If you argue long enough, every thread becomes the same thread :)
Conditions aren't ASIs. But, Conditions, Features, Spells, etc. all apply what 5E calls "effects", which can often modify your statistics or the way you use those statistics. The Wildshape feature calls these effects "benefits", which is one more black mark against its editing, but putting that aside....
If you're Poisoned as a humanoid, then Wildshape into a Brown Bear you have whole new statistics, a whole new body, etc etc. But, Wildshape does not say it ends any conditions, so "you" are still Poisoned, and the effect of the Poisoned condition continues to modify your new statistics (by providing you disadvantage on some stuff, etc.).
If you have the ASI +2 Constitution class feature as a humanoid, then Wildshape into a Brown Bear, you have whole new statistics, a whole new body, etc. etc. But, Wildshape specifically tells you to keep the benefit of your class features, so "you" still benefit from ASI +2 Constitution, and the effect/benefit of that ASI +2 Constitution continues to modify your new statistics (by providing you +2 Constitution beyond a typical Brown Bear).
I don't think that the condition conversation is really necessary to understand the RAW on this, like I said back in post #2, the argument for Wildshape ASIs is very simple. Its all of these arguments to avoid it (and counterarguments to rebut those arguments, etc.) that start spinning off on weird tangents like "what's the difference between a condition and a feat" to prove RAI points :)
Then again, we're really only talking about str, dex, and con checks and saves since "When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice." and "When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block."
What is the RAW justification for allcapsing “YOUR” at me, to claim that your stats while wild shapes are not “YOUR”s? If you were strength drained while wildshape, are you under the impression your bear form would stay strong but the elf mode would wither in your soul? Or that you’d just laugh it off and sneer “fool, this isn’t even my true form, your magic holds no power here!” (Well, bears don’t talk, so “growl, roar grrrr growl rawrrrr!”)
Your ability scores are your ability scores.
Temporary statistics drain would apply to current form applicable.
Wow -- that's an awesome additional benefit to polymorph and wildshape, that I really hadn't thought about.
Wraith attack reducing your max hps? No worries. STR drain from a shadow?
Fuggedaboutit. Just change back and it's all gone. No restoration or long rest or whatever required. What about being poisoned? Or diseased? Or bitten by a werewolf? Do those go too? I don't know about other conditions? What about blinded? Paralyzed?
(Edit -- I read this back and it sounds like sarcasm. I am actually not being sarcastic, and I can see in retrospect this is a bit of a side-track off the topic. But I am curious about how wildshape interacts with other temporary effects on a character.)
Conditions affecting your ability to act, react or perceive would still affect you normally. Something draining STR or CON, would drain the Statistics from the beast form since you use his. Perhaps when you revert back to your true form the drain would still apply to your true form i don't know. It's be DM fiat as the feature doesn't provide any guidance on this. But i don't think draining STR should only affect your true form and leave you as strong while in beast form.
Then again, we're really only talking about str, dex, and con checks and saves since"When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice." and "When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block."
Did you just try to stealth-errata MM rules into Wild Shape, in a way that implies that Wildshape works like Polymorph and discards the benefit of your class, race, and other features? Lol.
'A creatures uses whatever modifiers is provided in its stat block' is a true-ism not worth quoting like it makes a point in either direction, that's just garden variety PHB 9 'how to make an attack roll' stuff. The question of this thread is, what is that stat block? Just the beast statistics that you assume in the literal first step of Wildshape? No, clearly not, because we've got a dozen or so sentences after that walking back various ways that that stat block gets modified. One of those walk-backs is, "retain the benefit of your class, race, and other features".
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
If a spell or ability granting you a beneficial effect would carry over into your wildshape form, say, by being under the effect of a Barkskin spell, then so too would an effect with an effective duration of Permanent. Wildshape itself says you keep the benefit of features. And, it is hard to argue increasing a stat isn't the benefit of the ASI feature.
This quote seems fairly black and white, open and shut case:
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source
Some of the rebuttals to this very simple idea are getting pretty far off into the weeds. This one seems surprisingly simple.
Is a +2, or two +1s, the benefit of an ASI? Yes.
Is ASI a class or race feature? Yes.
So, you keep it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
My initial response was "a wild shaped druid isn't a monster, even if it's taking the form of one," but actually, since the entire founding premise of this thread is accidental, if interesting, quirks of rules language, it's worth pointing out that player characters 100% meet the definition of monster.
