Questions tagged [animal-companions]
For questions about animal companions - obtaining them, controlling them, their abilities, and their interactions with other rules or mechanics.
267
questions
1
vote
1answer
148 views
How to let a steed make magical attacks?
This question is especially about a steed summoned by Paladin's Find Steed or Find Greater Steed spells, with the assumption that a DM shouldn't make their normal attacks magical. So it should apply ...
9
votes
2answers
289 views
When I cast Simulacrum to make a copy of a creature with a feature like Rangers Companion, do I get a free animal companion to go with it?
The Simulacrum spell contains an interesting clause.
It appears to be the same as the original, but it has half the creature's hit point maximum and is formed without any Equipment. Otherwise, the ...
1
vote
2answers
497 views
What is the highest number of pets I can have?
What is the maximum number of pets a character can have, within the rules?
I would like to figure out the greatest number of minions specific to a character (animal companions, familiars, raised ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
How can another character make an animal handling check to make a homunculus a companions for other party members?
I plan to give the party an opportunity to find a homonculus in a defeated necromancer lair and possibly make it their animal companion if they wish to.
The druid characters could probably make the ...
0
votes
2answers
104 views
Can we get my gestalt E6 character’s dire wolf animal companion/special mount her 21st HD?
In a previous question, I asked about making my strange gestalt E6 character’s mount tougher. I have followed that advice, and as my character is now (among other things) a gestalt of
Harmonium ...
5
votes
1answer
35 views
If I select Improved Natural Attack (Claws), does that apply to Rake attacks too?
Claws and Rakes are listed as separate attacks, but Rake's are extra attacks by the creature's claws.
If I selected Improved Natural Attack for my Lion Animal Companion, do my Rake attacks also ...
6
votes
1answer
47 views
Do pouncing animal companions get STR modifier bonuses to Rake attacks?
I have a level 11 druid with a lion animal companion. He gets Pounce, Grab, and Multiattack. If I pounce and get five attacks (bite, 2 claws, 2 rakes), do I apply my STR mod to the rake damage?
5
votes
1answer
377 views
How to order Ranger's beast to attack with TCoE?
In the PHB there is the Ranger subclass "Beast Master" which gives the opportunity to have a beast companion, which obey all orders from the Ranger. The beast attacks only if the ranger ...
4
votes
1answer
161 views
Can an animal cast spells via a Ring of Spell Storing? [duplicate]
Based on this question, (answered here), I have a follow up question:
Can a normal animal cast spells via a Ring of Spell Storing?
It seems that any animal, if properly trained, can attune to the Ring....
0
votes
3answers
144 views
How are tamed animals treated in terms of abilities?
In a campaign I am playing in the DM allows the taming of wild animals, but you have to devote time and resources to training them to follow commands after the initial taming.
Would these animals, ...
4
votes
2answers
310 views
Is there a way to repeatedly make yourself incapacitated, while it's not your turn?
A lot of player 'Companions' (like the Beast and Drake (UA) companion for the Ranger, or the Homunculus Servant or Steel Defender for the artificer) can act more freely if you are incapacitated.
Is ...
6
votes
1answer
89 views
Does the damage increase for savage/nimble animal companions include the increased strength?
If an animal companion advances to a e.g. a savage companion (through a feat, most of the time), its stats increase:
[...] increase its Strength modifier by 2 and its Dexterity, Constitution, and ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
What is the upkeep cost of a mount, animal companion, or familiar?
The section on animals in the Equipment chapter (Core 294) gives prices for renting or purchasing an animal. However, we haven't been able to find any rules for cost of animal feed or other upkeep.
...
10
votes
1answer
273 views
Would these adjustments to the ranger archetype Beast Master to help the animal companion be more useful make it too powerful?
I recently playtested a Beast Master ranger from level 1 to level 20 (I was playtesting a new homebrew archetype, which was my primary reason for doing so; the Beast Master ranger was just one of the ...
4
votes
2answers
84 views
Can an urban druid use their companion creature as a divine focus?
Urban druids can have a manufactured object like a gear or a horseshoe as a divine focus, and their companion creature can be a small animated object. Is there anything stopping them from having an ...
8
votes
1answer
329 views
Is this homebrew Snapping Turtle balanced as an animal companion for the UA Revised Ranger (Beast Conclave)?
The player of the ranger in my group asked me the other day if I could make her a snapping turtle for an animal companion (she is using the UA Revised Ranger, Beast Conclave). After looking in the ...
