Advanced Companions
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0
From the Sable Company’s hippogriffs soaring above Korvosa to athamaru eel riders patrolling the depths, unusual mounts play an integral role in Golarion’s martial traditions. The difficulties with raising and training such steeds are well rewarded with the mobility they provide. Animal companion options in this section gain the mount special ability.
Many of these creatures have unusual abilities or temperaments that make them particularly difficult to train; you cannot choose one of the companions in this section unless your level is at least equal to that listed alongside the companion’s name. The animal still gains the normal benefits from being mature, nimble, savage, or having a specialization. You can replace an existing animal companion with one of these advanced animal companions by releasing your previous companion from service and spending one week of downtime bonding to and training with the new companion.
Riding Animal Companions
You or an ally can ride your animal companion as long as it is at least one size larger than the rider. If it is carrying a rider, the animal companion can use only its land Speed, and it can’t move and Support you on the same turn. However, if your companion has the mount special ability, it’s especially suited for riding and ignores both of these restrictions.
Giant EelLevel 4Uncommon Animal Aquatic Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0Your companion is a long ribbon-like fish with jagged teeth.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] jaws,
Damage 1d8 piercing
Str +3,
Dex +1,
Con +2,
Int -4,
Wis +2,
Cha +0
Hit Points 4
Skill Stealth Senses low-light vision,
scent (
imprecise) 30 feet
Speed 10 feet, swim 40 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Your giant eel swims in confounding bursts. Until the start of your next turn, it counts as being in its space or an empty space of your choice within 10 feet when determining whether you and your companion are
flanking; you can choose a different space for each of your attacks.
Advanced Maneuver Swimming Snap
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0
The giant eel
Swims and makes a jaws Strike at any point along the way.
Amphibious Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0Your companion is a massive frog or toad.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] jaws,
Damage 1d8 piercing
Melee [one-action] tongue (
reach 15 feet),
Damage 1d4 bludgeoning
Str +2,
Dex +2,
Con +3,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 6
Skill Survival Senses low-light visionSpeed 20 feet, climb 20 feet, swim 25 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Your giant frog’s tongue darts into openings you create and sticks to opponents to disrupt their movements. Until the start of your next turn, whenever you successfully Strike a creature your giant frog threatens, that creature can’t use reactions triggered by your actions unless its level is higher than yours.
Advanced Maneuver Tongue Grab
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0
The giant frog lashes out with its tongue, making a tongue Strike. If the Strike hits, the target is automatically
grabbed by the giant frog and pulled into a square adjacent to the frog. The grabbed condition lasts until the end of your next turn.
Uncommon Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0Your companion is a large wasp, hornet, or other stinging hymenopteran.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] stinger (
finesse),
Damage 1d6 piercing plus poison
Str +2,
Dex +3,
Con +2,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 4
Skill Survival Senses darkvisionSpeed 20 feet, fly 40 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Your wasp drones its wings, unnerving your enemies. Until the start of your next turn, if you hit and deal damage to a creature in your giant wasp’s reach, the creature becomes
frightened 1.
Advanced Maneuver Darting Stab
Flourish Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0
The giant wasp
Flies up to 15 feet and then Strikes, or Strikes and then Flies up to 15 feet.
Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 93 2.0Your companion is a majestic beast combining the features of a raptor and a lion.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] beak,
Damage 1d8 piercing
Melee [one-action] talon (
agile),
Damage 1d6 slashing
Str +3,
Dex +2,
Con +2,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 8
Skill Survival Senses darkvision,
scent (
imprecise) 30 feet
Speed 25 feet, fly 60 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Your griffon adopts a noble pose, inspiring you to defy the horrors before you. Until the start of your next turn, you and your griffon gain a +2 circumstance bonus to saves against
emotion effects.
Advanced Maneuver Flying Strafe
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0
The griffon
Flies up to its fly Speed and makes two talon Strikes at any point, each against a different creature.
Animal Aquatic Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0Your companion is a strange beast combining aspects of a horse and a fish.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] tail,
Damage 1d6 bludgeoning
Str +3,
Dex +1,
Con +3,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 6
Skill Survival Senses darkvision,
scent (
imprecise) 30 feet
Speed 5 feet, swim 40 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Until the start of your next turn, if you’re mounted on your hippocampus and moved 10 feet or more on the action before a melee Strike, add a circumstance bonus to damage for that Strike equal to twice the number of weapon damage dice. If your weapon already has the
jousting weapon trait, increase the trait’s damage bonus by 2 per die instead.
Advanced Maneuver Sudden Retreat
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0
The hippocampus makes a tail Strike, then
Swims with a +10- foot circumstance bonus to its swim Speed. The hippocampus and its rider gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against reactions triggered by this movement.
Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0Your companion combines the features of a hawk and a horse.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] beak,
Damage 1d6 piercing
Melee [one-action] talon (
agile),
Damage 1d4 slashing
Str +2,
Dex +2,
Con +2,
Int -4,
Wis +2,
Cha +0
Hit Points 8
Skill Survival Senses darkvision,
scent (
imprecise) 30 feet
Speed 30 feet, fly 60 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Until the start of your next turn, if you’re mounted on your hippogriff and moved 10 feet or more on the action before a melee Strike, add a circumstance bonus to damage for that Strike equal to twice the number of weapon damage dice. If your weapon already has the
jousting weapon trait, increase the trait’s damage bonus by 2 per die instead.
Advanced Maneuver Aerial Retreat
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0
The hippogriff makes a talon Strike, then
Flies with a +10-foot circumstance bonus to its fly Speed. The hippogriff and its rider gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC against reactions triggered by this movement.
Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 94 2.0Your companion is a killer whale.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] jaws,
Damage 1d8 piercing
Str +3,
Dex +2,
Con +3,
Int -4,
Wis +0,
Cha +0
Hit Points 8
Skill Survival Senses echolocation 30 feet (the orca can use hearing as a
precise sense within this range while underwater)
Speed 5 feet, swim 40 feet
Special mount; the orca can hold its breath for 20 minutes.
Support Benefit Your orca attempts to drag down unwary swimmers. Until the start of your next turn, each time you hit a swimming creature in the orca’s reach, the target is pulled 5 feet down into the water. This is
forced movement.
Advanced Maneuver Breach
Breach [two-actions]
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0
The orca
Swims up to its swim Speed, then
Leaps vertically out of the water up to 25 feet in the air, making a Strike against a creature at any point during the jump (this lets it attack a creature within 30 feet of the water’s surface). After the Strike, the orca splashes back down into the water.
Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0Your companion is a massive hairy spider.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] fangs (
finesse),
Damage 1d6 piercing plus poison
Melee [one-action] leg (
agile,
finesse),
Damage 1d4 piercing
Str +2,
Dex +3,
Con +1,
Int -4,
Wis +2,
Cha +0
Hit Points 4
Skill Stealth Senses darkvisionSpeed 30 feet, climb 30 feet
Special mount at 8th level; your riding tarantula’s fangs attack deals an additional 1d4 poison damage or 2d4 poison damage if the riding tarantula is a specialized companion
Support Benefit Your riding tarantula flicks urticating hairs at your foe, disrupting their focus. Until the start of your next turn, if you hit and deal damage to a creature your riding tarantula threatens, the target must succeed at a DC 5 flat check whenever it takes a
concentrate action or that action is lost.
Advanced Maneuver Hair Barrage
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0
The tarantula flicks its legs, flinging spiky hairs in a 15-foot cone. This deals 4d6 piercing damage with a
basic Reflex save against your class DC. This damage increases by an additional 1d6 for every 4 levels you have beyond 6th.
RocLevel 16
Uncommon Animal Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0Your companion is a younger example of the legendary bird of prey.
Size Huge
Melee [one-action] beak,
Damage 1d10 piercing
Melee [one-action] talon (
agile),
Damage 1d8 slashing plus
GrabStr +3,
Dex +1,
Con +3,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 8
Skill Intimidation Senses low-light visionSpeed 15 feet, fly 60 feet
Special mount
Support Benefit Your roc beats its wings, creating a powerful downdraft. Until the start of your next turn, your Strikes that damage a creature that your roc threatens
push the target 5 feet away from your roc.
Advanced Maneuver Snatch
Snatch [two-actions]
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0
The roc Strikes a creature with its talon and then attempts to
Grab the creature. If the Grab is successful, the roc then
Flies up to half its speed, carrying that creature along with it.
Uncommon Fungus Minion Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0Your companion is a wide-capped mushroom capable of floating on air currents. A loop at the base of the stem acts as a stirrup for riding. An umbrella mushroom has the
fungus trait instead of the
animal trait, but it otherwise functions normally as an animal companion.
Size Large
Melee [one-action] stalk,
Damage 1d8 bludgeoning
Str +2,
Dex +2,
Con +3,
Int -4,
Wis +1,
Cha +0
Hit Points 6
Skill Stealth Senses low-light visionSpeed 15 feet, fly 30 feet
Special mount; when you use
Command an Animal to command your umbrella mushroom, it gains a reaction it can only use for its Float advanced maneuver
Support Benefit Your umbrella mushroom exudes sense dulling spores when you create an opening. Until the start of your next turn, your Strikes that damage a creature within your umbrella mushroom's reach becomes
stupefied 1 for 1 round. This effect has the
poison trait.
Advanced Maneuver Float
Float [reaction]
Source Howl of the Wild pg. 95 2.0Trigger The umbrella mushroom is falling.
The umbrella mushroom inflates buoyant air bladders and begins rotating to arrest the fall. It slows its descent to 60 feet per round. It can take this reaction even when
unconscious.