What is your preferred animal companion?


Advice


I realize the question of what animal companion is best is subjective.
Some people like the Deinonychus because it gets pounce, does decent damage, and never grows past medium.
Some people like large cats for high damage, pounce, and grab.
Tyrannosaurus has a high damage bite plus grab.
Roc can fly and has Grab.

Is large size a deal breaker? Do you choose based on how much you expect to face DR higher then Magic?

What in your opinion is the top 3 PFS animal companions at level 7 or higher?


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Dog. For something nice, simple that can fit in doors, serve as a flank buddy, and no one complains if you bring one into town. Sure, one attack, but I want it spending move action to keep in my flank range anyway, so it is a good one attack with the x1.5. That is also good damage on AoOs (thinking of outflank, since that is its main purpose- getting it good extra attacks just serves as gravy). Plus, it gets a fake iterative at about level 9, so it gets similar damage to basic two handing. T

Birds also serve a similar role. Their damage can be more questionable if unless you are playing a huntsman cavalier (in which case, you get a powerful little buddy to share in your challenges).


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I like large cats for high damage, pounce, grab, and KITTY!

People who don't like perfectly friendly tigers walking around are just jerks.


Raptor
Kitty
Allosaurus

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Mammoth
Spinosaurus
Roc

Edit: oh wait. PFS animal companion, replace Spinosaurus with Allosaurus


Wolf, because it's a canine, with all its benefits, and gets larger.
Big Cat, because riding a tiger is awesome, pounce also helps.
Roc, because it becomes a Large flying mount.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Mantis because they're cool.
Any dinosaurs because they're dinosaurs.
I used to like crocodile, but then my friend created the infamous crocodile thrower build.


Roc for flying. Always flying. I tend to pick up animal companions most often for martial characters, so the added mobility is excellent. Especially when you consider that most martial classes do not have a built in method of flight.


Claxon wrote:
Roc for flying. Always flying. I tend to pick up animal companions most often for martial characters, so the added mobility is excellent. Especially when you consider that most martial classes do not have a built in method of flight.

The aerokineticist can fly with a talent with no Burn cost and the summoner can create a flying eidolon... but that's ALL I could find :P


I wouldn't consider the kineticist or a summoner to be a martial character. The summoner has a companion who is a beatstick, but they are not. The kineticist can take a lot of damage being con based, but they are more ranged based blasters casters (who use SU) than they are martial characters.


I have used the badger, elk, elephant and dog. None of them are particularly optimized but they suited the characters.


Claxon wrote:
I wouldn't consider the kineticist or a summoner to be a martial character. ... The kineticist can take a lot of damage being con based, but they are more ranged based blasters casters (who use SU) than they are martial characters.

Kineticist can make a fine martial, it just comes on really late (like level 7-8 late). You can be pretty darn martial as a aether/earth kineticist who can kinetic whip every turn for free, even more so once you can change your size at will (most people don't get like 4d6+10 damage on their AoOs.) It's still more of a caster than a martial in most cases, but you can build for smashing faces pretty easily (and before that, just throw rocks).


Claxon wrote:
I wouldn't consider the kineticist or a summoner to be a martial character. The summoner has a companion who is a beatstick, but they are not. The kineticist can take a lot of damage being con based, but they are more ranged based blasters casters (who use SU) than they are martial characters.

That's... because I missed the "martial" part :P

Grand Lodge

Ground Mount- Giant Gecko
Flyer- Roc (Both Mount and non-mount)
Vermin Companion- Giant Mantis
Plant Companion- Sapling Treant (Sunder FTW)
Single Attack- T- Rex
Pouncer- Big Cat

There is no single Favorite for me. But I do have Favorite of Each type for different build types.

I will be Honest. Because PFS you don't keep magical gear the Treant specializing in sunder does a LOT of work. 4th Level 23 Str and 18 Con with reach, climb speed and

Special Qualities wrote:
double damage against objects

That is a decent package for Level 4. No one at the table is going to hate you for Sundering every piece of armor/weapon he engages against.

Grand Lodge

A few I like that don't get a lot of love are:

- Ceratosaurus (Bestiary 5) has blood rage.
- Pandas because the bite harder then anything that's not a T-Rex and that's funny
- Giant Gecko is a great mount for archers and casters. Constant access to spider climb is amazing and fun

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I've had four animal companions.

