Transformation

Version 0.23: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Transformations are effects that completely alter the form of a creature's body. While many of them are caused by Transmutations spells, a few of them have other sources. They share a few common properties:

• Undead creatures cannot be transformed. For players, this means that Ghouls and Mummies can never be transformed, while Vampires can only be transformed when at Full or higher satiation.
• Transformations are always temporary, although sometimes their duration can be extended. Whether or not they can be cancelled at will depends on the transformation itself and/or its source. Even those that can be cancelled may take a few turns to actually do so.
• Most transformations will meld at least some equipment. Melded equipment ceases to have any effect, positive or negative, but it is not unequipped: thus, transformations are not (usually) blocked by cursed items, but cannot get rid of them either.
• Transformations frequently alter a character's unarmed damage, sometimes even imparting a brand to said attacks.
• Transformations may alter a number of other properties, including HP, movement speed, size (and therefore EV), AC, and mutations, among others.

Table of Transformations

List of Transformations
Transformation	Source(s)	Equipment melded	Unarmed base damage	Movement delay	HP	AC	Size	Casting	Other
Wisp Form	Wand	All armour and weapon	3	1.0	Normal	5 + XL/2	Tiny	No	rF++ rC++ rPois+++ rElec rN+++, acid immunity, torment immunity, Insubstantial, occasionally moves as if confused, randomly blinks, flying, stealthy
Bat Form	Wand / vampire ability	All except amulet	1	0.6	Normal	0	Tiny	No	Lower attack delay
Pig Form	Wand / Porkalator	All except amulet	3	0.7	Normal	0	Small	No	Unstealthy
Beastly Appendage	Spell	Helmet or boots	3	1.0	Normal	N/A	N/A	Yes	Gain either talons 3 or horns 2
Spider Form	Spell	All armour and weapon	3 (venom)	1.0	Normal	2	Tiny	Yes, but Wiz-	rPois-, +5 Dex
Ice Form	Spell	All armour and weapon	12 (freeze)	1.0	+20%	5 + 7*power/100	Large	Yes	rF- rC+++ rPois, amphibious
Blade Hands	Spell	Gloves	22	1.0	Normal	N/A	N/A	Yes, but Wiz-	Can cut hydra heads
Tree Form	Wand / Potion of lignification	All armour and weapon	12	Can't move	+50%	20 + XL/2	Normal	Yes	rPois rN+++, torment immunity, 48% GDR, -Tele, EV set to almost zero, very stealthy
Fungus Form	Wand	All armour and weapon	12 (confuse)	1.0	Normal	+12	Tiny	No	rPois rN+++ rTorm, can't move while there are hostile monsters in line of sight, very stealthy
Shadow Form	Dithmenos' 5* ability	None	3 (but all melee damage is halved)	1.0	+30%	6 + power/20	Same as species	Yes, but Power--	rPois+++ rN+++, torment immunity, very stealthy, two spell power anti-enhancers, melee damage dealt is halved, all damage taken is halved, bleed smoke when taking damage, skills drained when taking damage, magic immune.
Hydra Form	Spell	All armour and weapon	3 per head for first 10 heads, 3/2 per head thereafter	1.0	+30%	6 + power/20	Same as species	Yes	Can devour enemies to gain sustenance and HP.
Statue Form	Spell	Gloves and boots	12	1.5 (all actions are slowed)	+30%	20 + 12*power/100	Same as species	Yes	rPois+++ rN+ rElec, torment resistance (50%), 40% GDR, all actions slowed.
Dragon Form	Spell	All armour and weapon	36 (trample)	1.0	+50%	16	Giant	Yes	rPois rF++ rC-, 34% GDR, flies, special for draconians, +10 Str
Lich Form	Spell	None	3 (drain)	Normal	1.0	+6	Same as species	Yes	rPois+++ rC+ rN+++ MR+, +3 Str, Undead, holy vulnerability, torment immunity, Necromancy spell enhancer, can't quaff potions, no hunger clock

History

• Prior to 0.22, most forms could not use wands.
• Prior to 0.20, wands of polymorph could polymorph the player into any form, not just the five bad forms. Porcupine form was removed in 0.20.
• Hydra form was added in 0.16.
• Shadow form was added with Dithmenos in 0.14.