Smilodon companion

[Abyssian]

I have to smile to all the topics about companions, where people say how strong the smilodon is. What is the definition of strength in here? The guy almost never hits his target from his 5 attempts in a row and when he hits, it is a 1d4+1 dmg, which is only dagger +1. So if i meet anyone who is non-human, non-animal and non-insect, he is literally useless, cuz most races have damage reduction. So when someone say that smilodon is best companion overall, i just want to say where or when he is useful.

[quite_gone_jim]

well he's useful for carrying stuff, a veritable cat of holding :)

[Mork]

Without more info on your build, it's hard to tell what you are doing wrong... Animal companions are very strong in the early and mid game, but they become a lot less useful during end game.

Is his power attack on? If yes, turn it off.
Are you a pure pet class? A class that increase the animal companion power at every level.

[Abyssian]

Originally posted by Mork:

Without more info on your build, it's hard to tell what you are doing wrong... Animal companions are very strong in the early and mid game, but they become a lot less useful during end game.

Is his power attack on? If yes, turn it off.
Are you a pure pet class? A class that increase the animal companion power at every level.

Well... he is pretty useful now when fighting boggards and manticore. And he even don't have power attack. And what is a pet class? I have him with my main heroine, the pre-built ranger Vyleen.

[Abyssian]

Originally posted by zawdxs312:

well he's useful for carrying stuff, a veritable cat of holding :)

Cat of holding XD a good one.

[Mork]

A pure pet class is someone that get a pet at level 1.

A ranger is not a pure pet class because they get a animal companion at level 4. The animal get -3 ''power level'' but that -3 can be counter with the feat Animal Bond. If you don't have this feat yet, you will see a big difference once you do get it.

Also, smilidon will get a huge power boost once he reach level 6.

[Finrod]

The feat needed, to add up to 4 levels to the companion, in english, is called boon companion, and the level boost should be at level 7. (level 4 for leopard I think)
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/boon-companion/

You will notice, that Ekundayo, the ranger companion has already the boon companion feat when you recruit him.

Smilodon is one of the best pets, he has pounce (full attack after charging) and many attacks. With my merc druid I use sometimes the smilodon form.
To me, dog, wolf and leopard are better because they automatically attempt to trip their targets, causing attacks of opportunity, and avoiding full attacks from ennemies, as they use a move action to get up.

[Kage]

Pets in this game are utterly broken, especially if you buff them. The leopard is the best one though.

[ÄmJii]

"Best pet" really depends on what you're looking to gain from your animal companion.

Smilodon brings the highest DPS, plain and simple.
Leopard has the edge in AC and comes with Trip, but only goes up to Medium-size so their trip isn't as good as Dog/Wolf.

Personally I'm liking the Mastodon. It only has two attacks, but their attacks have the best reach (similar to 6 ft weapons fauchard, glaive or barchide) and they don't provoke AoO's easily.

[dwarfpcfan]

The best overall pet is the leopard because large size is actually a detriment navigating dungeons. Panther being medium size, having really good speed, the best AC in all the pets, pounce to full attack at the end of charge and trip all in a single package that is much easier to navigate and use in dungeons and tight spaces is why panther wins out

[ÄmJii]

Originally posted by dwarfpcfan:

The best overall pet is the leopard because large size is actually a detriment navigating dungeons. Panther being medium size, having really good speed, the best AC in all the pets, pounce to full attack at the end of charge and trip all in a single package that is much easier to navigate and use in dungeons and tight spaces is why panther wins out

As I said, it comes down to what you're looking to get from your pet. AC can only do so much in terms of damage mitigation, Smilodon also gets pounce with 5 attacks and Trip starts to lose its flair around Chapter 3. If you're looking for a frontliner tanky pet, Leopard is definitely top tier, but if you're just looking for a meatshield between your backrow and enemies, all the pets work fine.

Me? I'm looking for a meatshield who can also stand behind my tanks (MC and Val) and pummel away when s/he's not needed to take a punch -> Mastodon's reach is mighty tempting. No need to navigate in tight spaces when you've got long reach.
And it's not like Mastodon's too thick to fit through corridors and doorways :P

[HavokVonFaust]

Originally posted by zawdxs312:

well he's useful for carrying stuff, a veritable cat of holding :)

For that, the Mastodon is far superior, as it has way more strength. And with less attacks per round he misses way less and hits way harder.

[HavokVonFaust]

Originally posted by ÄmJii:

Originally posted by dwarfpcfan:

The best overall pet is the leopard because large size is actually a detriment navigating dungeons. Panther being medium size, having really good speed, the best AC in all the pets, pounce to full attack at the end of charge and trip all in a single package that is much easier to navigate and use in dungeons and tight spaces is why panther wins out

As I said, it comes down to what you're looking to get from your pet. AC can only do so much in terms of damage mitigation, Smilodon also gets pounce with 5 attacks and Trip starts to lose its flair around Chapter 3. If you're looking for a frontliner tanky pet, Leopard is definitely top tier, but if you're just looking for a meatshield between your backrow and enemies, all the pets work fine.

Me? I'm looking for a meatshield who can also stand behind my tanks (MC and Val) and pummel away when s/he's not needed to take a punch -> Mastodon's reach is mighty tempting. No need to navigate in tight spaces when you've got long reach.
And it's not like Mastodon's too thick to fit through corridors and doorways :P

Mastodon is one of the best. It doesn't get pounce, but gets a lot of HP and a lot of strength (which makes it hit way more often than the smilodon and hit way harder). It may get in the way at higher levels, when its size increases, but the trade off is justified.