Circle of the Shepherd Druid Guide to Fuzzy Fury

[col_impact]

With regards to multi-classing . . .

A level in Life Druid is grand for making Goodberries into GREATberries. By the way, converting unused spell slots before a long rest into a ton of free 'healing potions' the next day is awesome value. It also makes everyone in your party a potential combat medic when you distribute those GREATberries each morning. Also, one level of cleric gives you Sanctuary which combos really nicely with Conjure X spells since they aren't attack spells.

A single level in Wizard is also strong. You get Shield, Mage Armor, Feather Fall, Expeditious Retreat, Disguise Self, etc. These drastically improve your action economy and defense capability by giving you in a lot of cases Concentration-free choices. You also get access to Wizard ritual spells such as Find Familiar, Alarm, Detect Magic, Identify, Comprehend Languages.

If you have a level in Life Cleric and Find Familiar somehow (via Ritual Caster, Mage Initiate, or Wizard level(s), then you can have your familiar use its action to feed you GREATberries for 4+ hit point in combat healing which doesn't use your action. I like bat familiars since echolocation gives free See Invisibility and echolocation also combos with Fog Cloud (and Darkness, etc.).

Further levels in Wizard than a single level dip are also strong. 5 levels for access to level 3 spells provides lots of further Concentration free choices to round out your action economy with Counterspell, Misty Step, Mirror Image, and Major Image (upcastable to permanent!) as standouts. Inverted Magic Circles are also great for building Elemental armies at higher levels.

I find that being a Shepherd Druid puts a big target on your back. Smart enemies will want to eliminate you as soon as possible to shut down your double threat of never-ending reinforcements and premium party healing capabilities. Wizard spells is one potent answer to your need for nigh invulnerability sometimes.

Mage Armor plus Shield plus Sanctuary plus Mirror Image plus Dodge Action plus Absorb Elements plus Counterspell plus Arcane Ward can keep you alive when the smart enemies dedicate their resources to taking you out first..

The clunkiness of multi-classing for an INT dependent class can be alleviated by acquiring/trading for a Headband of Intellect which can be relatively easily acquired since its an uncommon item that only EK and AT want. The versatility of Wizard spells pair nicely with the powerful but clunky Concentration-heavy Druid spells.