Polymorph: She Turned Me Into a Newt

Usable By: Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

Spell Level: 4

School: Transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 60 feet

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

Components: V, S, M (a caterpillar cocoon)

This spell transforms a creature that you can see within range into a new form. An unwilling creature must make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the effect. The spell has no effect on a shapechanger or a creature with 0 hit points.

The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 hit points or dies. The new form can be any beast whose challenge rating is equal to or less than the target’s (or the target’s level, if it doesn’t have a challenge rating). The target’s game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. It retains its alignment and personality.

The target assumes the hit points of its new form. When it reverts to its normal form, the creature returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed. If it reverts as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to its normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce the creature’s normal form to 0 hit points, it isn’t knocked unconscious.

The creature is limited in the actions it can perform by the nature of its new form, and it can’t speak, cast spells, or take any other action that requires hands or speech.

The target’s gear melds into the new form. The creature can’t activate, use, wield, or otherwise benefit from any of its equipment.

Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

I don’t know if Polymorph is more infamous or famous. It’s a contentious spell, to say the least, as a 4th level spell that can do so much certainly is worthy of either descriptor. It has two primary modes, both of which offer outrageous potential: a willing creature is transformed into a monstrous beast, or an unwilling creature is transformed into a harmless critter. In either case, you’re going to find Polymorph can just do so many things that make a DM’s brain hurt trying to figure out how to adapt to the lunacy it introduces.

Transforming a 7th level buddy into a Giant Ape can take the bard who is out of spell slots and turn them into a force of destruction. With the shift in mental ability scores, you’re going to want to position the creatures carefully to get the most juice out of it, but spontaneously getting 157 hit points, multi-attack with +9 to hit, and 3d10+6 damage hits and ranged rock attacks can be encounter warping in the mid-tiers. Level 8 characters can become tyrannosaurus rexes, offering fewer hit points, but 4d12+7 bite attacks that grapple and 3d8+7 tail attacks too. Sure, you can’t use any class features, but when you’re running on empty with spell slots or just want a temporary upgrade, Polymorph can turn any ally into a killing machine.

Alternatively, when confronting the big, scary dragon and its squad of kobold lackeys, you can force the dragon to make a Wisdom save or become a harmless little squirrel. Shove it in a pack, kill the kobold lackeys, grab whatever loot you’d like, and stroll on out before it transforms back. If you fear repercussions down the line, instead just have the barbarian restrain the squirrel, and everyone readies attacks to throw a ton of free, powerful abilities at the polymorphed threat all at once! In either case, a potentially lethal encounter is made substantially easier should it fail. If it passes, you’ll feel majorly demoralized as the spell will do literally nothing, but that can be worth the risk given how outrageous the payoff can be.

Here’s an easy idea: turn the monster into a sheep, tie it to a pole deep inside a cave, then blast the room with enough damage to cave it in, burying the creature in the debris. Epic 200 hit point monster? Psh, no match for polymorph and some well placed explosives!

Polymorph in its current form may be a bit too much, specifically for managing powerful enemies. This is the kind of spell that forced Lengedary Resistance to exist; a save or die that is so powerful and cheap that if something fails it, the encounter can be over before it begins. Some players aren’t going to like the potential to waste a spell slot: I’m one of these players. When I cast a spell, I want it to always do something. As a DM, though, I absolutely respect how backbreaking a well timed Polymorph can be.

5e Spells

Polymorph: She Turned Me Into a Newt