34
votes
Accepted
How can you detect a Doppelganger?
Magical Identification
There are several ways you can use magic to help identify a doppelganger.
Spells
A first clue that not all is as it seems with the doppelganger is that because their technical ...
- 66.5k
33
votes
Accepted
Does the Shapechanger trait work in an Antimagic Field?
The Shapechanger trait is not affected by antimagic field
The Sage Advice Compendium tells us how to determine whether a feature is magical (p. 17, "Is the breath weapon of a dragon magical?"):
...
- 36.6k
33
votes
Accepted
Can a dragon be stuck looking like a human?
Sure, You're the DM.
If you want there to be a Curse that has entrapped a Dragon in Human Form, then you can invent one. There is no need for RAW to support this--creating curses-as-plot-devices is ...
- 66.9k
30
votes
Do creatures age at the pace of the creature they've shapeshifted into?
From a rules perspective: no
While this isn’t stated anywhere explicitly, we can infer it in the fifth edition from the rules for Monsters.
Of note, only adult or ancient metallic and gem dragons have ...
- 15.2k
29
votes
Accepted
What does "statistics" mean in the Yuan-Ti Malison description?
It means "don't use a different stat block".
"Statistics" is a game term defined in MM p 6-11:
A monster’s statistics, sometimes referred to as its stat block, provide the essential information ...
- 19.4k
29
votes
Accepted
What is Strahd von Zarovich's weight in bat form?
Up to the DM
There are no official creature weights in 5e, just size categories. Specific heights and weights are up to the DM to narrate to fit the story.
This DM would say it weighs what a normal ...
- 126k
26
votes
Can a monster use Shapechanger to take any form, or just one unique form?
Different creatures, different abilities, different rules
While all of these fall under shape-changing, each creature/ability/spell has its own set of rules.
This is a great example of specific over ...
- 126k
26
votes
Accepted
Does a Druid in Wild Shape who fails their saving throw against the Moonbeam spell revert to their humanoid form?
No, the druid does not revert.
A shapechanger makes its saving throw with disadvantage. If it fails, it also instantly reverts to its original form and can't assume a different form until it leaves ...
- 24.5k
26
votes
Accepted
How long should Druidic shapeshifting take in Dungeon World?
Based on the comments, the problem is 100% not how quick the Druid's shapeshifting is, it's that you haven't been making GM moves on 6−.
Restricting the move is not at all the answer. The GM doesn't ...
- 244k
25
votes
Can the Moonbeam spell negate the effect of the Meld into Stone spell?
It is hard to argue that it would expel the druid
Issue 1: total cover
The meld into stone spell does not explicitly say that you gain total cover in the stone, but it implies it heavily. You cannot ...
- 61.9k
24
votes
Accepted
True polymorph and the dragon Change Shape feature
You couldn't change into a lich because a lich isn't humanoid or a beast
The change shape feature of the Brass dragon says (emphasis mine):
The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast ...
- 26.7k
21
votes
What is Strahd von Zarovich's weight in bat form?
I'd use Occam's razor to say he weighs the same as a normal bat. The reasoning for this goes:
He can masquerade convincingly as a normal bat. That's attractive to me as a DM for plot purposes. It ...
- 17.6k
20
votes
If a creature polymorphs into something, is it then that thing?
For the purposes of being affected by effects, it depends on the creature
Depending on the creature, the shapeshifting ability usually describes which statistics are kept and which are not. For more ...
- 36.6k
20
votes
Accepted
What is the duration of the doppelganger's Shapechanger ability, which lets them "polymorph" into a humanoid they have seen?
Everything works as per the description of the trait
The doppelganger's Shapechanger ability reads:
The doppelganger can use its action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid it has seen, or ...
- 3,281
18
votes
What is Strahd von Zarovich's weight in bat form?
You keep using that word1.
I do not think it means what you think it means.
Your assumption that Strahd's weight would be unchanged seems to come from a misunderstanding of the text you quote, "...
- 58.2k
17
votes
Can a metallic dragon voluntarily revert from Change Shape?
Yes.
The specific text of the metallic dragons' Change Shape action always includes, emphasis mine:
The dragon magically polymorphs into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than ...
- 66.5k
17
votes
Accepted
How can my players get around the Jackalwere's pesky shapeshifting?
Use silver and truth
You say that the devils have made some sort of safe zone, but they are secretly dealing with the Lamia on the side. However, they, being devils and well versed in the idea of ...
- 36.5k
17
votes
Accepted
Can a Changeling shapeshifted into a mind flayer read Deep Speech?
No, this won't work for several reasons
There are several problems here...
Qualith is not the written form of Deep Speech. Deep Speech does not have a written form. It is the only language listed in ...
- 66.9k
17
votes
Accepted
Can you get infinite spells through True Polymorph and Change Shape?
You would not gain the Spellcasting trait
The Ancient Gold Dragon's Change Shape ability has an additional clause (emphasis mine):
Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those ...
- 76.1k
17
votes
Accepted
Does a Deva's Change Shape Effectively Heal It?
No
Change Shape: ...
In a new form, the deva retains its game Statistics and ability to speak, but its [things that are not hp] are replaced by those of the new form, ...
Hit points are retained.
- 216k
17
votes
Accepted
If a Deva changes shape into a bear, do its attacks retain Angelic Weapons radiant damage?
The Angelic Weapons trait is retained while using Change Shape, and it applies to natural weapons.
The Deva’s Change Shape trait description tells you what it keeps and doesn’t keep while transformed:
...
- 154k
17
votes
Accepted
If a lizardfolk shaman is killed while in crocodile form, what is its HP after it reverts to its true form?
"Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form."
The Change Shape trait states:
Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form.
This means that the only ...
- 154k
16
votes
Accepted
Does an Oni get new HP when it changes shape into a humanoid or large giant?
Case 1, the Oni remains with 34HP.
As you quoted in Shapechange:
Other than its size, its statistics are the same in each form.
So all things in the Oni's stat block remain exactly the same when ...
- 47k
16
votes
What is the CR of a Metallic Dragon after it uses Change Shape?
Treat the Dragon's CR as 20
In the specific example you give at face value the current CR seems appropriate, but I would argue given how the spell works and its effects that it was specifically ...
- 41.2k
16
votes
Can a naked Changeling use its Shapechanger feature to duplicate the appearance of clothing?
You cannot make equipment because you cannot change your statistics
We already have a Q/A which establishes that equipment (and thus clothing) are part of a creature's statistics: "What all is ...
- 76.8k
16
votes
Can a changeling change into a form with wings?
It really depends.
The "basic arrangement of limbs" is talking about being, for example, a bipedal four-limbed bilaterally-symmetric creature. That is to say, you have two arms and two legs, ...
- 78.3k
15
votes
Accepted
Can A Vampire Shapechange Out Of Mist Form?
There are a number of cases in D&D where the exceptions to a rule are not stated.
This is where the "specific beats general" principle of interpretation becomes relevant. "It can use its action ...
- 643
15
votes
Accepted
Does the werewolf get pack tactics in wolf form?
No. The abilities the werewolf has in each form are listed in its stat block. From its Shapechanger ability: "Its statistics, other than its AC, are the same in each form," where statistics would ...
- 27.8k
15
votes
Is a 10th-level Transmutation wizard considered a shapechanger for the purpose of effects such as Moonbeam?
No, a transmuter wizard is not considered a shapechanger
Shapechanger is a tag which is given to certain creatures.
The spell text of Moonbeam refers specifically to 'A shapechanger' not simply 'A ...
- 25.2k
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