AnimalBuddyAGuidetotheRangersBeastCompanion

EveninthefrozenNorth,youdonthavetogoitalone.

So, youve made it to level three. Youve been getting pretty good at the basics of

rangering you should be able to track things down and kill them pretty well. So now, its time to take things to the next level. You could choose the Hunter specialization, and continue on a solo career of monster slaying, but for those Rangers who are lonely, who want an extra body in battle, or just like the idea of having a pet, theres also the Beast Master specialization.Thisguideisheretohelpyouchoosetherightanimalbuddyforyou!

Iwillbeusingfourdifferentratingsforthisguide,denotedbythefollowingcolors:Bluechoicesareexcellent.Itshardtogowrongwithoneofthesebuddies.Greenchoicesaregood.Maybenottoptier,butyoulldowellwiththischoice.Purplechoicesaresituational.Itcouldbegoodintherightsituation,butprobablynotgood.Redchoicesaretraps.Avoidtheseatallcosts.SpecialThanksto:

OtherD&DGuidewritersontheinternet,whoseformatImshamelesslystealing. UndrhilontheD&Dforums,forproofreadingthis Anyoneandeveryonereading.Thanksforgivingthisalook!

TheBeastMasterSpecialization

Now,beforewegetintothings,letstakealookattheBeastMasterSpecializationtostartwith.At3rdlevel,yougetRangersCompanion,whichgivesyouthebeastcompanion.Thereareafewimportantthingstonotehere:

YourRangerCompanionhastobeabeast.Nopseudodragons,noimps,noskeletons.Yourbuddyisallnatural.

YourRangerCompanionhastobeMediumsizeorsmaller.Ifyouwanttoplayamountedranger,youneedtobesmallsized,likeaHalflingoraGnome.

Yourcompanionhastohavea1/4challengeratingorlower.Sonobearsasofnow.

Theselimitationsmeanyoucantjustpickanyoldbeast,butitsnotallbad.YourbeastcompanionaddsyourproficiencybonustoitsAC,attackrolls,damagerolls,skillsitsproficientin,andsavingthrowsthatitsproficientin.YoualsocanboostitsHPasyouleveltoo,thoughitwillneverhaveasmanyhitpointsasyoudo,sobecareful.

Thebeastmovesasyoudirectitwithoutyouneedingtotakeanactionhowever,if

youwantittodash,disengage,orattack,thenyoumustuseyouraction.Onceyouhit5thlevel,youcaninsteadgiveuponeofyourtwoattackstohaveyourbeastattackinstead.Thismightseemlikeabaddealatfirst,butsomeofthebeastsyouhaveaccesstohavesomeprettygnarlyattacks.Ifyoureinyourfavoredterrain,youcanmovestealthilywithoutneedingtoslowdownifyourbeastisnearyou,whichmeansitdoesntnegativelyimpactyourscoutingroleatall.Ifanything,havinganothersetofeyescanbeprettyhelpful.Finally,ifyourbeastendsupdying,youcanbondwithanewoneafteralongrest.Andbecauseallyourcompanionsaregoingtoendupwith4xyourlevelhitpoints,youmightneedtomakeanotheranimalfriendatsomepoint.

Whenyouhit7thlevel,ifyoudonthaveyourbeastattackwithanaction,youcan

insteaduseyourbonusactiontohaveyourbeastdoahelpfulthingthatisntanattack.Havingyourbeastperformahelpactioncanbeveryuseful,especiallysincetheycanallowthepartyroguetomakeasneakattackormaketheBattleMastersnextmaneuverreallycount.

Atlevel11,whenyoucommandyourbeasttomakeanattack,itattackstwice.Thismeanswiththeextraattackyoumake,youremaking3attackstotal,ataminimumdependingonthebeastcompanionyouhaveorwhatkindoffightingstyleyouuse,youmightbemakingevenmoreattacks.

Finally,atlevel15,youcansharespellswithyourbeast.Ithastobeaspellthatyou

cast,butyourHuntersmarkcanaffectbothofyou,bothyouandyourbuddycanbenefitfromstoneskin,andyourcurespellgetsdoublevalue.Itsnotabadfeatureatall.

