Talisman
The active Talisman supplies the selected animal form and its basic Attack. Changeling Talisman and Vicious Talisman are examples of Talisman base types.
Related: Changeling Talisman, Vicious TalismanMechanic
Shapeshift
Shapeshifting changes the character into a non-human form. Animal forms use the character's normal stats unless a Skill or form says otherwise, and are enabled by a Talisman in the active weapon set.0.5.4d
Current data
Catalog version 0.5.4d
No direct 0.5 patch change is linked to this page. The displayed values are current for catalog version 0.5.4d.
What Shapeshift does
Current rulesEquip a Talisman in the active weapon set, choose Bear, Werewolf, or Wyvern form, then use compatible Shapeshift Skills. The Talisman grants that form's basic Attack. Using an incompatible Skill normally returns the character to human form, while Triggered Skills, Persistent Skills, and non-channelled Minion Commands continue without ending the form.
- Character stats still apply
- Shapeshift Skills use the character's normal stats unless the Skill, Talisman, form, or another effect explicitly replaces a rule.
- Talismans enable animal forms
- Talismans are two-handed melee weapons requiring Strength and Intelligence. A Talisman in the active weapon set supplies its selected animal form and basic Attack, and enables Shapeshift Skills that require a Talisman.
- The selected form does not lock other forms
- A Talisman's selected animal form controls the form and basic Attack granted by equipping it and can be changed at any time. It does not prevent using a Shapeshift Skill for another animal form, which transforms the character into the form named by that Skill.
- Incompatible Skills return to human form
- Using a Skill that is not compatible with the current Shapeshift form automatically returns the character to human form.
- Triggered and Persistent Skills continue
- Triggered Skills and Persistent Skills can continue to function while a Talisman is active. Triggering a Skill is not the same as using it, and a Persistent Skill is toggled through the Skills panel rather than used normally.
- Most Minion Commands keep the form
- Since patch 0.4.0b, issuing a Minion Command while Shapeshifted does not return the character to human form. Channelled Command Skills remain the stated exception.
- Form bonuses apply only in that form
- Bear, Werewolf, and Wyvern bonuses are conditional on being in the named form. Returning to human form removes those form conditions unless another effect explicitly preserves a benefit.
- Recently means four seconds
- A condition that checks whether the character Shapeshifted to an animal form Recently checks the past 4 seconds, including the time immediately after leaving that form.
Forms and connected rules
8 casesBear Form
Bear uses Maul as its basic Attack. It gains 10 Armour per character level, applies 30% of Armour to Elemental Damage taken, and gains an Endurance Charge for every 15 Rage spent.
Related: Bear, Maul, Rage, Endurance ChargeWyvern Form
Wyvern uses Rend as its basic Attack. It has 50% increased Stun Threshold, 50% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold, and 50% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge.
Related: Wyvern, Rend, Stun Threshold, Elemental Ailment Threshold, Energy ShieldTriggered and Persistent Skills
These continue while the character is Shapeshifted because triggering and persistent activation are not normal uses of an incompatible Skill.
Related: Trigger, PersistentMinion Commands
A non-channelled Command does not end the animal form. A channelled Command still returns the character to human form.
Related: CommandDemon Form
Demon Form is a separate transformation with its own Skill rules. Do not assume that every Talisman or animal-form rule automatically applies to it.
Related: Demon FormShapeshift modifiers
Use the modifier database to find passives and item modifiers that explicitly check Shapeshifting, a named form, or having Shapeshifted Recently.
Related: Search Shapeshift modifiers, Druid classLimits and exceptions
5 rules- A Talisman must be in the active weapon set for its selected animal form and basic Attack to be active.
- Using an incompatible Skill normally ends the form. Triggered Skills, Persistent Skills, and non-channelled Commands are specific exceptions.
- Changing the selected Talisman form changes the granted basic Attack and inherent form bonuses. It is not a permanent class choice.
- Form-specific bonuses stop applying outside that form, while a Recently condition can remain true for 4 seconds.
- Demon Form is not a Talisman animal form and must be checked against its own Skill wording.
