Was stating up a druid when I noticed my wildshapes weren't getting all my ASI. They get my skills and stuff, just not the ASI, which is important for hit bonuses and max HP. Also doesn't look like I can add them manually without making a home brew copy of the monster.
EDIT: same problem for damage resistances. Those aren't being added either
can you expand on what you mean by them not getting your ASI?
If you're referring to the Ability Score Improvement feature that classes get at various levels - those affect the ability score of your character, but as far as the rules are concerned, don't increase the physical stats of the beast that you wildshape into.
The closest thing I know of is this. Jeremy's point boils down to "permit as much as possible", which isn't really definitive, but the wording says all features carry over.
There are many features that are universally agreed to be compatible with wildshape that are worded in the same way as ASI, so there's nothing in the wording that makes it so they don't apply. A feature that grants a resistance carries over, and that is "gained" in the same fashion as an ASI, so I don't see the difference really.
Things that affect the HP of your Wild Shaped form (e.g. max HP reductions) don't carry over to your regular form, and the Tough feat doesn't carry over to your Wild Shape form - the logic is that Wild Shape replaces your HP with the animal's while Wild Shaped.
Ostensibly, the same logic applies here. If you applied the ASIs to your mental scores, you keep that, because Wild Shape keeps your mental scores. If applied to your physical ability scores, then it doesn't carry over, because Wild Shape replaces those with the new form's physical ability scores.
You still get racial features, such as dwarven resistance to poison, which is ostensibly a physical trait. Remember, Specific trumps general, but that doesn't mean specific determines general if general is vague.
The only mention of physical overrides is HP, Hit Dice, vision/senses, and the physical stats (strength, dexterity and constitution) but that doesn't override your pre-existing skills/expertise in stealth or athletics, so there's no reason to think that ASI bonuses to anything outside of this would be overridden. In fact the wildshape even specifically states that you keep access to your racial and class features, and the ASI/Feats ARE class features.
Dwarven Fortitude gives you a +1 to Constitution and the ability to use Hit Dice when you take the dodge action. The wildshape states that your new HP/physical stats are overridden, so you wouldn't get any HP or con bonuses, but you would still have the ability to use your Wildshape's Hit Dice (which are specific to the Wildshape, not your character's regular pool) whenever you take the dodge action.
Movement also does not get specifically noted. Unless there's been some errata, it seems like you should get the +10 to speed in all shapes. Theoretically monks and barbarians could also apply their movement bonuses, the same way they can apply their Unarmored defense bonuses. Even if there is something that specifically covers movement, you'd still get to forgo opportunity attacks on your melee attacks. (very useful for shapes with charge/pounce abilities)
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Was stating up a druid when I noticed my wildshapes weren't getting all my ASI. They get my skills and stuff, just not the ASI, which is important for hit bonuses and max HP. Also doesn't look like I can add them manually without making a home brew copy of the monster.
EDIT: same problem for damage resistances. Those aren't being added either
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D&D Beyond FoundersHi there,
can you expand on what you mean by them not getting your ASI?
If you're referring to the Ability Score Improvement feature that classes get at various levels - those affect the ability score of your character, but as far as the rules are concerned, don't increase the physical stats of the beast that you wildshape into.
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Your base ability scores are replaced with the monsters, but your ASI are class features, so the mobs stats should be increased by them, no?
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D&D Beyond FoundersThere are numerous arguments across the internet about whether ASI should apply to the wild shape form, due to the way the feature is worded.
The D&D Beyond rules do not apply it.
I've just searched to see if I could find a sage advice response on this and can't see one anywhere.
If you do find a reference, please let us know!
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/chris-avellone-and-philip-daigle-planescape-torment-enhanced-edition
The closest thing I know of is this. Jeremy's point boils down to "permit as much as possible", which isn't really definitive, but the wording says all features carry over.
There are many features that are universally agreed to be compatible with wildshape that are worded in the same way as ASI, so there's nothing in the wording that makes it so they don't apply. A feature that grants a resistance carries over, and that is "gained" in the same fashion as an ASI, so I don't see the difference really.
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ModeratorRelated rulings:
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/07/21/what-happens-when-a-wildshaped-druid-that-has-had-its-hp-max-reduced-reverts-back-to-normal-2/
https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/10/31/does-the-tough-feat-have-an-affect-on-shifting-druid/
Things that affect the HP of your Wild Shaped form (e.g. max HP reductions) don't carry over to your regular form, and the Tough feat doesn't carry over to your Wild Shape form - the logic is that Wild Shape replaces your HP with the animal's while Wild Shaped.
Ostensibly, the same logic applies here. If you applied the ASIs to your mental scores, you keep that, because Wild Shape keeps your mental scores. If applied to your physical ability scores, then it doesn't carry over, because Wild Shape replaces those with the new form's physical ability scores.
You still get racial features, such as dwarven resistance to poison, which is ostensibly a physical trait. Remember, Specific trumps general, but that doesn't mean specific determines general if general is vague.
The only mention of physical overrides is HP, Hit Dice, vision/senses, and the physical stats (strength, dexterity and constitution) but that doesn't override your pre-existing skills/expertise in stealth or athletics, so there's no reason to think that ASI bonuses to anything outside of this would be overridden. In fact the wildshape even specifically states that you keep access to your racial and class features, and the ASI/Feats ARE class features.
Dwarven Fortitude gives you a +1 to Constitution and the ability to use Hit Dice when you take the dodge action. The wildshape states that your new HP/physical stats are overridden, so you wouldn't get any HP or con bonuses, but you would still have the ability to use your Wildshape's Hit Dice (which are specific to the Wildshape, not your character's regular pool) whenever you take the dodge action.
Movement also does not get specifically noted. Unless there's been some errata, it seems like you should get the +10 to speed in all shapes. Theoretically monks and barbarians could also apply their movement bonuses, the same way they can apply their Unarmored defense bonuses. Even if there is something that specifically covers movement, you'd still get to forgo opportunity attacks on your melee attacks. (very useful for shapes with charge/pounce abilities)