Among all the classes available in Baldur’s Gate 3, Druids are probably the most versatile in the game. The Wild Shapes they can access let them adapt to different combat situations with ease. The Circle of the Stars, added in Patch 8 of the RPG, is another clear example of their flexibility and is also one of the best Druid subclasses overall.
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However, to get maximum value from them during a run, the Circle of the Stars Druid build must be solid, because players have to make several choices while leveling. For anyone who plans to run this subclass in the next playthrough, the steps below keep it strong.
How Does The Circle Of The Stars Druid Work?
While each of the other three Druid subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 excels in a specific role during combat or exploration, the Circle of the Stars, added in Patch 8, is far more balanced and versatile. It can fulfill multiple roles as the story unfolds, but its core strengths lie in healing support, ranged spell damage, and enemy control.
In addition to gaining access to a unique Wild Shape variant called Starry Forms, this Druid subclass also retains the class’s standard animal transformations. Although not always optimal, these forms can still be useful in key moments of battle or exploration, serving as a solid complement to the already powerful toolkit of the Circle of the Stars.
Beyond the 
Guidance cantrip and Star Map, which allows free use of 
Guiding Bolt without spending a spell slot, the Circle of the Stars Druid gains the following abilities at level 2:
- Archer Form: Grants access to Luminous Arrow as a bonus action to deal ranged damage while in Starry Form.
- Chalice Form: Whenever a healing spell is cast using a spell slot, Chalice Healing can be triggered to heal additional allies.
- Dragon Form: Rolls of 9 or lower on concentration checks are treated as 10, and Dazzling Breath can be used as a bonus action.
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In combat, Archer Form is considered the most effective Starry Form due to its bonus action attack. Still, because the subclass has limited Wild Shape charges, players must manage them carefully. Fortunately, these can be recharged with a Short Rest, offering solid flexibility throughout an adventuring day.
Best Races For The Circle Of The Stars Druid In Baldur’s Gate 3
None of the available races in Baldur’s Gate 3 offer strong synergy with the Circle of the Stars Druid, giving players more freedom when creating their character. This allows for picking a race based on personal preference or selecting one that fits the subclass theme, which is often associated with the stars. These are some generally solid options:
- Githyanki: One of the best overall races in Baldur’s Gate 3 and thematically tied to stars and dragons, aligning well with this subclass.
- Halfling: Can help in certain situations by making it easier to maintain concentration on spells during combat.
- Wood Elf: Darkvision, enhanced mobility in combat, and weapon proficiencies are great assets for any class in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Best Multiclasses For Circle Of The Stars Druid
Although it stands as one of the best subclasses from Patch 8 in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Circle of the Stars Druid tends to lose some effectiveness by Act 3 of the RPG. While still useful in most battles, players may notice that other classes can occasionally outperform them. These issues can be mitigated through multiclassing, and these are some of the best combinations:
- Cleric: The Light or War Domain are top choices when multiclassing with the Circle of the Stars Druid, depending on whether the goal is better healing and Radiant Orb damage or more melee combat potential.
- Swarmkeeper Ranger: Another subclass introduced in Patch 8, this Ranger variant offers excellent mobility and crowd control, adding more versatility to this build.
How To Build A Circle Of The Stars Druid In Baldur’s Gate 3
Just like other Druid subclasses, players should prioritize Wisdom as the main attribute for this character, followed by Constitution and Dexterity. Additionally, this subclass does not rely heavily on feats, so the best choices tend to be Ability Score Improvements, which should be used to further boost one of these core stats:
Best Ability Scores For The Circle Of The Stars Druid
|
STR |
DEX |
CON |
INT |
WIS |
CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
14 |
15 |
10 |
14 |
10 |
|
- |
- |
+1 |
- |
+2 |
- |
Players can drop INT or CHA to 8 and raise INT to 17 instead.
