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Druids are one of the playable classes in Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

Druids are the guardians of nature and the stewards of the wilderness, which they protect with a combination of magic spells and melee combat. Their animistic powers allow them to create a variety of powerful supernatural phenomena. All druids also choose a spiritshift form that allows them to take on aspects of a powerful beast.

Druids are animists, drawing power through the webs they believe connect all living souls in the world. When not casting spells and transforming into mythical beasts, druids spend a great deal of time in nature, giving them skill foci in Athletics and Survival. Much like priests, druids draw ambient fragments of soul energy toward them and shape their effects through practiced concentration. While druids do not have the diverse spell repertoire of wizards, they have more than enough to handle most problems that come their way. Druids' spells often take the form of natural phenomena—storms, coiling plants, rapid decay—to reflect their primal connection to the world. Despite their heavily offensive nature, they do have a few defensive and healing spells to aid their allies.[1]

Description[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Animists at heart, druids tap into the spiritual power that flows through the simple living things of Eora: plants, animals, and sometimes even living stone. While not necessarily religious, druids do have a reverence for the natural world and a keen interest in understanding its mysteries. In most cultures, druids are understood as a sort of primal magician, but among the Glanfathans, Naasitaqi, and many rural cultures, they may have high positions of influence and authority.

Background[ | ]

Druids believe that spirit essence is strongest and most harmonious when connected to the natural world. As most beings have souls (or parts of souls) that have lived dozens or hundreds of lifetimes before, this link is expressed through their past lives spent in beast form. Learning and practicing spiritshift forms involves tapping into previous lives and experiencing the strengths and skills (if not the actual memories) of soul ancestors in the animal kingdom. Druids also believe that spiritshifting allows an individual to find greater balance and strengthen their essence by "aligning" with past lives. This practice avoids the trauma of a full Awakening, which druids see as unnatural and forced.

Accomplished druids may learn multiple spiritshift forms, believing that each form imparts a unique set of experiences to the practitioner, and more fully balances his or her essence. This practice is not without its pitfalls. Even druids of significant experience have faced the challenge of grappling with an imbalance of animal essences within themselves. Adopting additional spiritshift forms is a deeply personal choice that many embrace. It is not uncommon for elders to cast judgment on a druid's state of preparation before determining if the shift form is approved.[2]

Statistics[ | ]

Game Resources Endurance Health Accuracy Defenses Skill bonuses
DEF Deflection FOR Fortitude REF Reflex WIL Will
Pillars of Eternity Nature Spells 36 + 12 per level 4x Endurance 20 20 20 20 20
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - 40 + 10 per level 20 20 25 25 20

Abilities[ | ]

List of abilities[ | ]

Spiritshift[ | ]

Main article: Spiritshift

Allows the druid to shapeshift into animal forms, granting them natural (and some supernatural) abilities associated with those creatures.[3] Druids in their special forms cannot hold weapons, but they can always cast spells. Spiritshifts deal damage of a different type depending on the form, and are granted unique abilities.

Druids select a spiritshift form at character creation, alongside their first spell.

Spells[ | ]

Druids have powerful area of effect spells, with affliction based effects, Heal over time spells, support spells and their animal forms give them good single-target strikes and various special powers.[4][5]

Druids gain access to all spells of a given level as soon as he/she is able to cast from that level. The spell list of druids is smaller than those of wizards.[6]

Talents[ | ]

Progression[ | ]

In Pillars of Eternity[ | ]

  • At character creation, druids select one of five different Spiritshifts.
  • As spellcasters, druids learn all spells at each new tier, but are limited to the amount of casts that can be made per rest at each tier (see the table below).
  • At every odd level (1, 3, 5, etc.), the next tier of spells are unlocked.
  • Spell Mastery allows the spellcaster to pick a single spell to switch to "per encounter" restoration. This occurs at level 9, 11, 13, and 15, for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level (or lower) and spells respectively.
  • As with other classes, druids learn one talent at every even level (2, 4, 6, etc.).
Character
level
Ability level
learned
Maximum casts by ability level / tier Spell
mastery
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
1 1st 2
2 3
3 2nd 4 2
4 4 3
5 3rd 4 4 2
6 4 4 3
7 4th 4 4 4 2
8 4 4 4 3
9 5th 4 4 4 4 2 1st
10 4 4 4 4 3
11 6th 4 4 4 4 4 2 2nd
12 4 4 4 4 4 3
13 7th 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 3rd
14 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
15 8th 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 4th
16 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3

