Animal Companion Item Bonus

[Swiftbrook]

Pathfinder Playtest p.284 wrote:

Animal companions calculate their modifiers and DCs just as you do, though with the exception of barding allowing an item bonus to AC (armor class) of up to +2, they never benefit from item bonuses.

So, as I read this, my animal companion gets no magical benefit from magical armor? Also, I can’t give my animal companion something that will help it with its saving throws? Animal companions are just meat shields now?

This doesn't make sense to me.

[Zioalca]

They scale just like characters do with level. Giving them extra would make them stronger than a PC. The animal companion of an animal druid practically is stronger than their druid. They really don't need the extra help. Magic items would also mean having to give them resonance and they tend to have sub-par charisma.

[vestris]

They do benefit from +1 light barding. No higher armor than that. No buff on saving throws. However they have good stats on Con, Dex and Wis. With the druid as the primary Animal companion class they get buffed up quite a bit on their own.

Like a druid lvl 8 has a savage bear with (Just a single example):

Str +6, Dex +3, Con +4, Int -4, Wis +3, Cha -1

Bite: +14 (3d8+6)(+15 (4d8+6) with magic fangs)
Claws (agile): +14 (3d6+6)
HP: 88
AC: 23, TAC 18 (10 +3 dex +8 prof +2 barding)
Expert in all saves, perception and athletics
Trained in intimidation, acrobatics

Bear hug and work together as additional combat activities

I would say that qualifies for more than just meatshield.

The ranger of course has to wait a little to get a companion like that, however the ranger can fight better alongside its companion so I think that should be fine. Plus it is better tailored towards a mobile fighting style.

[twintails0]

vestris wrote:

They do benefit from +1 light barding. No higher armor than that. No buff on saving throws. However they have good stats on Con, Dex and Wis. With the druid as the primary Animal companion class they get buffed up quite a bit on their own.

Like a druid lvl 8 has a savage bear with (Just a single example):

Str +6, Dex +3, Con +4, Int -4, Wis +3, Cha -1

Bite: +14 (3d8+6)(+15 (4d8+6) with magic fangs)
Claws (agile): +14 (3d6+6)
HP: 88
AC: 23, TAC 18 (10 +3 dex +8 prof +2 barding)
Expert in all saves, perception and athletics
Trained in intimidation, acrobatics

Bear hug and work together as additional combat activities

I would say that qualifies for more than just meatshield.

The ranger of course has to wait a little to get a companion like that, however the ranger can fight better alongside its companion so I think that should be fine. Plus it is better tailored towards a mobile fighting style.

Problem is they do not benefit from magic fangs (only applies to single dice attacks atm {hope this changes}). So they lose the ability to deal magic damage pretty quickly. Their damage falls off, there armor doesn't scale well past level 8, and they have very few ways to stay relevant compared to primal summons.