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You can cast a spell because the form can talk and gesture, but if it has material components then no (unless you have eschew materials). It's all explained in the Polymorph section under Transmutation in the magic section.
I did this with my 7th level Transmuter and it actually worked rather well (Small Air elemental launching Magic Missles, Hold Person spells, and other such helpful stuff while flying, and the size, dex, and natural armor bonuses helped too). Earth Elemental form is actually my favorite because it has the best natural armor, and if you're in a land-based battle it allows you to go underground for complete protection from most attacks.
No they can't unless it's verbal only. Water, air and fire elementals do not have hands, only whirling elemental stuff. Earth elemental might have rough appendices, but far too rough to be able to make intricated spell casting. You need humanoid dexterity for the somatic components.
Material + Verbal might be possible if you can somehow redon your spell component pouch. This is usually only possible on an earth elemental.
So I disagree with the previous poster.
No they can't unless it's verbal only. Water, air and fire elementals do not have hands, only whirling elemental stuff. Earth elemental might have rough appendices, but far too rough to be able to make intricated spell casting. You need humanoid dexterity for the somatic components.
Material + Verbal might be possible if you can somehow redon your spell component pouch. This is usually only possible on an earth elemental.
So I disagree with the previous poster.
I agree with Hunterofthedusk.
If you take the form of a humanoid-shaped elemental, then there isn't a problem at all. There is absolutely nothing in the rules supporting the notion that an elemental's appendices are "too rough to be able to make intricate spellcasting." Dragons have big claws rather than true hands and they can cast spells just fine. If something that vaguely "hand-like" passes the somatic component test, then the elemental appendices sure do as well.
Verbal components aren't a problem either since all elementals can talk (they rarely have anything to say, but they do retain the capability).
The only component that becomes problematic are material components, since they are absorbed into the body. Fixing that, however, is as simple as removing your spell component pouch before transforming, or picking up the eschew materials feat.
No they can't unless it's verbal only. Water, air and fire elementals do not have hands, only whirling elemental stuff. Earth elemental might have rough appendices, but far too rough to be able to make intricated spell casting. You need humanoid dexterity for the somatic components.
Unless you are a dragon.
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Polymorph rulesNo they can't unless it's verbal only. Water, air and fire elementals do not have hands, only whirling elemental stuff. Earth elemental might have rough appendices, but far too rough to be able to make intricated spell casting. You need humanoid dexterity for the somatic components.Unless you are a dragon.
When you cast a polymorph spell that changes you into a creature of the animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type, all of your gear melds into your body. Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form. While in such a form, you cannot cast any spells that require material components (unless you have the Eschew Materials or Natural Spell feat), and can only cast spells with somatic or verbal components if the form you choose has the capability to make such movements or speak, such as a dragon.
Dragon is used as an example of the emphasized rule. It is not an exception permiting dragons to cast when other forms cannot.
Checking rules on elementals, we find each elemental has wide latitude in defining its own form. The range of forms available explicitly includes humanoid.
Although all air elementals of a similar size have identical statistics, the exact appearance of an air elemental can vary wildly between individuals
This hulking, roughly humanoid creature of dirt and stone
Fire elementals vary in appearance—they usually manifest as coiling serpentine forms made of smoke and flame, but some fire elementals take on shapes more akin to humans, demons, or other monsters in order to increase the terror of their sudden appearance.
As with other elementals, all water elementals have their own unique shapes and appearances. Most appear as wave-like creatures with vaguely humanoid faces and smaller wave “arms” to either side.
thats correct the rules don't say anything about setting down your pouch and then using it but...since your GM is the arbiter of what is and is not allowed in his/her world...he/she interprets the rules as he/she sees fits...if you can talk your GM into your idea and he/she allows it then there ya go...but with alot of characters they try to say "show me where it says I CAN'T do that"...my GM switches that around to say "show me where in the rules it says you CAN and I'll run with it" lol
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thats correct the rules don't say anything about setting down your pouch and then using it but...since your GM is the arbiter of what is and is not allowed in his/her world...he/she interprets the rules as he/she sees fits...if you can talk your GM into your idea and he/she allows it then there ya go...but with alot of characters they try to say "show me where it says I CAN'T do that"...my GM switches that around to say "show me where in the rules it says you CAN and I'll run with it" lol
I fully agree.
