Basic Shape

The most basic shift for a werewolf are a change in their eye color. As per normal behavior for a shapeshifter, a werewolf will change their eye color to identify themselves to their fellows and establish their rank and power in standoffs.

 

This initial transformation is followed by their fingers or toenails lengthening into claws and their teeth sharpening into fangs. This default transformation will appear when a werewolf takes action to defend himself or activate his powers.

 

The most commonly seen werewolf transformation is a near-human shape that includes all of the above features. Further changes consist of a ridged brow, an alteration of body or facial hair including sideburns on their faces, a lengthening and sharpening of their ears. They also acquire the ability to lop, run using both their hands and feet.

 

As werewolves grow in experience, mature or they were to undergo an evolution, they can develop the ability to shapeshift further. An alpha is supplemented in this talent due to his or her inherent spark of power, a beta most likely by the strength of their pack. Depending on their power and character, a werewolf's transformation could also manifest as either an quadrupedal beast, or an bipedal creature.

 

Beastial Werewolf Shapes

Peter Hale, a born and experienced werewolf, was burned alive in the Hale House fire, placing him in a coma for six years. During this time he was driven mad by what happened to him and his pack and became obsessed with revenge for the massacre of his family. He killed his niece, Laura Hale, to take her alpha spark so he could fully heal himself, then moved on to kill the arsonists and conspirators involved in the fire. In his quest for power, and revenge, and with his new alpha power, Peter's shifting manifested as a grotesque, hulking, beast that could stand upright, and run on all fours.

 

Sebastien Valet was a psychopathic serial killer in eighteenth century France. He showed no conscience or remorse for killing innocent people. After he transformed into a werewolf, Sebastien ravaged and killed his way upwards to 500 victims. He was proud of his carnage and reveled in his unrivaled notoriety and the terror and fear he inspired, becoming known as "la Bete du Gevaudan." Sebastien's sadistic, twisted personality affected his werewolf transformation, resulting in a quadrupedal werewolf, larger than Peter's alpha form. His body was oil black, thickly muscled, outfitted with red veins and he has an overlarge lipless mouth. Sebastien could transform into a beast mystically after his body became shrouded in dark shadows that he could summon, forming his werewolf body. His clothes could also assimilate as part of his transformation.

 

Demon Wolf Shapes

Deucalion, an experienced alpha, was once a idealistic leader and visionary who became corrupt and savage after he lost his eyes in a faux peace summit with Gerard Argent. He became a fanatical power-monger, narcissistic, and obsessive. He desired a pack, all of whom were of alpha status, completely submissive to him. When he discovered that alphas can consume the powers of their betas by killing them, he went on to murder everyone in his previous pack, then coerced other alphas to do the same. As a result of his heinous legacy, Deucalion became the most fearsome werewolf in the region over a span of ten years and a super-powered shapeshifter. He could effortlessly transform into a human shape with dark blue-gray skin with more demonic than wolf-like features.

 

Scott McCall experienced a more monstrous transformation and gained additional fangs. In 4x10 - Monstrous, Scott was in the heat of battle against a team of assassins who were out to kill fellow werewolves for profit. Scott saved young Lori Talbot from being executed by an assassin and then attempted to kill Lori's would-be murderer out of rage. Giving into his bloodlust, Scott began to transform into a more demonic shape with black-gray skin and a darker alpha eye color. When he regained control and spared the man's life, Scott reverted back to his normal form.

 

Twin Merge

A unique transformation exists in the case of twin siblings. Werewolf twins, born or bitten, have the ability to merge their bodies into a singlular more powerful werewolf shape. This is symbolic that identical twins are both halves of the same zygote from birth.

 

One benefit of this talent is that when one of the twins feels pain, their sibling will feel the other's pain.

 

Ethan and Aiden Steiner being identical twins had the ability to merge and because they'd killed their alpha whilst merged they both rose to alpha rank.

 

Full Wolf Shift

Some werewolves are able to shift into a full natural wolf form, but this level of shapeshifting is extremely rare. A werewolf with this ability is the most powerful they can be. Their abilities, strength, and speed having reached their zenith.

 

To be able to shapeshift into this form, a werewolf must find the balance between their humanity and their inner werewolf nature. This form can also be achieved after evolving. Initially, the only two werewolves known to shapeshift into a full wolf were Talia Hale and her elder daughter Laura, both of whom had alpha status.

 

In Season 4, Derek Hale, most likely as a result of surviving, learning and moving forward from the multiple trials in his turbulent life, underwent an evolution necessary for this shapeshifting ability.

 

The evolution initially manifested first as Derek's werewolf eyes changing back to gold. Thereafter he began to lose all his abilities, his senses, strength, speed, healing, and even shapeshifting over a matter of weeks. He was completely brought down to his human guise. Later on he died after being stabbed by a berserker. Minutes later, Derek revived as a fully transformed wolf, all his powers returned and increased. Then he was able to completely intimidate and overpower both Kate, a werejaguar and her berserker. Derek realized losing his powers and dying were because "(he) was evolving."

 

Voice

 

Fangs

 

Claws