Questions tagged [animal-companions]
For questions about an animal that is kept for companionship (a pet).
2
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2answers
276 views
Can a Beast Master ranger change beast companions?
Can a Beast Master ranger change beasts? Let's say I have a hawk, but I see a nice panther. Can I simply perform the 8 hour bonding with the panther and say goodbye to my hawk? The manual describes ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
What could you give to a Hawk animal companion to improve their battle effectiveness? [on hold]
An idea I had was poisoning their talons, but one would have to keep dapping their talons in poison each encounter. Anything else you can think of?
For a Ranger with a Hawk/Falcon animal companion.
4
votes
1answer
130 views
Does the Stirge blood drain allow it to flank as well?
I am playing a Beast Master ranger with a stirge animal companion.
I know that once a stirge is attached to an enemy, it doesn't need to use its action or anything; Blood Drain's damage is passive/...
6
votes
1answer
316 views
Is a pteranodon too powerful as a beast companion for a beast master?
I’ve just started to play D&D with a few of my friends and we're unsure if a beast master having a pteranodon as their beast companion would be unbalanced.
I’m playing as a flying character (an ...
4
votes
0answers
101 views
If an animal companion wears barding without armor proficiency, do they incur the penalties? [duplicate]
Suppose a ranger puts barding on their animal companion to boost its AC. Does wearing the armor cause this creature to have disadvantage on its attacks, ability checks, and saving throws? Or does the ...
11
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3answers
284 views
How can I improve the survivability of the Beast Master's animal companion?
I am brand spanking new to D&D. I have picked a Beast Master Ranger as my first class and I'm having serious issues with the survivability of the animal companion.
I picked a Panther as my pet. I ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Do any of the books contain (magic) items for animal companions?
Context
An 11th level PC in a game that I DM is a ranger6/rogue3/warlock2. He noticed that his animal companion, a black panther, could use a little boost to her defenses, as she goes down frequently....
5
votes
2answers
514 views
What is the minimum amount of skill points per HD?
I've been playing D&D 5e for about 1,5 year now (as DM and PC), and sometimes play D&D 3.5e as a half-orc ranger (level 3 currently). I don't own any 3.5 books, and only use the online SRD.
...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
What happens if a druid uses Share Spells to share a spell that blocks extraordinary abilities with their companion?
Yesterday my druid used Share Spell to cast Primal Form (Spell Compendium, p. 161) on her brown bear companion for the nice earth form damage reduction.
But after re-reading the spell, we started to ...
16
votes
1answer
734 views
What is the evidence, if any, that the Ranger Beast Master archetype is comparatively underpowered?
I have seen various claims that the Ranger's Beast Master Archetype is underpowered, compared to other ranger archetypes and/or classes.
I have searched for some factual analysis that would support ...
42
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7answers
12k views
I killed a PC's animal companion at the end of last session, but later realized it should have survived; what are my options?
Notes: I am the DM, my players are a group of 7, levels of 11 or 12.
So, our last weeks session ended with a black dragon releasing an acid breath attack on the only visible enemies in a courtyard. ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Can a Devoted Tracker’s companion/mount get share powers?
I have a character who has a special mount that also counts as an animal companion, per the Devoted Tracker feat from Complete Adventurer.
Is there any way of gaining the share powers ability (as ...
9
votes
1answer
857 views
Does the DC for the effect of a Beast Master ranger's animal companion's attack ever increase?
A similar question has been asked for Pathfinder, but I could not find any specific rules for 5e.
As an example, we have a Beast Master ranger with a wolf companion. The wolf has an added effect on ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Can a druid trade an existing animal companion for a feat or something?
A player wants a druid or ranger alternative class feature or special ability that would allow his PC to dismiss his animal companion to get something else of similar value.
The player would really ...
7
votes
1answer
252 views
Is this “Gelatinous Noob” ranger's animal companion balanced?
A while back I was struck with the idea of making a Beast Master ranger who has for their "animal" companion a miniature Gelatinous Cube. I set out to create the stats for said cube. Ignoring anything ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
Do enemy animal companions give XP?
So I'm creating an enemy level 9 druid NPC for my Pathfinder game I DM.