LookingattheBeasts

Imgoingtobeevaluatingeachofthebeastsprimarilybyhowhelpfultheycanbeincombat,thoughIllalsonoteanyusefulexplorationbonusesthattheycouldhave.Illbelistingeachbeastaccordingtoitssourceanditschallengerating.Generally,beastswithahigherchallengeratingaregoingtobemoreusefulthanbeastswithalowerone.Therewillalsobeaglossaryofbeastabilitiesafterthissection.

PlayersHandbookBeasts

Thesecreaturescanbefoundintheplayershandbook,andmostDMswillletyoutakeone.

Challenge0ThesearegenerallyintendedtobesummonedbyWizardsorWarlockswithFind

Familiar,butifyouwantaflyingbeast,thesemaybeyouronlyoptions.BatAnabsolutelyterriblecompanionincombat,buttheyhavethebestblindsightoutofeverybeastandkeenhearing,sotheycanmakedecentscouts.CatItstrainedinperceptionandstealth,haskeensmell,andcanclimbfairlyfast.Dontexpectmuchfromitonthecombatfront,though.FrogNoattacks,whichmakesmanyofyourclassfeaturesabsolutelyuseless.Pass.HawkItfliesandhasadvantageonseeingthings,butitsinferiorcomparedtotheowl.OwlLessaccuratethanthehawk,butyourenottakingthesecompanionsbecausetheyrecombatmonsters.Ithaskeensightandhearing,darkvision,andflyby.TheowlisprettymuchyourbestoptionforascoutingcreatureinthePlayersHandbook.RatIthasdarkvisionandcansmellwell,butthatsaboutit.RavenRavensaretheonlybeastsrightnowwithmimicry.Thatsthereasontohaveone.

ChallengeWerestartingtogetsomewheredecent,butthesecompanionstendtogetoutclassed

bytheCRbeasts.MastiffThemastiffisntexactlybad,itsjustthatawolfdoeswhatitdoesbutbetter.Ifawolfisoffthetable,though,youcoulddoworsethanhavingacompanionthatcanknockenemiesprone,alongwithkeenhearingandsmell.Plusitsadog,andsomepeoplelikedogs.

MuleMulesarebeastsofburdenwithsurefooted.Theyrealsoaboutasclosetoahorseasyouregoingtoget,sincethehorsesfoundinthePlayersHandbookareallsizelarge.PoisonousSnakeAPoisonoussnakecanpotentiallydoalotofdamage,butitalldependsonitspoisonbite.Italsohasblindsightandaswimspeed,sotheressomeutilitythere.

ChallengeYoureprobablygoingtoendupchoosingoneofthesethreebeasts.Amongother

things,eachofthemcanknockfoesproneonfailedastrengthsaves.Thiscanhelpmeleealliesasitwillgrantthemadvantage,althoughrangedallieswillfacedisadvantage.BoarOfthethreebeastsinthePlayersHandbook,theBoaristhetoughest.Itstheonlybeastsofarwiththerelentlesstrait,thoughthetraitistiedtoa7hitpointthreshold.Italsoneedstochargetomakethemostofitstuskattacks.PantherProbablythemostpowerfulbeastcompanion,combatwise.Thisisbecauseitstheonlybeastcompanionrightnowwhichgetspounce.Itssortofsituational,butcanbeprettydeadlyintherightcircumstances.Theyalsohavekeensmell.WolfWolvesareallaboutadvantage.Theyhavepackattack,keenhearingandsmell,andeverybiteattacktheymakehasachanceofknockinganenemyprone,whichmeansadvantageforotheralliesinmelee.Whilethepantherismorelikelytodealmoredamageinasingleround,wolveshavemoreoverallutility.

ThisisaD&DRangerguide.Imcontractuallyobligatedtoincludeatleast1Drizztpicture.

DMBasicsBeasts

YouregoingtohavetoaskyourDMforpermissiontousethesecreatures,butallofthesebeastsmeettherequirementsforbeingabeastcompanion.

Challenge0Ofallthesebeasts,onlytheoctopusdoessomekindofuniquethings.

