Super fun build for a druid with some awesome abilities!

I hesitate to show this to my players though, as I think they will all want to multiclass and overwhelm enemies with demons.

The Circle of the Abyss subclass here is a very interesting and unique one. Although I have not had any opportunity to playtest it yet, at first glance everything seems well-balanced. Each of the abilities are fun and different, and I think could supply some interesting narrative moments in a game. I am particularly interested in the Demonic Wild Shape ability. The different circle spells within the subclass provide some nice variety, and I really appreciate that the author has included the XGE spells within the document for ease of access. Overall, I think this is a unique and clever subclass for druids, and I would recommend this to any DM or player who might be looking for something a little different to put in their games concerning druids, particularly if you want a darker or edgier concept. I am definitely looking forward to playtesting this!

A well-thought out subclass with a solid eye towards maintaining game balance while introducing some unique and very cool abilities. A very cool addition to an OOtA/Post-OOtA campaign.

Well worth the suggested price. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

While I haven't been able to sit down and play this subclass yet, I'm very intrigued by what I've read. Despite not having played an actual tabletop D&D game, I genuinely enjoy reading up on all of the lore and basically studying the game quite a bit. I love the fact that this brings an opportunity to play a truly DARK Druid, without having the character be 2D and just 'ooh I'm a bad guy'. This opens up many story possibilities and the author hasn't shirked responsibility on fine character details. I genuinely love Druid class, but I've been looking for a good dark druid sub-class that didn't feel bland, and Dyer has provided.

I've always been a little more interested in the narrative part of DnD, so that's what I'll focus on here: I like to create characters that are a little dark, a little contrary, a little off, and generally rely more on stabbing than on magical shennanigans. I've never played a druid, never wanted to play a druid, and would have laughed at you if you told me I should play a druid.

Until now.

Dyer has done the impossible and made me want to play a druid.

So I have not played this yet, but from right off the bat, the character description of a demonically corrupted druid, paranoid and untrusting, coming together with other Abyssal druids only when necessary compared the the traditional "druid circle" had me hooked, and I've only gotten more excited to play this circle there. Thematically, this build feels very solid - from the concept of stealing the life force from slain enemies with "Destructive Recovery" to the spell options based on the layer of the abyss that is the source of your corruption. And let's be honest...taking the form of a demon instead of a beast for Wild Shape is just plain cool.

I'm really looking forward to trying this out in a future game. Thanks for creating such a cool concept (and changing my opinion on druids!)

I haven't played this druidic circle yet, but so far i'm really happy with what i've read! This opens up a lot of narrative possibilities and brings a corrupted flare to the traditional druid. The spell selection is pretty great and I really like how thematicaly appropriate they are! From a player standpoint, definitely worth it. Really looking forward to give this circle a try in a future game to see how it plays! ;)

Circle of the Abyss Druids is a solid sub-class that merits praise for al the potential backstory and role-playing opportunity it provides for the player that chooses it. While It may initially seem better suited to an NPC or BBEG (and it is) it can make for layered approaches to character development for a PC.

Why is the PC an Abyssal Druid? Was this a conscious choice or request as a member of a demonic cult or was this corruption forced upon them after an encounter with demon?

Let's get into the mechanics.

2nd level grants you Abyssal as a Bonus language. While it grants that you can speak and write (and I assume read) I would almost argue that if this was an unwilling transformation, simply speaking Abyssal would suffice.

2nd level also grants Destructive Recovery: Dropping an enemy to 0 hp with spell attack allows you to recover spell slots equal to half your Druid level (rounded down). This is a nice mechanic that could use some more flavor text, though that is also nicely left up to the player. Personally I like the thought of syphoning off some of the life essence of the dead creature. (Were these devils I'd say they collect a bit of soul for themselves).

Circle Spells at 3rd,5th, 7th and 9th levels: You select a layer of the Abyss (tied to a particular DemonLord and are granted select spells. I think the spell selections fit the layers and demonlords thematically over all and this goes a long way towards supporting both the corrupted by and demonic cult origin stories.

I'm not 100% behind the Summon Demon spells included in here. They make sense but I think there could be a better place to put them in the subclass. More below.

Demonic Infusion (6th Level): Ability to use wildshape to become a demon while still following the Wildshape parameters. This means that at 6th level you could wildshape into a Dretch or Manes and at 8th into a Quasit.

While this sounds thematically in line I'm not sure how beneficial it will be. Manes grants DArkvision, some immunities to damages and conditions (as noted in the previous review and response) but only for 9 hp at AC 9. 20 speed and no special movement and no communication ability it's not much of a utility shape.