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Level Progression For The Circle Of The Stars Druid Build In Baldur’s Gate 3
|
Level |
Choices |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Cantrips: |
|
2 |
Subclass: Circle of the Stars |
|
3 |
– |
|
4 |
Ability Score Improvement: +2 WIS Cantrip: |
|
5 |
– |
|
6 |
– |
|
7 |
– |
|
8 |
Ability Score Improvement: +2 WIS |
|
9 |
– |
|
10 |
Cantrip: |
|
11 |
– |
|
12 |
Feat: War Caster or Alert |
Shillelagh
Thorn Whip
Produce Flame
ResistanceDruids, like Clerics, have access to all spells in their class list and can freely prepare them after long rests or upon leveling up. This offers great flexibility when adapting to different challenges. In some battles, it may be best to focus on healing spells, while in others, selecting offensive magic is more effective.
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Understanding upcoming encounters is the key to optimizing the Circle of the Stars Druid build in Baldur’s Gate 3. This class is built for versatility, and spells like 
Cure Wounds, 
Moonbeam, and 
Call Lightning are among the best choices and should remain prepared. Other spells can be rotated depending on the current needs of the party.
Best Companions For The Circle Of The Stars Druid In Baldur’s Gate 3
Since the Circle of the Stars Druid can take on a support role in the party, having Shadowheart as a Cleric is not mandatory. Although she remains one of the most useful companions in many team compositions, this setup opens the door for more variety. Still, Shadowheart can complement the party well if the Druid is focused on another role.
Other useful companions include the following:
- Karlach: In addition to being extremely tanky as a Barbarian, she can deal heavy damage to enemies, drawing their attention and creating openings for the Druid to act.
- Astarion: Beyond his combat utility and Sneak Attack damage, Astarion is great at disarming traps and unlocking chests throughout the map.
- Gale: His AOE attacks synergize well with the crowd control capabilities that the Druid can apply to enemies.
Best Gear For The Circle Of The Stars Druid In Baldur’s Gate 3
|
Slot |
Item |
Effect |
|---|---|---|
|
Head |
+2 bonus to Spell Save DC and Spell Attack rolls |
|
|
Cloak |
Cloak of the Weave |
Halves next elemental hit and adds +1d6 of that element on next attack +1 to Spell Save DC and Spell Attacks |
|
Armor |
Barkskin Armour |
Advantage on Constitution Saving Throws |
|
Glove |
Grants +1 to Strength saves, lets you cast Revivify, and adds Blade Ward or Death Ward when healing or reviving |
|
|
Boots |
+1 to Athletics and enhanced mobility |
|
|
Necklace |
Sets Constitution score to 23 |
|
|
Ring 1 |
+3m Movement Speed |
|
|
Ring 2 |
+1 AC and +2 to Saving Throws |
|
|
Weapon |
— |
|
|
Shield |
+3 AC |
Hood of the Weave
The Reviving Hands
Boots Of Striding
Amulet of Greater Health
Crusher's Ring
Ring of Protection
Markoheshkir
Viconia's Walking FortressIdeally, these are the items players should aim to equip on their Circle of the Stars Druid in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially in Act 3. However, gear can be modular, and depending on how the build evolves, certain adjustments can be made. For instance, Amulet of Greater Health and Barkskin Armour share the same Constitution save bonus, so once the amulet is acquired, the armor can be swapped out, such as for the 
Armour of Moonbasking.
Additionally, Amulet of Greater Health lets players respec their Circle of the Stars Druid to redistribute attribute points. Since the item sets Constitution to 23, it’s viable to assign only 8 to CON during character creation and move those points into Strength, Dexterity, or even Charisma, which can help with certain dialogue checks.
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Throughout the game, it’s essential that the Druid wields either a Staff or Club as the primary weapon. This is because Shillelagh only enhances the damage of these weapon types. One of the best early-game options in Baldur’s Gate 3 is 
Melf's First Staff, available for purchase from Blurg in the Underdark during Act 1.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