Related pages
16 connectionsmechanicBear
skillMaul
skillShred
skillRend
item baseChangeling Talisman
item baseVicious Talisman
unique itemThe Flesh Poppet
unique itemSurge of the Tide
skillDemon Form
Shapeshifting into a Bear grants access to devastating Slams and Fire Attacks fuelled by smouldering Rage.
mechanicWerewolfShapeshift into a Werewolf to draw power from the Cold light of the moon, leading your pack with rabid Attacks.
mechanicWyvernShapeshift into a Wyvern to bombard your enemies with Fire and Lightning, then close in for the kill.
skillMaulShapeshift into a Bear and rake enemies with your claws, generating Rage on Hit.
skillShredShapeshift into a Werewolf and lash out with a flurry of claw swipes. The first Attack can dash to faraway enemies and the final Attack Strikes twice. Attacking a Frozen enemy will create Ice Fragments, which are Projectiles that land and explode after a short delay.
skillRendShapeshift into a Wyvern and perform a wide slash with your wingtip claws. Consumes a Power Charge if possible to grant you a Buff that gives you extra Lightning damage. While you have the Buff, Rend covers a much larger area but is slower.
item baseChangeling TalismanPhysical Damage: 9-15
item baseVicious TalismanPhysical Damage: 43-71
unique itemThe Flesh Poppet(90-120)% increased Physical Damage
unique itemSurge of the Tide(250-300)% increased Physical Damage
mechanicTriggerA Trigger causes a skill to occur immediately when its stated condition is met. A Triggered skill has no attack or cast time for that activation, usually targets the cause of the Trigger, and does not count as a skill you used.
mechanicPersistentA Persistent skill is toggled in the Skills Panel and remains active until disabled or until its reservation or other requirement can no longer be met. Persistent Buffs, Meta skills, and Reviving Minions often reserve Spirit.
mechanicCommandCommand Skills let the player order a permanent Minion to perform a specific action. The player issues the command, but the corresponding Minion performs the commanded Skill.
skillDemon FormShapeshift into a demon, vastly boosting the power of your Spells. You gain Demonflame every second you remain in demon form, causing your Life to be lost at an ever-increasing rate. Maximum 10 Demonflame. Revert to human form if you reach 1 Life, use a Skill that isn't a Spell, or reactivate this Skill.
mechanicRageRage is a combat resource that inherently grants 1% more Attack Damage per point. Characters have 30 maximum Rage by default. Rage generation is limited to one Hit every 0.5 seconds, and inherent Rage loss begins after four seconds without gaining Rage or taking damage.
mechanicEndurance ChargeEndurance Charges are Strength-associated charges used by warcries, mace, shield, and defensive interactions. They do not inherently reduce damage or increase defences in Path of Exile 2.
Related mechanics
4
MechanicCommandCommand Skills let the player order a permanent Minion to perform a specific action. The player issues the command, but the corresponding Minion performs the commanded Skill.
MechanicRageRage is a combat resource that inherently grants 1% more Attack Damage per point. Characters have 30 maximum Rage by default. Rage generation is limited to one Hit every 0.5 seconds, and inherent Rage loss begins after four seconds without gaining Rage or taking damage.
MechanicAncestrally BoostedAncestral Boost changes a compatible Slam, Strike, or Spell when that skill is used. Slams and Spells gain damage and area, while Strikes target additional enemies.
MechanicUnbound PotentialUnbound Potential is a stacking buff created by The Unleashed body armour. It converts the Runic Bindings built by Spell Hits in Human form into increased Damage, Armour, and Energy Shield for a shapeshifted character.
Items and gems using this mechanic
24 connections
Direct relationArctic HowlShapeshift into a Werewolf and let out an icy howl that damages enemies and Freezes Primed enemies. If an enemy is Frozen or a Frozen enemy is Hit, this Skill Empowers your attacks with added Cold damage, causes Empowered Slams to create Chilled Ground, and grants your Allies added Cold damage. This Skill's cooldown can be bypassed by expending an Endurance Charge.
Direct relationCross SlashShapeshift into a Werewolf and leap backwards as you gouge the ground with both claws. Enemies can be Hit separately by both gouges. Hitting a Marked enemy with both gouges will Activate the Mark and cause an additional shockwave. Ice Fragments will be pulled into the location where the gouges cross and explode immediately. This skill can be used while using other skills to interrupt them.
Direct relationDemon FormShapeshift into a demon, vastly boosting the power of your Spells. You gain Demonflame every second you remain in demon form, causing your Life to be lost at an ever-increasing rate. Maximum 10 Demonflame. Revert to human form if you reach 1 Life, use a Skill that isn't a Spell, or reactivate this Skill.
Direct relationDevourShapeshift into a Wyvern and devour a Corpse or Cullable enemy, and additional nearby Corpses. For each enemy or corpse devoured, you regenerate life and gain a Power Charge. If the target is far enough away, you will leap to them and damage nearby enemies where you land. Targeting nearby enemies or corpses will not perform a leap or a Slam.
