Discover the best Druid class spells you should use in Baldur’s Gate 3 for damage, survivability, and crowd control!
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Druid is a unique class that can transform into a beast with Wild Shape and cast powerful spells. Druids excel at healing, support, and offensive damage spells. The Druid class features three subclasss with unique playstyles. Circle of the Land Druid is focused on spellcasting and features an expanded spellbook due to Land spells. Circle of the Moon emphasizes Wild Shape transformation but still has access to powerful spells. Lastly, the Circle of Spores is a spellcaster forging Wild Shape and using the charges for enhanced spellcasting and unique class actions.
This guide, Best Spells for the Druid Class in Baldur’s Gate 3, examines the best and most powerful spells and how to use them. We will include gear suggestions, examples, and powerful combinations to get the most out of your Druid build!
What are the Best Spells for the Druid Class in Baldur’s Gate 3
Conjure Elemental, Ice Storm, and Heroes’ Feast are the best Druid class spells in Baldur’s Gate 3. Conjure Elemental is the best overall because you can upscale this ability and have a powerful summon while in Wild Shape form. Ice Storm is the best area-based damage and crowd-control spell for the Druid. Meanwhile, Heroes’ Feast is the most powerful buff the Druid has and doesn’t require concentration. The best Druid spells buff you and the party or can be used while in Wild Shape form for sustained damage.
Below are the strongest spells for the Driud class in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Conjure Elemental: best summon spell
- Ice Storm: best multi-kill damage spell
- Heroes’ Feast: best buff
- Sunbeam: bust damage and debuff
- Blight: great single-target damage
- Conjure Woodland Being: good summon ability
- Animate Dead: helpful summon early game
- Call Lightning: powerful lighting spell used against constructs
- Flaming Sphere: great summon spell for damage and distraction
- Thunderwave: helpful knockback
Related:
10 Thunderwave
Thunderwave features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Release a wave of thunderous force that pushes away all creatures and objects in an area while also dealing Thunder damage.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 1 Spell Slot
- Range: Melee 1.5 meters; area 5 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: Casting this spell at a higher level deals an extra 1d8Tthunder damage for each Spell Slot Level above 1.
- Subclass: All
Regarding knockback, the best early spell in BG3 is Thunderwave. This spell knocks enemies back (if failing a check) in a cone before you. The best way to use Thunderwave is to knock enemies off ledges and take extra fall damage or even die. You can also use Thunderwave as a defensive mechanism, pushing enemies back and retreating, avoiding an opportunity attack.
Early in Act 1, you can obtain the Ring of Absolute Force from Sergeant Thrinn in the Grymforged. This is helpful to save precious spell slots or give them to a companion who lacks Thunderwave due to their class. Even later in BG3, Thunderwave can make the difference between life and death by simply knocking enemies off ledges.
9 Flaming Sphere
Flaming Sphere features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Summon a Flaming Sphere that deals 2d6 Fire damage to nearby enemies and objects.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 2 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: Casting this spell at a higher level deals an extra 1d6 fire damage for each Spell Slot Level above 2.
- Subclass: All
The strength of the Flaming Sphere is the health and damage this ball of fire provides early in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can cast this up to 18 meters, lasting 10 turns and requiring concentration. The 18-meter range is helpful to place in the back line of the fighting and hopefully draw the attention of spellcasters or archers. Moreover, enemies will want to move away from Flaming Sphere or take fire damage, which can be annoying for them to counter.
However, Flaming Sphere isn’t the best summon skill or spell the Druid possesses, primarily because it requires concentration. Thus, you cannot cast another concentration spell simultaneously or lose Flaming Sphere. Consider Flaming Sphere one of the best Druid Act 1 spells for defense and support and useful until better summons become available.
8 Call Lightning
Call Lightning features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Call down lightning to hit all targets within range and its area of effect for 3d10 lightning damage. Then, for 10 turns, you can call down lightning again without expending a spell slot.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: When cast using a 4th-level spell slot or higher, damage increases by 1d10 Lightning for each Spell Slot Level.
- Subclass: All
In Baldur’s Gate 3, encounters feature metallic foes and constructs, which are frequently susceptible to Lightning Damage. Employing the Call Lightning spell proves ideal in such confrontations, given their vulnerability, resulting in double the inflicted damage. Furthermore, utilizing the Water spell to generate puddles in strategic areas and electrifying them can provide additional passive damage.
