Polymorph Spell — D&D 5.5e, Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e

Polymorph

Transformation and legal forms

Choose a Beast stat block whose Challenge Rating is no higher than the target’s Challenge Rating. When the target has no Challenge Rating, use its level instead. The target makes a Wisdom saving throw and shape-shifts on a failed save.

The chosen form must have the Beast creature type. The spell does not permit Monstrosities, Dragons, Plants, Elementals or other creature categories merely because their bodies resemble animals. Casting with a higher-level spell slot does not increase the form limit, duration or number of targets.

Statistics retained and replaced

The transformed target remains its original creature type. An Undead, Construct, Fiend or other creature therefore does not become a Beast for effects that inspect creature type, even though most of its game statistics come from a Beast stat block.

Temporary Hit Points and ending the spell

The target gains Temporary Hit Points equal to the Hit Points listed in the Beast stat block. Damage is applied to those Temporary Hit Points first. Damage exceeding the remaining Temporary Hit Points carries into the target’s retained Hit Points under the normal Temporary Hit Point rules.

The spell ends early on the target when it has no Temporary Hit Points. Any Temporary Hit Points granted by Polymorph that remain when the spell ends also vanish. Ending or losing Concentration restores the target’s normal statistics but does not restore lost Hit Points.

Speech, spellcasting, actions and equipment

• The new anatomy limits which actions the target can perform.
• The target cannot speak while transformed.
• The target cannot cast spells while transformed.
• Worn and carried equipment melds into the Beast form.
• Melded equipment cannot be used and provides no benefit.
• Use the Beast stat block’s actions rather than the target’s normal weapon attacks or class actions.

Counters and interactions

Practical adjudication

• Have the complete Beast stat block ready before the spell is cast.
• Record the target’s retained Hit Points separately from the Temporary Hit Point pool.
• Check the form’s creature type and Challenge Rating rather than relying on its name or appearance.
• Track Concentration even when the transformed target is far from the caster.
• When the Temporary Hit Points reach zero, apply any excess damage and end the transformation immediately.

Polymorph

Willing subject and chosen form

The spell affects only a willing living creature. The caster chooses the new form. The subject may communicate a preference, but it cannot determine the final form beyond expressing those wishes to the caster.

The subject may return to its normal form as a full-round action, immediately ending the spell for itself. The caster may also dismiss the effect because the duration is dismissible.

Form packages

Pathfinder Polymorph does not replace the subject with a complete monster stat block. The selected category directs the spell to another polymorph spell, which supplies the legal sizes, ability adjustments, natural-armor bonus, movement, senses and special abilities.

Humanoid forms through Alter Self

Animal forms through Beast Shape II

A qualifying animal form may grant climb 60 feet, fly 60 feet with good manoeuvrability, swim 60 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, scent, grab, pounce and trip. When the selected creature has a weaker version of a listed benefit, the subject gains that weaker version rather than the maximum value.

Elemental forms through Elemental Body I

Pathfinder polymorph-subschoool rules

• The subject gains a +10 bonus on Disguise checks to appear as the assumed kind of creature.
• The subject gains only abilities authorised by the governing spell, not every ability in the creature’s stat block.
• The subject gains the base creature’s natural attacks and is proficient with them.
• Natural attacks use the subject’s base attack bonus and the appropriate Strength or Dexterity modifier.
• The new form’s base speed replaces the subject’s normal base speed.
• Size modifiers apply to Armor Class, attack rolls, CMB and Stealth.
• Ability scores change only where the governing spell supplies a bonus or penalty.
• A specific individual, templated creature or advanced creature is not a legal form.
• Only one polymorph effect can affect the subject at a time.
• The subject decides whether a new polymorph effect replaces the existing effect.
• Other effects that change size have no effect while the polymorph effect remains active.

Subjects outside the normal size range

When the subject begins smaller than Small or larger than Medium, first adjust its ability scores to a Small or Medium baseline, then apply the bonuses and penalties supplied by the chosen form spell.

Original abilities, equipment and spellcasting

The subject loses extraordinary and supernatural abilities, natural attacks, movement modes and class features that depend on its original form. The new form restores an ability only when the governing spell grants that ability.

Animal and elemental forms cause equipment to meld into the body. Constant bonuses that require no activation continue to function, except for armor and shield bonuses. Activated items cannot be used while melded. A humanoid form normally allows equipment to resize instead.

Material components remain unavailable when equipment has melded unless another rule, such as Eschew Materials or Natural Spell, removes the requirement. Verbal and somatic components require a form physically capable of speech and the necessary movements.

Counters and interactions

Polymorph

Inherited Alter Self framework

Polymorph functions like Alter Self except where its own description replaces or expands those rules. This means the full result depends on both spell descriptions rather than the short Polymorph entry alone.

Permitted forms and Hit Dice

The caster may transform the willing subject into a living creature of the subject’s original type or into an aberration, animal, dragon, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant or vermin.

The assumed form can have no more Hit Dice than the lower of the caster’s caster level or the subject’s Hit Dice, to a maximum of 15 HD at caster level 15. The form cannot be smaller than Fine, incorporeal or gaseous, and cannot possess a template.

The subject’s creature type and subtypes change to match the assumed form. Type-dependent spells and abilities therefore examine the new type while the transformation remains active.

Statistics retained, changed and excluded

The subject retains its own supernatural and spell-like abilities when the new anatomy can support them. It also retains extraordinary attacks and qualities derived from class levels, while losing non-class extraordinary abilities that depend on its original form.

The new Constitution score does not recalculate the subject’s current or maximum Hit Points. The spell expressly retains the subject’s Hit Points while replacing its physical ability scores.

Physical qualities and attacks

Physical qualities inherited from Alter Self include size, ordinary movement, natural armor, natural weapons, racial skill bonuses, racial bonus feats and gross anatomy. Flight gained from the form is limited to 120 feet, while other movement modes are limited to 60 feet.

The subject gains the new form’s extraordinary special attacks but not its extraordinary special qualities. Extra limbs alone do not grant additional attacks or a more advantageous two-weapon routine beyond what the normal attack rules permit.

Healing, death and reversion

• When the transformation occurs, the subject regains lost Hit Points as though it had rested for one night.
• The healing does not restore temporary ability damage or provide the other benefits of resting.
• Returning to the original form does not grant another healing.
• If the subject is slain, it returns to its original form and remains dead.
• An incorporeal or gaseous creature is immune to Polymorph.
• A creature with the shapechanger subtype may resume its natural form as a standard action.
• The caster may dismiss the spell because its duration is dismissible.

Speech, spellcasting and equipment

The subject retains its spellcasting ability, but verbal components require intelligible speech and somatic or material components require limbs capable of fine manipulation. A new form can therefore prevent spellcasting without removing the underlying class feature.

Equipment remains worn or held when the assumed form can use it. Otherwise it melds into the body and becomes nonfunctional. Merged equipment reappears in its former position when the subject returns to its true form.

Items added while transformed fall to the ground on reversion when the original body cannot wear or hold them. A separated body part or separated piece of equipment returns to its true form.

Counters and interactions