Spell Index

Polymorph

Transform into an animal, insect, magical beast or monster

Transmutation
Action: Standard
Components: V,S,M
Duration: See text
Spell Lists: Alchemy,Arcane
Levels: 3,5,7,9,10

Polymorph stands as one of the most potent and adaptable spells within the school of transmutation, granting a sorcerer the extraordinary ability to assume the form and powers of a creature they have studied in depth. Known for its versatility, this spell ranks among the most powerful of its kind—yet it carries an equal measure of danger. When a sorcerer undergoes transformation, they inherit not only the strengths of their chosen form but also its weaknesses. A sorcerer who becomes a mouse, for instance, might revel in newfound agility, only to find themselves perilously vulnerable to a prowling cat. Wise practitioners, aware of this double-edged nature, wield Polymorph with care, selecting forms that balance risk with reward to suit the demands of the moment.

The Span and Release of Transformation

When invoking Polymorph, the sorcerer must decide how long they wish to remain in their altered state. This duration varies widely, from a fleeting span of combat turns to an extended stretch of hours, depending on the caster’s intent and power. Returning to one’s original form is no simple matter, and the time it takes hinges on mastery of the spell. In its basic incarnation, Polymorph demands roughly two minutes to unravel the transformation, a process that can feel agonizingly slow in dire circumstances. Advanced practitioners, however, refine this art, reducing the detransformation to a mere instant—a single tick—allowing seamless shifts back to their natural selves. Alternatively, at any level of mastery, the caster can dismiss the spell outright as a simple action, requiring only a single tick to end the transformation entirely.

What Transformation Entails

Upon completing the spell, the sorcerer’s usual tools—magical equipment and innate spellcasting—slip beyond reach, replaced entirely by the capabilities of their new form. Yet their mind remains their own, sharp and aware, now housed within a body endowed with the creature’s physical traits and powers. A troll’s form brings with it remarkable regenerative vigor, a dragon’s shape offers the might of its fiery breath, and a wolf’s guise sharpens the senses with keen smell and swiftness. When spells target the transformed sorcerer, they rely on the reflexes of their current body to evade harm. Should evasion fail, mental assaults are met with the sorcerer’s own willpower, while physical effects are endured—or shrugged off—by the creature’s resilience.

Throughout the transformation, the sorcerer’s original body enters a state of stasis. Time halts its toll; aging ceases, and neither natural healing nor magical restoration touches the dormant form. This means a Cerberus sorcerer cannot replenish their spell reserves while cloaked in another shape. Likewise, wounds or mending experienced in the transformed state affect only that temporary vessel, leaving the original body untouched upon return.

Shifting Shapes Mid-Spell

For those who wield advanced versions of Polymorph, the spell offers a rare flexibility: the ability to transition between forms without recasting. This requires a moment of focused concentration—its length dictated by the spell’s specifics—allowing the sorcerer to flow from one shape to another as circumstances demand, all within the spell’s initial duration.

Countering and Detecting Polymorph

Crafted by the ingenious Gérard Alois, Polymorph resists interference with exceptional tenacity. A Dispel Magic spell aimed at unraveling its threads must contend with a difficulty threshold heightened by 25% during the caster’s level roll. Similarly, those seeking to pierce its veil with Detect Magic face a steeper challenge, as the spell imposes a 25% penalty on the detection roll, shrouding its presence in subtle arcane camouflage.

Mastering New Forms

A sorcerer skilled in Polymorph can expand their repertoire by studying new creatures, delving into their anatomy and essence to unlock fresh transformations. This process, especially for rare or magical beings, demands time and dedication, with the precise duration left to the Game Master’s judgment. Through such effort, the spell’s possibilities grow ever broader.

Transforming Others

In its more advanced forms, Polymorph extends beyond the caster, allowing the transformation of other beings. Willing allies submit to the change with ease, adopting their new shape under the same rules as the sorcerer—though they lack the ability to shift forms further. Their return to normal mirrors the caster’s own detransformation process. Hostile targets, however, resist fiercely. To impose the spell on an unwilling creature, it must falter against a Will save, opposed by the spell’s DC and burdened by a 25% penalty, reflecting the challenge of bending an adversary’s essence to the sorcerer’s will.

The Balance of Power and Peril

Polymorph offers a wealth of advantages to those bold enough to wield it. Its duration far surpasses that of traditional summoning spells, stretching from hours to days per level of mastery, dwarfing the mere rounds of lesser magics. Certain forms bolster resistance to attacks or toxins, while the spell’s natural aura blends seamlessly into the world, evading detection more readily than a simple illusion. Dispelling it proves 25% more difficult, and the unique abilities it grants—scaled to the caster’s growing power—often lack parallels in conventional magic. In combat, the option to shift forms multiple times provides tactical agility, with damage confined to the current shape, shielding the sorcerer’s true body.

Yet these boons come with risks. Some transformations invite vulnerability—a prey animal facing its predator, for instance—while the loss of magical gear and spells in altered form can leave the sorcerer exposed. Communication with allies may falter, limited by the creature’s natural means, and the original body gains no respite or recovery during the spell’s tenure.

Comparative Table of Polymorph Levels

Examples of Creatures by Polymorph Level