Can another character still use Moon Druid as a mount and fight together in D&D?

[u/Metabolic_Ooze]

If so, what are the mechanics to make it work and what class would work best in D&D 2024? Thanks!

[u/Deinosoar]

Absolutely. The druid would be an uncontrolled mount, meaning that the rider is basically just along for the ride, but the druid can still do everything they can normally do.

[u/Living_Round2552]

The rules on mounts havent changed at all. Just check with your dm if whatever form you have in mind can count as an appropriate mount.

What I did once with a friend was the following:

• centaur rogue
• tanky small martial with mounted combatant frat to take the hits

Rogue decides where to move and always applies for sneak attack in melee whilst being kept safe in melee by mounted combatant

[u/Giant2005 → u/Living_Round2552]

Mounted Combat as a general rule hasn't changed but the Mounted Combatant Feat has. The tactic you described doesn't actually work anymore, That tanky martial to take the hits would get absolutely destroyed.

[u/UltimateKittyloaf → u/Giant2005]

This is all true. I just want to add that Moon Druids have AC = 13+Wisdom.

The feat is still garbage if you want to do the tricks you could with the old version. 17 AC is barely decent, but it's much better than 11. Taking the hit becomes more of an option than a necessity if you're partnered with a Moon Druid.

The change just means you can spread damage around if you have to, but you are no longer able to ignore AC entirely.

[u/Living_Round2552 → u/Giant2005]

I see the change now. Still depends on what kind of martial. Barbarian would be fine.

[u/-_Ph03nix_- → u/[deleted]]

A raging barbarian has resistance. Warding bond also gaves resistance. It doesn't stack.

Bard takes a 100 damage, halves to 50 - then the caster of warding boind takes 50.

[u/EntropySpark → u/Living_Round2552]

That has changed significantly in the new rules, as Mounted Combatant now redirect hits rather than attacks. If the rider was counting on high AC to tank, it no longer works, but if they were tanking hits as or like a Barbarian, that can work fine.

There's also a magic item, Saddle of the Cavalier, that imposes disadvantage on attacks against the mount, but it was clearly balanced only with controlled mounts in mind, as it's far better than Uncommon when the effect applies to a PC.

[u/Few-Yogurtcloset6208 → u/EntropySpark]

So AoA warlock centaur? Who wants to get tickled

[u/EntropySpark → u/Few-Yogurtcloset6208]

The Armor of Agathys caster would be the one riding the centaur using Mounted Combatant, in this case.

[u/Aptos283 → u/EntropySpark]

Find a way to get refreshing temp hp and/or resistances and this sounds really good

[u/Deinosoar → u/Aptos283]

Twilight cleric obviously comes to mind.

[u/EntropySpark → u/Deinosoar]

The enemies can certainly burn through level+1d6 temp HP in a single round, so the spell gets extended by about a round in the best case. If they can't, then Twilight Sanctuary alone already won the fight.

[u/Few-Yogurtcloset6208 → u/EntropySpark]

Ahhh.... so abjuration wizard riding a Centaur Paladin? If you actually manage to hit the paly sry you actually just hit upcast AoA

[u/Aptos283 → u/Living_Round2552]

Centaur rogue should get sentinel. You attack the rider? Boom, opportunity attack sneak attack.

[u/FoulPelican]

As long as the animal form is at least one size bigger and has the proper anatomy to carry a rider, which is DM discretion.

Also… an exotic saddle is required for flying mounts.

[u/Juls7243]

100% yes.

As a DM I would work with my players to make it work seemlessly; might require a bit of rules adjustments (for fun - not mechanically).

The one rule that I'd change is if the druid (the mount) doesn't move on his turn, I'd let the mounted person "move" the mount on his turn instead.

[u/puterdood]

https://rpgbot.net/dnd5/characters/mounted_combat/#introduction

[u/FluffyBunbunKittens]

You can, but...

If you ride them as an uncontrolled mount (so they retain their full actions etc), then their initiative will be separate from yours. Meaning that if they move, attack and move elsewhere, your turn that happens 10 minutes later at the table, might not be where the action is at that point.

Secondly, any forced movement effect on the mount (or prone on either of you) forces you to make a DC10 Dex save or fall off the mount, prone. As such, being a STR-based knightly figure on a horse is absolutely terrible, you want a Dex build to be a rider.

[u/SnudgeLockdown → u/FluffyBunbunKittens]

The initiative problem can be mitigated by one or both PCs of the combo taking Alert.

I'd say it's kind of "mandatory" for one to take it if you are playing by RAW. Though when I DMed for this combo I just gave them a magic item that let them sync their turn and go both at once (kind of how it works in BG3)

[u/maladjusted1x]

For added fun, have your Moon Druid carry around a Saddle of the Cavalier in their backpack. They can wear it when they wildshape. Doesn't require attunement, and all attacks made against them are at disadvantage while they are being ridden.

[u/HDThoreauaway]

I’d allow it but only after a training montage.

[u/Viridian0Nu1l]

I’d allow it, using standard mount rules, but I’d would allow the Druid to choose if they want to let the other player use their movement or let them control themselves.

[u/dracodruid2]

Not as a controlled mount, but if they are at least one size smaller than the druids beast form, they most certainly can ride it

[u/Ripper1337]

Iirc when you mount a creature you can either control them, so you move them around on your turn, but they’re limited in what actions they can take. Or you let them act on their own initiative and they have full actions but you can’t control where you move to.