Wild Shape / Polymorph questions


Rules Discussion


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

In looking into a Wild Order Druid, I ran into several questions trying to figure out how Wild Shape actually works.

Attacks: Weapon attack bonuses definitely don't work. Striking appears to not work by virtue of the simple fact that it would incredibly unbalance your damage. Weapon runes like Ghost Touch might work, as they could be considered a constant effect and that would keep you at parity with anyone attacking with a weapon.That's not exactly clear, but that seems to be what most people think from reading other threads.

AC: Seems to only include what the form spells say, no dex.

But what about other abilities that could be inherent to your form? The Polymorph tag doesn't explicitly say you lose them, but this seems to fall under the umbrella of the special statistics of the form not being adjustable. It seems odd, though. For example, the fire resistance from the Sandstrider Lizardfolk heritage makes sense as the text implies that this is at least in part based on your physiology. What about the Druid feat Poison Resistance? That seems to imply that it's not based on your form.. it seems very odd if Wild Shape makes your class feats just not work part of the time. It's possible that that's the answer, though. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

When using Wild Shape you can get the item bonus to your attack roll if you're using your own attack bonus. Wild Shape gives you this option that casting the form spells from spell slots do not.

Striking runes do not work as damage of the form is a special statistic.

Ghost touch or Flaming are not special statistics so it would work IMO. This may be a grey area though. I can see a bear with paws glowing with a fire aura doing added fire damage so this makes sense to me. Plus other classes are able to have both striking runes and flaming or ghost touch runes so it doesn't seem unbalanced either.

Your AC is what the spell says. Caster's dex and armor are meaningless.

Poison Resistance or Racial Resistances are not a special statistic listed in the most form spells so it would work. I would say for Plant Form though poison resistance is a special statistic (as with Dragon Form or Fire Elemental and Water Elemental Forms)

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