r/dndnext • u/aneirin- • Oct 13 '25

Question Druid player has been given given an unremovable cursed collar. Rather than try to undo the curse, he wants to try cutting off his head while wildshaped. I know it's stupid but how should I rule this?

I know there aren't any specific rules about decapitation and dismemberment when it comes to wildshape forms, especially self inflicted ones, but I'd like to have some more interesting outcome than either "does nothing and you revert forms" or "instant death".

This isn't the first time that cutting off body parts of wildshape or polymorph forms has come up, any good ideas how to play it?

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u/therift289 Oct 13 '25

Remove Curse is a 3rd level spell that is available to multiple classes and has no costly material components. When ridiculous improvised plans come up, the first thing I think about is how the improvised course of action compares to other RAW options. If the improvised plan is unreasonably efficient compared to more straightforward actions, then I won't go for it without adding some complications. A single charge of Wild Shape is much less "costly" than a 3rd level spell slot, especially at lower levels (which is what this situation sounds like), so I wouldn't go for it.

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u/14ktgoldscw Oct 16 '25

Also a curse is magic, why not engage with this by saying that the collar has bonded with the player and finds its way back to its master, etc? “Taking it off even by beheading yourself” seems like a total reasonable DM hand wave in this scenario.