[RPG] Can a druid prevent or reduce falling damage when using Wild Shape

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I've been doing research to figure out if a druid using wild shape to shapeshift into a beast that is known to be nimble (in the real-world) would be able to prevent or reduce falling damage. For the sake of discussion, I'm talking about reducing damage taken by the current beast form.

I was surprised to read that apparently D&D 5E doesn't even allow using an acrobatics check to halve falling damage (unlike previous editions). I also searched/filtered every single monster in D&D Beyond, and there are exactly zero beasts with acrobatics. Reading the description for cats (as an example), there is nothing in there about benefits when falling, which seems a glaring omission.

So is there any rule that can help a druid prevent or reduce falling damage when using Wild Shape, or do they take the full 1d6 damage and land prone even when falling a mere 10 feet in cat form?

Best Answer

There is no beast feature which reduces falling damage

There are no beast or creature features that reduces fall damage. So, you aren't going to get anything there.

If your Wild Shape form has flight there is an optional rule which can help

In Xanathar's Guide to Everything they give an optional rule for flying creatures and falling part of which says:

If you’d like a flying creature to have a better chance of surviving a fall than a non-flying creature does, use this rule: subtract the creature’s current flying speed from the distance it fell before calculating falling damage. This rule is helpful to a flier that is knocked prone but is still conscious and has a current flying speed that is greater than 0 feet. The rule is designed to simulate the creature flapping its wings furiously or taking similar measures to slow the velocity of its fall.

Thus, if your DM goes by such a rule, you will have a way to reduce fall damage if you have a fly speed.

But this only works if you are already flying (or at least have a fly speed) when you start falling.

You can't transform into any creature while falling...

Transforming into a Wild Shape takes an action (or a bonus action if you are a Moon Druid), however in 5e falling happens instantly.

The rule for falling assumes that a creature immediately drops the entire distance when it falls.

Thus, when you start falling there is no time to do anything to reduce your fall damage (unless it is a reaction or readied action which triggers on falling). Once you start falling, you have no chance to use your action or bonus action to transform. So the whole idea of transforming as a way to mitigate fall damage is a nonstarter according to the rules.

...unless you are falling an extreme distance and using an optional rule

The only exception to this would be if you are falling from a height of over 500 feet and your DM uses the optional falling rule from XGE:

When you fall from a great height, you instantly descend up to 500 feet. If you’re still falling on your next turn, you descend up to 500 feet at the end of that turn.

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