Let's assume that you're an unselfish player casting Polymorph on a fellow party member, or a Sorcerer casting a twinned Polymorph.
What class features (from any class) can be used while polymorph? Which classes make the best choices to cast Polymorph on, and which classes don't really get any benefit?
I think Barbarian's Rage can be used while polymorphed, right? Do some specific Barbarian path features like Ancestral Protectors work as well? Would a Raging Bear Totem Barbarian have resistance to all damage except psychic? Would a Barbarian have to enter into a Rage first, and then get polymorphed second? Or could a Barbarian enter into a Rage after being polymorphed?
I'm 100% sure that if you ask a Barbarian "can I cast polymorph on you" the answer will be yes. Or hell yes. Or something like that. You obviously do want to get your ally's permission ahead of time, but I don't think too many allies that have abilities that they can use while polymorphed are going to say no to you casting polymorph on them in battle.
If you don't have a Barbarian in your party, what other classes make a good choice for an ally to cast Polymorph on? Rogues are quite common in parties, and their cunning action works while polymorphed, right? But their Sneak Attack would not work, right?
It's been clarified that you can concentrate on a spell while you are polymorphed. And this ruling doesn't specify that you can only concentrate on the spell Polymorph. Therefore, if an ally casts Polymorph on you while you're concentrating on a spell, you can maintain concentration in that spell.
So let's say a Warlock is concentrating on Hex and then is Polymorphed by an ally. We know that the Warlock can still concentrate on Hex. So the target of its spell still has disadvantage on ability checks. But can the Warlock move the spell to a new target using a Bonus Action? Does the Warlock get the damage bonus from attacking the hexed target?
What class features (from any class) can be used while polymorph?
A simple answer: None.
From the spell: "The target's game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. "
Another simple example: A Shadow Sorcerer summons a Hound of Ill Omen. Does this Hound disappear if the Sorcerer then casts Polymorph on himself? Nothing in the rules makes me think so.
You can gain the most advantage of this if you cast it on a Barbarian, especially Bear Totem, or a Rune Knight Fighter. Rune Knight transformed into a huge beast, like a T-Rex, can then turn themselves Gargantuan.
Bear Totem Barbarians would still have resistance to damage while in T-Rex or other creature forms, and you'd be able to survive a lot of crap hitting you.
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You can gain the most advantage of this if you cast it on a Barbarian, especially Bear Totem, or a Rune Knight Fighter. Rune Knight transformed into a huge beast, like a T-Rex, can then turn themselves Gargantuan.
Bear Totem Barbarians would still have resistance to damage while in T-Rex or other creature forms, and you'd be able to survive a lot of crap hitting you.
Does the Rune Knight's Enlarge qualify as a spell?
I don't think a Rage ends just because you're Polymorphed, but I'm not sure if the benefits from a Rage would qualify as part of as creature's "game statistics" or not. The level 15 Barbarian ability (a level by which Polymorph isn't as overpowered anymore, but that's besides the point) I think makes it clear that being Polymorphed wouldn't end a Rage.
Ideal person to cast polymorph on is your apprentice spell caster.
He gets a bunch of hitpoints which he desperately needs. His spells are weak, often used for things like "Cast invisibility on me so I can cast Fly and have both up."
He gets actions to do from whatever he becomes, and he can be a real distraction rather than a victim you have to protect.
I don't think you should cast polymorph on anybody that needs to keep their concentration up. Most beasts have high HP and abysmally low AC so a polymorphed teammate is going to get hit a lot. With so many constitution saving throws to maintain concentration, your teammate is likely to fail one quickly.
Let’s say I am in the middle of casting a spell with a longer duration. And someone polymorphed me. Is my spell interrupted? RAI it seems very probable. But RAW?
I don't think you should cast polymorph on anybody that needs to keep their concentration up. Most beasts have high HP and abysmally low AC so a polymorphed teammate is going to get hit a lot. With so many constitution saving throws to maintain concentration, your teammate is likely to fail one quickly.
That's why it's probably better to cast it on a teammate than to cast it on yourself. The question is which teammate is the best choice.
If a Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon first, and then is Polymorphed, does he still get to do a Bonus Action attack with Spiritual Weapon each round? I think so.
Well, when you transform, you can't speak anymore, so that would ruin your spells.
It means you can't cast spells, but it doesn't mean that you can't concentrate on spells, or benefit from spells that have already been cast.
Quite obviously you can concentrate on a spell, otherwise if you cast Polymorph on yourself, you would immediately change back. But if you can concentrate on Polymorph, surely you can concentrate on other spells if somebody else casts Polymorph on you. Although as mentioned by pwhimp, it'll be hard to maintain concentration on a spell while Polymorphed because of your low AC (and your high threat level).
Class-related effects stop. The polymorphed barbarian is no longer a barbarian, so can no longer rage.
The Barbarian may no longer be a Barbarian, but the 15th level ability lists the ways in which a Rage ends, and ceasing to be a Barbarian is not one of them.
The Barbarian may no longer be a Barbarian, but the 15th level ability lists the ways in which a Rage ends, and ceasing to be a Barbarian is not one of them.
Really? I would think that's a pretty fundamental reason for a feature to end.
The Barbarian may no longer be a Barbarian, but the 15th level ability lists the ways in which a Rage ends, and ceasing to be a Barbarian is not one of them.
Really? I would think that's a pretty fundamental reason for a feature to end.
It makes sense that the Rage could be suppressed by Polymorph like in an Antimagic Field does with magic inside the field, but for the Rage to end early for a reason not specified in the Barbarian's level 15 ability would be very different.
Ending and effect and suppressing an effect are two different things.
My groups last two battles both had weak NPC friendlies, who could be one shot by the bad guys and we lost most of them. We have now levelled from 6 to 7 and I was thinking how much better the result would have been if the sorcerer could twin polymorph two of them in each fight.
