Druids can be described as being the overseers of nature, using strong magic, often tied to nature, and loving living things dearly.
The best Druid races are often those who not only embrace nature but seek to use magic in its various natural forms and have a lust for Wisdom.
Best Races for Druids 5e D&D
5. Half-Elf
Ability Score Increase – Charisma by 2 and two scores you choose by 1.
Age – Half-Elves mature at age 20 and usually live to around 180 years of age.
Alignment – Half-Elves share their Elvish knack for Chaos, but their Human side makes them equally capable of being Good and Evil.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium, ranging from between 5 and 6 feet tall.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, and Half-Elf Versatility.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Elven, Common, and one other language you choose.
Half-Elves have the best of both Elvish and Human worlds, having advantage on charms because of Fey Ancestry and many choices that provide them with spells from their Half-Elf Versatility.
4. Pallid Elf
Ability Score Increase – Dexterity by 2.
Ability Score Increase (Pallid Elf) – Wisdom by 1.
Age – Elves reach maturity at the same age as Humans do. They usually claim adulthood at around 100 years of age and live to be 750 years old.
Alignment – Elves adore freedom and lean towards gentle aspects of Chaos. Most Elves value other races’ freedom and are most often Good, yet some, like the Drow, do become Evil.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium, ranging from under 5 feet to over 6 feet in height and having slender builds.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Blessing of the Moonweaver (Pallid Elf), Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Incisive Sense (Pallid Elf), Trance, and Keen Senses.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Elven and Common.
Pallid Elves are a mystical race that makes excellent investigators of nature with their Incisive Sense.
You also gain access to a few spells through their Blessing of the Moonweaver feature, increasing your already high frequency of spells at your disposal.
3. Human
Ability Score Increase – Each score by 1.
Age – Humans mature in their late teens and live less than 100 years.
Alignment – Any
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet, and almost any varying Human weight.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one language you choose.
Humans, whether you’re taking Standard or Variants, are a great choice for building a versatile Druid, as many humans are close to nature anyway, making their background easy enough to adapt.
I like Variant Humans a bit more because they get a free Feat and skill proficiency, but Standard Humans aren’t bad either.
2. Firbolg
Ability Score Increase – One score by 2 and a different one by 1 OR Three different scores by 1.
Age – Firbolgs are related to Fey and thus have longer lifespans. They mature at 30 years and live up to 500 years.
Alignment – Firbolgs tend to nature and often become Neutral, Good or Evil. Firbolgs do exist, though they are rare and typically only become Evil because they have sworn enemies of their kind.
Creature Type – Humanoid
Size – Medium, Firbolgs are between 7 and 8 feet and weigh around 240 and 300 pounds.
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Firbolg Magic, Hidden Step, Powerful Build, and Speech of Beast and Leaf.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one other language deemed appropriate by your DM.
Firbolgs are usually one with nature, and their Firbolg Magic, Hidden Step, and Speech of Beast and Leaf fit incredibly well with a silent, forest-dwelling guardian.
There are many ways to play a Firbolg Druid, and because they live so long, any version of them will be played differently, almost as if you’re playing a different race altogether.
1. Fairy
Ability Score Increase – One score by 2 and a different one by 1 OR Three different scores by 1.
Age – Fairies live around 100 years.
Alignment – Most Fairies are Neutral, drifting between the Lawful/Chaos spectrum.
Creature Type – Fey
Size – Small
Speed – Base walking speed of 30 feet.
Racial Features – Fairy Magic and Flight.
Languages – Speak, read, and write Common and one other language the DM deems appropriate.
Fairies are known to be one with nature, but that’s not the only reason for picking them when you want to be a Druid.
Their strongest features are the fact that they can fly using Flight and gain access to a few spells with their Fairy Magic. However, being able to choose which ability scores you want is also a great addition.
Honorable Mentions
Dragonborn: Dragonborn often seclude themselves in nature, and because they are closely tied to it, most are quite successful Druids. Their Damage resistance and Breath Weapon also give them some extra durability and damage.
Goliath: Goliaths live close to nature, and their inherent durability with Mountain Born and Stone’s Endurance makes them a good option for a Druid.
Final Thoughts
Druids might walk through nature, feeling its harmony and protecting it from disharmony, and its most appropriate races show this.
So few players already play Druids, but with these races, it gives players a breath of fresh air and allows them to walk the path of a Druid, but with a few extra additions (except for Humans!).