Rules debates on the forums tend to go with strict RAW, however, so that is what I tend to stick with during discussions.
also people tend to want to reinterpret the rules to make their characters almighty powerful...the game is meant to be fun...if your idea of fun is showing up with your group and saying "WE KILL EVERYTHING IN ONE ROUND...MUWHAHAHAHAH!!!" and your GM wants to roll with that its his choice...prolly not so much fun for everyone that way...but I for one loved being challenged and that comes with not being OP'd out the a$$ lol.
also people tend to want to reinterpret the rules to make their characters almighty powerful...the game is meant to be fun...if your idea of fun is showing up with your group and saying "WE KILL EVERYTHING IN ONE ROUND...MUWHAHAHAHAH!!!" and your GM wants to roll with that its his choice...prolly not so much fun for everyone that way...but I for one loved being challenged and that comes with not being OP'd out the a$$ lol.
Indeed! But a level 8+ Sorcerer with the Elemental bloodline casting spells while Elemental Body is in effect... I don't see that as OP. I just see it as thematic and cool, while giving some nice options (and losing out on some equipment as a trade-off).
These are nice spells to cast if facing a grappling monster, for example. Hard to grapple a whirlwind.
Dragon is used as an example of the emphasized rule. It is not an exception permiting dragons to cast when other forms cannot.
Checking rules on elementals, we find each elemental has wide latitude in defining its own form. The range of forms available explicitly includes humanoid.
Although all air elementals of a similar size have identical statistics, the exact appearance of an air elemental can vary wildly between individualsThis hulking, roughly humanoid creature of dirt and stoneFire elementals vary in appearance—they usually manifest as coiling serpentine forms made of smoke and flame, but some fire elementals take on shapes more akin to humans, demons, or other monsters in order to increase the terror of their sudden appearance.As with...
There is also somethign relevant from the elemental subtype:
Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
While polymorph spells do not grant subtype abilities... the ability to use weapons is a rather strong indicator of hands (which you do get from polymorphs).
Ergo- yeah, you can probably do somatic spells.
Actually, I think that the base druid could likely play a poor man's goliath druid with this- you could turn into an earth elemental (best melee stats) and then just buy weapons and armor sized for that form. Just transform in the morning, put on your stuff like everyone else (including the component stuff) and you are good to go. Obviously slower/more troublesome than goliath (which auto resizes your stuff), but it still has its advantages- earth elementals do have earthglide after all. Maybe a nice cave domain to grab tremor sense as well?
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If you are going to plan to play this at a table discuss it with your GM first so you know ahead of time how it will work. I would expect table variation with this.
I have asked this question a number of times and the answer has been no. Keep in mind that this applies to a number of characters, Druids without Natural Spell, Oracles that assume elemental form (like Fire Oracle).
Oh, man! I set my alarm for 4 years, and I still have a few weeks left. Where is that snooze button?
The sole problem that this spell presents is that the elemental form absorbs the caster's spell component pouch, rendering it inaccessible for the material components of most spells. I know of three ways around that problem:
1) The Eschew Materials feat. This is the ideal solution for Sorcerers, who get this feat for free. Other casters must decide whether this ability is worth spending a feat slot on.
2) A Polymorphic Pouch is a magic item whose contents do not merge with your new form when you polymorph. This item costs 5000 GP.
3) Finally, you can drop your spell component pouch, cast the polymorph spell, and then pick up the pouch. The problem with this approach is that it uses up actions when you are likely to be in combat an thus do not want to be wasting actions this way.