In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire[ | ]

  • At character creation, druids must select a subclass, one 1st level spell, and one of five Spiritshifts. This does not change for multiclass characters.
    • The druid's subclass automatically grants them a spell at each power level.
  • As with other classes, druids pick 2 spells/abilities at every level where a new power level is unlocked excluding the first (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19), and one spell/ability at all other levels (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20). Ability points may be spent on active or passive abilities, and on any currently-unlocked power levels.
    • Multiclass characters pick 1 spell/ability from either the druid ability tree or the other class tree at all levels where a new power level isn't unlocked, and 1 spell/ability for both classes at all levels where a new power level is unlocked (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19).
  • As spellcasters, druids are limited to the amount of spell casts that can be made per encounter at each tier, though this scales with their level (see the table below).
  • As with other classes, new ability power levels are learned every second level from level 1 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13), then every third level from level 13 (16, 19). Multiclass characters may only learn up to (and including) power level 7 spells, and unlock a new power level every third level from level 1 (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19).
Ability points at each level
Level Power level learned Points available
Single Multi Single Multi
1 1 (I) 1 (I) 1 1+1
2 1 1
3 2 (II) 2 1
4 2 (II) 1 1+1
5 3 (III) 2 1
6 1 1
7 4 (IV) 3 (III) 2 1+1
8 1 1
9 5 (V) 2 1
10 4 (IV) 1 1+1
11 6 (VI) 2 1
12 1 1
13 7 (VII) 5 (V) 2 1+1
14 1 1
15 1 1
16 8 (VIII) 6 (VI) 2 1+1
17 1 1
18 1 1
19 9 (IX) 7 (VII) 2 1+1
20 1 1
Max spell casts at this power level
Power level Character level Ability power level
Single Multi 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 (I) 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 (II) 3 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 (III) 5 7 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 (IV) 7 10 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
5 (V) 9 13 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0
6 (VI) 11 16 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0
7 (VII) 13 19 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0
8 (VIII) 16 22 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0
9 (IX) 19 25 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

Subclasses[ | ]

Druids in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire must select one of five subclasses: Animist, Fury, Lifegiver, Shifter, and Ancient. A sixth subclass Watershaper is exclusive to the companion Tekēhu.

Animist[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Animists are the most common druids in Eora. Seeing life in all facets of the world, animists draw power from the complex web of connections between plants, animals, the weather and even humble rocks and soil.

Bonus Penalty
  • Automatically learn the following druid spells at new power levels:
  1. Sunbeam
  2. The Moon's Light
  3. Returning Storm
  4. Conjure Blight
  5. Plague of Insects
  6. Sunlance
  7. Lashing Vine
  8. Regenerate
  9. Tornado
  • None.

Fury[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Furies embrace storms as the essential wild spirit of nature. Instead of spiritshifting into an animal form, furies transform themselves into a storm blight. Despite their name, furies are not known for being particularly violent, but are known for being loud, boisterous, and generally impossible to shut up.

Bonus Penalty
  • Instead of an animal form, Furies spiritshift into a storm blight.
  • Elemental druid spells gain increased range and Penetration.
  • Killing an enemy while spiritshifted extends the duration of the shift.
  • Automatically learn the following druid spells at new power levels:
  1. Dancing Bolts
  2. Burst of Summer Flame
  3. Returning Storm
  4. Hail Storm
  5. Relentless Storm
  6. Sunlance
  7. Weather the Storm
  8. Avenging Storm
  9. Great Maelstrom
  • Cannot cast restoration spells.

Lifegiver[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

While not pacifists, lifegiver groves tend to be the most peaceful gatherings of druids. They focus heavily on healing magic, but lack the ability to summon allies. They are commonly found in rural communities where feuds and tempers run high, such as the Dyrwood.

Bonus Penalty
  • Druid Rejuvenation spells cast with increased Power Level.
  • While spiritshifted, the druid's power level bonus to Rejuvenation spells is greatly increased.
  • Automatically learn the following druid spells at new power levels:
  1. Nature's Vigor
  2. The Moon's Light
  3. Nature's Balm
  4. Moonwell
  5. Cleansing Wind
  6. Garden of Life
  7. Nature's Bounty
  8. Regenerate
  9. Pollen Patch
  • Cannot cast creature summon spells.
  • After spiritshift, the druid receives a significant penalty to the power level of their Rejuvenation spells.

