Core Druid Advice Request

[Theli]

What are the best wildshape options for a core (3-book) druid? (Splitting up by level would be appreciated.)

[Mr. Friendly]

This thread answers all you seek.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=465005

[prufock]

It isn't core only, but you could take a look at the Druid's Handbook over on the WotC forum. The author goes through the best available options for different uses (grappling, flying, charging, trampling, aquatic, etc).

[Saph]

My personal favourites:

Levels 5-7: Black Bear for combat, Eagle for flight.
Levels 8-11: Dire Lion for combat, Dire Bat for flight.
Levels 12-14: Dire Bear for combat, Dire Bat for flight.
Level 15+: Never played a Druid at this level, so haven't looked into it. Probably a choice between Air Elemental, Earth Elemental, and Dire Tiger, though.

- Saph

[Frosty]

Wildshape into a Tendricolos and EAT things and paralyze them.

[RTGoodman]

My personal favourites:

Levels 5-7: Black Bear for combat, Eagle for flight.
Levels 8-11: Dire Lion for combat, Dire Bat for flight.
Levels 12-14: Dire Bear for combat, Dire Bat for flight.
Level 15+: Never played a Druid at this level, so haven't looked into it. Probably a choice between Air Elemental, Earth Elemental, and Dire Tiger, though.

- Saph

Those seem good. I think I remember that for higher levels a Triceratops (they're in the MM, right?) are one of the best choices for wildshape.

Either way, The Druid's Handbook linked above has all the answers.

[daggaz]

Yeah, if you are higher level, all the dinosaurs are cheestastically better than anything else you can wildshape into, so if your DM is into dino-cheese, then go for it. Otherwise Saph's suggestions are pretty solid. Past 15th and you probably dont need to be wildshaping anymore, as melee just isnt where its at.