Optimizing Moonbeam: D&D 5e

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:51 Moonbeam vs Spirit Guardians
2:43 Moonbeam no strategy
4:27 Controlling movement
7:40 Teamwork
9:03 Scaling
9:42 Moonbeam vs Spike Growth

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[Swimavidly]

My favorite part of Monday is Treantmonk.

[AtelierGod]

I can also imagine a stars Druid using the archer form as a bonus action attack a turn they have to use their action to move the moonbeam.

[nikcantsnipe]

I love Moonbeam and of course, it is one of my favourite Druid spells. Druids absolutely deserve the love they're getting on your channel. Although I must confess, my favourite Druid spell is Call Lightning and yes, I am THAT guy that constantly asks their DM if there's a storm brewing or if the thunderstorm is near us. Love that little environmental interaction. Do you think there's a way to optimize that spell?

[cueball]

Moonbeam was my big gun spell in the first big fight I ever played in dnd (yes I played a Druid as my first character)
As luck would have it, some of the enemies we fought were shapechangers, so the spell ended up being really effective
Plus I always find the idea of an orbital laser chasing people around hilarious

[michaellavy]

I like having thunder wave prepared as an option to push enemies into the moonbeam. I find enemies often move towards me rather than away from me, so it’s more useful to push with thunder wave than pull with thorn whip

[jamesaolsen]

Great points, all. I think the best way to optimize Moonbeam, much like Flaming Sphere, is to use Move Earth to dig a 15ft deep pit (deeper if possible), and cast Moonbeam into the pit, them have your Monk shove enemies into the pit. Enemies in the pit will always start in the Moonbeam, and your Monk can knock them back in. Or anyone with the crusher feat for that matter. Just have them hold their action.

[stephenburley]

I'm currently running Curse of Strahd, and have a Druid in the party with Moonbeam, and also a Cleric in the party with Spirit Guardians. Between them, Werewolves and Undead drop like flies. They definitely did not need optimization help on this combo, Treantmonk, god dammit. XD
(Additional, there's also a Sun Soul Monk in the party, and in a campaign where Radiant damage really matters, it's surprisingly not awful)

[derekseaton]

My plan is to make a Swarmkeeper Ranger that uses Shillelagh (Druidic Warrior Fighting Style) w/ Crusher+PAM to move people around the battlefield. Still deciding if I want to go more than 5 levels in Ranger, or multiclass out to something else. Good to know Moonbeam might also be a go spell prep here!

[joshuahampton]

If you are a DM and are concerned about the power level of his strategy, just remember that monsters can grapple, too. Nothing ends a concentration spell quite like grabbing the spellcaster and shoving (or throwing) them into their own damaging spell.

[morganpetros]

Got to say I am *STILL* flabbergasted that the Lunar sorcerer didn't get this spell. 🤪

[Thamerlife]

Thank you Chris. Druids deserve more content creator love!

[bigweight]

I mean, you're a Druid, what are you doing out of wildshape? Moondruid bear, Custom Lineage for Skill-Expert in athletics, you moonbeam, turn into a bear, go up to them and next turn you grapple and put them in the beam yourself, then you attack or shove them. At level 4 you take Warcaster or Resilient CON, since you're getting hit a lot

[joshuagaliley]

I’ve played a 3rd level Circle of Stars Druid whose main big gun was Moonbeam, and the combination of Moonbeam with either Thunderwave or Thornwhip and the archer form bonus action delivered so much damage for the level

[vitekhampejs]

Crusher magic stone is my favourite way of druid force movement

[AtelierGod]

Moonbeam is on the oath of watchers spell list that’s why I have it.

[watkmo]

This is perfect timing, my paladin just hit lvl5 last session & got access to Moonbeam

I can't wait to use it. Thanks for the tips!

[JuckiCZ]

With 3 levels of Swarmkeeper Ranger, you can also move enemy in the Moonbeam with your action with Thornwhip, then immediately out with your Swarm, so the enemy is prepared to be moved in again by your friends. (Swarm also works on spell attacks)
Or you can combine Thornwhip + Swarm + telekinetic to move up to 2 enemies up to 30 ft in total to hit more enemies with one spell within 1 turn.

[AkridianRU]

There was build with Dao Gin Warlock dip and Crusher feat for Circle of Stars druid on d4 channel.

[BoToChris]

I always thought it was weird that just standing in the beam dealt less damage than moving into and out of it. Surely, you should take more damage if you stay in the damage area.

[Dave]

Colby's Stars Druid build with a 1 lvl dip in Genie Warlock and Crusher Feat works well with Moonbeam. Cast Moonbeam beside target, bonus action starry archer them and add proficiency bonus damage in bludgeoning (doa genie) which triggers Crusher feat moving them into Moonbeam.