- Casting time
- 1 action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (A caterpillar cocoon)
- Duration
- Concentration, Up to 1 hour
- School
- Transmutation
- Level
- 4
- Saving throw
- Wisdom
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.
How Polymorph plays
You turn a creature you can see within 60 feet into a beast for up to an hour, with concentration. An unwilling target makes a Wisdom save to resist. The new form can be any beast whose challenge rating is no higher than the target’s own CR or level, and it replaces all of the target’s statistics, even Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma, while keeping its personality and alignment.
It has two very different uses. Cast on an ally, it’s a huge buffer: turn a 7th-level rogue into a giant ape and they get a fresh pool of 157 hit points, and when those run out they drop back to their own. Cast on an enemy, it’s a way to take a monster out of a fight: a frog can’t cast spells, breathe fire or swing a greataxe.
Common questions
What can I polymorph someone into?
Any beast with a challenge rating up to the target’s CR, or up to its level if it doesn’t have a CR. A 7th-level character can become a giant ape (CR 7); an 8th-level one a Tyrannosaurus rex (CR 8).
What happens when the polymorphed form drops to 0 hit points?
The creature reverts to its normal form with the hit points it had before. Any damage beyond what dropped the beast form to 0 carries over; as long as that doesn’t reduce the real form to 0, it stays conscious.
Can a polymorphed creature cast spells or talk?
No. It can’t speak, cast spells or do anything that needs hands or speech, and its gear melds into the new form, so it can’t use magic items either.
Does Polymorph work on shapechangers?
No. The spell has no effect on a shapechanger, so werewolves, vampires, mimics and doppelgangers can’t be polymorphed at all, willing or not.
Does the target keep its class features?
No. Its game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the beast’s. Unlike a druid’s Wild Shape, it doesn’t keep its own Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma, skills or features.
Can I cast Polymorph on myself?
Yes. You keep concentrating on Polymorph while in beast form, but you can’t cast any other spells until you change back.
Polymorph in the 2024 rules
The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised many spells, and the SRD 5.2 carries the new text. What changed from the 2014 version above:
Same level, casting time, range, components, duration and dice; the text is reworded for the 2024 rules glossary.
- Casting time
- Action
- Range
- 60 feet
- Components
- V, S, M (a caterpillar cocoon)
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 hour
- School
- Transmutation
- Level
- 4
- Classes
- Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
- Tags
- concentration
You attempt to transform a creature that you can see within range into a Beast. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or shape-shift into a Beast form for the duration. That form can be any Beast you choose that has a Challenge Rating 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 are replaced by the stat block of the chosen Beast, but the target retains its alignment, personality, creature type, Hit Points, and Hit Point Dice. See the "Animals" section of "Monsters" for a sample of Beast stat blocks.
The target gains a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the Hit Points of the Beast form. These Temporary Hit Points vanish if any remain when the spell ends. The spell ends early on the target if it has no Temporary Hit Points left.
The target is limited in the actions it can perform by the anatomy of its new form, and it can't speak or cast spells.
The target's gear melds into the new form. The creature can't use or otherwise benefit from any of that equipment.
2024 version from the SRD 5.2. Most tables settle on one edition, so check which one yours uses.
