A druid can prepare a number of spells equal to their Wisdom modifier + their druid level (minimum one). For example, a 5th-level with a +3 Wisdom modifier can prepare 8 leveled spells. Druids can change their prepared spells when they finish a long rest, taking 1 minute per spell level for each spell.
Druids can only prepare spells for which they have the spell slots. To continue the example, a 5th-level druid only has access to 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-level druid spells. When selecting their prepared spells at the end of a long rest, they can choose from any of these.
They can choose to prepare all 1st-level spells or choose from a range of different leveled spells. However, it is wise to have a range of leveled spells to accomodate all available spell slots. Lower-level spells can be cast using higher-level spell slots, but not vice versa.
Cantrips do not count as prepared spells. A druid learns cantrips at certain levels and cannot change them at the end of a long rest. However, they can exchange one druid cantrip for another whenver they reach a druid level that grants an Ability Score Improvement (4, 8, 12, 16, 19).
Player’s Handbook, page 66 + 201; Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, page 36
Druid Spell Slots per Level
| Level | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2nd | 2 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3nd | 2 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4th | 3 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5th | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6th | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7th | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8th | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9th | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 10th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| 11th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 12th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
| 13th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 14th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 15th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 16th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 17th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Matt Zane
Author, DnD Lounge