Direct relationFerocious RoarShapeshift into a Bear and roar in defiance, immediately gaining Rage if there are enemies nearby and Empowering subsequent Attacks to Break Armour. Alternatively, socketing a human-form Warcry into this Skill triggers that Warcry instead, and augments its damage and area. This Skill's cooldown can be bypassed by expending an Endurance Charge.
Direct relationFlame BreathShapeshift into a Wyvern and take to the skies, immolating enemies with a jet of fire. Channelling ends after a short amount of time but can be prolonged by spending Rage. Consumes a Power Charge if possible to Empower the Skill, Gaining extra Lightning damage and spending Rage more slowly.
Direct relationFurious SlamShapeshift into a Bear and Slam the ground with great force, causing a pair of shockwaves. Can spend Rage to create larger shockwaves that leave behind Jagged Ground.
Direct relationFury of the MountainShapeshift into a Bear and repeatedly pound the ground, creating Molten Fissures that travel randomly in a wide arc in front of you.
Direct relationHelbrym's HideSupports Shapeshifting Skills, causing them to grant Helbrym's Composure for a brief duration when they cause you to Shapeshift. Shapeshifting into a different form before the Buff expires causes it to be removed without effect.
Direct relationLunar AssaultShapeshift into a Werewolf and swipe with your claws, projecting an arc of moonlight and ice forward in a crescent.
Direct relationLunar BlessingShapeshift into a Werewolf and offer your Rage to the moon to receive a blessing, gaining bonus Cold damage for yourself and any Wolf Minions you have from Wolf Pack or Predator's Mark. Spends all Rage to extend the Buff's duration. While the Buff is active, your Werewolf Melee Attacks call down Moonbeams on Hit.
Direct relationMaulShapeshift into a Bear and rake enemies with your claws, generating Rage on Hit.
Direct relationMolten CrashShapeshift into a burning monstrosity and leap through the air to crash down upon the earth, Slamming twice and creating Molten Fissures. Consumes Rage to create additional Molten Fissures.
Direct relationOil BarrageShapeshift into a Wyvern and spit Oil at enemies, creating Oil Ground where the Projectiles land. Consumes Power Charges if possible to instead Channel a sustained barrage of electrified Oil that does not create Oil Ground. Projectiles are fired in sequence, allowing multiple Projectiles to Hit the same target.
Direct relationPounceShapeshift into a Werewolf and leap to a target location, damaging enemies in an area around where you land. Predator's Mark will be Triggered targeting the highest Rarity enemy Hit, or if a Mark gem is socketed into this Skill, that Mark will be Triggered instead. Using this Skill allows any Wolf Minions you have to leap immediately.
Direct relationRampageShapeshift into a Bear and charge forward, Slamming the ground as you run. Channelling ends after a short amount of time but can be prolonged by spending Rage.
Direct relationRendShapeshift into a Wyvern and perform a wide slash with your wingtip claws. Consumes a Power Charge if possible to grant you a Buff that gives you extra Lightning damage. While you have the Buff, Rend covers a much larger area but is slower.
Direct relationRolling MagmaShapeshift into a Wyvern and lob a ball of magma that deals area damage as it hits the ground. The skill Chains, bouncing forward to deal damage multiple times. Impacts on Molten Fissures or Volcanos will activate them as though they were Slammed.
Direct relationShredShapeshift into a Werewolf and lash out with a flurry of claw swipes. The first Attack can dash to faraway enemies and the final Attack Strikes twice. Attacking a Frozen enemy will create Ice Fragments, which are Projectiles that land and explode after a short delay.
Direct relationSurge of the Tide(250-300)% increased Physical Damage
Direct relationThe Flesh Poppet(90-120)% increased Physical Damage
Direct relationThe Unleashed(150-250)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
Direct relationWalking CalamityBuild Glory by gaining Rage while already at maximum Rage. When you have maximum Glory, roar to the heavens to bring them down upon your enemies. For the duration of the Skill, meteors rain down around you and you Gain Fire damage and Rage regeneration. This Skill's effects are suppressed if you leave Bear form, but will resume if you return to Bear form before the duration expires.
Direct relationWing BlastShapeshift into a Wyvern and launch yourself backwards with a powerful wingbeat that Knocks Back enemies. Enemies Primed for Heavy Stun will be stunned, release a shockwave, and have a chance to grant you a Power Charge. This skill can be used while using other skills to interrupt them.