Dretch is marginally better: Less immunities Abyssal (plus telepathy if the other creature speaks Abyssal), 11 AC and 18 hp and the 1/day fetid cloud.

Quasit at 8th level: More Resistances, Immunity to Poison and Poisoned only, Magic Resistance (very nice) Invisibility at will, Scare 1/day. The Quasit also has Shapechange into minor beast forms (bat, centipede and toad) as an action. This feels like cheating to me. Wildshaping into a creature that can change shape at will (albeit between three minor) utility forms..kind of feels like wishing for more wishes. Even Robin Williams wouldn't let you do that! And he was a super nice guy. Granted I don't think those forms will break the bank at 8th level but it feels off.

More below.

Demonic Wildshape (10th level): Burn both wildshapes to take the form of a CR 6 or less demon. This is on par with the Moon Druid ability to take an Elemental form. The demon forms Shadow Demon (CR4), Balgura (CR5) and Vrock and Chasme (CR6) all offer some Resistances, Immunities and special attacks. Nothing terribly gamebreaking. The only hitch I see is the Balgura has four spells it can cast innately. This violates the Druid prohibition on casting spells while Wildshaping until 18th level. I would argue to prohibit the spell use until 18th level and you fall in line with online rulings re:wildshaped spells (such as while an elemental).

Eyes of the DemonLord (14th):True Seeing 1/day for free. Not too shabby. It will be very useful when it is useful but otherwise not going to hurt the game at all.

Suggestions I would make or implement in my home game:

Demonic Infusion: Drop the ability and use that name to describe the PC in general once they take this sub-class. Beasts they wildshape into don't look right, smell of brimstone etc. People are uneasy around them and the spells they cast are polluted, or harm the environment in some small way when cast.

Circle Spells: Summon Lesser Demon and Sumon Greater Demon- I'd pull these out of all the spell lists and replace them appropriately.

In light of the above changes I'd suggest a 6th level ability Hordes of the Abyss.

One of the most frustrating features of demons is their ability to summon allies. Consider this for the Circle of the Abyss druids. Grant them the ability to drop a spell slot in order for a chance to summon demons. It can mimic (but not imitate) the demon summoning tables. I'd argue they need lesser chances of succeeding than the demons themselves. Grant them 5% per spell slot dropped (5% for 1st (10% for 2nd etc up to 45% for a 9th level spell). This puts them just below what a Balor's odds wit the highest spell slot available. This would be particularly nasty overemployed so perhaps a use per long rest like say, 3/long rest. Needs refinement but it's a thought.

Overall, I really like this sub-class. Lots of opportunity to build a compelling story for a PC or NPC, nice abilities that fit really well into the mold created by said character building with just a few elements that feel off (and I full acknowledge that's likely just me).

I'm looking forward to putting this into play in my home group and surprising them with a unique character that will surprise them in many different ways.

This is an initial review of the Druid Circle: Circle of the Abyss with no play testing experience.

Thematically, I like the idea of a corrupted druid. I believe this theme can provide an interesting experience for a druid PC to role play and can be woven easily into a module like Out of the Abyss. I also appreciate the thought that was put into the specific abyss level designations.

Structurally, this sub-class is built like a combination of the Circle of the Land and Circle of the Moon. From the Circle of the Land druid we find a spell slot regeneration ability (Destructive Recovery at 2nd level, which requires an entity to be brought to 0 to activate) as well as thematic spell additions specific to player choice.

Starting at 6th level, the Circle of the Abyss begins to take from the Circle of the Moon with Demonic Infusion, which provides basic demonic form options, and at 10th level with Demonic Wild Shape, which provides upgraded demonic forms at the cost of multiple Wild Shapes.

The final ability, Eyes of the Demon Lord, arrives at 14th level and seems to be the most restrictive of the Circle of the Abyss’ options with True Seeing provided at no spell slot or component costs but only once per long rest.

All in all, I like the thematic elements of the Circle, but I worry about the lack of utility in the 6th level offering and the restrictive nature of the sub-class capstone. The 6th level ability Demonic Infusion seems to offer little in the way of utility when compared to its counter parts. At 6th level in other circles you are provided with force multipliers (Circle of the Shepard’s Mighty Summoner) or thematic utility (Circle of the Land’s Land’s Stride). Regarding the 14th level capstone, Eyes of the Demon Lord, when compared to other sub classes comes off as too limiting. This ability compares more to the Circle of the Moon’s Thousand Forms as a more non-combat ability than it does capstones like Circle of the Shepard’s Faithful Summons or the Circle of the Dream’s Walker in Dreams (which is debatable).

These are minor issues which take nothing away from the design and thematic feel of the Circle of the Abyss sub-class and an excellent option for Druid players looking for a different direction for their new character.