Polymorph any object / baleful polymorph and equipment


Rules Questions


THis should be pretty straightforward but I can't find the answer anywhere; if you cast baleful polymorph or polymorph any object on an opponent, is their equipment affected as well (as is the case with beast shape etc).


Spell description says: "As beast shape III, except..."

The general rule for all spells of the polymorph subschool says:
"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. Other polymorph spells might be subject to this restriction as well, if they change you into a form that is unlike your original form (subject to GM discretion). If your new form does not cause your equipment to meld into your form, the equipment resizes to match your new size."


Right; so if you turn them into a living thing the gear melds into them but if you turn them into a chair or a book or something the gear just falls to the ground?


Unless you turn into a humanoid, outsider etc in which case the gear resizes...


DM's discretion, but probably not since the pattern is "if the end form can't wear it, the gear goes away."

I mean it doesn't REALLY matter, since if you can turn the target into a chair you can consequently break it and then turn it back. If you're really worried about the magic items being broken too, cast a second polymorph any object (overrides the first) turning them into a stone statue (copy flesh to stone) and then very carefully chisel off a part that is in no way connected to the magic gear. Or tie it up/encase it in stone shackles so it is helpless, turn it back, then strip, question, and kill it. Basically, once the target is Booked you have time to work out a more complicated plan.

And if you're somehow in a super-hurry to get the magical macguffin somewhere, it's the GM's jerk move for creating this nonsensical hoops. Not much you can do about GM jerk moves.


Well I'm the GM. The party transmuter has just turned an enemy archmage into a porcelain doll which dropped from a great height and broke.

If the items weren't affected they would have fallen to the ground (possibly with some slight falling damage). If they melded into the porcelain doll, I'd rule they were smashed to pieces, should the party break enchantment on the remains of the doll.

And they're in a bit of a hurry. And no they don't need the items (in fact, although they don't know it the items aren't really of any use to them anyway).


I considered re-quoting what boring7 has already posted, but chose against it.

Essentially, there are two outcomes when Polymorph is used. The first is that the armor melds with the creature. RAW, it needs to be an animal, dragon, elemental, magical beast, plant, or vermin type that is selected. Otherwise, the equipment reshapes for the new form.

For your porcelain doll, as written the armor would not meld, but resize as appropriate. With that said, I believe the design of the Polymorph rules was to allow your armor to get passed onto giant form, while melding whenever you're not taking a humanoid (or monstrous humanoid?) shape.

In the end, it's up to GM discretion. I'd personally have it meld for objects, just because a sandwich in full plate is a possible outcome going purely by RAW.

As to losing the equipment, I believe it unmelds after the effect ends or the creature dies, and an object doesn't actually die. It's just once the spell ends, the guy's going to be in some trouble. I'm actually not 100% sure if polymorph effects end on death.


If a Bloodrager holding a bardiche turns into a Dire Ape or Girallon (the 1st is a large animal, the 2nd a large magical beast) by way of the 16th level arcane bloodline power, can he keep his bardiche or does it meld into the new form?
Because some sources say morphing into an animal or magical beast always melds your gear into your new form, other sources say the gear melds if it can't be used by your new form (and a Dire Ape or Girallon can, IMO, use a weapon).

Edit: and if it doesn't meld, can the Bloodrager use a free action to release the grip on his weapon, another free action to rage and morph and a last free action to grip his weapon again (as the weapon didn't have time to fall to the ground)? When he morph the bardiche is no longer "his gear" so it doesn't meld, and there's nothing stating something you once possessed melds into your new form when you pick it up again. Is it right?


Polymorph spells are basically a kitchen sink of rules and exceptions that tend to fall apart on close examination. I would encourage people to change them as needed, allowing creatures to retain items they could still wear or wield or activate makes sense to me.

For objects and other strange things like the porcelain doll I would say it melds with form (maybe some iconic items get an artistic representation on the doll), and if the doll breaks I would give all the magical items a saving throw vs a suitable DC, in this case I would probably use the spells DC but adjusting it to whatever causes the item to break (a long fall) also seems reasonable to me as well.

Spoiler:

"Magical Items: Magic items always get saving throws. A magic item's Fortitude, Reflex, and Will save bonuses are equal to 2 + half its caster level. An attended magic item either makes saving throws as its owner or uses its own saving throw bonus, whichever is better."

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