[RPG] use Mage Hand to fly by Polymorphing theself and picking theself up with the hand

cantripsdnd-5eflightpolymorphspells

Could I first cast Mage Hand, then Polymorph into a Tiny creature less than 10 pounds then use the Mage Hand to pick myself up and fly at 30 Ft per turn?

Polymorph says:

The new form can be any beast … The target's game statistics,
including mental ability scores, are replaced by the statistics of the
chosen beast. It retains its alignment and personality … The
creature is limited in the actions it can perform by the nature of its
new form and it can't speak, cast spells, or take any other action
that requires hands or speech.

This keeps me from casting spells, which keeps me from just casting Mage Hand to fly as long as I want to over and over. But for that initial duration of the Mage Hand cantrip, could I use the Mage Hand to fly as a Tiny polymorphed creature until the spell runs out?

Best Answer

No...

...because being carried is not flying in the real world, nor is it in D&D.

That said...

...Flying is a type of movement in D&D, and movement is a non-action. Manipulating something with mage hand requires an action.

Plus, according to the text mage hand can interact with objects, not creatures.

You can use your action to control the hand. You can use the hand to manipulate an object, open an unlocked door or container, stow or retrieve an item from an open container, or pour the contents out of a vial. You can move the hand up to 30 feet each time you use it.

The Arcane Trickster Rogue's Mage Hand Legerdemain specifically grants the ability to interact with objects in the possession of another creature at 3rd level. This is clear indication that the general case for using mage hand does not allow it to interact with objects in the possession of another creature.

It isn't until ten levels later (13th) that an Arcane Trickster can directly interact with a creature, and only enough to be distracting. This specific ability is further evidence that the general mage hand cannot interact directly with creatures.

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