5
votes
1answer
162 views
Which type of horse does a character get as an animal companion?
I'm currently playing a dwarfen cavalier.
According to the rules, he can chose a horse or a camel as a Mount.
But there are at least two types of horses: a light and a heavy one.
Since he is a ...
14
votes
1answer
447 views
How did the role of animal companions change between different editions of D&D, and which classes had access to them?
In D&D 3.5, druids had animal companions. In D&D 5e, only the Beast Master ranger subclass seems to get one. This made me wonder about the history of this feature in general.
Which classes ...
1
vote
0answers
293 views
As a DM I gave our dwarf cleric a bear cub as a companion, what can I do? [closed]
So I'm with 2 PCs, playing D&D essentials kit. Most of the time we follow the plot, add some extra things there and here and of course doing some improve. I try to stick to some of the rules but ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Would this Owlbear Cub be balanced as a Beast Master Ranger's Companion?
The players in my campaign just hit third level and the Ranger is planning on taking the Beast Master path. She wanted a baby Owlbear as her companion, but of course there are 2 hurdles. There aren't ...
3
votes
1answer
332 views
Will a mature animal companion with Haste get 2 actions when not commanded?
I tried to do this in a game, but the GM said I couldn’t and became irate when I asked why. He gave me an explanation that I didn’t think made sense. But instead of saying after the game we’ll ...
4
votes
1answer
559 views
How does level advancement in the Beast Master Ranger effect the stats of a UA Class Feature Variant, Ranger Companion Option; Beast of the Air/Earth?
It is unclear to me how to reconcile the UA enhanced Class Feature Variant; Ranger Companion Option with the Beast Master Ranger’s Companion feature rules (PHB p.93).
Specifically, in the case of a ...
2
votes
1answer
207 views
When an animal companion does damage because of a support action, does it add its strength?
The support ability of an animal companion says that they will inflict d8 damage if their Ranger/Druid/friend successfully hits something that they can reach; is the animal companion's strength bonus ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Calculating HP for UA beast master animal companion
I am a very new DM in DnD 5e, and one of my players is a ranger. As I was browsing through posts here and there we decided to use the UA, as everyone is saying the RAW ranger is lackluster. She ...
11
votes
1answer
3k views
Is this Astral Rat a reasonable magic pet?
I'm looking to develop a magical pet for one of my wizard PCs, I'm the DM and this is my first time as such so I wanted to ensure I wasn't creating something which could cause chaos.
After watching ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Command action for strike summons/minion
Wonder if someone could help. I have created a pathfinder 2e Druid character with an animal companion (Bear) and a Summon Fey spell (Sprite).
Can the bear only attack my enemy when commanded?
From ...
6
votes
2answers
442 views
How many times does a Mature Animal Companion attack per encounter without orders?
The Mature Animal Companion feat for Rangers (CRB p173) is really ambigious:
If you have the Hunt Prey action, your animal companion assaults the prey even without your orders. During an encounter, ...
3
votes
1answer
751 views
Where can I find my Animal Companion's AC?
For familiars, it is quite easy to find that they have your AC.
How can I find the AC of my Animal Companion?
2
votes
2answers
134 views
Animal companion: roll additional HDs or not?
When a druid reaches level 3, his animal companion earns two hit dice. Do I have to roll them to give him more hp or is it only a number to use, for example, for spell effects? The manual also says ...
1
vote
2answers
114 views
Is it possible to fool an animal companion?
Is it possible to fool an animal companion impersonating its owner? For example, if a druid is fighting with his party and its animal companion - let's say a wolf - would its opponent be able to get ...
13
votes
1answer
854 views
Rules on “Pets on shoulder”
Are there specific rules that determine what happens if, let's say, my pet eagle lands on my shoulder in-combat?
Does it get an AC bonus?
Do I move slower?
Do we move together?
Or should I talk to ...
6
votes
1answer
238 views
Does the UA Beast Conclave revised ranger let you add your proficiency bonus to both the Boar companion's Tusk damage roll and its Charge damage roll?
I am just hoping to get some clarification on this one.
The UA Ranger Beast Conclave's Companion's Bond feature says:
In addition to the areas where it normally uses its proficiency bonus, an animal ...
6
votes
1answer
495 views
Can a Wild Shaped Druid Command an Animal Companion?
As a Druid, you can take both the Wild Order (gaining Wild Shape) and the Animal Order (gaining an Animal Companion) via Order Explorer (Druid Feat 2). To be most effective, you would likely wish to ...
