Animal Companion Class

[Rizilliant]

Im trying a new build, as I usually play melee classes. Im playing a demon hunter, and am choosing an animal companion. I was thinking of making my dog a Bully class, but cannot find any info on the animal companions class options.

What are the benefits, or where can I find info on the class options for the animal. Dog, in this case. Id like them to be survivable, but dishing out damage is nice too. Im going to build him around tripping

[SmallGespenst]

bully is a good pick because a lot of animal companion have trip attached to their main attack and getting trip from Bully gives a +2 to the CMB rolls, tripped enemies will trigger attacks of opportunity when they get up and take a AC penalty against melee attacks so it's an effective way to get some good hits in on tough enemies.

[Matt]

Usually, Bully is if you want some damage/trip potential (and a still decent (off-)tank), while daredevil is more focused on defense.

Bulwark is also an option, especially if the animal companion gets some DR from another source (like a Paladin's horse).

For all I know, the other archetypes are a bit meh.

here[pathfinderwrathoftherighteous.wiki.fextralife.com]

[mk11]

Originally posted by Matt:

...
Bulwark is also an option, especially if the animal companion gets some DR from another source (like a Paladin's horse)....

Does that still work with the DR nerf?

Any creature with multiple secondary attacks you may want to avoid taking an archetype that removes Multiattack(?). Note that claws, gore, bite are all primary attacks.

Getting trip from Bully also allows you to take Fury's Fall and if you have two such pets you can get Tandem Trip working nicely.

[Matt]

Originally posted by mk11:

Originally posted by Matt:

...
Bulwark is also an option, especially if the animal companion gets some DR from another source (like a Paladin's horse)....

Does that still work with the DR nerf?

I'm not sure about that, chances are indeed that it doesn't work anymore.
Needs to be tested, I guess.

[Rizilliant]

Thanks guys. I did go with Dog, and Bully, for trips and AoO.

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

If trip pet: Bully
If horse: Bulwark
If smilodon: Aggressor
If other pet: No reason to use other pets beyond just having fun so just pick whichever one is fun :D Get da zoomies by going for Racer!

[AnemoneMeer]

Originally posted by Super Cosmic Space Magnet:

If trip pet: Bully
If horse: Bulwark
If smilodon: Aggressor
If other pet: No reason to use other pets beyond just having fun so just pick whichever one is fun :D Get da zoomies by going for Racer!

Leopard is excellent and far and away the most versatile pet due to 3 attacks, trip, and the highest AC of the pets. It's pretty much a tanky Smilodon.

-------------------------------

Bully is okay, but not anything special. It's better at tripping than other options, but dogs trip pretty much all the time anyway so it's not important. Generally loses more than it gains, but if you really want to prone everything ever, go for it.

Aggressor is pretty much the default pick. The bleed is just generally useful, and you aren't losing much for it. Pretty much base pet with a slight bonus.

Bulwark is strong, largely because of armor access. Full Barding gives a titanic boost to AC that helps close the gap in AC between str pets and dex pets. Even full barding +5 isn't going to make up the endgame gap between a Leopard and most other pets though. Most commonly picked on horses and other mount pets that aren't very agile.

Racer is amusing for charge memes but not very important. Loses more than it gains even if giving your pet leopard the zoomies is lore accurate.

If you want a tanky dog, you want Bulwark. Heavy Barding makes any pet tanky.

[mudakonn]

Raptor has 14 CHA and can cast spells from scrolls reliably, cornugon smash, Lich will benefit as well
Centipede is movement impair and mind affecting immune and has 4 skill points, no need to increase INT for team feats.

So if you run solo then extra 4 skill points are handy, can use your own movement impairing spells and mind affecting regardless of pet.

Raptor can cover Use Magic Device if your CHA is low and cast spells.

There are many off-meta uses of differet animals - so trip bots are not your only option.

[SmallGespenst]

Originally posted by mudakonn:

Raptor has 14 CHA and can cast spells from scrolls reliably, cornugon smash, Lich will benefit as well
Centipede is movement impair and mind affecting immune and has 4 skill points, no need to increase INT for team feats.

So if you run solo then extra 4 skill points are handy, can use your own movement impairing spells and mind affecting regardless of pet.

Raptor can cover Use Magic Device if your CHA is low and cast spells.

There are many off-meta uses of differet animals - so trip bots are not your only option.

From what I read animals can't use scrolls in combat so that's only useful for utility stuff, and if you have literally anyone that can use scrolls that's a pretty worthless utility, and 4 skill points is kinda dicey when half the skills are worthless 'cause Animal companion can't take skill checks during dialogue.
Trip bots are far from the only use, but it lets them perform a role that would otherwise require heavy investment in the Pummel line on a Monk, which is more than can be said for most Animal roles aside from mounts, so it's an obvious build to go for if you don't have anything else in mind.