There are LOTS of various ways to get a minion in D&D. Wizard Familiars, Warlock Improved Familiars, DrakeWarden Rangers, Druid Wild Companions, spells like Create Magnen, etc.
Please list your favorite companion and tell us why you like it.
I don't know if it's the "best" companion, but I've really been enjoying my Steel Defender for my level 7 Artificer I'm currently playing as. I love having something to reliably use my Bonus Action on each turn, but not something so integral to my character functioning that I can't justify using my bonus action for other things, just in case. We're playing in a steampunk campaign, so its ability to repair mechanical objects is actually helpful, and it has expertise in perception and can't be surprised, so it's great for having as an additional lookout, especially since it doesn't need to sleep. You can heal it with a cantrip outside of battle, and if it does go down in combat it's really easy to replace with just a first level spell slot. Honestly, it's most valuable function is just tanking damage... the Steel Defender is always sent in first into dangerous situations, and if a trap goes off on it, I just need a minute or two of the Mending cantrip to get it back into fighting shape... a familiar is similarly "disposable", but they take a lot longer to bring back and cost some gold each time.
I love that the beast master ranger companion goes on your turn. It really lets you coordinate so much better when you actually act together, and so many others are problematic mounts because they go right after you.
There are LOTS of various ways to get a minion in D&D. Wizard Familiars, Warlock Improved Familiars, DrakeWarden Rangers, Druid Wild Companions, spells like Create Magnen, etc.
Please list your favorite companion and tell us why you like it.
I don't know if it's the "best" companion, but I've really been enjoying my Steel Defender for my level 7 Artificer I'm currently playing as. I love having something to reliably use my Bonus Action on each turn, but not something so integral to my character functioning that I can't justify using my bonus action for other things, just in case. We're playing in a steampunk campaign, so its ability to repair mechanical objects is actually helpful, and it has expertise in perception and can't be surprised, so it's great for having as an additional lookout, especially since it doesn't need to sleep. You can heal it with a cantrip outside of battle, and if it does go down in combat it's really easy to replace with just a first level spell slot. Honestly, it's most valuable function is just tanking damage... the Steel Defender is always sent in first into dangerous situations, and if a trap goes off on it, I just need a minute or two of the Mending cantrip to get it back into fighting shape... a familiar is similarly "disposable", but they take a lot longer to bring back and cost some gold each time.
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i'm a strong proponent of companions that can make their own choice to leave, but there's a place in my heart for goodboy Frumpkin from season 2.
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I love that the beast master ranger companion goes on your turn. It really lets you coordinate so much better when you actually act together, and so many others are problematic mounts because they go right after you.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm