Many animal companions get more powerful at 4th or 7th-level.
What I want to know is if an animal companion's stat block says that it starts off with +1 natural armor, then gets +3 natural armor at 7th, does that stack or overlaps?
Should the example mount have +3 natural armor or +4?
Huh, I think its advancement, but then when I went to look the snapping turtle goes from +10 to +2, and the tortoise goes from +6 to +8. That doesn't sound right, but in most cases it increasing looks like the right one. Unless they're supposed to get weaker anyway.
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Each animal companion has different starting sizes, speed, attacks, ability scores, and special qualities. All animal attacks are made using the creature's full base attack bonus unless otherwise noted. Animal attacks add the animal's Strength modifier to the damage roll, unless it is its only attack, in which case it adds 1-1/2 its Strength modifier. Some have special abilities, such as scent. See Special Abilities for more information on these abilities. As you gain levels, your animal companion improves as well, usually at 4th or 7th level, in addition to the standard bonuses noted on Table: Animal Companion Base Statistics. Instead of taking the listed benefit at 4th or 7th level, you can instead choose to increase the companion's Dexterity and Constitution by 2.
Think of the Natural Armor values listed in the creature's statblock as a "Base Value" and the value on the advancement entry as a "modifier."
This means that Snapping Turtle would have a total Natural Armor Bonus of +12, and the Tortoise a +14.
Furthermore, don't forget the level-dependent bonuses listed on the animal companion table as well.
I don't see any reason for this critter to follow different rules than any other one.
Ask him for a citation.
From what I can understand, his natural armor bonus in total at 9th level would be +2 (starting base) +3 (9th level advancement) +6 (9th level natural armor bonus)= 11 (total for a 9th level Quetzalcoatlus.
My DM says that the starting base and 9th level advancement do not count for his armor. He says the reason for this is that it is an advanced animal companion but I can not find anything on advanced animal companions.
In addition to the bolded post above by nefreet
Allosaurus
Starting Statistics
Size Medium, Speed 40 ft.; AC +4 natural armor; Attack bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4)*; Ability Scores Str 14, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.
7th-Level Advancement
Size Large; AC +2 natural armor ; Attack bite (1d8), 2 claws (1d6); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4; Special Qualities grab, pounce.
Your DM would say that he LOST natural armor for getting bigger rather than gaining it. That wouldn't make any sense.
Because James said so: