Animal Companion feats

[crashcanuck]

What are some good feats for animal companions, since good ones like Improved Natural Attack and Improved Natural Armor aren't PFS legal. I'm currently using a wolf for a melee sacred Huntsmaster Inquisitor if that affects any suggestions

[Flutter]

Improved natural attack and improved natural armor ARE legal for critters, because they're referenced under the animal companions section of the druid in the core rule book.

Druids log

Improved natural attack is good if you wont' have access to the strongjaw spell.

Avoid light armor proficiency unless you're going medium/heavy, there are light armors a companion can wear with no penalty.

I'm a big fan of toughness because animal companions need to be in melee and that means being in melee.

[Nefreet]

The Totem Beast feat is pretty amazing, but it's something your character would have to take.

[Belafon]

Iron Will
Toughness
Power Attack

Definitely Iron Will.

[crashcanuck]

Looks like Totem Beast is going to be my 7th level feat

[Flutter]

thats a VERY good feat AND a cute mark...

[Hmm]

That is pretty neat. That might be worth me getting an Ioun Stone to improve Zahra's wisdom! She is just one short of qualifying for that feat.

Hmm

[Nefreet]

Indeed. I discovered it when my Ranger hit 11th.

I gave +4 Strength to my Constrictor.

Now I can call her a bullsnake =D

[dragonhunterq]

Step up has been useful for me.
Narrow Frame if you find yourself in tight quarters a lot is nice.

[andreww]

I find narrow frame pretty essential for any large companion.

Combat Reflexes is excellent for any companion with reach.

Iron Will is a common choice given their terrible will saves although I would take Extra Item Slot (Shoulders) first if your companion can access that slot and buy them a cloak of resistance.

[Terminalmancer]

If your animal companion has 3 or more Int, that opens up a few other options. Dirty Fighting or Lunge may be worthwhile. DHQ mentioned Step Up... that feat tree is pretty good. Improved Unarmed Strike on an animal companion is pretty terrible by itself, but it opens up Dragon Style (which is fantastic) and in combination with Dirty Fighting could conceivably get a grappling AC to Greater Grapple at higher levels. (I'm not convinced that one's worth it... you need 4 feats for that one in particular, so in PFS you're looking at level 8 assuming you start as a human, with Eye for Talent bumping your companion's Intelligence into the Sentient range...)

[Nefreet]

That's exactly what I did. It was effective long before Level 8.

But, as the forums will demonstrate, some GMs and VOs won't accept an Animal with Improved Unarmed Strike (let alone style feats).

I only ever encountered it once in person, though. One of those "not at my table" sorts of situations. YMMV.

[Terminalmancer]

Nefreet wrote:

That's exactly what I did. It was effective long before Level 8.

But, as the forums will demonstrate, some GMs and VOs won't accept an Animal with Improved Unarmed Strike (let alone style feats).

I only ever encountered it once in person, though. One of those "not at my table" sorts of situations. YMMV.

Huh. That seems silly. Ah well.