The most OP was the third party Haast's Eagle that I played in Razor Coast. You can see Wedjat here. The Haast's Eagle is native to the Razor Coast setting and had high strength, flight, multiple attacks, pounce and a monster ability called powerful charge.

So at level 5, he'd fly in and shred opponents, literally.

Powerful Charge: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Damage: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 2) + 20 = 30

Right Talon: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Left Talon: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Now, imagine those attacks with +3 to attack and damage from my Flagbearer Evangelist Cleric. My group called him the 'Mighty Chicken.' He was downright terrifying.

_____________________________

In the standard Paizo companions I've also had a giant vulture for my Winged Marauder Alchemist, an Owl Bear for my PFS Lunar Oracle, and a Tiger for my Sylvan Sorcerer. Of these, by far the best is the tiger, who I've trained for grapple and live capture. The giant vulture gave flight, and that was it. The owl bear is a lot of cute on a very weak mechanical frame. He's flavorful as heck, but not powerful at all.

Hmm

Grand Lodge

Grandlounge wrote:

A few I like that don't get a lot of love are:

- Giant Gecko is a great mount for archers and casters. Constant access to spider climb is amazing and fun

I Use Mine for Lancing on a halfling. any 10-15ft ceiling or narrow hallway is a Great charge lane. Makes scouting easy. Makes Infiltration easy as you can climb castle walls very quickly.

Absolutely love the Gecko. I call it a dungeon Buster as he is the perfect Dungeon diving Mount.

Grand Lodge

Fruian Thistlefoot wrote:


I Use Mine for Lancing on a halfling. any 10-15ft ceiling or narrow hallway is a Great charge lane. Makes scouting easy. Makes Infiltration easy as you can climb castle walls very quickly.

Absolutely love the Gecko. I call it a dungeon Buster as he is the perfect Dungeon diving Mount.

Agreed 100%. Such a fun mount.


Tyger Tyger burning bright


I still adore the Worg mount (through the Monstrous Mount feat) on my Halfling Cavalier. I love the roleplaying opportunities that arise from just having it around (two Paladins got the heebie-jeebies, but were infuriated when it didn't detect as evil), and the fact that it can talk is awesome. It once dragged my unconscious body back to a temple and asked if they could cure me. And the fact that it can speak and understand Common means that we can discuss tactics and can perform more complex tasks regular mounts can't do.


I really like the cat (small) for my Hunter. But, that's because I'm going full in on the trip mechanics and teamwork feats. And he caps at medium instead of large for the Wolf. I fully realize that this will become overtaken by non-trip, insane CMD, and size huge creatures at later levels. But, it's PFS, so I should get a lot of play out of it.

Grand Lodge

Pteranodon is another good flier, mostly because it has (should have) 10' reach.

Ape is also a lot of fun, with 10' reach at level 4. The climb speed comes in surprisingly handy.


I have been thinking about trying a constrictor snake, does anyone have any experience with those?

Grand Lodge

The Shaman wrote:
I have been thinking about trying a constrictor snake, does anyone have any experience with those?

Not too much experience with them but could build something. I recommend the Hunter for your Base class. Mostly cause it makes the strongest AC. Teamwork feats will help with Coordinated Maneuvers and the like. At 1 time I said It would be cool to use a constrictor snake as I HATE snakes in real life and saw a video of a snake eating a Crocodile and was like Holy Sh*t they are creepy animals.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder LO Special Edition, PF Special Edition Subscriber

Wolf, With feats around tripping, combat reflexes and lunge, got 10ft reach and absurd bonuses to trip and free attacks. its insane.


The Shaman wrote:
I have been thinking about trying a constrictor snake, does anyone have any experience with those?

They do very well but require a little thinking. For example, you can't get barding so you need to get a wand of CLW.

Grand Lodge

Gorilla (Ape) - Because nobody tells an 800 pound gorilla what it's going to do. Also reach and all sorts of incredibly useful combos with hunters.

The Exchange

I'm really liking my bull of zagresh with some hooves evolutions. I just wish I could find a better hit bull eat steak t-shirt.


BigNorseWolf wrote:
The Shaman wrote:
I have been thinking about trying a constrictor snake, does anyone have any experience with those?

They do very well but require a little thinking. For example, you can't get barding so you need to get a wand of CLW.

Oh, did they have any particular rule that prevents it? I thought that something like exotic barding would work for them.

