Studied in the arts of transformation, the shapeshifter is never the adversary that enemies expected they would face.

When becoming a Shapeshifter, you gain the following benefits:
+2 Constitution
+1 Armor

As a Shapeshifter you gain access to the following abilities (purchased like spells)
More detailed information about each ability can be found on their individual pages.

Spider Shape	Description	The shapeshifter can transform into a giant spider, gaining a large bonus to nature resistance as well as the spider's Web and Poison Spit abilities. The caster's spellpower determines how powerful the form is. With Master Shapeshifter, the mage becomes a corrupted spider, growing still stronger and gaining the Overwhelm ability.
Type	Sustained	Cooldown	90s	Requirements	none
Activation	-	Upkeep	50	Fatigue	5
Range	Personal	Target Type
Bear Shape	Description	The shapeshifter can transform into a bear, gaining large bonuses to nature resistance and armor as well as the bear's Slam and Rage abilities. The caster's spellpower further enhances this bear's statistics and abilities. With Master Shapeshifter, this form transforms the caster into a powerful bereskarn and gains the Overwhelm ability.
Type	Sustained	Cooldown	90s	Requirements	Level 8
Activation	-	Upkeep	60	Fatigue	5
Range	Personal	Target Type
Flying Swarm	Description	The shapeshifter's body explodes into a swarm of stinging insects that inflict nature damage on nearby foes, with the damage increasing based on the caster's spellpower and proximity. While in this form, the caster gains Divide the Storm, and any damage the shapeshifter suffers is drawn from mana instead of health, but the caster regenerates no mana. The swirling cloud of insects is immune to normal missiles and has a very good chance of evading physical attacks but is extremely vulnerable to fire. With Master Shapeshifter, the character gains health whenever the swarm inflicts damage
Type	Sustained	Cooldown	60s	Requirements	Level 10
Activation	-	Upkeep	30	Fatigue	5
Range	Personal	Target Type
Master Shapeshifter	Description	Mastery of the shifter's ways alters the forms of Bear Shape and Spider Shape, allowing the caster to become a bereskarn and a corrupted spider, both considerably more powerful than their base forms. In those forms, the shapeshifter also gains Overwhelm. Additionally, the Flying Swarm shape drains health from foes whenever the main swarm inflicts damage.
Type	Passive	Cooldown	-	Requirements	Level 12
Activation	-	Upkeep	-	Fatigue	-
Range	Personal	Target Type

Specializations in Dragon Age: Origins are not available from the start of the game. In addition to having a free Specialization Point, the character must have found a trainer willing to teach him the specialization before a point can be spent on training it.

Specialization unlocks are persistent between games, meaning that once unlocked in your player profile, your characters can learn a specialization without having to find the trainer first. They can also be unlocked even if the player character does not have the right class to actually learn them.

Spoilers below this point

The Shapeshifter specialization is taught by Morrigan if asked so. Alternatively, Master Varathorn in the Dalish Camp trains it as well.

Spoilers above this point