Polymorph
 Polymorph
| |
|---|---|
| Level | 4 |
| School1 | Transmutation |
| School2 | Hexes |
| Source(s) | |
| Casting noise | 3 |
| Spell noise | 0 |
| This spell randomly alters the form of another creature. |
Polymorph is a Transmutations spell which, if used on a natural, demonic, or plant monster, will transmute it into another monster of the same category, usually with the same or slightly higher HD. Some chaotic creatures are special cases: ugly things simply change their color, while shapeshifters and glowing shapeshifters will heal some HP and change form.
If Polymorph is used by an enemy on a player who fails to resist, the player will suffer a temporary bad form transformation. Mutation resistance is useless against this, but magic resistance and worshiping Zin may protect you.
Similar effects can be achieved with a wand of polymorph, the attack of a chaos weapon, and some Transmutations miscast effects.
Strategy
Good Targets
This is a partial list of good targets for spells, wands or clouds of polymorph other - that is, monsters which are unlikely to become more powerful when polymorphed, i.e. monsters which are low-HD, high-threat.
- Electric eel - They'll turn into a less dangerous flying or water-capable creature.
- Red wasp - If you lack poison resistance these can be very nasty.
- Moth of Wrath - They can turn a crowd of weaklings into a berserk mob.
- Boggarts (and other low-HD summoners) - Although fragile, summoners can bring lethal reinforcements into play. Fortunately they have low enough HD that the polymorph results are usually pretty pathetic.
- Jelly - Polymorphing is an effective means of avoiding their corrosive attacks.
- Harpy - An option if you have issues dealing with very fast monsters.
- Oklob plant - Usually turns into a wandering mushroom.
- Sigmund (and other well-armed uniques) - If he turns into anything but a humanoid, his branded scythe, spells, and wands will be useless.
Bad Targets
These are monsters that are actually considerably less threatening than monsters of similar or slightly higher HD.
- Hydra - These often become storm dragons or guardian serpents. Even if you have problems with hydras, these alternatives are worse.
- Slugs - They have very high HD. An elephant slug has nearly the same HD as an ancient lich. The results will not be pretty.
- Adders or other inoffensive creatures - you'd really rather have a boggart?
- Worms - They may hit hard early on, but they're slow and you'll soon outgrow them. But they do have fairly high HD, and a human hits harder and is much faster.
- Slime creatures - A single one can turn into a giant orange brain or a storm dragon. Larger versions can turn into multiple such creatures.
- Grinder - He has unusually high HD for such an early unique, and many of potential polymorph forms are quite dangerous, up to some tier-2 demons. Grinder the hellion or Grinder the tormenter is much worse than Grinder.
History
Prior to 0.12, this spell was called Polymorph Other. When used on the player by a monster, it had the same effects as Malmutate.