BaboonBaboonshavepacktacticsandaclimbspeed,butwithbadoffense.BadgerIfyouwantabadgercompanion,lookforagiantone.Trustme.CrabYoucouldgetagiantcrabinstead.Pass.DeerDeerarefast,andthatsaboutit.Theyrenoteventhefastestcompanion,atthat.EagleEaglesareaslightlybuffedHawk.Ifyoureallywantabird,lookelsewherethough.GiantFireBeetleSofartheonlybeastcompanionwithillumination.Theirattacksucks,though.GoatGoatsareboarswithaweakerchargeandsurefootedinsteadofrelentless.Pass.HyenaItsamastiff,butnotasgood.JackalLikeawolf,butlamer.Sensingapatternhere?LizardLizardsdontreallybringanythingtothetablethatyoucouldntfindelsewhere.OctopusTheoctopushassomeuniqueabilities,suchasgrappling,aninkcloud,andunderwatercamouflage.However,theyredependentonwater.QuipperAnoddnameforwhatsessentiallyapiranha.Andonepiranhaonitsownisntreallythatthreatening,evenifitdoeshavebloodfrenzy.ScorpionScorpionshavevenom,asyoumightexpect,butsaidvenomisntverygoodatall.SeahorseOnlylivesinthewater,andhasnoattacks.Pass.SpiderSpidershavespiderclimb,websense,andwebwalker,whichmeansthattheyreprettymobile.Theircombatstatsarentthatgood,though,evenconsideringthepoisondamagetheyaddonafailedConstitutionsave.

VultureVulturescanfly,havekeensightandsmell,andhavepackattack.Theirattacksarentmuchtospeakof,though.WeaselWeaselsarentreallythatinteresting.Keenhearingandsmellandthatsit.

ChallengeYouvegotsomeinterestingoptionsnow.Someevencompetewiththebeasts.

BloodHawkTheirattackisalittleweak,buttheydohavekeensightandpacktactics.Theyreisthebestbirdcompanionthatyoucangetatthemoment.Notthebestflyinganimalcompanion,though,sincetheylackflyby.FlyingSnakeItsasnake,butitcanfly!WhatsinterestingaboutthisbeastisthatthevenomdeliveredbyitsbiteaffectsfoeswithnoConstitutionsaveallowed.Soitsbetterthanmostoftheotherpoisoners,butstillnotgoodagainstfoesthatresistpoison,sinceitsdamageispitifulwithoutitspoison.Flybyand10footblindsenseroundoutthepackage.GiantCrabGiantCrabsareamphibiousandtheycangrappleuptotwofoesatonce.Thiscanbeprettyeffectiveinmakingdodgyfoesstayput.TheyalsohaveoneofthehighestACvaluesofanybeastcompanionalongwith30ft.ofblindsight,sothatsabigplus.GiantRatGiantRatshonestlydontofferthatmuch.Theyhavedarkvision,packtactics,andkeensmell,buttheyrenotgoodtrackersandnotgoodfighters.GiantWeaselTheycanbehalfdecentscouts,buttheircombatstatsarentreallygoodcomparedtosomeoftheothercompanions.PonyTheonlyhorsecompanionyoucanget.Itsspeedisterrible,butitrollstwodamagediceforitsattacks,ifthatsomethingyourelookingfor.StirgeItsahorridmosquitomonster,butifyouwantone,youcantakeit.Ifithitswithanattack,itattachestothefoeithitandstartsautomaticallydealingdamage.Theenemycandislodgeitwithanaction,whichmeansitspentitsactionnotdoinganythingdangerous.

ChallengeTheseareprobablythemostpowerfulbeastcompanionsyoucanget.Therearesome

neatcreaturestolookatinthiscategory.GiantBadgerGiantBadgersaretheonlybeastcompanionsthusfarthatcanmakeamultiattackasoneoftheiractions.Thisisprettyawesome,asyoumightsuspect,sincethismeansyouget3attacksatlevel5,and5attacksatlevel11.Asfarasapurecombatmonster,agiantbadgerisasdangerousasitgets.