7
votes
3answers
990 views
Does a Beast Master Ranger's animal companion gain more actions when its master becomes incapacitated?
This question comes from discussion in the comments to the question "Can my Beast Master ranger's baboon animal companion use her Wand of Magic Missiles?"
The description of the Beast Master ranger's ...
5
votes
2answers
620 views
Can my Beast Master ranger's baboon animal companion use her Wand of Magic Missiles?
I am playing a Beast Master ranger. My baboon animal companion* obeys commands as best as it can. Can it use a wand of magic missiles?
The baboon has hands, and the wand does not require attunement ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a way to make a Beast Master ranger's animal companion able to read a language?
Let's say I am a Beast Master ranger and have a baboon animal companion. Is there a spell or magic item that would let it know how to read? Write?
21
votes
9answers
8k views
What to do as a player when ranger animal companion dies
I recently found myself in a situation where my PHB Beastmaster's animal companion was killed. There were no suitable beasts in the vicinity. As we were partway through a dungeon the party was ...
1
vote
1answer
352 views
Can an animal companion's support benefit be triggered by a cantrip?
Many of the support benefits contain the condition
"Until the start of your next turn, your Strikes that deal damage to a
creature that your companion threatens"
(pp. 215-216).
Strikes are ...
0
votes
2answers
476 views
Can a blood hawk animal companion be commanded to carry around their beast master? [duplicate]
Let's say a gnome Beast Master ranger chooses a Blood Hawk animal companion, is the companion able to follow the order to pick up and carry the PC?
I'm more looking at the possible issue of ...
23
votes
2answers
5k views
Can a Beast Master ranger choose a swarm as an animal companion?
The Beast Master ranger's Ranger's Companion feature says:
At 3rd level, you gain a beast companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. Choose a beast ...
37
votes
8answers
9k views
How can I help our ranger feel special about her beast companion?
I am not DM, just a player. In our party of newbies we have a (PHB) ranger who just recently got her beast companion (a panther if you're curious). The problem is our party also found a cat with ...
3
votes
1answer
290 views
Can an animal companion Stirge take an action while utilizing Drain Blood?
If a Stirge chosen as a Beast Master ranger's animal companion has had the dragon's Breath spell cast on it, can it use its action to spew magical energy (per dragon's breath) while blood draining?
6
votes
1answer
465 views
Can a Beast Master ranger have its beast chase down and attack enemies?
I have two related questions. I'm looking for RAW answers, as I play in Adventurers League.
Say you are outside:
Can a Beast Master Ranger command their pet to chase down enemies? Like having a ...
6
votes
1answer
461 views
Should my UA Ranger slaughter her Animal Companions when she is done with them?
I'm in the process of converting my PHB Ranger to a UA Ranger. In doing so I'm looking with particular interest at the differences this has on the Animal Companion.
The new features that have caught ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
The Beast Master ranger adds their proficiency bonus to their animal companion's AC; is the result its new base AC?
As per the Ranger Companion feature, you can add your proficiency bonus to your companion's AC.
I would like to know how to interpret this in terms of AC calculation.
Could I interpret as though my ...
8
votes
1answer
473 views
Can my UA revised ranger's animal companion use Coordinated Attack if I am riding it?
If I'm riding my animal companion for my class (UA revised ranger), can my animal companion make an attack using the following ability?
Coordinated Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you and your animal ...
12
votes
1answer
985 views
What happens to a UA revised Beast Conclave ranger's Animal Companion's ASIs when it dies?
The Beast Conclave feature "Companion's Bond" from the UA revised ranger says this:
Whenever you gain the Ability Score Improvement class feature, your companion’s abilities also improve. Your ...
12
votes
1answer
746 views
Do I include animal companions when calculating difficulty of an encounter?
I have a player who is playing a beast master ranger and I was wondering: do I calculate the level of the animal companion when making encounters?
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Do the rules for carrying capacity apply to animal companions?
Imagine a Ranger Beast Master with a Hawk animal companion.
A player wants their helpful hawk to carry gear for the party.
The hawk wears a specially made harness with a pack dangling from it for ...
7
votes
1answer
551 views
Does a mounted attacking Beast Master ranger cancel Charge/Pounce-like abilities?
Certain creatures have attacks like charge or pounce, which allows them to do something special after travelling a certain distance. For example, see the panther:
If the panther moves at least 20 ...