To argue that the ASIs are applied directly contradicts the wording Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast.
The Ability Score Increase feature states:
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
It does not state that "Your ability score is 2 higher than it otherwise would be." Your game statistics have been increased.
So:
When you reach those levels, you increase one ability score by 2, or two scores by one. There. It's done. Your score has been increased. The Ability Score Increase has no further effect in the game.
Then you use Wildshape.
When you use Wildshape, your game statistics are replaced.
The effects are applied in that order. Any other reading is very clearly incorrect, due to the specific RAW wording of the Ability Score Increase feature.
To argue that the ASIs are applied directly contradicts the wording Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast.
The Ability Score Increase feature states:
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
It does not state that "Your ability score is 2 higher than it otherwise would be." Your game statistics have been increased.
So:
When you reach those levels, you increase one ability score by 2, or two scores by one. There. It's done. Your score has been increased. The Ability Score Increase has no further effect in the game.
Then you use Wildshape.
When you use Wildshape, your game statistics are replaced.
The effects are applied in that order. Any other reading is very clearly incorrect, due to the specific RAW wording of the Ability Score Increase feature.
Is it your contention then that a wild shaped druid under the effect of the aid spell doesn't benefit from the HP increase? After all, it says that the target's "hit point maximum and current hit points increase by 5," not that they're "5 more than they otherwise would be."
I just want to know if you're consistently applying the rules you're inferring.
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
This, too, is a tangent worthy of its own full thread. There is an argument to be made that yes, a Brown Bear's Biteaction is not RAW a 1d8+Str attack, but rather a 1d8+4 attack no matter what its strength score currently is. There is also an argument that that's RAI ridiculous, but even if that is true, the Bite action also implies the existence of a Bitenatural weapon (not just linguistically, but also in the MM introduction where it describes that special monster actions represent attacks with natural weapons), and that Bite is a 1d8 melee natural weapon, which of course can be used to make one or more strength-based melee attacks with the Biteweapon using the Attack action instead of the Biteaction following normal PHB 9 rules, as modified by your other retained class, race, or other features that might interact with the Attack action.
It's a whole.... big complicated discussion, so let's not drag it into this one, when it's only tangentially related. You can disagree with all of that, and still see why improvements to a Beast's Dexterity or Constitution scores are always helpful, or why improvements to its Strength might be helpful for its skill checks and saves etc.
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
My initial response was "a wild shaped druid isn't a monster, even if it's taking the form of one," but actually, since the entire founding premise of this thread is accidental, if interesting, quirks of rules language, it's worth pointing out that player characters 100% meet the definition of monster.
I mean, since we all agree on the intention, lets explore.
If you were to, say take increases to strength (2) and dex (2) as ASIs then transform into an air elemental right at level 10, what do you say its bonus to its slam attack is? According to your interpretation, of course.
Also, were proficiency bonuses errata'ed in for monsters or is that just a DDB thing? My physical PHB and the Basic rules PDF don't show them.
To argue that the ASIs are applied directly contradicts the wording Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast.
This argument keeps coming up, but I really don't understand its appeal.
If you read "your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast" to be a full-stop commandment that isn't walked back by the rest of the Wild Shape feature... then providing that wildshaped druid their humanoid intelligence, wisdom, and charisma score also "directly contradicts" the commandment that they replace their humanoid statistics with the beast's. That isn't even a different bullet, you've already run into something that "directly contradicts" that supposed commandment within the same sentence.
A Brown Bear's "statistics" are what you see in Monster Manual. Its "statistics" don't include any of the following:
your humanoid Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score.
your alignment
your skill and saving throw proficiencies
your class, race, and other features
your equipment
And yet! Wildshape tells you to retain all those anyway!
This is not a problem where these other non-Bear statistics "directly contradict" a direction to use the Bear statistics instead, and there's a disagreement about which part of the rule is most important. These are all different parts of one combined feature, none of which can be read independently of the entire feature. The Wildshape rule is not "your game statistics are replaced by the beast's," the rule is:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, 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 in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can’t use them.
When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren’t knocked unconscious.
You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you’ve already cast.
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.
You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides 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 size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can’t wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.
I mean, since we all agree on the intention, lets explore.