GiantCentipedeThemostpowerfulsmallcompanion,withoutadoubt.Itspoisoncanparalyzefoesitdropsto0hpinsteadofkillingthem,whichmakesgiantcentipedesagoodchoiceifyourethekindofRangerwhopreferstakinghisquarryalive.Theyalsohaveadecentclimbspeedand30footblindsight,whichisprettycool.GiantFrogThesebeastscaneatsmallenemies,whichisvaguelydisturbing.Otherthanthat,theycangrappleandrestrainfoes,whichmakesthemamorecontrollingkindofcompanion.Theyrealsofairlymobile,astheyhaveboththeamphibiousandstandingleap.GiantPoisonousSnakeIfyoureasnakefan,itseitherthisortheflyingsnake.ThepoisondamageonlyoccursonafailedConstitutionsave,butitsprettydecentevenwithoutthepoisondamage,sothesnakeisstillaneffectivecombatantevenwhenfacedwithpoisonresistantorimmuneenemies.Theyevenhavea10footreachforthisattack,abenefitthatnootherbeastcompaniongets.Giantpoisonoussnakesalsohave10footblindsightandaswimspeed,thoughthosearemorebonusesthanthemainsellingpoint.GiantWolfSpiderLikegiantcentipedes,GiantWolfSpidershaveatoxicbitethatcanparalyzefoesinsteadofkillingthem.Saidpoisonislesspotent,butinreturnthesespidershavespiderclimb,websense,andwebwalker.Yourechoosingbetweenpowerormobilityhere,thoughdonotethatitishardertohideamediumspiderthanitistohideasmallcentipede.Theyhave10footblindsight,darkvision,anda+7Stealthbonustoo.PteranodonImgonnagoaheadandcallthisthebestbeastcompanion.Firstpointoforder,itsafreakindinosaur,andthosearealwayscool.Second,itsamediumcreaturethatflies.Enjoybeingahalflingarcherwhorainsdeathfromabove!Andifthatdoesntappealtoyou,thePteranodonhasflyby,whichmeansitsprettyeffectiveatstrikingenemiesandthenretreatingbeforetheycandoanythingaboutit.

Anyotherquestions?

AGlossaryofBeastAbilities

Amphibious:Amphibiousbeastscansurviveonwaterandonland,makingthemversatileifwaterhazardsareanissueyouhavetodealwith(likeinanauticalcampaign).BeastofBurden:Beastsofburdenareconsidered1sizecategorylargerwhendeterminingtheircarryingcapacity.Sotheycancarryalotofstufflikeayougettheidea.Blindsight:Beastswithblindsightdontneedlighttoperceivetheirsurroundings.Anydarkness,magicalornot,isntgoingtoimpedetheirperceptionatall.BloodFrenzy:Thesebeastsgainadvantageonmeleeattackrollsagainstfoeswhohavetakendamage.Generallyreservedforquippersandsharks.Burrow:Beastswithaburrowspeedcanmovethroughtheearth.Thistendstobeslowgoingatbest,though.Charge:Beastswithchargedealextradamageiftheymoveatleast20feetbeforetheymakeanattackduringtheirturn.Theattackalsoforcestheenemytomakeastrengthsavingthroworfallprone.Climb:Creatureswithaclimbspeeddontneedtomakeabilitycheckstoclimb.Darkvision:Thisisthesamesensethatelvesanddwarvesgetinthebasicrules.Echolocation:Beastswithecholocationusesoundwavestofeelouttheirsurrounding.Thus,theirsensescanbeimpairediftheybecomedeafened.Fly:Beastswithaflyspeedcanmoveinthreedimensions.Thiscanbeincrediblyusefulasyoumightexpect,thoughbeastswhocanflyalsotendtonotbeasphysicallypowerfulastheirmoreterrestrialcounterparts.Flyby:Beastswithflybydontprovokeopportunityattackswhentheymovebyflying.Thismakesthemexcellentskirmisherswhocanattackafoeandthenflyoutofmeleerangebeforetheycangethurt.Grapple:Somebeastscaninitiateagrappleaspartoftheirattacks.Rulesforgrapplingcanbefoundinchapter9ofthebasicrules.

