Quote from rpgdl_pyro >>

[...]

For a truly ridiculous situation, cast it on a Raging Barbarian. They have advantage to grapple or shove that Ancient Dragon (+9 Athletics!), they take half damage from physical attacks, and so on.
[...]

Quote from Volenghast >>

This is my go-to "combat spell" for my Abjurer.  Mage armor, then big monkey time!  What's better than a giant ape?  A giant ape with mage armor and an arcane ward.

Quote from Ice_Octopus >>

They can use  shields. Two more AC

As the spell Polymorph replaces your Statistics (aka Character sheet including feats and equipment) with the one of the Giant Ape, you would not be able to do anything of the above. And no. It's not possible to pick up two shields after being polymorphed as the spell states that you cannot use your hands. No weapons, no  shields, no rage... Just the Stat Block of the Giant Ape.

Well, I guess no one hinders a caster to cast Mage Armor on the Ape.

I love how a giant ape is harder than a mage.

Quote from MordekaiLarsson >>

Quote from rpgdl_pyro >>

[...]

For a truly ridiculous situation, cast it on a Raging Barbarian. They have advantage to grapple or shove that Ancient Dragon (+9 Athletics!), they take half damage from physical attacks, and so on.
[...]

 

Quote from Volenghast >>

This is my go-to "combat spell" for my Abjurer.  Mage armor, then big monkey time!  What's better than a giant ape?  A giant ape with mage armor and an arcane ward.

 

Quote from Ice_Octopus >>

They can use  shields. Two more AC

 

As the spell Polymorph replaces your Statistics (aka Character sheet including feats and equipment) with the one of the Giant Ape, you would not be able to do anything of the above. And no. It's not possible to pick up two shields after being polymorphed as the spell states that you cannot use your hands. No weapons, no  shields, no rage... Just the Stat Block of the Giant Ape.

Well, I guess no one hinders a caster to cast Mage Armor on the Ape.

 Giant apes have hands? Why couldn’t they use shield

This is going to be my goto for my transmutation wizard  if I need to be in close combat.  I do not mean with the level 10 ability that caps at CR 1.  
If I have my transmuter’s stone on a cord around my neck could I drop the stone, poly, then loop the cord around the ape’s wrist?   This should allow me to use the proficiency to con saves to keep the polymorph concentration going? The stone would not be absorbed into the new form. 

MONKI FLIP

I am thinking a druid/bard casts 'Awaken' and treats it kindly to foster obedience once past the charmed time. Just need a solid cache of 1k gems. 

Quote from rpgdl_pyro >>

This form is the best Polymorph form, available right when you get the spell.  +9 to hit is better than most L7 PCs +7 to hit, and 22*2 = 44 damage is better than any class'.

This is best used on a Lvl 7+ PC who has exhausted their resources (a monk out of Ki or a spellcaster out of slots). It can also serve as a sudden infusion of HP if they are near death.

As a Huge creature it can shove and grapple other Huge and even Gargantuan ones.

For a truly ridiculous situation, cast it on a Raging Barbarian. They have advantage to grapple or shove that Ancient Dragon (+9 Athletics!), they take half damage from physical attacks, and so on.

And since when has going King Kong on stuff not been awesome?

 Since I got turned into one by a polymorph blade

"Now watch kakarot as your life becomes inconsiquential as I reveal my giant monkey..... form" -TFS vegeta

Use of shield is a class feature that giant apes don’t have. 

Rogues and mages have hands. Why can’t they use shields? It’s a feature they don’t have. 

If you want to change the rules, that’s between you and your DM. But if you are changing the rules anyway,  make it simple and just increase the ape’s natural armor class. While you’re at it, give it 4 arms. And a jet pack.

Moon druids can be a giant ape way earlier, and since this is CR 7, you can be one of these the second you get the spell polymorph, since the max CR is your level.

SMASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Quote from rpgdl_pyro >>

This form is the best Polymorph form, available right when you get the spell.  +9 to hit is better than most L7 PCs +7 to hit, and 22*2 = 44 damage is better than any class'.

This is best used on a Lvl 7+ PC who has exhausted their resources (a monk out of Ki or a spellcaster out of slots). It can also serve as a sudden infusion of HP if they are near death.

As a Huge creature it can shove and grapple other Huge and even Gargantuan ones.

For a truly ridiculous situation, cast it on a Raging Barbarian. They have advantage to grapple or shove that Ancient Dragon (+9 Athletics!), they take half damage from physical attacks, and so on.

And since when has going King Kong on stuff not been awesome?

Jeremy Crawford says Polymorph would cancel Rage as it is a class ability & not one the Giant Ape would have. Like Bladesinging or something similar.

 https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/905513072898531330

monki

mmmm, monkey

Is there a way yet to be able to roll as a polymorphed beast in Beyond?

Big monke

nothing

Add it in the Extras section of your character sheet.

you can have moon circle and turn into it at lvl 14 as a druid using wild shape, and I use polymorph to turn into it