Animal Companion Feats (and I mean the actual animals) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animal Companion Feats (and I mean the actual animals) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Paradisio
07-25-05, 10:44 PM I am stumped, basically I need to know, what feats are decent for animal companions? Aside from the straight attack enhancing ones.

I mean, the feats the companion actually takes as it grows in power.
ninjarabbit
07-25-05, 10:56 PM Good ones I think are iron will for the weak will save, improved toughness, improved initative, track, and endurance.
EvilVegan
07-25-05, 11:38 PM why not power attack for when you buff them and yourself at the same time.

Like with true strike or something
ancalimohtar
07-26-05, 12:11 AM It sort of depends on how your DM runs his game. Not just because many DMs (not without reason) don't let YOU pick all of your animal companion's feats, but also because they (quite justifiably) don't let you dictate what your critters do in battle. You can't communicate with your animal companion--it's not a familiar. Sure, most DMs will allow you to restrain it from attacking, or direct it to attack certain enemies, but it's much harder to convince them you can tell your brown bear to power attack for 3.
Paradisio
07-26-05, 12:16 AM Well in our game, it pretty much does whatever I want within certain limitations. It goes off my initiative though.
ancalimohtar
07-26-05, 12:35 AM Well that's good.

But that doesn't mean it all of a sudden has use for Spell Penetration. Animal companions pretty much are going to take martial feats. Rapidstrike, Imp. Natural Attack, etc., etc.
Risaan
07-26-05, 01:45 AM If you're casting spells more, or if it is sticking around you mostly, which it probably should be for share spell, you could take Combat Reflexes > Hold the Line and possibly Large and in Chagre if it qualifies.
nerf_ninja
07-26-05, 10:47 AM Improved Toughness (CW) is great for survivability, at +1 HP per hit die. Combat Reflexes if they have a good improved grab/constrict to take advantage of. Improved grapple will help pin opponents. Iron will for will saves.

Was there not a feat that allows them to learn extra tricks? Although the animal companion does get extra tricks as well.
Inkubus
07-26-05, 11:24 AM Hi guys
For animal companions with only one attack spring attack ist great. I once had a dire wolf animal companion with spring attaxck and he was great.
It also really helps keeping your pet alive it isn't exposed to full attacks on a regular basis.
For flying mounts flyby attack, great flyby attack, hover and wingover are really goof.
For bears I like power attack, improved grapple and large and in charge.
Lions and other pouncing animals can make great use of power attack, leap attack and the various charge feats.
Cheers,
Inkubus
Leewei
07-26-05, 12:08 PM If your animal companion has Scent and Survival but not Track -- definitely get the Track feat.

If your animal acts as a guard that helps watch camp as you sleep, Alertness is okay. If the animal already has Scent, though, this isn't that big of a deal.

Iron Will as previously mentioned is a nice one.

I'm pretty sure there is also a feat which improves Natural Armor for your companion.

If your DM allows you to train your companion to perform Aid actions (Perform or Work might allow this in some circumstances), consider getting a skill point or two towards these activities and getting the companion Skill Focus. If you enter urban areas frequently and you have your companion trained to Perform (clown around and beg for food or such), people may well be far more accepting of an enormous animal. For that matter, a companion can be trained to Perform and do certain tricks when it smells something dangerous nearby.

The orcs sneaking up on the campsite, for example, might not think much about your Riding Dog lifting a leg at your party's halfling, but the rest of you can get subtly tipped off to trouble and Bluff that you aren't aware of it while you prepare for a fight.
Shadow Adept
07-26-05, 01:16 PM Take Armor Proficiency Feats before anything else, a magic barding chain shirt improves the survivability of your tiger or dinosaur much.
olothfaern
07-26-05, 01:39 PM ...the feat in (I want to say, but I'm not sure) Races of the Wild (or maybe Complete Adventurer) tht give you +2 to AC when you move 30 or 40 feet in a round.

I have no reference material with me, but its great when used to offset charging.
Paradisio
07-26-05, 01:44 PM Well I think I am going to stay away from movement oriented feats, simply because I want to take advantage of the share spells ability (and they have to be within 5 feet.)

I am planning on switching to the dire eagle next level, and riding it, so I won't have to worry about it so much then.

