Menagerie

Wizards of this tradition forge an extraordinary bond with their familiars, treating them not as mere helpers but as extensions of their own arcane soul. Through deep study of spirit-binding and empathic magic, these mages empower their familiars to channel spells, deliver devastating magical effects, and even grow in form and personality. A Menagerie does not cast alone—every spell is a duet.

Level 3: Familiar Bonding

You gain proficiency in Animal Handling. If you already have proficiency, you gain expertise instead.

You also know the Find Familiar spell. It is always prepared and does not count against your spells known. In addition, your familiar can be any beast up to CR 1/4 and has its own full turn immediately before or after yours.

Level 3: Familiar Command

You may use your action to command your summoned familiar to use one of its actions. This can be the attack action.

You may also command your familiar to defend as a bonus action. When commanded to do so, your familiar will attempt to take any attacks and damage in place of the defended target until it has been reduced to 0 hit points or is unable to do so.

Level 6: Familiar Growth

Your familiars from your Find Familiar may now be beast up to CR 1/2, and their attacks are considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances to nonmagical attacks.

Level 10: Familiar Duplicity

Your Find Familiar spells now summon up to two beasts of CR 1 or lower. Each may act independently before or after your turn, such as one before and one after. You may use your bonus action to give the defend command to each, and each may defend a unique target or the same target. If you choose the same target, the damage dealt is split evenly between the two beasts, if possible, rounded up.

Level 14: Formitable Familiars

Your Find Familiar spells now may summon CR 2 or lower. In addition, your familiars may be of the type Beast, Elemental, or Dragon. Each may be a different type.