Earliest Wild Shape

[OblivionSmurf83]

Using whatever class/race combinations you wish, what is the earliest level by which you can gain wild shape as a class ability in 3.5? Please note this discounts things like Divine Minion, as that's not really wild shape as a class ability.

At the moment, I can't seem to find anything that beats level 5, but I'm sure the ability can be optimised beyond this

[carnivore]

take this feat:

Initiate of Horus-Re
Type: Initiate
Source: Champions of Valor

You have been initiated into the greatest secrets of Horus-Re's church.

Prerequisite: Cleric, paladin, or ranger 4th

[OblivionSmurf83]

Nice! So, that gets it down to 4, if you're a Ranger/Paladin/Cleric.

Actually, this is doubly nice for Clerics, as it might provide a pathway into a DMM-able Planar Shepherd

[Fadier]

The only problem is that taking that feat would take your 6th level feat slot, a level after a Druid or Wildshape Ranger.

[McPoyo]

The only problem is that taking that feat would take your 6th level feat slot, a level after a Druid or Wildshape Ranger.

DCFS

[kabof]

You can go Cleric, Paladin or Ranger 4/Marshall 1. Grab Skill Focus [Diplomacy] at level 1 or 3 and you'll gain a bonus feat at level 5.

[OblivionSmurf83]

You can go Cleric, Paladin or Ranger 4/Marshall 1. Grab Skill Focus [Diplomacy] at level 1 or 3 and you'll gain a bonus feat at level 5.

The only problem with this approach is it's much more convenient at that point to just go Druid or Wild Shape Ranger, since you've got it at level 5 regardless.

[betrayor]

So in conclusion the earliest wildshape is 4th level with Using the Dark chaos feat swap...

[lans]

Dark chaos shufle to swap feats around?

[betrayor]

Dark chaos shufle to swap feats around?

Well yes...
Take a feat that is useless or that you would want it only for the first 3 level and then pay a spellcaster or UMD it to use embrace and shun the dark chaos on you...
Profit....

[Nunkuruji]

Totem Druid from Dragon Mag, level 1
Limited to 1 form, but gain Dire & Planar templates.

[Prime32]

Divine Minion template, LA +1.

Get wildshape as an 11th-level druid, which you can use as a free action at will. The list of forms is limited, but can be expanded by PrCs. Also you become an Outsider and gain immunity to fear.

I CANNOT READ

[Ithamar]

For someone that can't read, your typing skills are marvelous.

[McPoyo]

Divine Minion template, LA +1.

Get wildshape as an 11th-level druid, which you can use as a free action at will. The list of forms is limited, but can be expanded by PrCs. Also you become an Outsider and gain immunity to fear.

I CANNOT READ

I just imagined Dr McNinja screaming that last line. It made me lol in a doctor's office.

[Nunkuruji]

Divine Minion template, LA +1.

Get wildshape as an 11th-level druid, which you can use as a free action at will. The list of forms is limited, but can be expanded by PrCs. Also you become an Outsider and gain immunity to fear.

I CANNOT READ

I just imagined Dr McNinja screaming that last line. It made me lol in a doctor's office.

My 1st D&D character was an inherited Barbarian that I was playing when the originator could not play for the week. The barbarian ended up having split personality disorder where one personality could read, while the other was traditionally barbarian illiterate. Made for some lols.

[Monotremeancer]

Divine Minion template, LA +1.

Get wildshape as an 11th-level druid, which you can use as a free action at will. The list of forms is limited, but can be expanded by PrCs. Also you become an Outsider and gain immunity to fear.

I CANNOT READ

I just imagined Dr McNinja screaming that last line. It made me lol in a doctor's office.

My 1st D&D character was an inherited Barbarian that I was playing when the originator could not play for the week. The barbarian ended up having split personality disorder where one personality could read, while the other was traditionally barbarian illiterate. Made for some lols.

That seems even better than the time I was gaming with a guy who played a bard with a bipolar disorder. Just try to make a depressed bard sing a song that will inspire you to fight better...

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Have him sing about how emo he is-> You now want to kill him -> You now want to kill things -> you fight better.

[McPoyo]

Have him sing about how emo he is-> You now want to kill him -> You now want to kill things -> you fight better.

"Whaddayou want from me? Whaddayou want from meeeeeEEEEEEE?"

[awaken DM golem]

No, the Divine Minion is actually OK.
If you have the class, you have that ability, but with better numbers.
Not that you want to do this.
You're inviting someone to read something on the TO-board.
Oops, so it's not Ok.

[Viletta Vadim]

Going third-party, Secrets of Pact Magic has the Unbound Witch that can gain granted abilities of spirits (essentially vestiges) as their own inherent abilities and one of the anima spirits (The Beast Before Us) lets you Wild Shape as a Druid (though its progression is worse).  If you take the feat Anima Binder, you could pull Wild Shape at level 2, when you get to filch your first ability.

Of course, that's 3rd-party.  Awesome 3rd-party, but 3rd-party nonetheless.