wait shapeshifting Merlin? š
[flaps hands] so listen. In the series, the only shapeshifting we get to see are when Gwen into a deer, the goblin partially transforms Arthur into a donkey, the curse that turned Freya into a Bastet, the implication that using the wrong cure for a love potion could turn someone into an animal, and of course the aging spells (in combination with some other thingsāhair growth being one).
Now, in the legends, Merlin is THE shape shifter of the era. Heās supposed to be able to shift himself and others into anything in the plant/animal kingdoms. We donāt get to see this in the show, but given Morganaās spell on Gwen, we know itās possible, and we know it would come naturally to Merlin.
Basically we were robbed of shapeshifter!Merlin content. So, the main headcanons for Merlin and shapeshifting usually have to do with the fact that he typically turns/gets turned into a tree in the legends. Iāve researched it a lot and the type of tree varies depending on the source (some say oak, others rowan, sometimes yew). I have a tag specifically relating to tree!Merlin for this very purpose.
Other popular headcanons:
Merlin definitely has a bird alter ego. This could be a raven, as heās often referred to this way by fandom (people used to say āthe raven-haired boyā but itās become so common that people now call him āthe ravenā lmao), or some kind of blackbird (Merlin translates to āMerlinoā in Italian, which means ālittle birdā iirc), or the actual falcon called a merlin. But also it would be funny if he chose to be a chicken or something.
Ratlin. Merlin turns himself into a rat and chews through Arthurās boots. Sometimes Gwen carries him around in her pockets (YES HER DRESS HAS POCKETS) and Gwaine pretends he can understand his squeaks.
Some people headcanon that, as a shapeshifting dragonlord, itās possible for him to transform into a dragon himself. The theory is awesome and definitely underutilized in fic.
His innate connection to nature means that he can understand/communicate with plants and animals in a way that others canāt. While this isnāt strictly a shapeshifter ability, it goes to show that heās sensitive to a universal language, which goes hand in hand with the power to transform into anything universally.
Mershroom. Mushroom Merlin. I donāt remember how this one came about (blame @fishoutofcamelot and @witchcraft--and--wizardry) but, hey, itās only natural. Merlinās a fun guy. (sorry)
Thereās always room for more! Please feel free to popularize the most ridiculous ideas possible. People name their cats and bats after Merlin, so thatās definitely out there. Literally just turn him into a shrubbery.
Hope this is what you were looking for!
