I have read that some people have cast Dragon's Breath on their Familiar and the familiar is commanded to make attacks with the spell. Now, what I would like to know is how they get around "A familiar can't attack, but it can take other actions as normal", if someone does hurts or kills another isn't that because one attacked the other? And, do you have to maintain telepathic connection with the familiar in order to have it move to the spot you what to deliver it's attack. I think it is reasonable to have a hawk fly out and scout an area on a preplanned route and return, but in combat things change quickly requiring constant attention and I believe you have to keep that telepathic link with your familiar in order to accomplish this. Being telepathically linked to you familiar requires you to spend an action every round and Dragon's Breath while only using a bonus action to cast requires concentration for the duration of the spell. I know it sounds really fun to cast this spell on your familiar and have it run around the battlefield causing mayhem, but the idea conflicts, in my opinion two main points; familiars can't attack and, how can you maintain a concentration spell when you have a telepathic link with your familiar?
The part about a familiar can't attack refers to their basic attack, and activating the breath weapon from the spell counts as a different type of action. The familiar itself chooses to make the breath weapon attack, and so doesn't require constant commands from you each time. Spell concentration has nothing to do with the telepathic link as well mechanically and so the worry about that is also moot.
An Area of Effect isn't an attack, even if it deals damage. A similar work around can be with giving familiars a wand of magic missiles. Both of these don't require attacks, and deal damage, and are totally legal.
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^what they said. you're not telling it to attack...you're telling it to point its face in a particular direction and burp (not much skill needed). i never expect my familiar to live long after pulling it off, but do it on a spider and it makes a nice start to an ambush, albeit for 10gp.
Keep in mind, any opponent who is even partly intelligent will see the familiar breathing fire or lightning or poison and will attack it and familiars have a very small amount of hit points. I would let this happen in my game and I’d also have an intelligent opponent swat the familiar after the first or second time the familiar used the breath weapon. Unintelligent opponents wouldn’t do that, but intelligent ones definitely would!
I can just imagine a frog hopping onto the back of a sleeping hill giant, and then spewing out fire or acid all over them, and the giant being so confused at what is going on.
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Make your familiar an Owl. Cast Dragon's Breath upon it.
Flyby napalm on demand. It flies in, burns peeps, flies away to cover/out of range.
Tip: Nothing stops you casting Mage Armour on a familiar as well.
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Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Well dragon's breath isn't an attack, and you don't need to keep a link in this time, since the spell doesn't say that. In my opinion, it works the best with owls because they get flyby and darkvision is also quite good. Flyby assures you that you can fly 30ft down, spit flames and fly 30ft up without opportunity attacks, which is this combo's biggest weakness.
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I have read that some people have cast Dragon's Breath on their Familiar and the familiar is commanded to make attacks with the spell. Now, what I would like to know is how they get around "A familiar can't attack, but it can take other actions as normal", if someone does hurts or kills another isn't that because one attacked the other? And, do you have to maintain telepathic connection with the familiar in order to have it move to the spot you what to deliver it's attack. I think it is reasonable to have a hawk fly out and scout an area on a preplanned route and return, but in combat things change quickly requiring constant attention and I believe you have to keep that telepathic link with your familiar in order to accomplish this. Being telepathically linked to you familiar requires you to spend an action every round and Dragon's Breath while only using a bonus action to cast requires concentration for the duration of the spell. I know it sounds really fun to cast this spell on your familiar and have it run around the battlefield causing mayhem, but the idea conflicts, in my opinion two main points; familiars can't attack and, how can you maintain a concentration spell when you have a telepathic link with your familiar?
Thanks
The part about a familiar can't attack refers to their basic attack, and activating the breath weapon from the spell counts as a different type of action. The familiar itself chooses to make the breath weapon attack, and so doesn't require constant commands from you each time. Spell concentration has nothing to do with the telepathic link as well mechanically and so the worry about that is also moot.
An Area of Effect isn't an attack, even if it deals damage. A similar work around can be with giving familiars a wand of magic missiles. Both of these don't require attacks, and deal damage, and are totally legal.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
^what they said. you're not telling it to attack...you're telling it to point its face in a particular direction and burp (not much skill needed). i never expect my familiar to live long after pulling it off, but do it on a spider and it makes a nice start to an ambush, albeit for 10gp.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
I like doing it with a screaming flying monkey, or a toad.
"Ribbit, BURN!"
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Keep in mind, any opponent who is even partly intelligent will see the familiar breathing fire or lightning or poison and will attack it and familiars have a very small amount of hit points. I would let this happen in my game and I’d also have an intelligent opponent swat the familiar after the first or second time the familiar used the breath weapon. Unintelligent opponents wouldn’t do that, but intelligent ones definitely would!
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I can just imagine a frog hopping onto the back of a sleeping hill giant, and then spewing out fire or acid all over them, and the giant being so confused at what is going on.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Make your familiar an Owl. Cast Dragon's Breath upon it.
Flyby napalm on demand. It flies in, burns peeps, flies away to cover/out of range.
Tip: Nothing stops you casting Mage Armour on a familiar as well.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Well dragon's breath isn't an attack, and you don't need to keep a link in this time, since the spell doesn't say that. In my opinion, it works the best with owls because they get flyby and darkvision is also quite good. Flyby assures you that you can fly 30ft down, spit flames and fly 30ft up without opportunity attacks, which is this combo's biggest weakness.