You transform into the form of a different creature for the duration. The new form can be of any beast, dragon, elemental, fey, giant, or humanoid whose challenge rating is equal to or less than your level, up to a maximum of CR 4. You transform into an average example of that creature, one without any class levels or the Spellcasting trait.

Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the chosen creature, though you retain your alignment and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus listed in its statistics is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus in place of yours. You can't use any legendary actions or lair actions of the new form.

You assume the hit points and Hit Dice of the new form. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. If you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.

When you transform, your equipment merges into the new form. Equipment that merges has no effect in that state.

You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them, provided that your new form is physically capable of doing so. You can't use any special senses you have (such as darkvision) unless your new form also has that sense. You can only speak if the creature can normally speak.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the maximum challenge rating of the creature the target can turn into increases by 1 for every spell level higher than 4th.