HoldBreath:Thesecreaturescansurviveinwater/outofwater(dependingoniftheyrewaterbreathingornot)foranextendedperiodoftime.Notquiteasgoodasamphibious.Illumination:Thesebeastscanshedbrightlightina10footradius,whichbecomesdimlightforanother10footradius.Thislightcantbeturnedoff.InkCloud:Thebeastcangenerateacloudofinkthatobscurestheareaitsin.Sofar,thisabilitycanonlybeusedunderwater.Italsocanonlybeusedoncepershortorlongrest.KeenHearing:ThisabilitygrantsbeastsadvantageonWisdom(perception)checkstohear.Listeningtodetecthardtofindenemiesorenvironmentalanomaliescanbeuseful.

KeenSight:BeastswithkeensighthaveadvantageonWisdom(perception)checkstoseethings.ProbablytheleastusefuloftheKeensenseabilities,butstillgoodoverall.

KeenSmell:ThesebeastshaveadvantageonWisdom(perception)checkstosmellthings.Thismakesthemprettygoodtrackersandgoodatpinpointinghiddenorinvisibleenemies.Mimicry:Beastswithmimicrycanmimicsoundsthattheyveheard.Ifafoesucceedsonaninsightcheck,though,thentheyknowthatsaidsoundsarenttherealdeal.Multiattack:Beastswithmultiattackcanmakemultipleattacksasoneaction.Thismeanstheycandealalotofdamageprettyfast,asyoumightexpect.

PackTactics:Beastswiththisabilitygetadvantageonmeleeattacksagainstenemiesnexttooneoftheirallies.Assuch,theytendtoworkbestifyouhaveameleeheavypartyoryoupreferusingbladestobows.Poison:Somebeasts,suchassnakesorspiders,candealextrapoisondamagewhentheyhitwiththeirattacks.Generally,theenemyhastofailaconstitutionsaveorelsetheyresistthepoison,whichmeansthattheydonttaketheextradamage.Therearesomeenemies,likeconstructs,elementals,ortheundead,whoareeitherresistantorimmunetopoisondamage.Pounce:Ifabeastwiththepounceattackmoves20feetbeforetheyattack,thentheattackcanknockafoeproneifsaidfoefailsastrengthsave.Thepouncingbeastthengetstomakeanextraattackasabonusaction.Obviously,beastswiththisabilityareprettypowerfulcombatants,thoughthestrengthsavedoesntreallyscale.Relentless:Beastswiththistraitcansurviveblowsthatmightotherwisekillthem.Ifthedamageisunderathreshold(say,7hitpoints)andwouldreducethebeastto0hitpoints,thenthebeastisreducedto1hitpointinstead.Unlikeotherbeastabilities,thebeasthastotakeashortorlongrestbeforeusingthisabilityagain.

SpiderClimb:Beastswithspiderclimbcanclimbonwallsandceilingwithouthavingtomakeanabilitycheckofanykind.Soitsbasicallyclimb+.StandingLeap:Somebeastscanjumpreallywellwithoutneedingarunningstart.SureFooted:Surefootedbeastshaveadvantageonstrengthanddexteritysavingthrowsagainstbeingknockedprone.Swallow:Somebeastscanswallowsmallercreatureswhole.Swallowedcreaturesareblinded,restrained,andtakeautomaticaciddamageeveryturn.Swim:Creatureswithaswimspeedcanmoveinthewaterwithoutneedingtomakeanabilitycheck.Theyalsotendtobehaveeithertheamphibiousorwaterbreathingtraits.UnderwaterCamouflage:BeastswiththisabilitygainadvantageonDexterity(Stealth)checksmadeunderwater.WaterBreathing:Thisbeastcanonlyliveinthewater.Ifitleavesthewater,itwilldie.Generallynotgood.Websense:Generallyaspideronlyability,websenseallowsbeaststodetectthelocationofcreaturesonawebtheyreincontactwith.WebWalker:Anotherspiderabilitythatallowsthemtowalkonwebswhileignoringanymovementpenaltiestheywouldotherwisetake.

Friendstotheend.