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I am making a character for Giantslayer that uses an animal companion and I am trying to decide which class would be best.
Possibilities include: Druid, Hunter, Ranger, Brawler (Wild Child), Inquisitor (Sacred Huntsmaster) and probably a bunch of other archetypes I am forgetting. I am looking to make a very versatile character that can be good in and out of combat.
Hunter or sacred huntsmaster.
Both are good at skills, have good spell lists and get the strongest version of animal companions by getting animal focus and sharing teamwork feats with their companions.
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I'm voting for sorcerer.
9th levels spells and charisma based, so if you don't dump int and get a trait to make diplomacy a class skill you'll be a good face of the party.Granted, you'll need the Boon Companion feat to have a full level companion.
9th level arcane spells no less, and far less MAD, for certain. A tiger with displacement, mage armor and haste on it. That is indeed scary. Certainly a contender.
Lets rephrase my answer: Hunter or sacred huntsmaster are the best classes for having a strong animal companion. And that's how I first read the question.
For most classes the AC is just a little addon/sidekick. For the two I mentioned the AC is the main feature and rather strong.
The option of giving your pet skirmisher tricks is worth mentioning.
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I am very strongly considering Sacred Huntsmaster right now. Optimizes animal companion just like a Hunter, but also gets the ability to have strong skills, the Inquisitor spell list, very strong will save and bane. Druid has potential as a very powerful class with one of the stronger animal companion options, but I really do want to maximize the companion.
I think the primal companion hunter Archtype gives the strongest Animal companion. If it is the strongest class that also have a animal companion this depends on what kind of character you are looking for? A wildshaping druid can be very strong and his AC can be cheerleading. Same with a sorcerer. Others have said clever things about this.
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I think the primal companion hunter Archtype gives the strongest Animal companion.
I don't like how the evolutions have to be turned on/are only temporary while the animal focus is always on. But that might depend on length of adventuring days and how often fights start by surprise.
But in raw combat power the primal companion will be stronger, that's right.
@OP: If you want a strong AC make sure to take spirit's gift as a feat and, if you have the prerequisite (cha 13) add evolved companion, too.
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@OP: If you want a strong AC make sure to take spirit's gift as a feat and, if you have the prerequisite (cha 13) add evolved companion, too.
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Having DR 5/adamantine at level 1 is amazing
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@OP: If you want a strong AC make sure to take spirit's gift as a feat and, if you have the prerequisite (cha 13) add evolved companion, too.
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Having DR 5/adamantine at level 1 is amazing
And you can change it each day.
"We have to climb that mountain? Ok, today my T-Rex has a fly speed."
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@OP: If you want a strong AC make sure to take spirit's gift as a feat and, if you have the prerequisite (cha 13) add evolved companion, too.
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Having DR 5/adamantine at level 1 is amazingAnd you can change it each day.
"We have to climb that mountain? Ok, today my T-Rex has a fly speed."
Fly speed 5 yes. I have been thinking of ways to make aquaic AC viable on land with that. Unfortunatly the octopus AC is nothing like the giant octopus:(
Aasimaar Lunar Oracle too.. great favoured class option and if u choose
the spirit guide archetype you can change the bonus spell list and make some good trick :).
Quote for the sorcerer and druid too
The Goliath Druid archetype has advantages in the setting you are playing.
The Saurian Shaman Druid archetype is also excellent, not for the animal companion but for the added options for call nature's ally.
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I personally like the hunter class myself. Currently playing a half-orc hunterlvl 4 with an ape. My ape has light armor proficiency and the body guard archetype currently at AC 21 attack bonus of +10 (+14 if flanking using outflank and pack flanking) and dealing 1d6+10 bite damage or 3x that if I can get the bite claw claw off
I think the primal companion hunter Archtype gives the strongest Animal companion.I don't like how the evolutions have to be turned on/are only temporary while the animal focus is always on. But that might depend on length of adventuring days and how often fights start by surprise.
But in raw combat power the primal companion will be stronger, that's right.
@OP: If you want a strong AC make sure to take spirit's gift as a feat and, if you have the prerequisite (cha 13) add evolved companion, too.
Well, length of adventuring days does not seem like a problem. You get minutes/level- since most fights last for less that a minute (and you are doing something wrong if you aren't in the 'wrapping up' phase after 10 rounds), that means it is basically uses/level.
Compare that to smite evil or judgment- by level 8, you have more staying power than a level 20 paladin or inquisitor. So, as a combat buff, it is more than enough of a comparison.
And honestly, with eidolon evos....most animal foci look rather redundant and dwarfed. And the fact that you have to turn it on doesn't seem that major when you only need to use a swift action- no one complains about smite evil or judgment for similar restrictions.
What I meant was that a normal hunter AC with say aspect of the falcon could notice an ambush and warn you about it because of his perception bonus.