If you were to, say take increases to strength (2) and dex (2) as ASIs then transform into an air elemental right at level 10, what do you say its bonus to its slam attack is? According to your interpretation, of course.
Also, were proficiency bonuses errata'ed in for monsters or is that just a DDB thing? My physical PHB and the Basic rules PDF don't show them.
I think that there is a very strong argument that Elemental Wild Shape is a different use of wildshape uses that is not Wild Shape (just like Summon Wildfire Spirit, Symbiotic Entity, Starry Form), and that all rules of Elemental Wild Shape must be found within its feature (so "transform" into an elemental needs to be read and interpreted without assurance that it includes general wild shape benefits and rules). I have no problem (agreeing with you?) that all we're talking about is Wild Shape, not any other Druid alternative feature which uses wild shape charges.
There's a counter-argument that RAI that's not correct, since "Wild Shape" is right there in the name, and since it seems like it should work similarly to Wild Shape. I could be persuaded either way really, that discussion isn't important for what this thread is about.
This, too, is a tangent worthy of its own full thread. There is an argument to be made that yes, a Brown Bear's Biteaction is not RAW a 1d8+Str attack, but rather a 1d8+4 attack no matter what its strength score currently is.
Fortunately, we now have Companions, which tell you what happens when you modify a creature's stat block.
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
My initial response was "a wild shaped druid isn't a monster, even if it's taking the form of one," but actually, since the entire founding premise of this thread is accidental, if interesting, quirks of rules language, it's worth pointing out that player characters 100% meet the definition of monster.
I mean, since we all agree on the intention, lets explore.
If you were to, say take increases to strength (2) and dex (2) as ASIs then transform into an air elemental right at level 10, what do you say its bonus to its slam attack is? According to your interpretation, of course.
Also, were proficiency bonuses errata'ed in for monsters or is that just a DDB thing? My physical PHB and the Basic rules PDF don't show them.
I posted that to say that I agree with you: when a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block, and PCs are monsters according to the definition thereof, so if a PC has a stat block for whatever reason, when they make the attacks listed in their stat block, those attacks use the modifiers provided in that stat block, irrespective of any changes to their ability scores. Again, according to the impractically legalistic readings the thread is about.
I posted that to say that I agree with you: when a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block, and PCs are monsters according to the definition thereof, so if a PC has a stat block for whatever reason, when they make the attacks listed in their stat block, those attacks use the modifiers provided in that stat block, irrespective of any changes to their ability scores. Again, according to the impractically legalistic readings the thread is about.
I'm not sure I agree that PCs have "stat blocks", though they do have "statistics". Legalistic hair splitting on whether all "creatures" are "monsters," and whether all "creatures" have statblocks or only "monsters" and "NPCs" aside.... none of that is really what this thread is about, is it?
I posted that to say that I agree with you: when a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block, and PCs are monsters according to the definition thereof, so if a PC has a stat block for whatever reason, when they make the attacks listed in their stat block, those attacks use the modifiers provided in that stat block, irrespective of any changes to their ability scores. Again, according to the impractically legalistic readings the thread is about.
I'm not sure I agree that PCs have "stat blocks", though they do have "statistics". Legalistic hair splitting on whether all "creatures" are "monsters," and whether all "creatures" have statblocks or only "monsters" and "NPCs" aside.... none of that is really what this thread is about, is it?
Generally, PCs don't. But if their statistics are replaced by those of something that does, they gain one. And since PCs are monsters, they follow the rules of monsters. Obnoxious quirks of inexact language is absolutely what this thread is about. It is a tangled web we weave.
To argue that the ASIs are applied directly contradicts the wording Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast.
Yes, we do need to follow that rule. But the ability does carve out exceptions to that rule that we must follow too. See, you don't replace everything universally. It instructs you not to. You're correct that it contradicts "Your game statistics are...beast" but that is precisely what specific>general rules interactions are all about. When it says to swap your stats to that of a beast..... but then to keep your mental stats. That too is a direct contradiction of "Your game stats are...beast". You're correct. That's precisely how exceptions work. All your stats are replaced by 'beast" Except where it says otherwise. Where it makes an exception.
One of the exceptions given is: You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source
Edit: I shoulda just kept reading C_C covered this more eloquently than I did lol.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
So .. is Proficiency bonus a class feature? It's derived from class levels, but not any specific class (much like mult-class spellcasting, in it's own way).
