Shapechange
2024 Rules
- Level & School
- 9th-level transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M (a jade circlet worth 1,500+ GP)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 hour
- Classes
- Druid, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2024)
You shape-shift into another creature for the duration or until you take a Magic action to shape-shift into a different eligible form. The new form must be of a creature that has a Challenge Rating no higher than your level or Challenge Rating. You must have seen the sort of creature before, and it can't be a Construct or an Undead.
When you cast the spell, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the Hit Points of the first form into which you shape-shift. These Temporary Hit Points vanish if any remain when the spell ends.
Your game statistics are replaced by the stat block of the chosen form, but you retain your creature type; alignment; personality; Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; Hit Points; Hit Point Dice; proficiencies; and ability to communicate. If you have the Spellcasting feature, you retain it too.
Upon shape-shifting, you determine whether your equipment drops to the ground or changes in size and shape to fit the new form while you're in it.
2014 Rules
- Level & School
- 9th-level transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M (a jade circlet worth at least 1,500 gp, which you must place on your head before you cast the spell)
- Duration
- Concentration, 1 hour
- Classes
- Druid, Wizard
- Source
- Player's Handbook (2014)
You assume the form of a different creature for the duration. The new form can be of any creature with a challenge rating equal to your level or lower. The creature can't be a construct or an undead, and you must have seen the sort of creature at least once. You transform into an average example of that creature, one without any class levels or the Spellcasting trait.
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the chosen creature, though you retain your alignment and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus listed in its statistics is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus in place of yours. You can't use any legendary actions or lair actions of the new form.
You assume the hit points and Hit Dice of the new form. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. If you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them, provided that your new form is physically capable of doing so. You can't use any special senses you have (for example, darkvision) unless your new form also has that sense. You can only speak if the creature can normally speak.
When you transform, you choose whether your equipment falls to the ground, merges into the new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal. The DM determines whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change shape or size to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge into your new form. Equipment that merges has no effect in that state.
During this spell's duration, you can use your action to assume a different form following the same restrictions and rules for the original form, with one exception: if your new form has more hit points than your current one, your hit points remain at their current value.
Shapechange 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences
Shapechange popularity
How popular is Shapechange? It is one of the rarest spells in the game, and it is almost never chosen when available. This spell is virtually unheard of in most campaigns, but you can change that.
- Bottom 25% of all level 9 spells
- Bottom 25% picked level 9 Wizard spell
- Bottom 10% of all 5e spells
- Bottom 10% picked level 9 Druid spell
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Shapechange
Animal Shapes 8th-level transmutation
This druid transformation spell changes willing creatures into powerful beasts and emphasizes flexible forms and improved durability.
Players prefer Animal Shapes over Shapechange
Polymorph 4th-level transmutation
Both use sustained shape-changing to provide mobility, survivability, and an alternate creature stat block.
Players prefer Polymorph over Shapechange
Alter Self 2nd-level transmutation
As a self-targeted transmutation with concentration, it offers a smaller-scale version of adapting your body for different challenges.
Players prefer Alter Self over Shapechange
True Polymorph 9th-level transmutation
Both are ninth-level transmutations that radically replace a creature's form for up to an hour while concentrating.
Players prefer True Polymorph over Shapechange
Draconic Transformation 7th-level transmutation
Both are self-only transmutations that turn the caster into a specialized combat form while granting new movement and physical capabilities.
Players prefer Draconic Transformation over Shapechange
Mass Polymorph 9th-level transmutation
It shares the same level, school, concentration duration, and broad creature-transformation gameplay, but affects multiple targets.
Players prefer Shapechange over Mass Polymorph