Best Animal Companion AC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Animal Companion AC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
dralin
03-22-05, 12:29 PM Which Animal Companion for a 9th lvl Druid has the best AC and/or HP?
Thorak
03-22-05, 02:16 PM For AC, probably a Hawk or an Owl. At level 9, they'd have an AC of 25, without anything boosting it (+6 natural, +3 dex on a 17 base).

Hitpoints, probably a Brown Bear, due to the 19 Con. But it has a 15 AC.

So, double the HP, or 10 points of AC. Do you want to be able to take the hits, or not get hit at all?

And yes, you'll have to make the choice. The higher-Con animals are the bigger ones, meaning you'll be running pretty much at the animal's base stats most likely, with no bonus AC, and given that they are generally Large or larger, they have a size penalty to AC. The smaller ones, which have lower Cons, also have size bonuses to AC and get significant bonuses from the druid level powerups. It's a tradeoff. If you want sheer combat ability, you likely want a big critter, but if you prefer utility, the smaller ones generally survive better due to AC and Evasion, and are handier because of their mucho bonus tricks.
The_Ditto
03-22-05, 02:17 PM Which Animal Companion for a 9th lvl Druid has the best AC and/or HP?

Well ... here's what I've noticed:

At 1st and 2nd level:

Best AC ( 16 ):
Dog, Riding
Snake, Small/Medium Viper
Squid

Best HP ( 22 ):
Crocodile

Best Combinations (not restricted by things like terrain):
Dog, Riding ( AC 16, HP 13 )
Crocodile ( AC 15, HP 22 )

====================
At 3rd - 5th level:

Best AC ( 21 ):
Dire Bat

Best HP ( 38 ):
Shark, Large
Notable Mentions ( 37 ):
Crocodile
Bison

Best Combinations:
Dire Bat ( AC 21, HP 30 )
Crocodile ( AC 17, HP 37 )
Horse, Light/Heavy ( AC 17, HP 32 )

====================
At 6th - 8th level:

Best AC ( 23 ):
Dire Bat

Best HP ( 105 ):
Elasmosaurus :twitch:

Best Combinations:
Dire Bat ( AC 23, HP 45 )
Crocodile ( AC 20, HP 52 )
Crocodile, Giant ( AC 18, HP 59 )
Rhinoceros ( AC 17, HP 76 )

====================
At 9th - 11th level:

Best AC ( 26 ):
Dire Bat

Best HP ( 126 ):
Elasmosaurus :twitch:

Best Combinations:
Dire Bat ( AC 26, HP 60 )
Crocodile ( AC 22, HP 67 )
Crocodile, Giant ( AC 20, HP 76 )
Rhinoceros ( AC 19, HP 95 )

====================
At 12th - 14th level:

Best AC ( 28 ):
Dire Bat :rolleyes:

Best HP ( 147 ):
Elasmosaurus :uh-huh:

Best Combinations:
Dire Bat ( AC 28, HP 75 )
Crocodile ( AC 25, HP 82 )
Crocodile, Giant ( AC 23, HP 93 )
Rhinoceros ( AC 22, HP 114 )

====================
At 15th +:

Best AC ( 31 ):
Dire Bat :dancin:

Best HP ( 184 ):
Elasm... er, :uh-huh:
Triceratops :P

Best Combinations:
Dire Bat ( AC 31, HP 90 )
Crocodile ( AC 27, HP 97 )
Crocodile, Giant ( AC 25, HP 110 )
Rhinoceros ( AC 24, HP 133 )
Triceratops ( AC 20, HP 184 )

drat .. I think I forgot to work in size modifiers for the ACs .. *sigh* .. oh well .. nobody's perfect .. heh :P

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dralin 03-22-05, 12:29 PM	Which Animal Companion for a 9th lvl Druid has the best AC and/or HP?
Thorak 03-22-05, 02:16 PM	For AC, probably a Hawk or an Owl. At level 9, they'd have an AC of 25, without anything boosting it (+6 natural, +3 dex on a 17 base). Hitpoints, probably a Brown Bear, due to the 19 Con. But it has a 15 AC. So, double the HP, or 10 points of AC. Do you want to be able to take the hits, or not get hit at all? And yes, you'll have to make the choice. The higher-Con animals are the bigger ones, meaning you'll be running pretty much at the animal's base stats most likely, with no bonus AC, and given that they are generally Large or larger, they have a size penalty to AC. The smaller ones, which have lower Cons, also have size bonuses to AC and get significant bonuses from the druid level powerups. It's a tradeoff. If you want sheer combat ability, you likely want a big critter, but if you prefer utility, the smaller ones generally survive better due to AC and Evasion, and are handier because of their mucho bonus tricks.
The_Ditto 03-22-05, 02:17 PM	Which Animal Companion for a 9th lvl Druid has the best AC and/or HP? Well ... here's what I've noticed: At 1st and 2nd level: Best AC ( 16 ): Dog, Riding Snake, Small/Medium Viper Squid Best HP ( 22 ): Crocodile Best Combinations (not restricted by things like terrain): Dog, Riding ( AC 16, HP 13 ) Crocodile ( AC 15, HP 22 ) ==================== At 3rd - 5th level: Best AC ( 21 ): Dire Bat Best HP ( 38 ): Shark, Large Notable Mentions ( 37 ): Crocodile Bison Best Combinations: Dire Bat ( AC 21, HP 30 ) Crocodile ( AC 17, HP 37 ) Horse, Light/Heavy ( AC 17, HP 32 ) ==================== At 6th - 8th level: Best AC ( 23 ): Dire Bat Best HP ( 105 ): Elasmosaurus :twitch: Best Combinations: Dire Bat ( AC 23, HP 45 ) Crocodile ( AC 20, HP 52 ) Crocodile, Giant ( AC 18, HP 59 ) Rhinoceros ( AC 17, HP 76 ) ==================== At 9th - 11th level: Best AC ( 26 ): Dire Bat Best HP ( 126 ): Elasmosaurus :twitch: Best Combinations: Dire Bat ( AC 26, HP 60 ) Crocodile ( AC 22, HP 67 ) Crocodile, Giant ( AC 20, HP 76 ) Rhinoceros ( AC 19, HP 95 ) ==================== At 12th - 14th level: Best AC ( 28 ): Dire Bat :rolleyes: Best HP ( 147 ): Elasmosaurus :uh-huh: Best Combinations: Dire Bat ( AC 28, HP 75 ) Crocodile ( AC 25, HP 82 ) Crocodile, Giant ( AC 23, HP 93 ) Rhinoceros ( AC 22, HP 114 ) ==================== At 15th +: Best AC ( 31 ): Dire Bat :dancin: Best HP ( 184 ): Elasm... er, :uh-huh: Triceratops :P Best Combinations: Dire Bat ( AC 31, HP 90 ) Crocodile ( AC 27, HP 97 ) Crocodile, Giant ( AC 25, HP 110 ) Rhinoceros ( AC 24, HP 133 ) Triceratops ( AC 20, HP 184 ) drat .. I think I forgot to work in size modifiers for the ACs .. sigh .. oh well .. nobody's perfect .. heh :P