Polymorph

Polymorph allows a caster to transform into a creature they have studied, gaining its physical abilities and traits while retaining their own mind. This transformation includes the creature's strengths and weaknesses; for example, a sorcerer transformed into a wolf gains its keen senses but may provoke fear in villagers.

When the transformation takes hold, all equipment worn or carried by the target remains present but is hidden inside the polymorphed form. None of that equipment can be used, and none of its active, passive, or continuous effects function during the transformation. Armor grants no DR; an item that burns nearby creatures produces no heat or damage. The equipment returns unchanged when the original body returns. This suppression has no exception.

While transformed, the caster cannot use their own spells. The creature template replaces the body's STR, DEX, effective CON, maximum HP, Reflex, Fortitude, movement, attacks, and physical traits under Magical Creature Templates. The complete Polymorph Spell DC is locked when the spell takes effect: generated DEX governs Reflex, while Fortitude, effective CON, Breath Weapons, and racial ability DCs use that locked DC. Will does not change: use the transformed creature's natural Will Save. A caster transforming themself therefore keeps their own Will, while a creature drinking a potion keeps theirs. The new form has its own HP pool, and when the spell ends, the caster returns to exactly the HP their original body had before transforming. A template can state an exception.

Each transformed body carries its own strictly physical effects. Poison, disease, bleeding, parasites, and similar effects remain attached to the body that received them. They stop acting while another body is active and resume if that body returns before the effect ends. A grapple, bond, or physical restraint continues only if the new anatomy can still be held by it. Mental effects, curses, effects on the soul, and magic attached to the creature rather than its anatomy follow the caster through every form.

Changing from one transformed form to another preserves the current percentage of maximum HP, rounded down. A form at 60% HP therefore becomes another form at 60% HP; changing shape never provides a fresh body at full health. The original body remains the exception: when Polymorph ends, it returns with exactly the HP it had before the casting.

To gain the protection of the Ephemeral Aegis, the caster must choose a short duration measured in rounds per level. With the Aegis active, if the transformed body is reduced to 0 hit points, the caster safely reverts to their original form. If the spell is cast for a longer duration of hours or days, this safeguard is lost, and the form's destruction results in the caster's death. At level 8 and above, this risk is eliminated, and the caster always reverts safely if their form is defeated, regardless of duration.

Higher-level casters can shift between multiple forms within a single casting, and the spell's maximum duration and other capabilities improve with mastery as detailed in the table. Knowing Polymorph does not grant access to every creature. Each pattern must be learned separately under the Game Master's direction, through an in-game investment comparable to learning a new spell. Mastering a creature's pattern also masters it for Summon, provided the caster knows both spells. Advanced versions can also target others; willing allies are transformed but cannot shift forms, while unwilling targets must fail a Will save with a 25% penalty. Polymorph is exceptionally resilient, imposing a 25% difficulty increase on Dispel Magic and a 25% penalty on Detect Magic rolls.

Polymorph reshapes matter, not a mind, so it takes hold of a corpse as readily as of a living body. An undead has no Will Save to fail: it opposes the spell with the spell DC of the necromancer who raised it, and the higher DC wins. A partial undead resists with its own Will Save like anyone else. See 3.

Comparative Table of Polymorph Levels

Characteristic	Level 2	Level 4	Level 6	Level 8	Level 10
Maximum duration	hours/level	hours/level	days/level	days/level	Permanent
Number of transformations	1	2	3	4	8
Return to initial form	4 turns	2 turns	1 turn	1 tick	1 tick
Transformation change speed	3 ticks	3 ticks	3 ticks	2 ticks	1 tick
Communication	Natural organs of the creature	Oral with original voice	Oral or Psychic (30 ft)	Oral or Psychic (200 ft)	Oral or Psychic (∞ allies, 1000 ft enemies)
Available creature profiles	Known profiles requiring Level 2 or less	Level 4 or less	Level 6 or less	Level 8 or less	Level 10 or less
Target	Self	Self, Ally	Self, Ally, Enemy	Self, Ally, Enemy	Self, Ally, Enemy

Examples of Creatures by Polymorph Level

A linked creature leads to its bestiary template. Each profile has a manually assigned minimum level shared by Polymorph and Summon; size alone does not determine it. Names without a link are not written up yet.

Level	Example Creatures
2	Human (without magical powers), Dwarf, Drow, Black Wolf of Cerberus, Dream Dragon, Fire Elemental, Earth Elemental, Air Elemental, Water Elemental, Dog, Cat, Snake, Cavern Weaver, Raven, Owl, Chicken
4	Human, White Wolf of Brazzant, Ogre, Griffin, Owlbear of Cerberus, Horse of Cerberus
6	Hill Troll, Hill Giant, Young White Dragon, Young Red Dragon, Dark Young
8	Colossal Hill Giant, Mountain Troll, White Dragon Wyrm, Red Dragon Wyrm, Plains Giant, Minotaur, Basilisk, Colossal Worm
10	Beholder, White Dragon Great Wyrm, Red Dragon Great Wyrm, Sand Troll, Aboleth