Shapechange
Level 9 · Transmutation
- Concentration
- Buff
Carried by druid and wizard, Shapechange operates at the 9th level of the transmutation school. Cast time: Action. Range Self, components V/S/M, duration up to 1 hour. Material: a jade circlet worth 1,500+ GP. Marked concentration. Effect: You shape-shift into another creature for the duration or until you take a Magic action to shape-shift into a different eligible form.
Stat Block
- Level
- 9
- School
- Transmutation
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- Self
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- up to 1 Hour
- Ritual
- No
- Concentration
- Yes
- Classes
- Druid, Wizard
- Material
- a jade circlet worth 1,500+ GP
Description
You shape-shift into another creature for the duration or until you take a Magic action to shape-shift into a different eligible form. The new form must be of a creature that has a Challenge Rating no higher than your level or Challenge Rating. You must have seen the sort of creature before, and it can't be a Construct or an Undead. When you shape-shift, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the Hit Points of the form. The spell ends early if you have no Temporary Hit Points left. Your game statistics are replaced by the stat block of the chosen form, but you retain your creature type; alignment; personality; Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; Hit Points; Hit Point Dice; proficiencies; and ability to communicate. If you have the Spellcasting feature, you retain it too. Upon shape-shifting, you determine whether your equipment drops to the ground or changes in size and shape to fit the new form while you're in it.
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
Transmutation magic is the least flashy school and arguably the most powerful. A single Polymorph can decide a tier-3 fight by itself. Shapechange sits in Transmutation because the spell rewrites a property of a body, an object, or terrain. At Shapechange's level, a single cast can decide a fight or an arc.
Class Fit
- Druid: Druid concentration is precious. Most Druids prep one big concentration spell and one non-concentration utility per day; Shapechange fits one of those slots. Note that Shapechange requires concentration; switching to a second concentration spell ends it.
- Wizard: Tier 3 and tier 4 Wizards add 5th-9th level spells to the book — Shapechange interacts with those upper-tier picks as part of a full prep loadout. Shapechange's concentration requirement makes it vulnerable to a single failed save when the caster takes damage.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Shapechange
- What level spell is Shapechange?
- Shapechange is a level 9 spell from the Transmutation school. The classes that can prepare it: Druid, Wizard.
- What is the range of Shapechange?
- Shapechange is self-target only — the caster is the target of the spell, not another creature.
- Is Shapechange a concentration spell?
- Shapechange is a concentration spell. Maximum duration is up to 1 hour. The caster can only maintain one concentration spell at a time, and damage forces a Con save to keep it active.
- What components and casting time does Shapechange need?
- For Shapechange: Shapechange requires V, S, M; on top of that, Material component: a jade circlet worth 1,500+ GP.