First of all, the art is drop dead gorgeous.

One of the few monsters in the 2025 version that has received major nerfs. Many of them were justifiable, like turning its Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing Immunities into Resistances instead, and giving it far less HP. But then not granting it Multiattack to be able to use all of its attack options, and taking away its Unconscious rendering Bite, that made this monster so unique, is criminal. You also lose your Resistances while Shapeshifting, which means you barely ever want to use it for combat purposes.

Quote from Gerado >>

First of all, the art is drop dead gorgeous.

One of the few monsters in the 2025 version that has received major nerfs. Many of them were justifiable, like turning its Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing Immunities into Resistances instead, and giving it far less HP. But then not granting it Multiattack to be able to use all of its attack options, and taking away its Unconscious rendering Bite, that made this monster so unique, is criminal. You also lose your Resistances while Shapeshifting, which means you barely ever want to use it for combat purposes.

 I understand where you're coming from. It is a CR 4 monster, and multiattack in combination with its spellcasting abilities would significantly raise the Couatl's challenge rating. There was a concerted effort to keep monsters at their relative difficulties, so that change wouldn't be appropriate. Regarding the unconscious-rendering bite, the Couatl now has the sleep spell, which is not the same mechanically but fills a similar niche. Were I to hazard a guess, the change likely comes from the Couatl being too effective against certain enemies (a creature had to be cured of poison for the unconscious condition to be removed). Sleep allows the Couatl to keep its theme while being a monster that four level 4 characters could defeat without a substantial risk of death.

You are right—the Couatl would want to immediately drop Shapechange were combat to begin. However, you bring up an important point. At first blush, it appears that the Couatl would have to use a Magic Action to return to its original form. A small price to pay for resistance to physical damage?

I notice that it can cast Bless as a bonus action. Since Bless is how you deal double damage to a Rakshasa, I find that appropriate. They are the native fiends of Eberron's Material Plane, and the couatls are the native celestials.

I love this creature, it's a bit odd to me that it's only CR 4 given its lore

One if my favourite artworks in the new manual. Way better than the old one. Love it!

Statwise he lost 37 HP! And his Cha save. Hes now immune to radiant damage instead of resistant. Cool i guess...

I know its not a combat monster but getting rid of the shield spell is unfair. Casting a few spells as buffs for an ba is nice 

His bite makes 3 dmg more and poison Automatically.  But he hit not ad good and dodsnt unconscious anymore...his constrict is only a save now and deals 2 dmg less.

Overall it feels like he got to much hate. It was never a combat monster but tjis just makes me sad

Quote from Littlesakuga96 >>

One if my favourite artworks in the new manual. Way better than the old one. Love it!

Statwise he lost 37 HP! And his Cha save. Hes now immune to radiant damage instead of resistant. Cool i guess...

I know its not a combat monster but getting rid of the shield spell is unfair. Casting a few spells as buffs for an ba is nice 

His bite makes 3 dmg more and poison Automatically.  But he hit not ad good and dodsnt unconscious anymore...his constrict is only a save now and deals 2 dmg less.

Overall it feels like he got to much hate. It was never a combat monster but tjis just makes me sad

 He has Resistances to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing

True