Transformation

Version 0.29: 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.

Useful Info

Transformations are always temporary. Whenever they can be cancelled at will depends on the transformation itself and its source, but all transformations are stopped by a potion of cancellation and Quicksilver Bolt (the latter leaves 1 turn left on the duration). All transformations also make you vulnerable to silver weaponry, taking up to +75% more damage from them.

Most transformations meld equipment, dependent on the form. Melded equipment ceases to have any effect, positive or negative. Melded items are not unequipped, rendering you safe from an artefact's Drain and Contam. Each form will also negate certain mutations. To compensate, transformations frequently alter a character's Unarmed Combat and may change a number of other properties: HP, movement speed, size (and therefore EV), AC, resistances, among others.

Undead creatures cannot be transformed. For players, this means that Ghouls and Mummies can never be transformed, while Vampires can only be transformed when Alive. Lich Form renders you immune to other transformations, but you can still extend it by casting Necromutation again.

Table of Transformations

List of Transformations
Transformation	Source(s)	Equipment melded	UC base dmg	Move delay	HP	AC	Size	Casting	Other
Wisp Form	Wand	All armour Weapon	3	1.0	Normal	5 + XL/2	Tiny	No	rF++ rC++ rPois+++ rElec rN+++, acid immunity, torment immunity, insubstantial, flying, stealthy
Bat Form	Wand Vampire ability	All armour Weapon Rings	1	0.6	Normal	0	Tiny	No	Melee attacks quickly
Pig Form	Wand Porkalator	All armour Weapon Rings	3	0.7	Normal	0	Small	No	Unstealthy
Beastly Appendage	Spell	Helmet Boots	3	1.0	Normal	N/A	N/A	Yes	Gain Talons 2 and Horns 2
Spider Form	Spell	All armour Weapon	3 (venom)	1.0	Normal	2	Tiny	Yes (Wiz-)	rPois-, +5 Dex
Ice Form	Spell	All armour Weapon	12 (freeze)	1.0	+20%	5 + 7*power/100	Large	Yes	rF- rC+++ rPois, amphibious
Blade Hands	Spell	Gloves Weapon Shield	22	1.0	Normal	N/A	N/A	Yes (Wiz-)	Can cut hydra heads
Tree Form	Wand Potion of lignification	All armour (except shield)	12	No move	+50%	20 + XL/2	Normal	Yes	rPois torment immunity, -Tele, EV set to almost zero
Fungus Form	Wand	All armour Weapon	12 (confusion)	1.0	Normal	+12	Tiny	No	rPois rTorm Can't move if hostile monsters in line of sight
Shadow Form	Dithmenos ability	None	3 (50% all melee damage)	1.0	+30%	6 + power/20	Same as species	Yes (Power--)	rPois+++ rN+++, torment immunity, infinite willpower All damage taken is halved Melee damage dealt is halved, spellpower reduced Very stealthy Bleed smoke when taking damage. Max hp drained when taking damage.
Statue Form	Spell	Body armour Gloves boots	12 (150% all melee damage)	1.5 (1.0 pre-slow)	+30%	20 + 12*power/100	Same as species	Yes	rPois+++ rN+ rElec, torment resistance (50%) All actions slowed by 50% +50% melee damage.
Dragon Form	Spell	All armour Weapon	38 (trample)	1.0	+50%	16	Giant	Yes	rPois rF++ rC-, flies Special for draconians
Storm Form	Spell	All armour Weapon	2 + power / 3 (Elec, cleaving)	1.0	Normal	10 + power/10	Same as species	Yes	rPois+++ rElec, Insubstantial Blinkbolt ability
Lich Form	Spell	None	3 (drain)	Normal	1.0	+6	Same as species	Yes	rPois+++ rC+ rN+++ Will+, Undead, holy vulnerability, torment immunity Necromancy spell enhancer Can't quaff potions

History

• Prior to 0.28, plant based forms had 3 levels of Life Protection.
• Prior to 0.27, many forms had dedicated GDR ratios. Also, Hydra Form was replaced with Storm Form.
• Prior to 0.22, most forms could not use wands.
• Prior to 0.20, wands of polymorph could polymorph the player into most forms, 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.