But as I said, the power level of the evolutions is higher. Especially if you use the APG evolution costs where pounce is still so broken. Take one of the single hit dinos, give it two claws and a bite or a sting and pounce. For example an Arsinoitherium.
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I am very strongly considering Sacred Huntsmaster right now. Optimizes animal companion just like a Hunter, but also gets the ability to have strong skills, the Inquisitor spell list, very strong will save and bane. Druid has potential as a very powerful class with one of the stronger animal companion options, but I really do want to maximize the companion.
The hunter will do a better job of optimizing the animal companion. With the much faster access to two animal focus at level 8. The Sacred Huntmaster will be better at knowledge skills, and dose have bane. However the hunter gets the druid/ranger spell list. This is a big advantage as far as buffing spells. Combine that with Improved Spell Sharing. And long lasting buffing spells like Heightened Awareness, Resist Energy, Greater Long Strider, Barkskin, etc. Makes the hunter a much stronger option the most people give it credit for. Including me until I went and spent the time to build one. Gave me a much better sense of what a hunter can do.
I did not see this feet in most of the teamwork feet list. It comes from Player Companion Blood of the Moon. I almost missed it when making my hunter. Though I would leave it for you to look at.
Ferocious Loyalty (Teamwork)
You have a powerful sense of responsibility for your allies.
Benefit: You gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls against any foe that currently threatens an ally who also has this feat. Whenever an ally with this feat is rendered helpless or killed within 30 feet of you, you gain a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls for 1 minute or until the foe responsible is rendered helpless or killed, whichever comes first.
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Hunter hands down will give the most powerful Animal Companion. I particularly like the Primal Companion Hunter. It allows you to get a two headed Trex with (the equivalent of) double Improved Natural Attack.
I also strongly recommend anyone wanting to focus on having a big badass Animal Companion taking a look at the Mammoth Rider PrC. That allows you to get your Animal Companion up to Huge size with a single level. With Animal Growth or similar spells you could get it up to Gargantuan (the size that a Trex should be).
With Strong Jaw you can get your AC's bite attack up by 4 size categories. If you prefer you could go with the Vital Strike line of feats to roll a crazy amount of dice. I would also recommend taking a look at the Lockjaw spell for this kind of AC. Two belts work exceptionally good for this kind of build and it is a tough choice between them. Anaconda's Coils and Belt of Thunderous Charging. The former gives Constrict while the latter gives another size increase to natural attacks while charging. If you are in a home game you could reverse engineer the item and give both qualities to a single belt. Don't forget to get Rhino Hide barding for your AC.
Top that off with the Skirmisher tricks and you can give your AC an extra attack every round for crazy big damage.
I'll second (third? fourth?) the suggestion of Spirit's Gift feat as well. With Hunter if your first 3 feats are Combat Expertise, Pack Flanking and for the Precise Companion Feat take Outflank and now both you and your AC are getting +4 to hit on every attack. Add Broken Wing Gambit to each get an additional attack every round. Take Paired Opportunist and both of you are getting +8 to your AoOs generated from Broken Wing Gambit.
Even if your actual character does nothing except be a feat giving saddle ornament your actual Animal Companioon (you know... the character that you are actually playing) is going to be a total beast. Not much should survive that kind of build.
Hunter hands down will give the most powerful Animal Companion. I particularly like the Primal Companion Hunter. It allows you to get a two headed Trex with (the equivalent of) double Improved Natural Attack.
I also strongly recommend anyone wanting to focus on having a big badass Animal Companion taking a look at the Mammoth Rider PrC. That allows you to get your Animal Companion up to Huge size with a single level. With Animal Growth or similar spells you could get it up to Gargantuan (the size that a Trex should be).
With Strong Jaw you can get your AC's bite attack up by 4 size categories. If you prefer you could go with the Vital Strike line of feats to roll a crazy amount of dice. I would also recommend taking a look at the Lockjaw spell for this kind of AC. Two belts work exceptionally good for this kind of build and it is a tough choice between them. Anaconda's Coils and Belt of Thunderous Charging. The former gives Constrict while the latter gives another size increase to natural attacks while charging. If you are in a home game you could reverse engineer the item and give both qualities to a single belt. Don't forget to get Rhino Hide barding for your AC.
Top that off with the Skirmisher tricks and you can give your AC an extra attack every round for crazy big damage.
I'll second (third? fourth?) the suggestion of Spirit's Gift feat as well. With Hunter if your first 3 feats are Combat Expertise, Pack Flanking and for the Precise Companion Feat take Outflank and now both you and your AC are getting +4 to hit on every attack. Add Broken Wing Gambit to each get an additional attack every round. Take Paired Opportunist and both of you are getting +8 to your AoOs generated from Broken Wing Gambit.
