Changing Unit Graphics /w Spells

In my map I'm trying to make a summoning spell that not only summons a unit (lets say, a zombie?) but also changes the graphic of the caster (lets say, from an Acolyte into a Shade). The caster (Acolyte) is a hero and so I want the items/lvl to stay the same, but I just want the graphic to change when he casts the spell and summons the pet. I've tried using Metamorphis but it didn't seem to work (I may have just not done it right though) and I'm thinking that using triggers with the spell may work, but I have absolutely no idea how to do something like that.

So, any ideas?

Well you should say what you did with metamorphasis! It's pretty simple. Use Illidan's morph (so its permanent) and change all the illidan demons properties to the properties of the shade thingy. Then have a trigger that detect when he morphs and create a zombie at his location.

make a new spell based on summon water elemental
change the summoned unit to something with a non-bloody dying animation (flying thing? banshee? whatever) or use the neutral rat model at min size (no one will see it then).
now make a trigger

unit is summoned
blahblah
now the action:

u can save all the items as variable and give it the unit back after "replace ..." or maybe try something like
"drop item in slot 1 of TRIGGERING unit - give last created item to last created unit (<- or replaced unit or whatever works) - drop item in slot 2 of ... blah"
same with exp, save it as variable and set the exp of the new unit to the same value

Basically I just made the metamorphisis spell turn into a shade. I couldn't quite figure out how to get the unit summoned with him :nono: .

I will try what both of you said, but the only problem with the variable idea is that I'm out of variables to use. Whenever I try to make a new variable it grays out the OK button, and unfortunantly I need all the variables I have. I'll post whether or not I get it to work :ggani: .

Ok, here's what's up.

Idea #1) I re-tried the metamorphis idea and it worked perfectly ... except for one thing ... it takes way too long to resummon the unit. For instance, the Acolyte will cast the metamorphis spell and change into the Shade. The unit will summon at the Shade perfectly, and when he dies so does the Shade (which is what I want). Ok, so the unit respawns at his base back in the Acolyte form. I recast the metamophis-type spell and he changes back into the Shade, but it takes a good 20-60 seconds before his "pet" resummons. Any ideas?

Events:
Time - Every 2.0 seconds of game time.

Conditions:
(Number of units in (Units of type Necromancer[Shade])) Greater than or equal to 1.
(Number of units in (Units of type Necroservant)) Less than or equal to 0.

Actions:
Unit Group - Pick every unit in (Units of type Necromancer[Acolyte] and do (Unit - Creat 1 Necroservant for (Owner of (Picked units)) at (Position of (Picked unit)) facing Default building facing degrees).

Idea #2) I didn't do the variables to transfer exp from one unit to the other since I didn't have any variables left, but if this idea works then I'll try to figure a way around that. I base the spell off of Feral Spirit (so you can't have more then one pet, which is what Water Elemental does) and set it to summon only one wolf (changed the wolf to a zombie though). I also made a trigger to detect this transformation and replace the summoner with the Shade unit. However, when the Acolyte summons the zombie the Acolyte is stubborn and refuses to change. Here's what I got.

Events:
Unit - A unit owned by Player 5(Yellow) is summoned.
Unit - A unit owned by Player 6(Orange) is summoned.
Unit - A unit owned by Player 7(Green) is summoned.

Conditions:
(Unit-type (Summoned unit)) Equal to Necroservant.

Actions:
Unit Group - Pick every unit in (Units of type Necromancer [Acolyte]) and do (Unit - Replace (Picked unit) with a Necromancer[Shade] using The old unit's life and mana).