SRD:Shapechanger Subtype

This material is published under the OGL

Shapechanger Subtype

A shapechanger has the supernatural ability to assume one or more alternate forms. Many magical effects allow some kind of shape shifting, and not every creature that can change shapes has the shapechanger subtype.

Traits

A shapechanger possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

• Proficient with its natural weapons, with simple weapons, and with any weapons mentioned in the creature’s description.

• Proficient with any armor mentioned in the creature’s description, as well as all lighter forms. If no form of armor is mentioned, the shapechanger is not proficient with armor. A shapechanger is proficient with shields if it is proficient with any type of armor.

 

SRD Monsters with the Shapechanger Subtype

Creature Entry	CR	Type and Subtypes	Size
Aranea	4	Magical Beast [Shapechanger]	Medium
Barghest	4	Outsider [Evil, Extraplanar, Lawful, Shapechanger]	Medium
Doppelganger	3	Monstrous Humanoid [Shapechanger]	Medium
Greater Barghest	5	Outsider [Evil, Extraplanar, Lawful, Shapechanger]	Large
Hill Giant Dire Wereboar	11	Giant [Shapechanger]	Large
Mimic	4	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Large
Phasm	7	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Medium
Werebear	5	Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Medium, Large
Wereboar	4	Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Medium
Wererat	2	Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Medium, Small
Weretiger	5	Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Medium, Large
Werewolf	3	Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Medium
Werewolf Lord	14	Humanoid [Shapechanger]	Medium, Large

 

SRD Templates that grant the Shapechanger Subtype

Template	Description	CR Adjustment
Lycanthrope	Lycanthropes are humanoids or giants who can transform themselves into animals	Varies

 

SRD Races with the Shapechanger Subtype

Race Name	Summary	Favored Class	Ability Adjustments	LA	ECL
Doppelgangers	Doppelgangers are strange beings that are able to take on the shapes of those they encounter. In its natural form, the creature looks more or less humanoid, but slender and frail, with gangly limbs and half-formed features.	Rogue	+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, +2 Charisma	4	8

 

Homebrew Monsters with the Shapechanger Subtype

Homebrew monsters using this type appear below. These are not part of the SRD, and are presented for ease of reference only.

[show] Creature Entry	CR	Type and Subtypes	Size
Ayklay	12	Outsider [Dreamborn, Psionic, Shapechanger]	Medium
Doppelganger	6	Fey [Shapechanger]	Medium
Eiji Variant Clay Golem	11	Construct [Shapechanger]	Large
Eryloth	4	Outsider [Evil, Native, Shapechanger, Yugoloth]	Medium
Galaxiasaurus	7	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Gargantuan
Golem, Clay	5	Construct [Shapechanger]	Medium
Hedoro	3	Ooze [Shapechanger, Xenotheric]	Medium
Lizbot	5	Aberration [Bot, Shapechanger]	Medium
Lure	3	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Tiny
Lycantroll	6	Monstrous Humanoid [Human, Shapechanger]	Large
Protean Dragon	8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31, 35, 38, 41, 45	Dragon [Psionic, Shapechanger]	Large, Huge, Gargantuan, Colossal, Tiny
Regulus the Imprisoned	14	Outsider [Evil, Extraplanar, Shapechanger]	Medium
Shade	3	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Medium
Shadowkin Doppelganger	4	Outsider [Native, Shapechanger]	Medium
Sturmwulf	14	Magical Beast [Air, Shapechanger]	Large, Huge
Tanuki	2	Fey [Shapechanger]	Small
Tiny Mimic	1/2	Aberration [Shapechanger]	Tiny
Versipellis	11	Monstrous Humanoid [Shapechanger]	Medium
Were-Unicorn	5	Fey [Shapechanger]	Medium, Large
Werewolf, Lesser	4	Monstrous Humanoid [Shapechanger]	Medium

 

Homebrew Templates that grant the Shapechanger Subtype

Homebrew templates granting this type appear below. These are not part of the SRD, and are presented for ease of reference only.

[show] Template	Description	CR Adjustment
Lycanthrope	An all-purpose lycanthrope template that doesn't make us cry.
Shadowkin	Shadowkin creatures have cultivated a strong communion with the plane of shadow.	4
Swanmay	Swanmay are females blessed with a strange form of lycanthropy which makes them wereswans. They are protectors of the forest, particularly water fowl, and uphold some mysterious ancient promise.
Variant Lycanthrope	A lycanthrope template, done different.
Werecorgi	A Werecorgi is a special kind of lycanthrope, however they are weaker (and much more cuter) than the average lycanthrope.	1

 

Homebrew Races with the Shapechanger Subtype

Homebrew races using this type appear below. These are not part of the SRD, and are presented for ease of reference only.