Lighting damage can be helpful when facing Grym or completing the Arcane Tower in Act 1. Later in Act 3, you will face the Steel Watcher boss and can earn a legendary bow. Having a lighting-heavy spell that you can recast for free, like Call Lighting, is critical for making these fights easy. Consider equipping your Druid with a well-rounded elemental loadout, including Call Lighting, making it one of the best spells for the Druid in Baldur’s Gate 3.
7 Animate Dead
Animate Dead features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Animate a corpse to create an undead servant while not in combat.
- School: Necromancy spell
- Cost: Action + Level 3 Spell Slot
- Range: 3 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: None
- Subclass: Circle of the Spores subclass only
At level 5, your Druid can learn level 3 spells. The Spores Druid can only use Animate Dead. This summons a corpse with moderate hit points and damage, but unlike Flaming Sphere, it does not require concentration. You can use multiple level 3 spell slots and summon multiple mummies and corpses to fight alongside you. Summons are beneficial for extra damage but also distractions and targets for the enemy.
Later in Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 2, you can obtain the Circle of Bones headpiece by killing Balthazar in the Gauntlet of Shar. Circle of Bones provides a free Animate Dead spell and is resistant to Bludgeoning, Slashing, and Piercing damage for all undead allies within 6 meters. This makes for a unique playstyle and fits well with Circle of Spores, and the Cherished Necromancy Staff found in Act 3.
6 Conjure Woodland Being
Conjure Woodland Being features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Conjure a Dryad to fight alongside you. She can use Nature’s Step, Entangle enemies, and summon a Wood Woad.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 4 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: None
- Subclass: All
One of the stronger summons the Druid class obtains is the Conjure Woodland Being. This spell requires a level 4 spell slot, which can be obtained as early as level 7 for all Druid subclasses. The strength of this Woodland Being Dryad is its movement-impairing ability Entangle. You can limit movement from enemies, while the Nature’s Step feature helps you from difficult terrain and poisons. Moreover, the Woodland Being can stack with Animate Dead and other summons to create a powerful army for the Druid class.
Additionally, consider obtaining the Crypt Lord Ring if you enjoy the summoning playstyle. Obtained in Act 3 as a reward for Thrumbo surviving the “find mystic Carrion’s Servant,” you gain a free Create Undead Level 6 spell. What’s helpful about the summons for the Druid class is that they do not require concentration and persist through Wild Shape. Thus, you can cast outside of combat, obtain a small army, and transform into your preferred creature while maintaining your summon allies. This is why we consider summoning spells like the Woodland Being and others some of the best for the Druid class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
5 Blight
Blight features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Deals 8d8 Necrotic to a target. Plants take maximum damage from this spell and have a Disadvantage on the Saving throw against it.
- School: Necromancy spell
- Cost: Action + Level 4 Spell Slot
- Range: 9 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: Casting this spell at a higher level deals an extra 1d8 necrotic damage for each Spell Slot Level above 4.
- Subclass: All
When it comes to single-target damage, the Blight spell is one of the Druid’s strongest spells. Dealing 8-64 within the 9-meter range, this spell deals necrotic damage, and plants always take the maximum damage. Moreover, if an enemy saves against this attack, they still take half the damage. The downside of Blight is its range and wide possible outcomes. This spell can hit very hard or weak depending on dice rolls. However, it’s advised to keep a variety of elemental damage spells in situations where bosses are resistant to fire, ice, etc.
A powerful combination to use with the Blight spell in Baldur’s Gate 3 is obtaining the Staff of Cherished Necromancy in Act 3. The Heightened Necromancy passive feature gives a disadvantage on saving throws against your necromancy spells, thus making it easier to hit targets. Moreover, you can gain Life Essence when killing a creature with a spell. This allows the wielder to cast Necromancy spells without consuming a spell slot. For the Druid, that’s a powerful combination that can be used to create more undead soldiers with Animate the Dead!
