Best choices for Expanded Summon Monster feat?


Advice


Expanded Summon Monster

Take the feat once and get 2 extra options at each spell level.

Is the feat worth taking? What summons would you choose?

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I think it's definitely worth taking if you're an arcane caster or an evil divine caster. In fact, once you hit level 15+ it might be worth taking a second time!

My thoughts:

1st lvl: The Kangaroo is terrific and makes this worth taking at L1
- Badger: Gives you a burrowing creature to dig holes, could be useful, and seems like a better tank than the pony.
- Kangaroo: Very good land speed and jumping, with a good trip attack. 1d3 kangaroos seem better than 1 riding dog once you hit 3rd level?

2nd: Nothing crazy but some OK options
- Camel: The spit with augment summoning is DC 15 to sicken an opponent, which is a solid debuff
- Tortoise: Decent tank

3rd: Nothing crazy but some OK options
- Cacodaemon: Terrific scout, unique ability - the spirit gem can stop opponents from resurrecting opponents
- Velociraptor/Bull Shark: Both have solid damage for their levels

4th: Great options here for debuffing or damage
- Foo Lion: Great once you're summoning 1d3 of them since they boost each other
- Vulnadaemon: Good debuff, good damage with flanking
- Giant skunk: Great debuff

5th: Great level
- Ceustodaemon: Good stats, good spells, and a breath weapon for 6d6. I'd take this as a planar binding too.
- Styracosaurus: Wow, very good charge damage. Could be crazy when summoning multiple. Interesting combat reflexes option.

6th: Animate Dream seems crazy
- Animate Dream: 6d8 damage and a curse as a touch attack at +16, plus some good spells?
- Protean, Naunet: The confuse ability means opponents are likely to fail a save at some point and target the naunet once they are confused

7th: Good options here
- Contract Devil (Phistophilus): Tons of utility spells, tons of skills, good damage, very creepy. I'd take this as a planar binding too.
- Demon, Kalavakus : Auto-stagger opponents with high damage, etc.
- Angel, Movanic Deva: Whoa, 7/day Cure Serious Wounds, crazy good defenses, lots of support spells

8th: Lots of useful options
- Diplodocus: An odd choice, but it's collossal, with trample, and has combat reflexes and 60ft reach! It's like a 30ft mountain between you and an opponent that will hit anything that moves...
- Interlocutor Kyton: Has breath of life + restoration - great for parties without the cleric spells
- Agathion, Leonal: 1/day heal and other abilities
- Angel, Monadic Deva: 1/day heal and other abilities

9th: Alright but not as crazy as previous levels
- Div, Sepid : Good Area of effect damage
- Valkrie: Breath of life and Heal, and some ranged damage

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