Best Improved Familiar

[TheHairyAvenger]

Currently playing as a CN 8th level Wizard and I would like to take improved familiar next time I get a feat and I was wondering if anyone had advice for the best ones to choose.

[Chevalier83]

I'd go with Lyrakien Azata or Fearie Dragon

[Neo2151]

Lyrakien Azata's my personal favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything that has opposable thumbs and can wield a wand for you.
Imp/Quasit
Mephits
Etc.

Faerie Dragons are also a fun choice. They won't be wielding a wand for you, but they make up for that by casting as a 3rd level Sorcerer. ;)

[Bigdaddyjug]

Are you sure faerie dragons can't wield wands? In a certain PFS scenario there is a faerie dragon you can get as a familiar, and it can wield wands. Mi assumed that was the norm for faerie dragons, not something special for that particular one.

[Neo2151]

I always imagined them to be quadruped based on artwork I've seen and that actual Dragons are as well, but their stat writeup doesn't specify.
So I guess it's a GM call?

[Bigdaddyjug]

I always pictured them looking like Figment from Disney World. Wow, that sounded much better in my head.

[Chevalier83]

Actually, as far as I know, Faerie Dragons can indeed wield wands.

[Noir le Lotus]

Lyrakien are limited to CG characters IIRC.

If you want something with opposable thumbs, you must choose between Quasit or Sprite. Voidworm is not bad too ...

[Bigdaddyjug]

I want a brownie as an improved familiar.

[TheHairyAvenger]

thanks for the advice!!!

So at the minute I am thinking either Faerie Dragon or Voidworm.

[Chevalier83]

http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/faq

The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart. The carbuncle and voidworm protean, familiars granted by the Improved Familiar feat, uses the Serpentine section of the chart. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal companion may only use barding and neck-slot items.

Regarding the Azata: the wording at the familiars is extremely vague and varies. Sometimes, there is no wording which exact alignment the master has to have (Quasit), sometimes it states the alignment of the familiar (Azata), sometimes it states the alignment + 1 step (Faerie Dragon). Personally I'd rule it per feat description for all familiars (one step from alignment).

[Melvin the Mediocre]

Chevalier83 wrote:

http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/faq

The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart.

What really interested me at this link is the beginning of the paragraph:

"Can my animal companion or familiar wear or use magic items?
It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items."

However, if your DM does allow familiars to use the skill UMD, I would vote for the Faerie Dragon. If you didn't have that pesky "chaotic" label in your alignment I would go for the advanced imp that can communicate with every creature that knows a language.

[Chevalier83]

The beginning of the paragraph refers to regular animal companions and familiars:

It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items. An animal companion could benefit from an item with a continuous magical effect like an amulet of natural armor if its master equipped the item for the animal companion. Animal companions of any type may not use manufactured weapons.

[...]

An animal or familiar has to have an intelligence of 3+ to activate an ioun stone. If the animal or familiar has less than a 3 intelligence, they may not activate an ioun stone.

[...]

This sentence makes it clear, that a familiar can indeed activate magic items, in case the intelligence is sufficient. Furthermore, some familiars posses UMD as class skill.

[Daniel Tedeschi 426]

I have lvl 10 NG Crypt Breaker, lvl 11 going to take tumor familiar then at lvl 13 take improved familiar and was wondering what would go well. Obvious the ones with Weapon Finesse might be nice; here are some I've been looking at though:

Ceru
Cat Sith
Caypup
Azata
Faerie Dragon
Tidepool Dragon
Dweomercat Cub
Shikigami Kami
Pipefox
Pooka
Psuedosphinx
Psuedodragon
Nosoi Psychopomp

I've looked at all of them and they all interest me, I'm trying to figure which one would work out the best