#And this 'nerf' to basically one subclass is only going to make all competitors weaker still

[elfcow]

5e hardcore rules nerf druid wildshape... Making it so you can't rely on wildshape to massively boost your (functional) hp.

Presumably it's a design *intention* to nerf moon druid and keep it from being dominant in a hardcore 5e game.

But just like a Darkest Dungeon Torchless run, since that optional challenge rule doesn't change the nature of how the central mechanics work but simply trims the numbers, that means that the meta, Moon Druid, is still the best pick.

Even more so, because nothing else can keep up.

If the design intention is to shake players out of a comfortable meta-game, then simply tightening constrictions on existing rules will only drive the meta tighter and more homogeneous.

You have to actually change the fundamentals of how the game interactions work if you want people to try different stuff (from a pure viability standpoint).