Shifter[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Shifters emphasize the spiritshifting capabilities of druids rather than their spellcasting abilities. Unlike other druids, shifters possess the ability to shift to any animal form. Shifters are known as isolated and antisocial druids, often living as hermits far from civilization.'

Bonus Penalty
  • Druid can switch to any of the Spiritshifting animals, once each, per combat.
  • Spiritshift has a longer duration.
  • After a spiritshift ends, the druid is healed a portion of their health.
  • Automatically learn the following druid spells at new power levels:
  1. Nature's Mark
  2. Insect Swarm
  3. Infestation of Maggots
  4. Form of the Delemgan
  5. Nature's Terror
  6. Garden of Life
  7. Rusted Armor
  8. Entropy
  9. Pollen Patch
  • Cannot cast spells while in animal form.

Ancient[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Not all Ancients are venerable in form, but many have walked Eora for hundreds of years. Primal in nature, these zealots of Galawain tend to keep to themselves in forests and extreme environments, warding off would-be travelers and conjuring untamed magics.

Bonus Penalty
  • Gain bonus Power Level with Beast and Plant spells.
  • Automatically learn the following druid spells at new power levels:
  1. Summon Sporelings
  2. Hold Beasts
  3. Wild Growth
  4. Form of the Delemgan
  5. Wall of Thorns
  6. Venombloom
  7. Call to the Primordials
  8. Fire Stag
  9. Aspect of Galawain
  • Reduced defense against Veil-Piercing attacks.
  • Increased damage received from vessels.

Watershaper[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Unique to the Huana, watershaper druids possess a special affinity with water in all its forms. Watershaping is an ancient tradition, taught only to select members of the Mataru caste, and is believed to have been taught to the Huana by Ondra herself.

Note: Tekēhu only
Bonus Penalty
  1. Ondra's Whip
  2. Blizzard
  3. Chill Fog
  4. Boiling Spray
  5. Ocean Burst
  6. Watery Double
  7. Blast of Frost
  8. Wall of Frost
  9. Ninagauth's Freezing Pillar
  • Lose access to Fire and Creature druid spells. (Creature refers to the Beasts keyword)

Suggestions[ | ]

Druids make for the best mix of healing and offensive spells in a caster specialist with a splash of melee mixed in with their animal forms. In comparison to a lone priest, a druid takes more of a precautious approach with their healing. While a priest tends to linger more in the moment, throwing out defensive spells and necessary healing in the next half of a minute, a druid instead will toss out a couple of considerably powerful healing spells and then focus more on offensive damage. Basically, a druid's healing is every thing defensive they need for supporting your five character group. However, you should really take into consideration an extra source of front line support for your group, like either a paladin or chanter, because you typically need a secondary back up plan with a druid. You can stack both a druid and priest together in your group as different characters, but you may find the priest topping off allies with their healing alone. Druids provide superior front line spell support, while priests provide better back line healing. Priests may have superior "rescue" spells (like Withdraw and Revive the Fallen), but many of these spells can be provided via crafting.

The only reason to multiclass would involve raising your Accuracy for offensive spells. Monk in this case provides the best accuracy boost for your animal forms, quick abilities for if you want to instantly fire off a spell, relatively huge health, and naturally good weapons with unarmed combat. How ver, it will cut off your Tier 8 and 9 spell choices, relegating you to fewer choices as well in that particular regard. While monk offers good options, you might consider alternate paths to boost your character's Accuracy if you want to explore spell choices. For instance again, Arcana makes for the best skill option if you want to buy or make Scrolls of Blessing, which comes from the priest line. Making Potions of Deftness with the Alchemy skill may cost you valuable Pyrite you need later, so give caution.

Related items[ | ]

Icon Name Item type Enchantments
Belt wildstrike icon Wildstrike Belt Belt


Px4 arbalest one-eyed molinas icon One-Eyed Molina's Gold-Fingered Spike-Flinger Arbalest


Quarterstaff greenstone staff icon Greenstone Staff Quarterstaff


Scepter gyrd haewanes stenes icon Gyrd Háewanes Sténes Scepter

Notable characters[ | ]

Pillars of Eternity
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

References


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