Shapeshifter (Hero Class)

The shapeshifter has mastered control over their physical form to the point where they can alter it to their will. Their bodies are malleable, and can be shaped to suit their needs both in and out of combat. 

 Author's Note: This subclass is part of a series intended to replicate different superhero archetypes (all labeled "hero class"). These are my first attempts at homebrewing subclasses, so constructive feedback is much appreciated.

Living Sling

2nd level Shapeshifter feature

Long flexible arms allow you to sling objects at incredible speeds.

• You know the thorn whip cantrip.
• You have the catapult spell prepared. It counts as a druid spell for you, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can have prepared.
• You can cast catapult without expending a spell slot. You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Pliable Form

2nd level Shapeshifter feature

As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to take on a pliable form, rather than transforming into a beast. The form lasts for 10 minutes. It ends early if you dismiss it (no action required), are incapacitated, die, or use this feature again.

While in your pliable form, you gain the following benefits:

• Your melee attacks have a reach of 15 feet
• Your body, along with any equipment you are wearing or carrying, becomes soft and pliable. You can move through any space as narrow as 1 inch without squeezing, and you can spend 5 feet of movement to escape from nonmagical restraints or being grappled.
• You can alter your limbs at will to form natural weapons, such as a blade, spike, hammer, etc. Your unarmed strikes deal 1d6 bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage, as appropriate to the weapon you chose, and you are proficient with your unarmed strikes. This damage increases to 1d8 at level 10 and 1d10 at level 14.

Adaptive Form

3rd level Shapeshifter feature

You are able to shift your physical form to disguise yourself for periods of time.

As an action, you can alter your physical appearance, including height, weight, facial features, hair length, coloration, distinguishing characteristics, and clothing, though your voice sounds the same. You can make yourself appear as a member of another race, though none of your statistics change. You also can't appear as a creature of a different size than you, and your basic shape stays the same; if you're bipedal, you can't use this spell to become quadrupedal, for instance.

Alternatively, you can give yourself the appearance of an inanimate object, though you still feel soft and fleshy to the touch. You cannot move while you are in this form, but you can still speak and perceive your surroundings as normal.

Either effect lasts for one hour or until you dismiss it as a bonus action, at which point you revert to your normal form. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Size Control

6th level Shapeshifter feature

As an action, you can alter your size in one of the following ways:

• Swell: Your size increases to Large. If there isn't enough room to become Large, you grow to fill the space available. This effect lasts for one minute, during which you have advantage on strength checks and saving throws and your melee attacks deal an additional 1d4 damage.
• Shrink: Your size decreases to Tiny. This effect lasts for one hour, during which you have advantage on stealth checks.

You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Master of Form

10th level Shapeshifter feature

Your mastery over your own form prevents you from being altered by others. You are immune to any spell or effect that would alter your form against your will.

Additionally, the damage die for your Pliable Form unarmed strikes is now a d8, and your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances.

Density Control

14th level Shapeshifter feature

You have taken control over your own atoms, and can change your density to suit your needs. While in your Pliable Form, you gain the following benefits:

• Phase: You are able to move through creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain, but you take 1d10 force damage if you end your turn inside a creature or an object.
• Harden: You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

Additionally, the damage die for your Pliable Form unarmed strikes increases to a d10.