Magical Beast Companion — D&D 3.5e Epic Feat
Magical Beast Companion is a published D&D 3.5e epic feat that lets a sufficiently experienced druid choose a magical beast as an animal companion. A hippogriff or a griffon can become a loyal companion, but the creature’s category and its adjustment to effective druid level matter. The original epic rules have a specific creature list; the larger list further down this page is an optional campaign expansion, not the published list.
D&D 3.5e — Published Epic Feat Rules
At a Glance: Knowledge (nature) 24 ranks and wild shape six times per day. The feat expands the animal companion choices. The companion lists use the familiar 1st-, 4th-, 7th-, 10th-, 13th- and 16th-level tier labels. These are animal companion progression categories, not permission to take this epic feat at 1st level. Higher tiers reduce the effective druid level used to calculate a selected companion’s benefits.
This material is Open Game Content, and is licensed for public use under the terms of the Open Game License v1.0a.
- Prerequisites Knowledge (nature) 24 ranks, wild shape 6/day.
- Benefit The following magical beasts are added to the lists of animal companions from which you can select.
Original SRD Companion Choices
The printed D&D 3.5e Epic Feats SRD lists these specific creatures. Each heading shows the minimum level for that companion tier and the adjustment to the druid’s effective level for the companion’s abilities:
- 1st level (no adjustment): Stirge, Darkmantle
- 4th level (−3): Hippogriff, Shocker Lizard
- 7th level (−6): Cockatrice, Ankheg, Griffon, Owlbear, Sea Cat (aquatic environments only)
- 10th level (−9): Basilisk, Digester, Girallon, Spider Eater
- 13th level (−12): Bulette, Chimera, Remorhaz
- 16th level (−15): Gorgon, Gray Render
How Level Adjustments Work
These figures adjust the effective druid level for companion abilities; they do not reduce the player character’s level. For example, a qualifying 21st-level druid choosing a Griffon from the 7th-level (−6) group treats the companion as if the druid were 15th level for the animal companion progression. The character remains 21st level. See the D&D 3.5e Druid’s animal companion rules for bonus Hit Dice, natural armour and other companion benefits.
Optional Expanded Campaign Companion List
The larger directory below includes additional mythic, celestial, fiendish and regional creatures beyond the official list above. These are optional companion choices for a fantasy campaign, not automatic entitlements granted by the printed feat. Each creature’s statistics, ecology and suitability need to be agreed with the GM. The tier headings give suggested access and adjustment; they do not make every added creature an official rule. The names and existing Bestiary links are retained for campaign reference.
- Special – Creatures marked with an asterisk are available only in an aquatic environment.
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