Quote from Stone_Goliath >>

Quote from Jawls >>

Thus far I've been using a rat for multiple reasons. Most of the uses can be done with other forms but the darkvision helps with the rat.

One is with dragon breath i can use the touch portion of the spell to grab the rat while casting a bonus action spell and point him so he can use his action to activate the spell and I have an action to do what I want. It's less vulnerable to single target attacks since to hit it they basically have to hit me with my hand on the rat. i.e. I have a rat flame thrower, alternatively i can cast it when the rat is in position for an ambush and he uses his reaction to deliver the touch spell on himself and then his action to breath the spell.

 

 

Despite its inability to attack, sage advice considers familiars as allies and valid for sneak attack. So the rat can hitch along a companion for either sneak attack or pack tactics. 

 A) SIgh rats have darkvision and cats don't? whyyyyyyyy? :)

B) I thought if you used a Familiar to attack by using Dragon Breath it counted as the Casters Action ergo only had Reaction and Bonus Action left in his turn?

First off, Dragon's Breath doesn't count as an attack, which is why familiars can use it.  If it did count as an attack, then only Pact of the Chain Warlocks could do it, and then yes, it would use up one of the Warlock's attacks (but not necessarily all, if the Warlock can attack more than once by using the Attack action, e.g. Thirsting Blade invocation, or multiclass with a class that has Extra Attack).

Dragons Breath is a bonus action to give someone else the ability to use it. They use their action to release the breath. And it's not technically an attack because there's no attack roll (it's a save) so definitely familiars can use it.

Thanks. Good to know where I can reference for my GM if this becomes a thing in our campaign. It feels like its a runaround to the intent of the rules, but having a link to Sage Advice should be a strong reference.

Save Roll not an Attack Roll all the difference in the world I guess. Thanks

Quote from DungeonLord58 >>

I have a necromancer wizard who has a raven for a familiar.

Me too, her name was Roy (Royweena) kind of cliche I guess but I play in a horror campaign and the only animals around were birds or rats ... no rats for this gal. Course she wasn't the brightest and ended up flying into my bag of devouring ... so ... no more Roy - now I tend to stick to zombies for pets :D

You should chose a cranium rat (from Volos guide to monsters) because they are telepathic

Quote from DestroyerElf >>

You should chose a cranium rat (from Volos guide to monsters) because they are telepathic

 
Just be sure to clear it with your DM since this is a homebrew ruling and not something you are normally able to choose with the spell.

I'm curious what people's opinions of maybe allowing the Find Familiar to produce an Elemental familiar instead of the ruled Celestial/Fey/Fiend? I'm asking because my Wizard is a Fire Genasi and I'd love a familiar that's basically a baby Phoenix. Essentially a fire elemental Owl.

Would making the familiar an Elemental creature cause any issues do you think?

Quote from Emmote >>

I'm curious what people's opinions of maybe allowing the Find Familiar to produce an Elemental familiar instead of the ruled Celestial/Fey/Fiend? I'm asking because my Wizard is a Fire Genasi and I'd love a familiar that's basically a baby Phoenix. Essentially a fire elemental Owl.

Would making the familiar an Elemental creature cause any issues do you think?

 
Seems fine. Pretty much most things that affect Celestials, Fey and Fiends also affect Elementals so if I was a DM I'd definitely allow it.

I've always wanted to have a displacer beast as a familiar, but never been sure whether it would work with a monstrosity.

it would be super cool to have a plant as a familiar, but I don't think that would work - as well as being quite weird if you had a shambling mound following you :D

@Laurelthemighty , Check out the Pot of Awakening magic item.  That is the only way outside of a spell to get a plant companion that I am aware of.  That said, it is possible for most types of creatures to become companions, though it is up to DMs discretion, some ability checks, and roleplay. 

Out of the Abyss spoilers 

thanks, I need to check out more artifacts :D

My next companion is going to be a Quaggoth spore servant. They cant be blinded charmed or frightend + 45hp/6d8 + 18 (and their a fun-gi ;D)

Gazer, walk up to the Xanathar and the gazer is cannon fodder. You get like 1 round of the Xanathar just killing your familiar and free attacks.

Just a white rabbit. I like rabbits. and its white and can deliver massive amounts of touch damage that causes people to die with their eyes popping out of their sockets.

Like I said I like rabbits.

Owl is the best option in my opinion. For multiple reasons.
EDIT: for the find familiar spell.

1. Flyby: Owl doesnt provoke opportunity atttacks.
2. Flight: IMO, flying options are superior in general, as they allow you to use them as a scout drone and see the world from above. Like in the last 2 assassins creed games.
3. Stealth proficiency: A +3 in stealth makes unnoticed scouting easier.
4. Superior Senses: The owl has 120ft darkvision, +3 to perception and advantage on perception checks using either hearing or sight.
   So you can set your owl on your shoulder and see through its senses to use it as nightvision goggles, binoculars and a hearing aid.

The passive perception is also decent at 13.

I use a white owl that will swoop down and cast Shocking Grasp when an ally needs to escape a foe. It comes with advantage on perception checks that rely on sight, 60 feet of movement, and Flyby which prevents opportunity attacks. 

My Conjuration wizard was paranoid of someone trying to assassinate him(long story, sibling rivalry) so he always had a Tressym. They can see invisibility, they have darkvision, they can fly, AND they can detect poisons without having to actually ingest them. He trusted that Tressym more than anyone else in his life. Her name was Sylvia.

Quote from RoivasDM >>

My Conjuration wizard was paranoid of someone trying to assassinate him(long story, sibling rivalry) so he always had a Tressym. They can see invisibility, they have darkvision, they can fly, AND they can detect poisons without having to actually ingest them. He trusted that Tressym more than anyone else in his life. Her name was Sylvia.

 The allowance of a Tressym as a familiar is a homebrew decision—granted it's one I've seen more than one person bring up before!

In my current campaign, we killed two hill giants and then tamed their son. We now have a longship made out of the bones of most of the baby's relatives and a tame Hill Giant!

I don't think a 'tame' hill giant counts as a familiar.  Although I hope he some day rises up to his ordning and smites you, and sails away in the boat of his ancestors.  Just saying.