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Let's assume that you're an unselfish player casting Polymorph on a fellow party member, or a Sorcerer casting a twinned Polymorph.
What class features (from any class) can be used while polymorph? Which classes make the best choices to cast Polymorph on, and which classes don't really get any benefit?
I think Barbarian's Rage can be used while polymorphed, right? Do some specific Barbarian path features like Ancestral Protectors work as well? Would a Raging Bear Totem Barbarian have resistance to all damage except psychic? Would a Barbarian have to enter into a Rage first, and then get polymorphed second? Or could a Barbarian enter into a Rage after being polymorphed?
I'm 100% sure that if you ask a Barbarian "can I cast polymorph on you" the answer will be yes. Or hell yes. Or something like that. You obviously do want to get your ally's permission ahead of time, but I don't think too many allies that have abilities that they can use while polymorphed are going to say no to you casting polymorph on them in battle.
If you don't have a Barbarian in your party, what other classes make a good choice for an ally to cast Polymorph on? Rogues are quite common in parties, and their cunning action works while polymorphed, right? But their Sneak Attack would not work, right?
A simple answer: None.
From the spell: "The target's game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. "
So casting Polymorph on a Raging Barbarian ends the Rage?
And it ends all spells active on the target? Both good and bad? A charmed ally is no longer charmed? An invisible ally is no longer invisible?
I guess I am interpreting the spell differently than you are.
It's been clarified that you can concentrate on a spell while you are polymorphed. And this ruling doesn't specify that you can only concentrate on the spell Polymorph. Therefore, if an ally casts Polymorph on you while you're concentrating on a spell, you can maintain concentration in that spell.
So let's say a Warlock is concentrating on Hex and then is Polymorphed by an ally. We know that the Warlock can still concentrate on Hex. So the target of its spell still has disadvantage on ability checks. But can the Warlock move the spell to a new target using a Bonus Action? Does the Warlock get the damage bonus from attacking the hexed target?
Another simple example: A Shadow Sorcerer summons a Hound of Ill Omen. Does this Hound disappear if the Sorcerer then casts Polymorph on himself? Nothing in the rules makes me think so.
You can gain the most advantage of this if you cast it on a Barbarian, especially Bear Totem, or a Rune Knight Fighter. Rune Knight transformed into a huge beast, like a T-Rex, can then turn themselves Gargantuan.
Bear Totem Barbarians would still have resistance to damage while in T-Rex or other creature forms, and you'd be able to survive a lot of crap hitting you.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
What about an Abjuration Wizard with an Arcane Ward that casts Polymorph on himself?
What about a Cleric that cast Spirit Guardians and then is Polymorphed by his ally?
Does the Rune Knight's Enlarge qualify as a spell?
I don't think a Rage ends just because you're Polymorphed, but I'm not sure if the benefits from a Rage would qualify as part of as creature's "game statistics" or not. The level 15 Barbarian ability (a level by which Polymorph isn't as overpowered anymore, but that's besides the point) I think makes it clear that being Polymorphed wouldn't end a Rage.
Ideal person to cast polymorph on is your apprentice spell caster.
He gets a bunch of hitpoints which he desperately needs. His spells are weak, often used for things like "Cast invisibility on me so I can cast Fly and have both up."
He gets actions to do from whatever he becomes, and he can be a real distraction rather than a victim you have to protect.
I don't think you should cast polymorph on anybody that needs to keep their concentration up. Most beasts have high HP and abysmally low AC so a polymorphed teammate is going to get hit a lot. With so many constitution saving throws to maintain concentration, your teammate is likely to fail one quickly.
Let’s say I am in the middle of casting a spell with a longer duration. And someone polymorphed me. Is my spell interrupted? RAI it seems very probable. But RAW?
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Well, when you transform, you can't speak anymore, so that would ruin your spells.
When the DM smiles, it is already to late.
That's why it's probably better to cast it on a teammate than to cast it on yourself. The question is which teammate is the best choice.
If a Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon first, and then is Polymorphed, does he still get to do a Bonus Action attack with Spiritual Weapon each round? I think so.
It means you can't cast spells, but it doesn't mean that you can't concentrate on spells, or benefit from spells that have already been cast.
Quite obviously you can concentrate on a spell, otherwise if you cast Polymorph on yourself, you would immediately change back. But if you can concentrate on Polymorph, surely you can concentrate on other spells if somebody else casts Polymorph on you. Although as mentioned by pwhimp, it'll be hard to maintain concentration on a spell while Polymorphed because of your low AC (and your high threat level).
I was just referring to having poloymorph cast on a person during a long casting time spell.
When the DM smiles, it is already to late.
External effects still stay, depending on target. You can cast bless and invisibility an a creature, so polymorphing a creature into another creature keeps the effect (see https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/2661-does-bless-stay-active-on-polymorphed-character). You can only charm person a humanoid, so the polymorphed ally is no longer charmed.
Class-related effects stop. The polymorphed barbarian is no longer a barbarian, so can no longer rage.
The Barbarian may no longer be a Barbarian, but the 15th level ability lists the ways in which a Rage ends, and ceasing to be a Barbarian is not one of them.
Really? I would think that's a pretty fundamental reason for a feature to end.
It makes sense that the Rage could be suppressed by Polymorph like in an Antimagic Field does with magic inside the field, but for the Rage to end early for a reason not specified in the Barbarian's level 15 ability would be very different.
Ending and effect and suppressing an effect are two different things.
My groups last two battles both had weak NPC friendlies, who could be one shot by the bad guys and we lost most of them. We have now levelled from 6 to 7 and I was thinking how much better the result would have been if the sorcerer could twin polymorph two of them in each fight.