"At 10th level, you add the polymorph spell to your spellbook, if it is not there already. You can cast polymorph without expending a spell slot. When you do so, you can target only yourself and transform into a beast whose challenge rating is 1 or lower.
Once you cast polymorph in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest, though you can still cast it normally using an available spell slot."
The polymorph spell says that you can't polymorph an unwilling shapechanger. Gaining this ability would prevent you from being polymorphed?
Actually, polymorph says "The spell has no effect on a shapechanger..."
If it were meant to have the player treated as a shapechanger, the feature itself wouldn't work (since it casts the spell). There are creatures with the shapechanger tag/feature. Shapechanger creatures do not cast the spell on themselves when they polymorph.
Ultimately up to DM interpretation, but I don't think it is RAI for them to be immune to polymorph.
Ultimately up to DM interpretation, but I don't think it is RAI for them to be immune to polymorph.
Yeah, feature/spell names don't really carry any rules weight. Mage Armor isn't actually armor, Shield of Faith doesn't give you a shield, Lay On Hands doesn't require using your hands, etc. The Shapechanger feature doesn't say "you are now considered a shapechanger", so you're not.
Unless you have the "shapechanger" tag, much like Elves have the "fey" tag, then you are still subject to polymorph spells.
Not sure what you mean here. Fey is a type, not a tag, and I don't know of any elf stat blocks that are also shapechangers.
What Madclergy has displayed above, though, admittedly, after some review, it seems I was incorrect about elves having the "fey" descriptor in various monster stat blocks. Basically, unless you ability, spell, or effect specifically says that you gain the "shapechanger" type,tag,descriptor, etc., then you are not immune to polymorph.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Actually, polymorph says "The spell has no effect on a shapechanger..."
Interesting. Has this been errata-ed, and that's why I'm seeing a difference? My copy says that a shapechanger automatically succeeds on their saving throw.
Would only possibly make a difference (and was something I was thinking about given that I'm currently playing a Changeling) if for example the shapechanger was unconscious. Making a save can sometimes imply having to be conscious.
Actually, polymorph says "The spell has no effect on a shapechanger..."
Interesting. Has this been errata-ed, and that's why I'm seeing a difference? My copy says that a shapechanger automatically succeeds on their saving throw.
Hmm. I don't see it mentioned in the errata notes. It may have been part of the "can’t affect a target that has 0 hit points" errata. But that is definitely what it says in DDB's compendium.
Also Changlings also don't count as shapeshifters by current rules.
What Madclergy has displayed above, though, admittedly, after some review, it seems I was incorrect about elves having the "fey" descriptor in various monster stat blocks.
Maybe you were thinking of the Eladrin stat blocks from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes? Those are fey instead of humanoid (though the playable race is still humanoid.)
Actually, polymorph says "The spell has no effect on a shapechanger..."
Interesting. Has this been errata-ed, and that's why I'm seeing a difference? My copy says that a shapechanger automatically succeeds on their saving throw.
Hmm. I don't see it mentioned in the errata notes. It may have been part of the "can’t affect a target that has 0 hit points" errata. But that is definitely what it says in DDB's compendium.
Also Changlings also don't count as shapeshifters by current rules.
Yeah, my DM and I are in conferences about what counts for Changelings :) But the Polymorph thing is interesting, I'm wondering if newer prints of the PHB have the wording from here at DDB, or if they made the change from the book to here for some reason.
This ability is called "Shapechanger":
"At 10th level, you add the polymorph spell to your spellbook, if it is not there already. You can cast polymorph without expending a spell slot. When you do so, you can target only yourself and transform into a beast whose challenge rating is 1 or lower.
Once you cast polymorph in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest, though you can still cast it normally using an available spell slot."
The polymorph spell says that you can't polymorph an unwilling shapechanger. Gaining this ability would prevent you from being polymorphed?
Actually, polymorph says "The spell has no effect on a shapechanger..."
If it were meant to have the player treated as a shapechanger, the feature itself wouldn't work (since it casts the spell). There are creatures with the shapechanger tag/feature. Shapechanger creatures do not cast the spell on themselves when they polymorph.
Ultimately up to DM interpretation, but I don't think it is RAI for them to be immune to polymorph.
Unless you have the "shapechanger" tag, much like Elves have the "fey" tag, then you are still subject to polymorph spells.
Yeah, feature/spell names don't really carry any rules weight. Mage Armor isn't actually armor, Shield of Faith doesn't give you a shield, Lay On Hands doesn't require using your hands, etc. The Shapechanger feature doesn't say "you are now considered a shapechanger", so you're not.
Not sure what you mean here. Fey is a type, not a tag, and I don't know of any elf stat blocks that are also shapechangers.
What Madclergy has displayed above, though, admittedly, after some review, it seems I was incorrect about elves having the "fey" descriptor in various monster stat blocks. Basically, unless you ability, spell, or effect specifically says that you gain the "shapechanger" type,tag,descriptor, etc., then you are not immune to polymorph.
Interesting. Has this been errata-ed, and that's why I'm seeing a difference? My copy says that a shapechanger automatically succeeds on their saving throw.
Would only possibly make a difference (and was something I was thinking about given that I'm currently playing a Changeling) if for example the shapechanger was unconscious. Making a save can sometimes imply having to be conscious.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Hmm. I don't see it mentioned in the errata notes. It may have been part of the "can’t affect a target that has 0 hit points" errata. But that is definitely what it says in DDB's compendium.
Also Changlings also don't count as shapeshifters by current rules.
Maybe you were thinking of the Eladrin stat blocks from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes? Those are fey instead of humanoid (though the playable race is still humanoid.)
Thank you for the replies|, I won't count my wizard as a shapechanger then.
Yeah, my DM and I are in conferences about what counts for Changelings :) But the Polymorph thing is interesting, I'm wondering if newer prints of the PHB have the wording from here at DDB, or if they made the change from the book to here for some reason.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)