So ... should I also substitute my Proficiency bonus in the attack calculations when I change to a different form?
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How did ASI's become the equivalent of Conditions?!
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
If you argue long enough, every thread becomes the same thread :)
Conditions aren't ASIs. But, Conditions, Features, Spells, etc. all apply what 5E calls "effects", which can often modify your statistics or the way you use those statistics. The Wildshape feature calls these effects "benefits", which is one more black mark against its editing, but putting that aside....
If you're Poisoned as a humanoid, then Wildshape into a Brown Bear you have whole new statistics, a whole new body, etc etc. But, Wildshape does not say it ends any conditions, so "you" are still Poisoned, and the effect of the Poisoned condition continues to modify your new statistics (by providing you disadvantage on some stuff, etc.).
If you have the ASI +2 Constitution class feature as a humanoid, then Wildshape into a Brown Bear, you have whole new statistics, a whole new body, etc. etc. But, Wildshape specifically tells you to keep the benefit of your class features, so "you" still benefit from ASI +2 Constitution, and the effect/benefit of that ASI +2 Constitution continues to modify your new statistics (by providing you +2 Constitution beyond a typical Brown Bear).
I don't think that the condition conversation is really necessary to understand the RAW on this, like I said back in post #2, the argument for Wildshape ASIs is very simple. Its all of these arguments to avoid it (and counterarguments to rebut those arguments, etc.) that start spinning off on weird tangents like "what's the difference between a condition and a feat" to prove RAI points :)
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Then again, we're really only talking about str, dex, and con checks and saves since "When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice." and "When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block."
Conditions affecting your ability to act, react or perceive would still affect you normally. Something draining STR or CON, would drain the Statistics from the beast form since you use his. Perhaps when you revert back to your true form the drain would still apply to your true form i don't know. It's be DM fiat as the feature doesn't provide any guidance on this. But i don't think draining STR should only affect your true form and leave you as strong while in beast form.
Did you just try to stealth-errata MM rules into Wild Shape, in a way that implies that Wildshape works like Polymorph and discards the benefit of your class, race, and other features? Lol.
'A creatures uses whatever modifiers is provided in its stat block' is a true-ism not worth quoting like it makes a point in either direction, that's just garden variety PHB 9 'how to make an attack roll' stuff. The question of this thread is, what is that stat block? Just the beast statistics that you assume in the literal first step of Wildshape? No, clearly not, because we've got a dozen or so sentences after that walking back various ways that that stat block gets modified. One of those walk-backs is, "retain the benefit of your class, race, and other features".
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
And the answer is that Wild Shape certainly doesn't tell you to change any of the actions that the creature has, so When a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
If a spell or ability granting you a beneficial effect would carry over into your wildshape form, say, by being under the effect of a Barkskin spell, then so too would an effect with an effective duration of Permanent. Wildshape itself says you keep the benefit of features. And, it is hard to argue increasing a stat isn't the benefit of the ASI feature.
This quote seems fairly black and white, open and shut case:
Some of the rebuttals to this very simple idea are getting pretty far off into the weeds. This one seems surprisingly simple.
So, you keep it.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
My initial response was "a wild shaped druid isn't a monster, even if it's taking the form of one," but actually, since the entire founding premise of this thread is accidental, if interesting, quirks of rules language, it's worth pointing out that player characters 100% meet the definition of monster.
To argue that the ASIs are applied directly contradicts the wording Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast.
The Ability Score Increase feature states:
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
It does not state that "Your ability score is 2 higher than it otherwise would be." Your game statistics have been increased.
So:
The effects are applied in that order. Any other reading is very clearly incorrect, due to the specific RAW wording of the Ability Score Increase feature.
Is it your contention then that a wild shaped druid under the effect of the aid spell doesn't benefit from the HP increase? After all, it says that the target's "hit point maximum and current hit points increase by 5," not that they're "5 more than they otherwise would be."
I just want to know if you're consistently applying the rules you're inferring.
