I’m currently between campaigns and was looking over some of the transformation class mechanics and spell lines. I really like the Beast Shape spell line but I’m confused about Beast Shape IV. It says you can turn in to a small or large Magical Beast, I understand this and how magical and regular beasts differ, but some of the magical beast options have a confusing spell casting/spell list rule. The beasts have their own lists of abilities and spells that they just have and are able to use but a few of them state (Kirin and Sphinx for example) that they cast spells from the cleric/sorcerer spell list and cast as level 6 versions of the related classes.
Does this mean if you are a spellcaster that uses this spell to take on the form of a beast with the before mentioned rule, that you can still cast from you classes normal spell list up to the level cap?
This spell functions as beast shape III except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Tiny or Large creature of the magical beast type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: burrow 60 feet, climb 90 feet, fly 120 feet (good maneuverability), swim 120 feet, blindsense 60 feet, darkvision 90 feet, low-light vision, scent, tremorsense 60 feet, breath weapon, constrict, ferocity, grab, jet, poison, pounce, rake, rend, roar, spikes, trample, trip, and web. If the creature has immunity or resistance to any elements, you gain resistance 20 to those elements. If the creature has vulnerability to an element, you gain that vulnerability.
The spell doesn't list gaining the spells or spell-like abilities of the magical beast, so you don't gain those.
In Pathfinder, these kinds of spells don't actually turn you into the type of creature. It's more like you just take a shape of that creature and gain some abilities that are thematically tied to it.
This spell functions as beast shape III except that it also allows you to assume the form of a Tiny or Large creature of the magical beast type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: burrow 60 feet, climb 90 feet, fly 120 feet (good maneuverability), swim 120 feet, blindsense 60 feet, darkvision 90 feet, low-light vision, scent, tremorsense 60 feet, breath weapon, constrict, ferocity, grab, jet, poison, pounce, rake, rend, roar, spikes, trample, trip, and web. If the creature has immunity or resistance to any elements, you gain resistance 20 to those elements. If the creature has vulnerability to an element, you gain that vulnerability.The spell doesn't list gaining the spells or spell-like abilities of the magical beast, so you don't gain those.
In Pathfinder, these kinds of spells don't actually turn you into the type of creature. It's more like you just take a shape of that creature and gain some abilities that are thematically tied to it.
Thank you for the clarifying, I’ve never used one of this spells/abilities before and wasn’t sure how far the transformation went.
Shape changing can be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, someone wrote a guide. Polymorphamory
I would start with reading the polymorph rules (CRB pg. 211f if you prefer the book).