Even if your actual character does nothing except be a feat giving saddle ornament your actual Animal Companioon (you know... the character that you are actually playing) is going to be a total beast. Not much should survive that kind of build.
gotta say a lot of great ideas for an AC. I second the lvl dip into Mammoth rider. As for Spirit's gift feat didn't know that existed until now. I might look into that more. Right now i am playing a human paladin with a dragon mount.
oh yeah, might i suggest a belt of the weasel for your AC if you find yourself playing in a dungeon heavy campaign. Works great if you have a large or bigger AC.
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If you want the best animal companion then hunter/sacred huntmaster. If you want the strongest character at endgame, Druid/Sorcerer. Even then, Hunter/Inquisitor will be stronger 1-12 and equal 13-15. Full Spellcasting doesn't really overshadow 3/4 casting until then, especially with the hunter getting early access to ranger spells.
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If you can deal without Share Spells, give the Companion the Bodyguard archetype (have to make sure you are willing to give up personal spells on the AC) and Combat Reflexes and Bodyguard, so it can give you +4 AC as an AoO. At 3rd level, it always acts in surprise round, so lookout always procs for a full round action.
You can use the improved spell sharing teamwork feat to cover a lot of the loss of share spells.
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That's level 10 though. A long way to go and then you'll either have to pay to retrain, or take it at 11. But yes still an option.
Different feats the 10th level feat
Improved share spells is in the APG and not a teamwork feat.Improved spell sharing does not have a level requirment is in the ACG and is a teamwork feat.
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- Oracle has already been mentioned
- no gm I asked about putting the favoured class bonus into the companion allowed it.
- If you are willing to go that way you could combine cavalier 4 with any full pet class and take boon companion to get two full power pets.
cavalier 4 gives expert trainer which is a prereq. for horsemaster which allows you to calculate your pet with your character level instead of your cavalier level.
Now you become a druid/hunter and choose a pet that would not be allowed for the cavalier. By doing so both pet levels don't stack.
Once you have horsemaster your mount is = char-level. Once you have boon companion your druid pet is = char-level.
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@OP: Summoners
- Oracle has already been mentioned
- no gm I asked about putting the favoured class bonus into the companion allowed it.
- If you are willing to go that way you could combine cavalier 4 with any full pet class and take boon companion to get two full power pets.** spoiler omitted **
Boon companion only raises your pet by a set number of levels. It does not make it "character level".
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The Primal Hunter animal companion is likely the best combat companion in the game, but the Courtly Hunter's companion could beat it out for 'best' in a more skill and subtlety based campaign... familiar level intelligence, access to the hunter's skills, skill based animal focus options, and the ability to polymorph into up to four alternate forms makes it the most 'independent' companion. For most purposes it is a full separate character.
'Best class which has an animal companion of any sort' is probably whatever class you like best... because there are ways to get an animal companion on nearly any character.
For Giantslayer I'd probably go with the Goliath Druid.
Another option is to multi-class. Most classes with animal companions stack the AC level. For example, one trick I like is Hunter 3 / Sacred Huntsmaster 3... at which point you've got TWO teamwork feats you can re-assign to anything you qualify for, and then share both with your level 6 companion.
which archetype gives the sorcerer an animal companion, and which book is it in?
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One option is sanctified slayer inquisitor with the chivalry inquisition to get a mount. You ride the mount and get pack flanking to get you auto flanking for your sneak attack and +4 to hit with outflank. If you take the group fighter trait, you will have +5 hit all the time.
Then your character does either natural weapons (you get from a race like tiefling with adopted tusked to get bite and claws) or with two weapon fighting.
Add a menacing amulet in there +6 flank
The hunter class is going to outperform any of the others. The ranger/Druid lists produce better buffs for animals, it gets full weapon access...and the blender build is going to dpr heaven (though i'd like to see an actual breakdown of avg dpr for a str based AOO melee teamwork hunter build)
As much as Hunter might be good, may I suggest a Shining Knight Paladin? Not only will your animal companion (your mount) get access to your paladin saves, but there is also that lovely bit about causing foes to become panicked (removing an enemy's ability to do any damage). Finally, combine this with the feat Monstrous Mount at level 5 and Monstrous Mount Mastery at level 7. Grab a griffon. You now have a flying mount with POUNCE. Finally, when you get the money, give your mount a little anti-maze insurance with either a +1 bonus to int from hit dice and a +4 or +6 int boosting item or a single use item of freedom.
Proceed to build a charger with fly-by attack and laugh.
Without a dout the most powerful PC in our Giantslayer campaign is a ranger infiltrator with a booned wolf. The Ranger actually put his 2nd favored enemy upgrade into dragons instead of giants because he and the wolf combine to kill giants at a rate of 2 per round frequently (at 10th level). It's insane.