This, too, is a tangent worthy of its own full thread. There is an argument to be made that yes, a Brown Bear's Bite action is not RAW a 1d8+Str attack, but rather a 1d8+4 attack no matter what its strength score currently is. There is also an argument that that's RAI ridiculous, but even if that is true, the Bite action also implies the existence of a Bite natural weapon (not just linguistically, but also in the MM introduction where it describes that special monster actions represent attacks with natural weapons), and that Bite is a 1d8 melee natural weapon, which of course can be used to make one or more strength-based melee attacks with the Bite weapon using the Attack action instead of the Bite action following normal PHB 9 rules, as modified by your other retained class, race, or other features that might interact with the Attack action.
It's a whole.... big complicated discussion, so let's not drag it into this one, when it's only tangentially related. You can disagree with all of that, and still see why improvements to a Beast's Dexterity or Constitution scores are always helpful, or why improvements to its Strength might be helpful for its skill checks and saves etc.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I mean, since we all agree on the intention, lets explore.
If you were to, say take increases to strength (2) and dex (2) as ASIs then transform into an air elemental right at level 10, what do you say its bonus to its slam attack is? According to your interpretation, of course.
Also, were proficiency bonuses errata'ed in for monsters or is that just a DDB thing? My physical PHB and the Basic rules PDF don't show them.
This argument keeps coming up, but I really don't understand its appeal.
If you read "your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast" to be a full-stop commandment that isn't walked back by the rest of the Wild Shape feature... then providing that wildshaped druid their humanoid intelligence, wisdom, and charisma score also "directly contradicts" the commandment that they replace their humanoid statistics with the beast's. That isn't even a different bullet, you've already run into something that "directly contradicts" that supposed commandment within the same sentence.
A Brown Bear's "statistics" are what you see in Monster Manual. Its "statistics" don't include any of the following:
And yet! Wildshape tells you to retain all those anyway!
This is not a problem where these other non-Bear statistics "directly contradict" a direction to use the Bear statistics instead, and there's a disagreement about which part of the rule is most important. These are all different parts of one combined feature, none of which can be read independently of the entire feature. The Wildshape rule is not "your game statistics are replaced by the beast's," the rule is:
All of that. Not just part of that.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I think that there is a very strong argument that Elemental Wild Shape is a different use of wildshape uses that is not Wild Shape (just like Summon Wildfire Spirit, Symbiotic Entity, Starry Form), and that all rules of Elemental Wild Shape must be found within its feature (so "transform" into an elemental needs to be read and interpreted without assurance that it includes general wild shape benefits and rules). I have no problem (agreeing with you?) that all we're talking about is Wild Shape, not any other Druid alternative feature which uses wild shape charges.
There's a counter-argument that RAI that's not correct, since "Wild Shape" is right there in the name, and since it seems like it should work similarly to Wild Shape. I could be persuaded either way really, that discussion isn't important for what this thread is about.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Fortunately, we now have Companions, which tell you what happens when you modify a creature's stat block.
I posted that to say that I agree with you: when a monster makes an attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block, and PCs are monsters according to the definition thereof, so if a PC has a stat block for whatever reason, when they make the attacks listed in their stat block, those attacks use the modifiers provided in that stat block, irrespective of any changes to their ability scores. Again, according to the impractically legalistic readings the thread is about.
I'm not sure I agree that PCs have "stat blocks", though they do have "statistics". Legalistic hair splitting on whether all "creatures" are "monsters," and whether all "creatures" have statblocks or only "monsters" and "NPCs" aside.... none of that is really what this thread is about, is it?
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Generally, PCs don't. But if their statistics are replaced by those of something that does, they gain one. And since PCs are monsters, they follow the rules of monsters. Obnoxious quirks of inexact language is absolutely what this thread is about. It is a tangled web we weave.
Yes, we do need to follow that rule. But the ability does carve out exceptions to that rule that we must follow too. See, you don't replace everything universally. It instructs you not to. You're correct that it contradicts "Your game statistics are...beast" but that is precisely what specific>general rules interactions are all about. When it says to swap your stats to that of a beast..... but then to keep your mental stats. That too is a direct contradiction of "Your game stats are...beast". You're correct. That's precisely how exceptions work. All your stats are replaced by 'beast" Except where it says otherwise. Where it makes an exception.
One of the exceptions given is: You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source
Edit: I shoulda just kept reading C_C covered this more eloquently than I did lol.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
So .. is Proficiency bonus a class feature? It's derived from class levels, but not any specific class (much like mult-class spellcasting, in it's own way).
So ... should I also substitute my Proficiency bonus in the attack calculations when I change to a different form?