Can I polymorph my familiar?

Can I Polymorph My Familiar?

As a Dungeons & Dragons player, you’ve likely encountered the concept of familiars, magical creatures that serve as companions to spellcasters. But have you ever wondered if you can use the polymorph spell to transform your familiar into something else? The answer is yes, but there are some important limitations and considerations to keep in mind.

Yes, You Can Cast Polymorph on a Familiar

According to the official D&D 5th edition rules, the polymorph spell can target a creature that you can see within range. This includes your familiar, as long as it is within range and you can see it. The spell description simply says "This spell transforms a creature that you can see within range into a new form." This means that, with the right spellcasting ability and a successful spellcasting check, you can indeed polymorph your familiar into a new creature.

Limitations and Considerations

While you can polymorph your familiar, there are some important limitations and considerations to keep in mind:

• CR Limitation: The polymorph spell can only transform a creature into a new form if the new form has a Challenge Rating (CR) equal to or less than the level or CR of the target. This means that if your familiar is a high-level creature, you may not be able to polymorph it into a creature with a higher CR.
• Type and Subtype: The polymorph spell can only transform a creature into a new form if the new form is of the same type (e.g. beast, humanoid, etc.) and subtype (e.g. mammal, reptile, etc.) as the original creature. This means that you can’t polymorph a beast into a humanoid, for example.
• Ability Scores: The polymorph spell can affect a creature’s ability scores, but only if the new form has the same ability score distribution as the original creature. This means that if your familiar has a high Intelligence score, you may not be able to polymorph it into a creature with a low Intelligence score.
• Special Abilities: The polymorph spell can also affect a creature’s special abilities, but only if the new form has the same special abilities as the original creature. This means that if your familiar has a special ability like darkvision, you may not be able to polymorph it into a creature that doesn’t have darkvision.

Mimics and Polymorph

One interesting exception to the rules is the mimic, a creature that can polymorph itself into a new form. Mimics have the ability to polymorph only themselves, and can take on the appearance of any object or creature. This means that if you have a mimic as a familiar, you may be able to use its polymorph ability to transform it into a new form.

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, you can cast polymorph on your familiar, but there are some important limitations and considerations to keep in mind. Make sure to check the CR, type, and subtype of the new form, as well as the ability scores and special abilities of the original creature, before attempting to polymorph your familiar. With the right spellcasting ability and a successful spellcasting check, you can transform your familiar into a new and exciting creature.

Polymorph Spellcasting Table

Polymorph Spellcasting Checklist

• Check CR: Is the new form’s CR equal to or less than the level or CR of the target?
• Check Type and Subtype: Is the new form of the same type and subtype as the original creature?
• Check Ability Scores: Does the new form have the same ability score distribution as the original creature?
• Check Special Abilities: Does the new form have the same special abilities as the original creature?

By following these guidelines and checking off each item on the checklist, you can ensure a successful polymorph spell and transform your familiar into a new and exciting creature.