According to the game lore, druids are the stewards of the world, the guardians of balance, and the followers of the demi-god Cenarius. They have been given power over nature, including powerful healing and shapeshifting abilities. It is said that the first mortal to be taught in Druidism by Cenarius was the Night Elf Malfurion Stormrage, while the Tauren believe that they were the first.

Locked in sleep in their barrow lairs for centuries, the Druids awakened to meet the menace of the Burning Legion during its recent invasion. After Archimonde's defeat, the Druids chose to stay in the waking world and help to rebuild their tattered lands. The Legion's assault left a dreadful scar on the natural order, and the Druids seek to heal it. The Night Elf Druids were lately joined in the Cenarion Circle by the Tauren, who once again embraced their Druidic heritage.

Druids are the main shapeshifters of World of Warcraft, having a variety of animal forms with different types of abilities that are limited to that specific shape. Druids when in travel form, like characters on mounts, are not able to use any abilities or spells.

In their normal form, druids can cast damage spells and healing spells, as well as various offensive and defensive support spells.

In bear form, the druid acts as a tank. It raises armor, health, and attack power. In this form, a druid benefits from a high amount of stamina, strength, and agility. In cat form, the druid acts as a melee damage dealer. Druids can prowl in this form, which uses the same mechanics as the Rogue's stealth. In this form druids again gain a high amount of strength and agility.As a moonkin (an owlbear-like creature) the druid has more armor, attack power, chance on hit to regenerate mana and an aura that increases the spell critical strike chance of nearby party members. To gain this form the Druid must have at least thirty-one points in the 'balance' talent tree.

The travel form and the aquatic form allow the druid to travel faster by land and sea. In the Burning Crusade expansion, a flight form is trainable at level 68 to allow the druid to fly in Outland. Also, it has been officially stated on WoW forums that druids will be receiving an Epic Flight Form, to be achieved through a series of quests and with the ability to fly at 280% speed. The Tree of Life form increases the healing received for all party members, but slows the Druid. In this form, the Druid can only cast Healing-over-time spells, and these spells are granted a significant mana reduction. To gain this form the Druid must have at least 41 points in the Restoration talent tree.

Here are the character stats for the druid:
- Races: Night Elf, Tauren
- Weapons: Maces, Two Handed Maces, Staves, Daggers, Fist Weapons, Idols
- Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, Leather
- Talent Trees: Feral, Balance, Restoration