While researching this question about polymorphing a paladin's steed, I had a realization. Polymorph specifies a creature you can see as a target, and as answered here, "creature" essentially refers to every monster/PC/NPC that you might come across. This means that polymorph can change a spirit, ghost, or other incorporeal thing into a beast. Am I understanding this correctly that, as written, you can polymorph a ghost into a living thing? Am I missing something?
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asked Nov 18, 2016 at 17:54
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2 Answers
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Yes.
That is my understanding.
Creature Types
That is supported in the DMG and it list creature types it opens with
A monster's type speaks to its fundamental nature. Certain spells, magic items, class features, and other effects in the game interact in special ways with creatures of a particular type.
Among the list of creatures are fiends, celestials, fey and undead. These are the types that apply to most "ghostly" creatures -- especially that last one.
Ghosts, Banshees, Revenants are all undead creatures. It even speaks of a lot of fey and demons as "fey spirits" or "demonic spirits." (Even the Rakshasa is spoken of as an "evil spirit" -- though it does mention "in Mortal Flesh".)
Targeting
If this wasn't the case a lot of spells could never have been used on the above types of creatures. You could attack them either, as RAW you can attack objects and creatures. If a spirit was something else, besides a creature, those types which have ghostly things, would be immune to all damage. While some have communities and/or resistances because of their ghostly nature, the rule system still calls them all creatures.
Takes on the form
Moreover, when you summon the steed, it takes on the form and stats of the creature summoned -- which would include the creature type. So, even if you couldn't use polymorph on a Ghost, which you can by above, you'd still be able to polymorph the horse you summon with find steed.
Incorporeal in 5e
The ghost isn't completely incorporeal (like we think of Ghosts) in D&D 5e. It can be cut by blade or shot by arrow. It's incorporeal nature in 5e is modeled by resistance to non-magical weapons, a movement ability, and the ability to slip into and out of the ethereal plane as an action. So, you can touch the physical form of a ghost, if it is on the prime material.
answered Nov 18, 2016 at 18:17
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\$\begingroup\$ Yes, the steed in the example is a valid target based on my understanding. I just find it odd you could polymorph a ghost into a living, breathing, chicken. Some powerful magic, that. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 18, 2016 at 18:21
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\$\begingroup\$ That's very intriguing, so it wouldn't be polymorphed into an incorporeal chicken? \$\endgroup\$ Nov 18, 2016 at 18:25
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3\$\begingroup\$ I agree it is weird, but that is the rules. I suppose weirder is that a Ghost is a valid thing you can turn someone into using True Polymorph. But, you know, magic. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 18, 2016 at 18:26
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1\$\begingroup\$ If I could, I'd +1 you again for the edit regarding incorporeal in 5e. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 18, 2016 at 19:59
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Yes, it will work.
Polymorph states:
This spell transforms a creature that you can see within range into a new form.
The only restrictions on targets are:
The spell has no effect on a shapechanger or a creature with 0 hit points.
If there were any additional restrictions on creatures that polymorph can affect, they would be enumerated in the spell as well, but they're not, so they don't exist.
So yes, you can polymorph the ghost into a living thing, if that is your desire.
