#There are no explicit rules, but it seems as if the whole swarm would take up one new form
There are no explicit rules, but it seems as if the whole swarm would take up one new form
###The rules aren't explicit, but they heavily imply that a swarm is considered one creature
The rules aren't explicit, but they heavily imply that a swarm is considered one creature
It appears that there are no general rules for swarms that are provided in the rules, but some information can be gleaned from looking at individual stat blocks.
Looking at Swarm of Ravens for example we can see:
The Swarm of Ravens is listed in one entry in the MM, with one statblock, one pool of HP, AC, abilities, etc. Nowhere does it say how many individual beasts compose the swarm, nor does it say that they are still considered individual creatures.
The swarm is always referred to in monolithic form
The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa , and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny raven . The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa , and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny raven . The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
- The swarm has damage resistances and condition immunities different from those of normal ravens, is listed with a size of Medium (Ravens are Tiny) and does considerably more damage than a group of individual ravens would. This means that this is treating this group of creatures as an entirely new creature.
The swarm has damage resistances and condition immunities different from those of normal ravens, is listed with a size of Medium (Ravens are Tiny) and does considerably more damage than a group of individual ravens would. This means that this is treating this group of creatures as an entirely new creature.
All these things show that all the rules we have for swarms treats them as one single entity not as a collection of smaller creatures. Thus, it is highly reasonable to extend that to targeting as well.
###Given that the rules treats them as one creature, single target spells should treat them that way as well
Given that the rules treats them as one creature, single target spells should treat them that way as well
So, since the heavy implication in the rules is that a swarm is treated as a single creature, single target spells should affect a swarm just as they would in the case they were targeting a normal single creature. In the case of polymorph, the swarm should then be transformed, as a group, into on single new form. So where you started with a swarm of rats (for example) you would end up with a single cat instead.