D&D 5E Dnd 5e polymorph a zombie

[animal chubs]

Hey, is it possible to polymorph a zombie I control? would it still be under my control?

 

[green_destiny]

Hey, is it possible to polymorph a zombie I control? would it still be under my control?

1. Polymorph and True Polymorph doesn't say you can't do this to undead.

2. Assuming you created undead using Create Undead spell and given that with the Polymorph spell, the creature assumes the new statistics of the new form - thus the creature would no longer be considered as an undead, then it will cancel your control over the undead. So I think they will no longer be in your control...

 

[Falling Icicle]

I think you would retain control. The animate dead spell's text states that "The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you've given it." I don't see anything that would suggest that your control over the creature depends upon it retaining its skeleton or zombie form.

 

[animal chubs]

thanks for the fast reply's! yeah I just wanted to make it clear to the party that i can turn my zombie into a t-rex! Or a frog or something lame like that

 

[Sunseeker]

1. Polymorph and True Polymorph doesn't say you can't do this to undead.

2. Assuming you created undead using Create Undead spell and given that with the Polymorph spell, the creature assumes the new statistics of the new form - thus the creature would no longer be considered as an undead, then it will cancel your control over the undead. So I think they will no longer be in your control...

I don't believe the control established over an undead when you first create it ever "checks" the type after the initial creation.

****

Just read the text, until your control over the undead ends in 24 hours your subsequent commands only check for the creature being "that you raised with this spell" which would still be a true status of the creature regardless of any change to it's creature type.

As DM though, I would not allow a person to polymorph a dead/undead creature into a living one. Whatever new form and statistics it gained, it would retain the "undead" type. IE: you make it a lion, now it is a "undead beast".

 

[green_destiny]

Just read the text, until your control over the undead ends in 24 hours your subsequent commands only check for the creature being "that you raised with this spell" which would still be a true status of the creature regardless of any change to it's creature type.

As DM though, I would not allow a person to polymorph a dead/undead creature into a living one. Whatever new form and statistics it gained, it would retain the "undead" type. IE: you make it a lion, now it is a "undead beast".

Right. Perhaps I'll consider this then if this happens in my table. Hey an undead beast, cool!

 

[Paraxis]

thanks for the fast reply's! yeah I just wanted to make it clear to the party that i can turn my zombie into a t-rex! Or a frog or something lame like that

Polymorph and True Polymorph both cap the CR of the new beast form to that of the targets creatures or lower. I don't think any of the animate or create undead spells let you make a CR 8 undead, so no to the T-Rex but yes to the from or something lame.

 

[Roger]

Sure, sounds fine. Might make the townsfolk a little happier about your necromancer escorted by a shambling horde of the walking cute little hobbits.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Better: create a bunch of zombies, then use Animal Shapes via druid or Wish to turn them all into birds and fly to the target zone... Then turn them all into elephants and destroy everything.