How does animal companion stacking work?

[Malik Gyan Daumantas]

I'm basically trying to figure out if it's possible to have more then 1 animal companion at a time, as i'm getting conflicting reports with people saying i can have more then 1 with others saying i can only have 1 but it gets super charged from the levels i would have gotten from the second one.

[Belafon]

There are some archetypes that specifically allow you to have multiple companions, but for the most part the base rule in the druid section of the CRB is what matters.

Quote:

Class Level: This is the character's druid level. The druid's class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion's statistics.

One companion, total the levels of classes that grant companions.

[Sysryke]

At work, on break, so limited response time. There's at least one ( I believe several ) archetype(s) or either Druid or Ranger that let you have multiple animal companions. Usually the trade off is that you have to split your levels amongst the critters. For simplicity let's say you're level 10. You could have 2 level 5 ACs, or a 7/3 split. You could also have a 6/3/1. At a certain point they lose viability as combat companions, but there's lots of room for utility and flavor contributions. I love the concept, but it's not the most mechanically effective, and you have to be careful about not hogging "spotlight" time.

[VoodistMonk]

Generally you get one AC, unless you have selected one of the few archetypes that allow multiple... at which point, you made the decision on purpose, and are most likely aware.

But yeah, levels stack to supercharge one AC, as you so eloquently put it.

[ErichAD]

You can also get multiple animal companions by taking levels in classes with incompatible animal companions. A druid with an eagle companion who takes levels in cavalier, can't combine the two effective druid levels since the cavalier only grants effective druid levels for specific types of animal companions.

FAQ

[Sysryke]

That takes me in a different direction. Don't want to thread steal/derail; but I've always wanted to try multi-classing to get a familiar, AC, Mount, and Eidolon. Probably a terrible build choice, but all of the critters appeal to me.

[Sysryke]

Just to add something a bit more useful to the OP.

Multiple AC archetypes: Packlord (Druid), Beast Master (Ranger)

~~ Beast Rider (Cavalier); this one is Mount more than AC, but the archetype gives you access to Druid ACs as mounts. You still technically only have one at a time, but as the archetype levels you swap out old mounts for more and more powerful beasts. With some role-play and GM permission, the old mounts could stay behind in some kind of stable that you could swap out from. Sort of like Iron Man's vault with all the different suits. Obviously were stretching way past RAW, but seemed worth noting.

There are also several specific animal named archetypes (mostly Ranger) that may allow for multiple ACs, but I didn't have time to check through each one.

Also, there is a feat, or chain of feats, that allow characters to acquire an AC. One of those (Boon Companion, I think) allows you to bring the granted AC up to its maximum possible level value capped by your character level. You'd have to check the wording carefully, but I think you could use that feat to raise just one of your multiple ACs up to full strength. Any others would be at the lesser levels you gave then via the archetype.

[Heather 540]

Boon Companion gives you 4 more effective levels of druid for the purpose of your AC's levels as long as it doesn't go above your total character level.

Nature Soul and Animal Ally is the feat chain that can get you an AC if you don't already have one.

[avr]

Lord Kailas wrote a guide on this exact subject.