The title basically, The only reason I ask is because the new true sight specifies magical transformations and I don't know if changelings fall under that or no
The title basically, The only reason I ask is because the new true sight specifies magical transformations and I don't know if changelings fall under that or no
I would say no, the Shapechanger feature of Changelings doesn't mention it being magical so it isn't.
Personally I’d go with yes; you can split hairs on the exact wording of the description, but I consider the at will ability to change your appearance to be sufficiently magical to qualify.
I'd rule Truesight to not dicern the true form of Changeling. While Shapechanger is extraordinaire in nature, isn't magical per se considering clothing and equipment aren’t changed by this trait i interpret it as a biological morphing of some sort.
A creature with truesight can, out to a specific range, see in normal and magical darkness, see invisible creatures and objects, automatically detect visual illusions and succeed on saving throws against them, and perceives the original form of a shapechanger or a creature that is transformed by magic. Furthermore, the creature can see into the Ethereal Plane.
- 2024 Truesight (the important part):
Transformations. You discern the true form of any creature or object you see that has been transformed by magic.
Since a Changeling is tagged as a shapechanger, I'd say the 2014 version helps. The 2024 doesn't.
I agree the Change Appearance trait is not magical, so for example Detect Magic won't be useful to detect a transformed Changeling.
EDIT: I don't know if the change between editions is intentional?
EDIT: I don't know if the change between editions is intentional?
My impression is that they changed the wording because there was no actual definition of the word "shapechanger" in the 2014 rules, so they replaced it with a description instead. I don't think they really intended to change its behavior, just explain it better. Unfortunately I think it's still not clear whether the thing Changelings can do is intended to count.
Shape-Shift. The imp shape-shifts to resemble a rat (Speed 20 ft.), a raven (20 ft., Fly 60 ft.), or a spider (20 ft., Climb 20 ft.), or it returns to its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form, except for its Speed. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn't transformed.
And Shape-Shifting isn't magical per se. So in that case, I believe it'd be the same: 2024 Truesight won't reveal the imp's true form.
A different case would be a Deva using its Shapechange spell.
EDIT: I don't know if the change between editions is intentional?
I'd have to guess that it is. They've streamlined the language to use defined concepts (except for "transformed" but I guess that's easy enough to understand) and followed how other effects that detect things work. It did change how a Changeling is affected but that seems OK to me (I too see it more as a biological change than a magical one).
The one change that is more interesting here IMO is that Wildshape lost its magical component so it too should no longer be found by Truesight or Detect Magic.
Unfortunately I think it's still not clear whether the thing Changelings can do is intended to count.
I see no reason to treat a Changeling any different from a Dragon tbh. The "Is the breath weapon of a dragon magical?" answer from the 2014 SAC should still hold true.
In fact I'd hazard a guess that the reasoning behind that answer is the reasoning behind a bunch of changes in the 2024 rules, i.e to make the line between "concentrated" magic and "background" magic more clear.
EDIT: I don't know if the change between editions is intentional?
I'd have to guess that it is. They've streamlined the language to use defined concepts (except for "transformed" but I guess that's easy enough to understand) and followed how other effects that detect things work. It did change how a Changeling is affected but that seems OK to me (I too see it more as a biological change than a magical one).
The one change that is more interesting here IMO is that Wildshape lost its magical component so it too should no longer be found by Truesight or Detect Magic.
I have to admit my interpretation is different here. The Druid class includes some references to magic when they transform into animals:
Druids belong to ancient orders that call on the forces of nature. Harnessing the magic of animals, plants, and the four elements, Druids heal, transform into animals, and wield elemental destruction.
Also, the next answer in the SAC, to me, says indirectly that Wild Shape is still a magical effect.
Can you use Dispel Magic to dispel a magical effect like a Druid’s Wild Shape?
Dispel Magic has a particular purpose: to break other spells. It has no effect on a magical effect that isn’t created by a spell unless the text says otherwise (though the DM can always make exceptions).
Also, the next answer in the SAC, to me, says indirectly that Wild Shape is still a magical effect.
Can you use Dispel Magic to dispel a magical effect like a Druid’s Wild Shape?
Dispel Magic has a particular purpose: to break other spells. It has no effect on a magical effect that isn’t created by a spell unless the text says otherwise (though the DM can always make exceptions).
That's interesting (and kind of confusing) since Wild Shape lost the language that said it was magical.