Grand Lodge

The Shaman wrote:
BigNorseWolf wrote:
The Shaman wrote:
I have been thinking about trying a constrictor snake, does anyone have any experience with those?

They do very well but require a little thinking. For example, you can't get barding so you need to get a wand of CLW.

Oh, did they have any particular rule that prevents it? I thought that something like exotic barding would work for them.

The Body type of the AC disallows it...tho a DM might be ok with the Stitching option. Where you sow in armor into its flesh....but the snake might not like it.

Barding Stitch wrote:
This thin, specially treated wire can be used to attach barding to creatures whose body types cannot normally accommodate armor, such as piscine, serpentine, and verminous animals, by delicately and thoroughly sewing the equipment directly to the creature's flesh. Equipping a creature with barding using barding stitches takes 10 times as long as normal barding, and a successful DC 25 Heal check is required to attach or remove the stitches. The creature must be helpless or willing to be equipped with barding stitches, and must have at least a +1 natural armor bonus to AC. An armored creature with barding stitches takes a -2 penalty on Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks (in addition to any penalties from the barding itself), Fortitude and Reflex saves, and saves against effects with the pain descriptor (these penalties stack). These penalties persist for as long as the creature is equipped with barding stitches.

Tho the lowering of saves hurts.

Dark Archive

I've yet to play with an AC class myself, but based on my research I'd say Wolf and Ape catch my interest the most. Wolf has a very solid, reliable statline, decent damage, trip, and the possibility of being a mount. Apes are just a fun concept and reach is always great.

Honorable mention to horses. Even if you don't build it for combat or lance shenanigans, it's useful for carrying your things and providing tactical options (mobility, flanking, front line assistance) should you get involved in a fight.


Velociraptor, hands (or claws) down.


I've only played one character with an animal companion. And that was Cristoph Pratt, Raptor Handler of Besmara. Teamwork feats are fantastic, especially when your friend gets them for free!


Answering the title question: My preferred animal companion is an eidolon.

Liberty's Edge

Damanta wrote:

Mammoth

Spinosaurus
Roc

Edit: oh wait. PFS animal companion, replace Spinosaurus with Allosaurus

Hate to have to point this out, but Allosaurus isn't PFS legal anymore. It was kind of a stealth nerf. I don't remember ever seeing the change listed, just one day it was there, the next it wasn't.

Which means that Tiger is still probably the pouncing favorite. A couple nice ones that I haven't seen listed are the Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus. Ankylosaurus has a stun rider on it's attack, and Stegosaurus is another trip monster. Though both of these actually excel low level where their natural armor makes then near unhittable.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Apes are awesome. There is a tengu hunter in our area with an ape companion that does an amazing amount of damage, including teamwork feats with his master.


My favorite are Velociraptors (which according to the AA use the stats for the deinonychus)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Panda, it's the medium animal companion that bites like a huge animal companion.


Deighton Thrane wrote:
Damanta wrote:

Mammoth

Spinosaurus
Roc

Edit: oh wait. PFS animal companion, replace Spinosaurus with Allosaurus

Hate to have to point this out, but Allosaurus isn't PFS legal anymore. It was kind of a stealth nerf. I don't remember ever seeing the change listed, just one day it was there, the next it wasn't.

Which means that Tiger is still probably the pouncing favorite. A couple nice ones that I haven't seen listed are the Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus. Ankylosaurus has a stun rider on it's attack, and Stegosaurus is another trip monster. Though both of these actually excel low level where their natural armor makes then near unhittable.

Ankylosaurus is my fav of the dino-panions. Love that stunning tail! The high AC sure is nice.

My son loves the Giant Gecko his Paladin rides.

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

The humble Dire Rat. Can climb and swim, no harnesses required!


Small cat.

Play it with Huntmaster: Human and Eye for Talent... pretty cool.

If you want extra cheese, play a cleric with the Animal domain, Boon Companion, Huntmaster: Human... and the archetype that treats domain abilities as two levels higher.

That's +3 levels on your cat at level 7. Nearly 50% higher than you.


I like the idea of an ape. Give him +1 Int for the first stat increase. Then WP Longbow. Will do decent damage in melee, can act as a body guard for you while your spell casting, and can plunk away at enemies with a adaptive composite longbow with that big Str. And carry a ton.

Could even give him full plate eventually!

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