The enemy has a bear as an animal companion and I want to know if I should reward XP for killing the bear, in addition to the ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
How is the ankylosaurus animal companion's stun DC calculated?
So in my last question, Dinosaur Damage Dilemma, I was talking about damage for an Ankylosaurus and I realised that while the dinosaur can stun, the DC would be different for an animal companion. It ...
2
votes
1answer
95 views
How do I increase the damage of an ankylosaurus companion’s tail without reducing its attack bonus?
The Dinosaur
As a druid thinking of using an ankylosaurus as an animal companion, I'm interested to see the damage one might get out of it. Unfortunately, it hits one per round at best and its ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Can a Ranger bond with a beast that’s secretly an Angel in disguise?
In my game there’s a Ranger who is a demigod and doesn’t know it (my homebrew, but shouldn’t affect the question I have). He has a pet “lizard” who is actually a polymorphed Deva in disguise that his ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
How can a Beast Master ranger's animal companion overcome resistance to non-magical attacks?
The 5e Beast Master ranger's animal companion has a rather significant drawback in some mid- or high-level campaigns. Because animal companions never gain the magical attack feature and due to the ...
6
votes
1answer
554 views
What counts as an attack for the Attack action of a Beast Master ranger's animal companion?
Monsters have attacks listed among their actions. From the Basic Rules:
The most common actions that a monster will take in combat are melee and ranged attacks. [...] Any damage dealt or other ...
20
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2answers
2k views
Can a Beast Master command their stirge companion to use Blood Drain and then Dodge on subsequent turns, dealing damage due to blood loss?
I'm trying to optimize the damage done by a ranged Beast Master ranger, and was thinking of choosing the Stirge as a companion.
Blood Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
Does the Devoted Tracker feat allow you to take an unconventional animal companion?
The paladin mount allows the character to take unconventional creatures as their mounts, such as dragons, magical beasts and things like that.
The druid/ranger animal companion must be an animal.
...
2
votes
0answers
79 views
What Enchantment wizard spells would synergize well with a Beast Master ranger's animal companion? [closed]
I'm just getting into my first character, and planning on eventually multiclassing Beast Master ranger and Enchantment wizard.
What enchantment wizard spells would synergize well with a Beast Master'...
4
votes
0answers
180 views
How can I homebrew a unique demonic animal companion for my player's moon druid? [closed]
As a DM I get a question from one of my players in my group, there are five people. However, it is the third level tiefling moon druid who asked "if he can have an animal companion later on in the ...
8
votes
1answer
420 views
Can my AL halfling ranger have a pteranodon animal companion?
Is it Adventurers League legal for a halfling ranger to use the Pteranodon as an animal companion in Eberron where halflings routinely ride dinosaurs?
5
votes
2answers
722 views
Does a Ranger's animal companion level up when multiclassing?
I'm currently playing a level 4 ranger and I'm thinking about multi-classing. I want to know if my animal companion gains a level when I take a level that isn't in Ranger?
Thank you for helping.
14
votes
2answers
4k views
At third-level, are rangers allowed to select a drake as their animal companion?
I wasn't able to find anything about this in 5th Edition. A drake seems that it would exceed the 1/4 challenge rating stated in the PHB.
In this specific campaign, our Dungeon Master allows anything ...
1
vote
0answers
99 views
How can a Druid get an animal companion? [duplicate]
I was wondering whether or not there is any non homebrew method other than multi-classing, for a druid character to get an animal companion. If not I would appreciate some advice for implementing the ...
6
votes
2answers
967 views
As a Beast Conclave revised ranger, how do I calculate my ape companion's statistics?
I'm trying to do the maths on the statistics for an ape companion for the UA revised ranger beastmaster. However, I'm a little confused with its +5 to both attacks. Is that based on Strength + Prof? I ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How to calculate a revised ranger's animal companion's skill bonuses?
The Beast Conclave revised ranger (from Unearthed Arcana: Revised Ranger) gains an animal companion. The Companion's Bond feature description states:
Your companion uses your proficiency bonus ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
Does a swarm monger druid get an animal companion if they take Animal Ally?
If a swarm monger druid takes the Nature Soul and Animal Ally feat, can the swarm monger have a rat familiar and a dire rat animal companion? Would the final sentence of Animal ally bring the dire rat ...