What book is improved wingover or whatever in?
Fwib
07-26-05, 01:47 PM Improved Unarmed Strike - get full iterative attacks and then tag on all natural attacks afterward as secondary attacks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paradisio 07-25-05, 10:44 PM	I am stumped, basically I need to know, what feats are decent for animal companions? Aside from the straight attack enhancing ones. I mean, the feats the companion actually takes as it grows in power.
ninjarabbit 07-25-05, 10:56 PM	Good ones I think are iron will for the weak will save, improved toughness, improved initative, track, and endurance.
EvilVegan 07-25-05, 11:38 PM	why not power attack for when you buff them and yourself at the same time. Like with true strike or something
ancalimohtar 07-26-05, 12:11 AM	It sort of depends on how your DM runs his game. Not just because many DMs (not without reason) don't let YOU pick all of your animal companion's feats, but also because they (quite justifiably) don't let you dictate what your critters do in battle. You can't communicate with your animal companion--it's not a familiar. Sure, most DMs will allow you to restrain it from attacking, or direct it to attack certain enemies, but it's much harder to convince them you can tell your brown bear to power attack for 3.
Paradisio 07-26-05, 12:16 AM	Well in our game, it pretty much does whatever I want within certain limitations. It goes off my initiative though.
ancalimohtar 07-26-05, 12:35 AM	Well that's good. But that doesn't mean it all of a sudden has use for Spell Penetration. Animal companions pretty much are going to take martial feats. Rapidstrike, Imp. Natural Attack, etc., etc.
Risaan 07-26-05, 01:45 AM	If you're casting spells more, or if it is sticking around you mostly, which it probably should be for share spell, you could take Combat Reflexes > Hold the Line and possibly Large and in Chagre if it qualifies.
nerf_ninja 07-26-05, 10:47 AM	Improved Toughness (CW) is great for survivability, at +1 HP per hit die. Combat Reflexes if they have a good improved grab/constrict to take advantage of. Improved grapple will help pin opponents. Iron will for will saves. Was there not a feat that allows them to learn extra tricks? Although the animal companion does get extra tricks as well.
Inkubus 07-26-05, 11:24 AM	Hi guys For animal companions with only one attack spring attack ist great. I once had a dire wolf animal companion with spring attaxck and he was great. It also really helps keeping your pet alive it isn't exposed to full attacks on a regular basis. For flying mounts flyby attack, great flyby attack, hover and wingover are really goof. For bears I like power attack, improved grapple and large and in charge. Lions and other pouncing animals can make great use of power attack, leap attack and the various charge feats. Cheers, Inkubus
Leewei 07-26-05, 12:08 PM	If your animal companion has Scent and Survival but not Track -- definitely get the Track feat. If your animal acts as a guard that helps watch camp as you sleep, Alertness is okay. If the animal already has Scent, though, this isn't that big of a deal. Iron Will as previously mentioned is a nice one. I'm pretty sure there is also a feat which improves Natural Armor for your companion. If your DM allows you to train your companion to perform Aid actions (Perform or Work might allow this in some circumstances), consider getting a skill point or two towards these activities and getting the companion Skill Focus. If you enter urban areas frequently and you have your companion trained to Perform (clown around and beg for food or such), people may well be far more accepting of an enormous animal. For that matter, a companion can be trained to Perform and do certain tricks when it smells something dangerous nearby. The orcs sneaking up on the campsite, for example, might not think much about your Riding Dog lifting a leg at your party's halfling, but the rest of you can get subtly tipped off to trouble and Bluff that you aren't aware of it while you prepare for a fight.
Shadow Adept 07-26-05, 01:16 PM	Take Armor Proficiency Feats before anything else, a magic barding chain shirt improves the survivability of your tiger or dinosaur much.
olothfaern 07-26-05, 01:39 PM	...the feat in (I want to say, but I'm not sure) Races of the Wild (or maybe Complete Adventurer) tht give you +2 to AC when you move 30 or 40 feet in a round. I have no reference material with me, but its great when used to offset charging.
Paradisio 07-26-05, 01:44 PM	Well I think I am going to stay away from movement oriented feats, simply because I want to take advantage of the share spells ability (and they have to be within 5 feet.) I am planning on switching to the dire eagle next level, and riding it, so I won't have to worry about it so much then. What book is improved wingover or whatever in?
Fwib 07-26-05, 01:47 PM	Improved Unarmed Strike - get full iterative attacks and then tag on all natural attacks afterward as secondary attacks.