Spellbook
By James Wyatt

Lycanthropy may be a curse, but there's no denying the combat advantages it lends the afflicted. What if a character could experience just a taste of that power on a temporary basis? This month, we offer bite of the wererat, the first of five new spells designed to lend heroes ferocious abilities when they're most needed.

Bite of the Wererat
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 4, Drd 3
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level

You take on certain qualities of a dire rat, almost as though you were a wererat in hybrid form. You gain a +6 enhancement bonus to your Dexterity score and a +2 enhancement bonus to your Constitution score. You gain a +3 natural armor bonus as your hide thickens and sprouts extra hair. Your face lengthens into a ratlike snout, and you can attack with your bite as a natural weapon without provoking an attack of opportunity. The bite deals 1d4 points of damage, or 1d3 points if you are Small. You also gain the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with your bite attack.

Arcane Material Component: Hair from a wererat.