I'd wish to have a clear text stating it, but my interpretation is based on that class description, some mentions of Magic action for certain subclass features related to Wild Shape, and the fact that a Magical Effect is "a phenomenon that a rule labels as magical". Well, and that SAC answer.
I'd wish to have a clear text stating it, but my interpretation is based on that class description, some mentions of Magic action for certain subclass features related to Wild Shape, and the fact that a Magical Effect is "a phenomenon that a rule labels as magical". Well, and that SAC answer.
Maybe not the strongest arguments, I know.
Neither the use of the Magic Action as (sometimes) the way to spend a WS for other effects nor some fluff text in the class introduction are in any way persuasive arguments for me.
And the Magical Effect rule is, I feel, more on my side of this argument since the 2024 rules for Wild Shape doesn't mention it being magical, something that the 2014 rules did explicitly do.
The SAC answer is the only thing that would point towards Wild Shape being a magical. It's not enough to convince me fully but I'm open to the possibility.
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The title basically, The only reason I ask is because the new true sight specifies magical transformations and I don't know if changelings fall under that or no
I would say no, the Shapechanger feature of Changelings doesn't mention it being magical so it isn't.
Personally I’d go with yes; you can split hairs on the exact wording of the description, but I consider the at will ability to change your appearance to be sufficiently magical to qualify.
I'd rule Truesight to not dicern the true form of Changeling. While Shapechanger is extraordinaire in nature, isn't magical per se considering clothing and equipment aren’t changed by this trait i interpret it as a biological morphing of some sort.
Truesight is different between editions:
- 2014 Truesight
- 2024 Truesight (the important part):
Since a Changeling is tagged as a shapechanger, I'd say the 2014 version helps. The 2024 doesn't.
I agree the Change Appearance trait is not magical, so for example Detect Magic won't be useful to detect a transformed Changeling.
EDIT: I don't know if the change between editions is intentional?
I only looked at 5E24 i agree with TarodNet that 5E14 Truesight would perceives the original form of a Changeling.
My impression is that they changed the wording because there was no actual definition of the word "shapechanger" in the 2014 rules, so they replaced it with a description instead. I don't think they really intended to change its behavior, just explain it better. Unfortunately I think it's still not clear whether the thing Changelings can do is intended to count.
pronouns: he/she/they
It's true that creature is from the 2014 era, so let's take another example, but from the 2025 MM.
The Imp has this action:
And Shape-Shifting isn't magical per se. So in that case, I believe it'd be the same: 2024 Truesight won't reveal the imp's true form.
A different case would be a Deva using its Shapechange spell.
I'd have to guess that it is. They've streamlined the language to use defined concepts (except for "transformed" but I guess that's easy enough to understand) and followed how other effects that detect things work. It did change how a Changeling is affected but that seems OK to me (I too see it more as a biological change than a magical one).
The one change that is more interesting here IMO is that Wildshape lost its magical component so it too should no longer be found by Truesight or Detect Magic.
I see no reason to treat a Changeling any different from a Dragon tbh. The "Is the breath weapon of a dragon magical?" answer from the 2014 SAC should still hold true.
In fact I'd hazard a guess that the reasoning behind that answer is the reasoning behind a bunch of changes in the 2024 rules, i.e to make the line between "concentrated" magic and "background" magic more clear.
Yeah, probably it is. I agree.
I have to admit my interpretation is different here. The Druid class includes some references to magic when they transform into animals:
Also, the next answer in the SAC, to me, says indirectly that Wild Shape is still a magical effect.
That said, I also admit it's open to debate.
That's interesting (and kind of confusing) since Wild Shape lost the language that said it was magical.
I'd wish to have a clear text stating it, but my interpretation is based on that class description, some mentions of Magic action for certain subclass features related to Wild Shape, and the fact that a Magical Effect is "a phenomenon that a rule labels as magical". Well, and that SAC answer.
Maybe not the strongest arguments, I know.
Neither the use of the Magic Action as (sometimes) the way to spend a WS for other effects nor some fluff text in the class introduction are in any way persuasive arguments for me.
And the Magical Effect rule is, I feel, more on my side of this argument since the 2024 rules for Wild Shape doesn't mention it being magical, something that the 2014 rules did explicitly do.
The SAC answer is the only thing that would point towards Wild Shape being a magical. It's not enough to convince me fully but I'm open to the possibility.