13-16
  • Plant-based
  • Proficiency +5
  • Huge Creature Size or smaller
  • Attacks per action: 4 (Proficiency - 1)
• Tier 5: Level 16-20
  • Elemental-based
  • Proficiency +6
  • Gargantuan Creature Size or smaller
  • Attacks per action: 5 (Proficiency - 1)

Wildshape Components

• Hit Dice

  • of hit dice = Tier Proficiency Bonus (Tier 1 = 2 Dice)

  • CON bonus not applied, instead Max HP = Max of Total Hit Dice (2d8 = 8 HP)
  • Hit Die Size Tiers: (Inversely Related to Dmg Die Size)
    • Fragile: D4; CON is 4 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (6 at level 1)
    • Light: D6; CON is 6 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (8 at level 1)
    • Sturdy: D8; CON is 8 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (10 at level 1)
    • Robust: D10; CON is 10 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (12 at level 1)
    • Dire: D12; CON is 12 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (14 at level 1)
• Damage Dice, Attack Bonus, & Multi-Attack

  • of dmg Dice per attack scales slowly with Tier

    • Tier 1 & 2: 1 Damage Die per attack
    • Tier 3 & 4: 2 Damage Dice per attack
    • Tier 5: 3 Damage Dice per attack
    • STR or DEX bonus is also added to each attack based on Physicality type.
    • Attacks with secondary effects (like inflicting a condition) have fewer dmg dice, scaled with the power of the secondary effects
  • Damage Size Tiers: (Inversely Related to Hit Die Size)
    • Minor: D4
    • Moderate: D6
    • Potent: D8
    • Severe: D10
    • Devastating: D12
  • Physicality Types (Determines Ability Scores)
    • Strong: Strength Based
      • STR is 14 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (16 at Level 1)
      • DEX is 6 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (8 at Level 1)
      • CON is 10 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (12 at Level 1)
    • Dexterous: Dexterity Based
      • STR is 6 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (8 at Level 1)
      • DEX is 14 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (16 at Level 1)
      • CON is 10 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (12 at Level 1)
• Armor Class & Resistances
  • Scales with Tier Proficiency Bonus
  • Inversely related to Damage Size (smaller dmg die = harder to hit)
    • Minor: 12 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (AC 14 at Level 1)
    • Moderate: 11 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (AC 13 at Level 1)
    • Potent: 10 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (AC 12 at Level 1)
    • Severe: 9 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (AC 11 at Level 1)
    • Devastating: 8 + Tier Proficiency Bonus (AC 10 at Level 1)
• Movement Speed & Types
  • Inversely related to Hit Die Size (smaller hit die = faster)
    • Fragile: Base 50
    • Light: Base 45
    • Sturdy: Base 40
    • Robust: Base 35
    • Dire: Base 30
• Skill & Saving Throw Proficiency (Physical Abilities)
  • Related to Physicality
    • Strong: Proficient in Athletics, Intimidation (STR), Strength Saving Throws, Constitution Saving Throws
    • Dexterous: Proficient in Acrobatics, Stealth, Dexterity Saving Throws, Constitution Saving Throws
• Templates
  • Template Structure
    • Damage Type: Bludgeoning / Piercing / Slashing (or elemental at Tier 5)
    • Signature Trait: Passive or always-on effect
    • Special Attack (1/turn or 1/minute): Condition rider or bonus effect
    • Situational Bonus: Mobility, positioning, or team interaction
    • Skill Edge: Advantage or proficiency rider
  • Templates
    • Strong
      • Bruiser
      • Grappler
      • Mauler
      • Bulwark
    • Dexterous
      • Skirmisher
      • Ambusher
      • Packhunter
      • Disruptor

Template Details

STRONG TEMPLATES (Power / Control / Presence)

These are built from: • Bear, Boar, Rhino, Constrictor Snake, Giant Toad, etc.

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1. Bruiser (Charge / Impact / Momentum)

Sources: Boar, Rhino, Elk

Damage Type: Bludgeoning

Signature Trait — Momentum: If you move at least 20 ft straight toward a target before hitting, deal +PB damage.

