D&D 5E Archdruid of moon - 90 free HP per round?

[RangerWickett]

Now sure, you've got to be 20th level to pull this off, but by my reading if you're a druid in the Circle of the Moon, you can wildshape as a bonus action. Then 10th level gives you the ability to spend 2 wildshape uses to turn into an elemental. Air elementals have 90 hp, and the wildshape rules say that you set aside your HP and get the critter's HP. Then when those HP are depleted, any excess damage is dealt to you.

The 20th level ability archdruid lets you wildshape an unlimited number of times. So does this mean that every round you can spend a bonus action to turn into a different type of elemental, resetting yourself with a 90 HP buffer?

I'm a guy who normally promotes amazing high-level powers, but even to me that seems overpowered. Especially since by contrast the 20th level Bard ability is, Hey, you get one free use of bardic inspiration per combat. Have fun with that bonus to a single die roll. I'll be flying and invincible over here.

 

[vecna00]

Unintended Brokeness?

 

[variant]

How I would take it is if you have to expend uses, the unlimited wild shape doesn't overwrite that. You still have uses and you can still expend those, only at level 20 you can wildshape as normal as many times as you want. Of course, I don't have the book yet and I am only going by what you say.

 

[TwoSix]

Yea, yikes. Unless level 20+ monsters can pull out multi-hundred points of damage each round, that's pretty strong.

 

[SoulsFury]

I hate you for having the book already... okay, I don't hate you, but I'm extremely jealous.

This druid sounds like it will have to be house ruled in games I DM in... and exploited in the games I play in.

 

[vecna00]

Now that I've had some time to think about it, I don't see it as too much of a problem....especially with spells like Forcecage(Cube), Imprisonment, and Meteor Swarm floating around.

Edit: Also, maybe Power Word Kill. I think since it just works on current hit points...and said druid would currently have less than 100 hit points, it should work!

 

[Mouseferatu]

Yep, PWKill would do it. Good catch.

Also, there's some trade-off. A lot of druid spells have material components, which means that even at 20th, you can't cast them while wild shaped. So there's that.

 

[RangerWickett]

Circle of the Moon by 20th level lets you ignore material components unless they're items of substantial value. And in any case, you could always wear out your HP, turn human, cast a spell, then turn back into an elemental as a bonus action.

Ah well. If I ever get a druid PC to 20th level, then I'll worry about it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Circle of the Moon by 20th level lets you ignore material components unless they're items of substantial value.

Uh, not in my copy of the PHB it doesn't. Sure you're not thinking of an earlier version?

And if you get worn down to 0 each time, some of that damage will carry over to human. It'll take a while, but you can lose by attrition.

 

[variant]

I am sure druid spells have verbal and somatic components too. I doubt an air elemental can speak or has hands.