[show] Race Name	Summary	Favored Class	Ability Adjustments	LA	ECL
Ambiko	Ambikos are tricky, devious, aloof humanoids with the ability to alter themselves.	Any	+2 Charisma, -2 Constitution	0	1
Artaiad	They're a fey race that transform into deer or antelopes.	Ranger	+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, +2 Wisdom	0	2, 1
Balemorph	Balemorphs are the result of botched baleful polymorphs which only succeed into transforming them into a new creature, half animal and half humanoid.	Any	+2 Any Attribute	0	1
Corunian	Aliens from an unknown world, corunians are eldritch abomination capable of sifting into humanoid shapes.	Any	-2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, +4 Intelligence	2	3
Ctarl-Ctarl	Proud warrior aliens with great strength, durable heat resistant bodies, and vicious feline berserker forms.	Barbarian	+2 Strength, -2 Wisdom	0	1
Doppelbose	A doppelbose is a inherently evil being created when a creatures messes around in the planes of mirror.	Any	+2 Charisma	1	2
Doppelkreuzung	A race of human-doppelganger hybrids who suffer from a rare mutation making their ability to disguise very short-lived.	Any	+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma	1	2
Fel'Keen	Born of the winds atop the highest mountains, the Fel'Keen are a race of people made of heavily compressed mist.	Wizard, Sorcerer, Monk	-2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom	0	1
Feline Shifter		Fighter, Rogue	+2 Strength or +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, +2 Constitution	0	1
Frieza Race-Frost Demons	This is the race that the famous mutant deviant Lord Frieza came from in Dragon Ball Z	Ki Demon	+2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, -6 Charisma	2	3
Half-Saiyan	The child of a Saiyan and a Human. A Half-Saiyan has most of his Saiyan parents strength and appearance, but not their ruthless temperament.	Any	+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, −2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, −2 Charisma	1	2
Hybrid Saiyan		Saiyan_Warrior	+2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, +2 Strength	3	4
Kitsune	Fox spirits known both both as good omens and tricksters, malicious demons and kindly souls. The number of tails they possess is an indication of their power.	Sorcerer	+2 Dexterity, −2 Strength, −2 Constitution, +2 Charisma	0	1
Kundali	The kundali are the scaled descendants of the original cursed humanoids, with the power to transform into a swarm of snakes.	Monk	None	0	1
Marune	The Marune are a race of moon rabbit, who are mostly humanoid in appearance.	Any	-2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma	0	1
Nagual	Servants of a forgotten nature deity in the Outlands, the nagual are sent to the material plane to pose as a creature's familiar and guide them from their current path to one closer to neutrality and the will of nature. By tempering the zealous souls of the extreme alignments, neutrality becomes stronger. They are sometimes known as transformation witches.	Druid	-2 Strength, +2 Wisdom	0	1
Namekian	The Namekians are humanoid race with plant and slug-like characteristics, and incredible regenerative capabilities. They possess green skin and antennae on their bald heads. They are the exclusive creators of the legendary Dragon Balls.	Ki Warrior, Monk	+2 Constitution, +4 Wisdom, +2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, −2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, −2 Wisdom, −4 Charisma	2	3
Namekian-Iskerbabble	Namekians are a solitary and quite people. Despite their Demon-like appearance may suggest, most Namekians are incredibly peaceful and hospitable. Though, due to abuse in the past and many seeking the Dragon Balls that their race can produce, they have learned to be wary of other races and can have a deep sense of skepticism about outsiders. These people live usually in small, isolated tribes, and have a strong sense of community. And while they enjoy peace, they are more than willing to stand up against anyone who threatens them.	Monk	+2 Strength, +4 Constitution, +4 Wisdom or +4 Dexterity, -4 Charisma	2	3
Noo	Noo are one, and there is only one Noo. Noo are hivemind, and stem from the planet Noosphere, where Noo waits.	Any	+2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom	0	3
Pliern	They were produced by a cult to bring back a dead god and grant them a suitable vessel on earth. But the project failed, and the rejects escaped to become the beings known as the pliern.	BinderToM, Warlock	+2 Any Attribute	0	1
Reptoid	One of us in here isn't real. They're secretly a reptilian shapeshifter, come to do some sort of unspeakable unknown plot.	Bard, Rogue	+2 Any Attribute	0	1
Saiyan	Battle-hardened primates from another world, they have the potential to be the world's ultimate fighters.	Ki Master	+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom	1	2
Saiyans	An extraterrestrial race of primates. Saiyans are a naturally ruthless and aggressive warrior race who strive to be the strongest in the universe, and who have a lycanthropic-like transformation.	Saiyan Warrior, Barbarian	+4 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, −4 Intelligence, −2 Charisma	2	3
Selkie	A oceanic people who can transform between human and seal forms.	Any	None	0	1
Succedaneum	A shapechanger that rewrites bits of its personality and soul when impersonating humanoids.	Any	None	0	1
Unicorns, Variant	These unicorns are based on those found in the land of Phaze, from Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept series.	Druid	+4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +4 Intelligence, +2 Charisma, +2 Wisdom	0	4
Vaelza	A race of Humanoid Slime Lifeforms from A Super-Earth covered in water, A Planet called Xeqrai	Any	-2 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, +4 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma	4	6
Wergerth	Wergerths are wolf-like shapechangers with a passion for the hunt.	Any	+2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom	1	2

---

Back to Main Page → System Reference Document → Types and Subtypes