Special Attack — Rush (1/turn): On hit, target becomes Off Balance (CON save negates)

Situational Bonus: You ignore difficult terrain while moving toward a target

Skill Edge: Advantage on Athletics

⸻

2. Grappler (Lockdown / Constriction)

Sources: Constrictor Snake, Octopus, Giant Frog

Damage Type: Bludgeoning

Signature Trait — Constrict: On hit, you may attempt to Grapple the target (no extra action)

Special Attack — Crush (1/turn): If the target is Grappled, they become Restrained (STR save negates)

Situational Bonus: Moving a grappled creature does not reduce your speed

Skill Edge: Advantage on Athletics

⸻

3. Mauler (Sustained Damage / Brutality)

Sources: Bear, Ape, Big Cats (STR variants)

Damage Type: Slashing

Signature Trait — Relentless: When you hit the same target more than once in a turn, the second hit deals +PB damage

Special Attack — Rake (1/turn): On hit, target becomes Bleeding (CON save negates)

Situational Bonus: You deal +PB damage to creatures below half HP

Skill Edge: Advantage on Intimidation

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4. Bulwark (Durability / Space Control)

Sources: Giant Tortoise, Armadillo-like creatures

Damage Type: Bludgeoning

Signature Trait — Hardened Form: Reduce incoming damage by PB once per turn

Special Attack — Brace (1/minute): You steady yourself; your next attack rolls damage twice and uses the higher result

Situational Bonus: You cannot be pushed or knocked prone while you have not moved this turn

Skill Edge: Advantage on Constitution saving throws

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DEXTEROUS TEMPLATES (Precision / Mobility / Disruption)

These are built from: • Wolf, Panther, Spider, Snake (venom), Bird, etc.

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5. Skirmisher (Hit-and-Run / Tempo Control)

Sources: Panther, Velociraptor, many predators

Damage Type: Slashing

Signature Trait — Evasive Movement: When you hit a creature, you may move 10 ft without provoking opportunity attacks

Special Attack — Topple (1/turn): On hit, target is knocked Prone

Situational Bonus: +10 movement speed when not adjacent to more than one enemy

Skill Edge: Advantage on Acrobatics

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6. Ambusher (Burst / Stealth / Opening Strike)

Sources: Spider, Scorpion, Snake

Damage Type: Piercing

Signature Trait — Ambush: You have advantage on attacks against creatures that have not acted yet this round

Special Attack — Venom Strike (1/turn): On hit, target becomes Poisoned (CON save negates)

Situational Bonus: Deal +PB damage to creatures that are isolated (no allies within 5 ft)

Skill Edge: Advantage on Stealth

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7. Packhunter (Coordination / Target Focus)

Sources: Wolf, Hyena

Damage Type: Piercing

Signature Trait — Pack Tactics: You have advantage on attack rolls if an ally is within 5 ft of the target

Special Attack — Hamstring (1/turn): On hit, target’s movement speed is halved (CON save negates)

Situational Bonus: Allies deal +PB damage to your target once per turn

Skill Edge: Advantage on Perception or Survival

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8. Disruptor (Debilitation / Precision Control)

Sources: Birds of prey (eye strikes), agile attackers

Damage Type: Slashing

Signature Trait — Precision Strike: Once per turn, when you hit, impose disadvantage on the target’s next attack

Special Attack — Concuss (1/turn): On hit, target becomes Dazed (CON save negates)

Situational Bonus: You can take the Disengage action as a bonus action (limited uses = PB per rest)

Skill Edge: Advantage on Perception

Wildshape Notes

• Circle of the Moon get access to the next Wildshape tier early (Tier 2 at Level 1-4, Tier 3 at level 5-8, etc)
• Wildshape Reversion Strain
  • When you exit Wildshape, you take Vitality damage based on how much damage your form sustained.
  • Divide the form’s missing hit points by its Hit Die size (round down).
  • You take that many Hit Dice in Vitality damage.
  • (Minimum 1 die if the form took any damage.)