2
votes
1answer
133 views
How is a bonded mount's base attack bonus calculated?
A paladin can choose a bonded mount at level 5. It references the Animal Companion feature from the Druid class.
This is the animal companion’s base attack bonus. An animal companion’s base attack ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Do characters know when their familiars/animal companions die?
The find familiar spell description states:
When the familiar drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. It reappears after you cast this spell again.
While your ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
How does the Beast Master Ranger's Extra Attack work?
According to the PHB, the Beast Master's companion acts on your initiative but can't attack, dash, disengage, dodge, or help unless you consume your action to command it to do so. That said, there is ...
13
votes
3answers
5k views
If Beast Master Rangers could use bonus actions to attack with their companion, what problems would occur?
If a clause was added to Beast Master Rangers to allow them to spend a bonus action to have their companion to make a single attack after the ranger makes their own Attack action, what would the ...
2
votes
2answers
206 views
Animal companions for rangers getting a mule or donkey instead of pony or horse
I am in a pathfinder group and the entire group is new to the game, we are using just the core rulebook.
I have a ranger and as I won't be able to get boon companion - any pet can easily be a ...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
How to balance a character that stole enemy pets?
Me and my players are running Hoard of the Dragon Queen and we just reached the dragon hatchery. One of my dragonborn players reached the Drake Nursery. Through some Animal Handling check, the ability ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Can a Beast Master ranger's Animal Companion do extra damage from the Hunter's Mark spell?
My Beast Master Ranger player is looking to use his hunter's mark bonus on his animal companion's attack action. Is the hunter's mark damage bonus strictly only for the ranger's attacks, or since the ...
12
votes
1answer
347 views
Share monk AC bonus with animal companion mount?
I have a swift and deadly hunter variant druid, who gains “Bonus to Armor Class when unarmored (as monk, including Wisdom bonus to AC).”
He rides his animal companion as a mount. I was wondering if ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Awakened animals and class levels
Let's say that I am a lv9 druid who just cast Awaken on my wolf animal companion. I feel like I don't fully understand the mechanical changes that occur as a result. What I understand so far is:
Wolf ...
4
votes
2answers
354 views
Druid animal companion… with leadership feat?
A druid can have an animal companion which levels with the druid. An animal companion gets +1 to an ability score at level 4, 9, 14, and 20. An animal with 3 intelligence can take normal feats.
Thus, ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Guidelines on giving magical equipment to Animal Companions
As levels progress, the two UA Beast Conclave Rangers in my party feel their pets and their non-magical attacks are getting less and less efficient. They suggested some side-quests to fetch magical ...
6
votes
2answers
188 views
Can a rider that's not astride an animal companion make a mounted charge?
Making a charge is a full-round action, but, unless a rider's mount is also an animal companion, it seems the rider must take a move action to make a Handle Animal skill check to handle the animal so ...
2
votes
4answers
577 views
How long would it take for me to train my animal companion to use a shortsword?
I am using the UA Revised Ranger in one of our D&D games. I am currently 2nd level and have had my Ranger animal companion from the start instead of summoning him at 3rd level (the wolf doesn't ...
-4
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I tame an animal? [closed]
I just want to ask since I'm basically new to the game: taming an animal seems interesting, so how does it work and what do I need to do it? What rules or guidelines exist around how one can tame a ...
2
votes
1answer
266 views
Does the Pathfinder Cat animal companion get minus AC and Atk Roll for being large?
Here's what the SRD says for Cat, Big
Starting statistics: Size Medium; Speed 40 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4); Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 15, ...
6
votes
2answers
226 views
As a lich, how can I preserve my animal companion?
As the only requirements for gaining the lich template are a caster level of 11 and the Craft Wondrous Item feat, our entire party (all of whom are classes that get at least 6th level spells) has been ...
-1
votes
1answer
253 views
Sharing the Fast Healing ability with an Animal Companion
Does the animal companion's Share Spells feature allow a druid/ranger who has fast healing to share it with their animal companion?
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2answers
2k views
Does the player have control of a Ranger's Companion?
There are many ways to create new creatures in D&D 5e, one of which is animate objects which gives the player full control of the creatures when he/she uses a bonus action:
As a bonus action, ...
