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So I have a simple question that I haven't been able to find an answer to... What happens to an animal companion when they are released? Do they lose all the benefits of being with the druid, or just the things under "special"? This really isn't clarified anywhere and became relevant when a player of mine wanted to release their companion and make it a cohort (after raising its int to 3) (I don't care whether raising its int to 3 makes it a valid cohort, just whether it keeps its abilities, and what it keeps).
So I have a simple question that I haven't been able to find an answer to... What happens to an animal companion when they are released? Do they lose all the benefits of being with the druid, or just the things under "special"? This really isn't clarified anywhere and became relevant when a player of mine wanted to release their companion and make it a cohort (after raising its int to 3) (I don't care whether raising its int to 3 makes it a valid cohort, just whether it keeps its abilities, and what it keeps).
A literal (and realistic) reading of the rules says they keep nothing. A druid's animal companion gains certian benefits. If an animal isn't a druid's animal companion, it doesn't gain the benefits.
If the companions kept the benefits, a wizard could pick up an ex-animal-companion hawk familiar, with all the benefits of both. An evil druid could take and dismiss animal companions to fill his pens with extra-deadly animals.
RAW and RAI say the animals keep nothing.
A player that wants an intelligent animal cohort should look into the awaken spell. Even if nobody in the party can cast it, having an NPC spellcaster provide the service isn't unreasonable, price-wise.
Creative Director
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A dismissed animal companion loses its mystical link to the druid, which is what was giving them the power to be unusual. They immediatley go back to being a normal animal if the druid dismisses them.
The way you can make an animal minion that retains its enhancements after it stops hanging out with you is via the awaken spell.