Hound Master

Whether they are trained for hunting or for the heat of battle, the breeding and training of hounds is an ancient custom. As a Hound Master, you’re an expert at handling such canines and have a loyal battle hound that accompanies you in battle, fighting by your side.

Your battle hound can take any canine form; it might be a wild direwolf whose trust you’ve painstakingly earned and managed to tame, a hunting dog you’ve raised from a puppy or a hyena you rescued from a life of captivity.

Cunning Handler

Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, handling animals, especially canines, has become second nature to you. You gain proficiency in the Wisdom (Animal Handling) skill and whenever you roll a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, you can treat a d20 roll of 7 or lower as an 8. Moreover, you have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with beasts. They can understand the meaning of your words, and you can decipher their noises and motions.

Battle Hound

Also at 3rd level, you've trained a loyal canine beast, referred to as a battle hound, and have forged an unbreakable bond with it. Your battle hound is friendly to you and your companions. In combat, your battle hound shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take another action. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action. If you are incapacitated, the battle hound can take any action of its choice, not just Dodge. Your battle hound's stats are listed in the Battle Hound stat block.

 

When your battle hound is reduced to 0 hit points it makes death saving throws like a player character would. When it finishes a short or long rest with you, it regains all of its hit points. If your battle hound dies, you can obtain a new one by spending 8 hours bonding with a similar beast that isn't hostile to you. You can't have more than one battle hound at a time.

Strong Jaws

At 7th level, your battle hound’s jaws have grown stronger. Your battle hound's attacks count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage.

Hardy Companion

At 10th level, your mere presence serves to inspire and embolden your battle hound. Your battle hound has advantage on saving throws while it can see and hear you. Moreover, whenever you use Second Wind, your battle hound regains the same amount of hit points that you do.

Canine Fury

At 15th level, your loyal companion and you truly fight as one. Whenever you use Action Surge, your battle hound can also take another action.

Unbreakable Bond

At 18th level, the bond you share with your battle hound is unparalleled; one of fierce loyalty and unbreakable trust. While both you and your battle hound are within 5 feet of a creature, you both have advantage on attack rolls against that creature.