4 Sunbeam
Sunbeam features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: A beam of brilliant light sears and Blinds all creatures in its path.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Reaction + Level 6 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters in a straight line
- Concentration: Yes
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
The strength of Sunbeam is its powerful damage and Blind debuffs to all creatures hit. All Druid subclasses can obtain this radiant damage spell and is a powerful offensive spell you should choose if playing a spellcaster build. The Blind status effect reduces the range and spellcasters to 3 meters and imposes a Disadvantage. Additionally, attack rolls against Blinded creatures have an Advantage. The overall damage combined with the Blind debuff makes it one of the strongest spells for the Druid class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Consider obtaining the Blood of Lathander mace in Acts 1 and 2. You gain powerful healing passives and once per long rest-free use of Sunbeam. The trick to using Sunbeam effectively is aiming it to hit the maximum amount of targets in a line. Position yourself before casting and avoid friendly fire. If you do, this is one of the strongest spells, especially if you can get the Legendary Mace early in BG3.
3 Heroes’ Feast
Heroes’ Feast features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: You and everyone around can’t be Poisoned, Diseased, or Frightened. Everyone’s maximum Hit Points increase by 12, and they make Wisdom Saving throws with Advantage.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 6 Spell Slot
- Range: Self
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: No
- Subclass: All
One of the biggest strengths of the Druid class is having multiple spells that can buff one or more targets until a long rest. Hereo’s Feast is the best version of a long rest buff spell because it gives immunity to disease, poison, and frightened, and increases hit points by 12. This buff stacks with the Aid Spell which also increases hit points. You can upcast Aid using a Cleric and gain another 25 health with a level 5 spell slot. That nets every character in your party 32 health extra!
A trick we used to complete Honour Mode is using a hireling Druid. This Druid would be meant to buff your party with spells like Freedom of Movement, Hereos’ Feast, Darkvision, etc. You pre-buff everyone, swap the party member out, and the buffs persist. Moreover, you can use items like the Markoheshkir legendary staff, Staff of Spellpower, or Spellcrux Amulet to negate the cost of a level 6 spell. Next, you can cast another level 6 spell instead of just a buff, making the process a powerful combination. Consider Heroes’ Feast, one of the best Druid spells in Baldur’s Gate 3, because it buffs your party until a long rest, which can be done outside combat.
2 Ice Storm
Ice Storm features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Impel a storm of hail and ice to crash from the sky, covering the ground and striking all objects and creatures within range, dealing bludgeoning and cold damage. It also creates an Ice Surface that lasts 2 turns.
- School: Evocation spell
- Cost: Action + Level 4 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: Casting this spell at a higher level deals an extra 1d8 bludgeoning damage for each Spell Slot Level above 4.
- Subclass: All
The best combination of area damage and crowd control in one spell is Ice Storm. This Druid spell calls down massive cold damage in a huge radius and leaves an icy surface that lasts for two turns. Ice Storm does two important things for you: it allows high area damage and crowd control if enemies fall prone. This spell is instant-based and, once cast, does not require concentration to remain in an icy area. Thus, you can use it on turn one in conjunction with going into Wild Shape form for huge burst damage.
The Markoheshkir legendary staff Kereska’s Favour passive feature allows you to obtain Ice Storm with the Frost of Dark Winter buff. This imbues the user with resistance to cold until long rest in addition to the Cone of Cold and Ice Storm spell. In addition, these spells will inflict Frost, another debuff to the targets on top of the damage and icy surface. This is a perfect combination to use early in combat before transforming into Wild Shape.
1 Conjure Elemental
Conjure Elemental features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Description: Bend the barrier between the Planes until they disgorge an elemental ally to follow and fight for you.
- School: Conjuration spell
- Cost: Action + Level 5 Spell Slot
- Range: 18 meters
- Concentration: No
- Upcast: At level 6, the spellcaster can summon an Air Myrmidon, Earth Myrmidon, Fire Myrmidon, or Water Myrmidon.
- Subclass: All
The best spell for the Druid class, regardless of subclass, is Conjure Elemental because it doesn’t require concentration, summons a powerful ally, and persists until a long rest. The best part of this spell is you can use items that negate spell cost, like Markoheshkir legendary staff, Staff of Spellpower, or Spellcrux Amulet, and upscale the spell to level 6. At that level, you then summon a Myrmidon. This is the most powerful summon a Druid can have and one of the Wild Shape forms you can turn into.
Summon Stacking
Moreover, Conjure Elemental stacks and other summoning spells you already possess. Thus, you end up with a Druid build that can be six or more allies to a fight and does not require concentration. This allows your Druid to Wild Shape or use Spore abilities while your summon spells passively do damage or act as a distraction. Therefore, we highly recommend the Conjure Elemental spell and believe it’s the best spell for the Druid class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
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