Misc. Transmutations

Did you know that many of your favorite utility spells are part of the school of transmutation? Fly, haste, polymorph, even time stop all fall under this category. An expert transmuter can be a frightening foe. If you need a little extra push to try the school out yourself or include a transmuter in your game, here are some new options you can throw into their spell list!

Contortion

5th-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

1 action Range: Self

Self Components: V, S, M (a handful of clay, stretched and smushed as the spell is cast)

V, S, M (a handful of clay, stretched and smushed as the spell is cast) Duration: Instantaneous

A burst of mutative energy erupts from your body in a 25 foot radius around you. All other creatures within the area begin to rapidly polymorph at random for the next few seconds. On a failed save, each creature takes 4d12 force damage and 2d12 psychic damage, and must spend its action on its next turn retching and reeling from the experience. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and may use its next turn normally.

A creature killed by this spell does not return to its original form, instead left as a blob of creature parts and slime.

Usable by Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard

Disturb

1st-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

1 action Range: Touch

Touch Components: V, S, M (a dab of gelatin)

V, S, M (a dab of gelatin) Duration: Instantaneous

You touch a creature, sending a highly unpleasant wave of mutative force through their body, severely disorienting them. Make a melee spell attack against a creature within your reach. On a hit, until the end of its next turn, the target’s speed is halved, it takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it can’t use reactions. On its turn, it can use either an action or a bonus action, not both. Regardless of the creature’s abilities or magic items, it can’t make more than one melee or ranged attack during its turn.

Usable by Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard

Experimental Polymorph

1st-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 action

1 action Range: 30 feet

30 feet Components: V, S, M (3 cp, 2 sp)

V, S, M (3 cp, 2 sp) Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

This spell transforms a humanoid with at least 1 hit point that you can see within range into a new form. An unwilling creature must make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the effect. A shapechanger automatically succeeds on this saving throw.

Roll a d8. The number rolled on that die determines the new form, as shown below.

d8 Creature Type 1 Frog 2 Cat 3 Crab 4 Lizard 5 Quipper 6 Rat 7 Raven 8 Spider

The transformation lasts for the duration, or until the target drops to 0 Hit Points or dies. The target's game statistics, including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the chosen beast. It retains its alignment and personality.

The target assumes the hit points of its new form. When it reverts to its normal form, the creature returns to the number of hit points it had before it transformed. If it reverts as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to its normal form. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce the creature's normal form to 0 hit points, it isn't knocked unconscious.

The creature is limited in the actions it can perform by the nature of its new form, and it can't speak, cast spells, or take any other action that requires hands or speech.

The target's gear melds into the new form. The creature can't activate, use, wield, or otherwise benefit from any of its equipment.

Usable by Bard, Wizard

I Am Rubber

1st-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you are hit by a melee attack

1 reaction, which you take when you are hit by a melee attack Range: Self

Self Components: V

V Duration: Instantaneous

You magically command the force of an attack that hits you to rebound back at your attacker. Your attacker must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, you take no damage from the triggering attack, and the attacker takes all bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage you would have taken. On a successful save, the spell fails.

Usable by Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard