RPGs with shapeshifting as a prominent mechanic

[Darth Canoli]

In Might & Magic 8, the vampire class has multiple abilities like levitation and mistform (immune to physical damage), well, mistform doesn't do much outside of combat, maybe you can avoid trap damage but levitation does that already for ground traps for the whole party.

 

[krilcebre]

There were also shapeshifting scrolls in Gothic games, but outside of a couple of scripted encounters (shifting into a roach to go under a fence) I don't remember them being terribly useful.

You can buy a dragonsnapper scroll in the beginning of Gothic 2 and clear everything in Khorinis map in a few hours. I'd call that pretty useful, or even an exploit.

 

[Hobo Elf]

There were also shapeshifting scrolls in Gothic games, but outside of a couple of scripted encounters (shifting into a roach to go under a fence) I don't remember them being terribly useful.

You can buy a dragonsnapper scroll in the beginning of Gothic 2 and clear everything in Khorinis map in a few hours. I'd call that pretty useful, or even an exploit.

You don't get HP from level ups that way, due to a bug. Not much of an exploit when it fucks you up the ass pretty hard.

 

[Baron Dupek]

Pillows of Eternity

 

[V_K]

Pillows of Eternity

Which class does that?

 

[krilcebre]

There were also shapeshifting scrolls in Gothic games, but outside of a couple of scripted encounters (shifting into a roach to go under a fence) I don't remember them being terribly useful.

You can buy a dragonsnapper scroll in the beginning of Gothic 2 and clear everything in Khorinis map in a few hours. I'd call that pretty useful, or even an exploit.

You don't get HP from level ups that way, due to a bug. Not much of an exploit when it fucks you up the ass pretty hard.

You can still play around it tho. Magicians have a plethora of things up their sleeves to kill pretty much anything without losing a single HP. Summons, other transformations, etc.

 

[Jvegi]

Action RTS RPG League of Legends features several shapeshifting characters. Examples include a cat lady, Nidalee, and a spider lady, Elise.

There is also a dragon lady. Her name is Shyvana.
Gnar qualifies as well I guess.

Here is a list. Keep in mind that it stretches the definition somewhat.
https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Shapeshifter_champion

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

BG

 

[vonAchdorf]

Divinity 2

 

[visions]

Divine Divinity had inventory items (animal statuettes) that let you shapeshift into the creature depicted on them. The possible creatures were a giant spider, a cat and a frog. You could scare shopkeepers out of their shops as the giant spider (in order to rob the shops) and also guards would attack you when you were shifted into the giant spider. I think orcs were friendly to giant spiders though (as in, wouldn't attack you on sight).

As the frog you would move faster. Not sure what (if anything) the cat was good for.

It was more of a novelty thing but it was cool.

 

[Jimmious]

Doesn't Original Sin 2 have some mask that let you steal the bodies of dead people?

To be specific one character obtains a mask that can allow him to change faces/appearance and basically look as from another race, and this does have some impact on NPC reactions etc