Animal Shapes
Level 8 · Transmutation
- Buff
Animal Shapes is a transmutation spell at level 8, sitting on the druid list. Cast time: Action. Range 30 feet, components V/S, duration 24 hours. Effect: Choose any number of willing creatures that you can see within range.
Stat Block
- Level
- 8
- School
- Transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S
- Duration
- 24 Hours
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Druid
- Material
- —
Description
Choose any number of willing creatures that you can see within range. Each target shape-shifts into a Large or smaller Beast of your choice that has a Challenge Rating of 4 or lower. You can choose a different form for each target. On later turns, you can take a Magic action to transform the targets again. A target's game statistics are replaced by the chosen Beast's statistics, but the target retains its creature type; Hit Points; Hit Point Dice; alignment; ability to communicate; and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. The target's actions are limited by the Beast form's anatomy, and it can't cast spells. The target's equipment melds into the new form, and the target can't use any of that equipment while in that form. The target gains a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the Beast form's Hit Points. The transformation lasts for the duration for each target, until the target has no Temporary Hit Points, or until the target leaves the form as a Bonus Action.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
The school of Transmutation is the engineer's school. Change the conditions, change the outcome of the fight. Animal Shapes sits in Transmutation because the spell rewrites a property of a body, an object, or terrain. The 8th-level slot is the spellcaster's bank vault; Animal Shapes earns the cast or it doesn't.
Class Fit
- Druid: Druids consider Animal Shapes against the Wild Shape baseline — every spell cast is a turn not spent transforming. At 30 feet, Animal Shapes stays usable from the caster's typical positioning.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Shapes
- What level spell is Animal Shapes?
- Animal Shapes sits at level 8 in the Transmutation school of magic, prepared by Druid.
- What is the range of Animal Shapes?
- Animal Shapes has a range of 30 feet from the caster.
- How long does Animal Shapes last?
- Without concentration, Animal Shapes runs for its full 24 hours duration regardless of what else the caster is doing.
- What components and casting time does Animal Shapes need?
- For Animal Shapes: the spell uses V, S components, casting is a normal Action.