Best Polymorph Forms

[Khazrak]

I want to know the best polymorph forms for:

A) A weapon-wielding melee character, and,
B) A shortbow character

And if these forms have any benefit for a martial character over their usual stats. (See: a troll form could be good for defenses - regen, huge HP pool, etc.

Also, forms don't modify mental stats, right? So if I have a WIS-based archer, I'm mostly looking for a form that boosts my STR/damage for the ranged form, right?

[Hawke]

The answer is that it depends.

I have used a 2hander axe with vamp regen 2, and didn't work with longsword human but it did work for minotaur.

I do not know if there is a shortbow polymorph, maybe with the kobolds, but the elf uses a long bow and I think the orcs do too.

The best form is just something for you to try and test out.

You can drop form and turn into something else unlimited number of times until timer run out. Since Polymorph is 1hr per level... well that is a long frickin time.

So I would say try out different forms. Some may even surprise you.

[Cenerae]

I have used a 2hander axe with vamp regen 2, and didn't work with longsword human but it did work for minotaur.

Odd. I had vamp regen carry over to all the melee forms when I was using one of those. Though it was on a sickle...

Anyway, from my own testing...

The halberdier gnoll is actually the best offensive melee form (unless you greatly value threat range), carrying the highest not-defensive-form AC going out of the group. Drow rapier form is also a good choice (probably better) if you have weapon finesse. The worg matches the AC, but has no weapon merge. Might be good if you lack a decent weapon to copy.

The troll form seems to be the best defensive form, since it has good AC a huge con score and fast healing 5. The gargoyle also has the same AC, but I'm not sure if it has any DR, since I have stoneskins for that. The myconid has plant traits (crit immune etc), but the AC is average.

For your ranged options, the bow elf form is the best one, period. The orc uses a crossbow (stuck at 1 attack a round without rapid reload) and has a bad dex, and the Kenku has marginally less dex and only uses a shortbow.

With a +3 deflect item, greater transmutation focus (+2 ac in form) and a standard suite of mage buffs, I get the following ACs:

Troll/Gargoyle: 40
Elf (both of them)/gnoll/worg: 39
Longsword orc/Drider: 38
Human/dwarf/minotaur/myconid: 37
Ogre: 36

Edit - one quick note is that throwing weapons will merge in to the ranged form. Onhit properties don't stick, but there are some fantastic throwing weapons you can buy off a vendor for a small amount...and the ammo count doesn't deplete while you're fighting in a shape. Which is why I've been levelling as an archer for a while

[Khazrak]

Did some experimenting. Feeling the same as Cenrae - although, I don't seem to have the Kenku option, and that's one I DEFINITELY want. (My character has Imp. Critical Shortbow.)

[Khazrak]

On the kenku...

Is it available with Polymorph, or Shapechange? It's not listed for me with Polymorph. (Rangers don't get Shapechange.)

[Sun Wukong]

I would argue that the Troll is the best form to use in general, especially if you consider spells such as the Elemental Shield and Death Armor. As long as the enemies land at least one point of damage on you, they will take some damage in kind. Thus, if you combine these two spells with the regeneration and high constitution of the Troll form, you can have enemies kill themselves at you.

It takes some trying out to figure which DR spell to make use in any given area though. Stoneskin 10 points of DR, Ethereal Visage 20 points of DR, Premonition 30 points of DR.

[Khazrak]

Good call and good idea. Doesn't help me *terribly* much, as I'm playing a ranger, though I could pull a few similar tricks with Cactus Skin, perhaps.

At the moment I just really want to find out whether Polymorph has access to that kenku form at all. If it uses a shortbow, then due to my feat selection it'll be a GREAT choice right now until I can finally find an epic shortbow and start dinking things in my normal gnome form.

[Sun Wukong]

Just tried it out, I got Kenku (Bow) on my Sorcerer.

[Khazrak]

Does it have to do with whether you're from the Underdark or Surface, or is it based on gender? I find all my humanoid forms are female when possible.

My options include:

Several animals (spiders, snake, beetle, bat, lizard, cat, rat)
Worg
Hook Horror
Kobolds (Kukri, Sling)
Goblins (Rapier, Spear)
Driders (Crossbow, Scythe, Sword)
Orcs (Longsword, Crossbow)
Ogre (Mace)
Troll
Gnoll (Halberd)
Gloura (Dagger)
Elf (Bow)
Dwarf (Axe)
Duergar (Axe)
Sahuagin (Spear)
Drow (Rapier)
Minotaur (Axe)
Troglodye (Spear)
Gargoyle
Human (Longsword)
Myconid
And finally, No Shape.

No Kenku. Also noteworthy: caster level is 16 at present, ranger spell list. Dunno if that changes things.

[Nemni]

It does depend somewhat on if you are UD/surface. But which forms exactly I don't know. Hook horror isn't available on the surface for example.

[Sun Wukong]

My sorcerer is on the surface, so I guess no Kenku for UD.

[Cenerae]

Hook horror doesn't show up as an option for surfacers. I don't think scythe or crossbow driders, or gloura do either.

So I guess yeah, there are differences.

Gender doesn't affect anything except the appearance of the PC race forms.

[Hawke]

Driders,,, I remember seeing a drider.

I'll have to look.

It could also be based off of alignment.

[Khazrak]

Will be glad to hear more details, but I assume the split is UD vs. Surface. It kind'a stinks that two of the ranged forms for the UD Polymorph use crossbows, no shortbows. Oh well, I guess - you can't expect every weapon in the game to be available as a polymorph option.

But this has been a super enlightening thread so far. And Cenerae, that trick with the throwing axes does wonders. Elf form + throwing axe + favored enemy = crushed critters.

What I find really fascinating thus far is that if you're built around a mental stat for attack bonus (Wisdom), you can focus on picking forms that provide the best damage for you. In my case, since I have something like 24 WIS and Zen Archery, I just need to find a form with decent STR and either a longbow or shortbow (preferably shortbow). Elf form does the trick.

One thing that DOES bug me is the inability to use clickies while polymorphed in ANY form. Manyshot, spells... You also can't access the hotbar, so while you can still give commands to pets ("Attack, Hold, Follow Me"), you can't do so through the hotbar.

[Hawke]

No, that is just the thing here. Same holds true for druids.