Point buy is an interesting concept, but I play with plenty of folks who would see that and just not take a familiar because it looks too complicated.
5e (and 2024) first and foremost are about onboarding new players. Just picking yourself a little critter is fun, and they wanted it to be accessible.
But yeah, owl is the best on paper. Although it's not like it's breaking the game. Anything using the help action to flap in the face of deadly enemies should not live very long unless the DM is being very nice - even with flyby it is not hard to kill an owl. It's honestly more fun to pick something that fits your character and find ways for it to be useful.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
A really tiny creature should have incredibly high stealth and be hard to hit. This is a 'the 5e rules aren't doing what I need them to do' thing.
Current rules, you shrink yourself to the size of a door mouse, and you're no better at hiding/sneaking than you were as a medium creature. That's mindbogglingly stupid.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
There are ... small distinctions. The mount you can ride is one. Who you can push and grapple is another. That would be a better discussion for another thread though. The familiar size generally doesn't matter unless your DM allows you to pull shenanigans with technicalities using unique stat blocks.
Haungharassk is a unique creature but is a CR 0 Beast so technically fits the bill. It has some magical effects that make it fairly potent. The biggest part of is amazing if you need it., but useless if you don't. Also, it's Huge and will likely have more hit points than its master for several levels.
Onyx is another unique creature that has mechanics based on assuming that you have been shrunk down to the point that this otherwise Tiny cat is Huge. It would be particularly busted as a Warlock familiar. However, the cat itself is Tiny and this stat block represents you being kitty treat sized. Still... the zoomies to be had.
A Giant Fly is Large and has a fly speed of 60. I don't think it's intended to be used as a familiar, but it technically fits the bill.
Apart from that:
the Space Guppy is pretty cool. Fly-by attack and an air envelope to breathe in any environment.
Also from Spelljammer, the Space Mollymawk is an excellent stand-in for a pelican.
Kingsport is a unique creature but I think the stat block is supposed to represent a generic penguin rather an exceptional specimen or situation like Haungharassk and Onyx. Using it for a penguin familiar should be fine but check with your DM first.
The mascot familiars from Strixhaven are also cool (requires a feat but these can attack if you give up your attack action; the fractal mascot can vary its size between Tiny and Huge).
Mordekanen also has the Gaze if you are level 3+. I assume the full array of Rays are available as a familiar.
A few of the options have Pact Tactics but that is wasted on a normal familiar. A Warlock familiar can attack and benefit from the trait.
Deer, Goats, Hyenas, and Pigs also fit the requirements for a familiar and being Medium sized, should be eligible to be treated as an independent mount. Peacocks and Vultures are Medium but I have trouble seeing them as a suitable mount.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
Yeah it feels absurd that you can spot a spider that isn't like a tarantula or something at 100 paces with ease, and then shoot it with an arrow with no problem. The mechanics reflect the inherent rules of the universe and while ease of play is a nice goal sometimes it shapes the settings in ways that break immersion. And yes a DM can fix it. Things like that would add value to under used familiars. Don't get me wrong they still have can fit under the door when the DM allows type things, and normal critters might not raise an alarm etc.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
There are ... small distinctions. The mount you can ride is one. Who you can push and grapple is another. That would be a better discussion for another thread though. [...]
Small in 2025 summarizes the impact of being small under the 2024 rules.
I mean sure if your DM allows it, but its not really a beast those are the stats for a magic item, the picture even reflects that, its not a living beast but a creature made of stone. Figurines of wonderous power. But it does kind of show the flaws in just using CR as the guideline whether its familiars, wild shape, polymorph etc. One extra thrown in from a magic item, a supplement etc and now the system breaks.
For the Warlock I will be playing, I'm gonna use the Chimeric Rat as a familiar. It has 60 ft. of blindsight & Tremorsense, and can breathe underwater which fits with my character being a Triton.
Funny, but not good. When using dragons breath in combat, the spider has 3 disadvantages. 20 ft of movement vs 60ft, it lacks Flyby, and fly speed is better than climb speed in every way. You'll be able to deliver more attacks and get the owl to safety every turn with an owl, while the spider will get 1 and then get squished.
Funny, but not good. When using dragons breath in combat, the spider has 3 disadvantages. 20 ft of movement vs 60ft, it lacks Flyby, and fly speed is better than climb speed in every way. You'll be able to deliver more attacks and get the owl to safety every turn with an owl, while the spider will get 1 and then get squished.
I think they cast the spell on an ally with a hidden spider. Dragon's Breath is a buff that gives the target a breath weapon. The ally is making the Dragon Breath attacks. We're not talking about a fire breathing spider. The familiar will need to be in touch range when the spell is cast in order to use its reaction to deliver it, so the owl would still need to be sitting in clobbering range to deliver spells.
Actually, the spider can touch itself. It can, of course, touch another creature, but that creature (or party member in this case) probably has other good options. My owl or spider will definitely be the most optimal here since familiars cannot attack... but do have a magic action.
Yes, the owl is better. But sometimes it's all about the memes rather than optimization. Unless the situation is dire... then my party might get irritated.
If you thnk yout dm might be open to homebrew, Check the familiars that warlocks get.
As dm, i might work to allow you to take a level of warlock (ignoring any multiclas requirement) if all you take is pact of the chain and a warlock familiar. No pact magic, no warlock spells, in exchange for ignoring the multiclass requremnt.
Other options are the familiard for strixhaven, famikiars in the Crooked Tree, and so on.
As for "help", technically your familiar takes itd turn inmediately after you, so they would help you on your next turn.
HOWEVER, on your turn, you can take the READY action to do what you normally plan on doing, and thr trigger would be "after my familiar helps me"
You can cast spells, you can one melee attack, and so on, so should work as a druid since druid normally gets one attack. If your wildshapped and use that to multiattack, then RAW, there may be some issued
[...] If your wildshapped and use that to multiattack, then RAW, there may be some issued
IMO, it's not possible to Ready Multiattack, since using it requires the creature to take the Attack action. The SAC also suggests Multiattack isn't intended to be used off-turn for situations like Opportunity Attacks (a Reaction):
What actions can monsters use to make Opportunity Attack? Are Multiattack and breath weapon actions allowed?
When making an Opportunity Attack, a monster can make any single melee attack listed in its stat block. A monster also has the option to make an Unarmed Strike as an Opportunity Attack, following the normal rules of an Unarmed Strike.
An action, such as a breath weapon effect, that doesn’t include a melee attack roll isn’t eligible to be chosen for an Opportunity Attack. Additionally, a monster can’t use its Multiattack when making an Opportunity Attack, because the use of Multiattack specifically predicates on taking the Attack action, and an Opportunity Attack takes a Reaction.
Yeah. I was referring to the fact that its an extremely common homebrew to just let thr familiar do "help" before the player goes, so probably just convince the dm to allow that.
[...] If your wildshapped and use that to multiattack, then RAW, there may be some issued
IMO, it's not possible to Ready Multiattack, since using it requires the creature to take the Attack action. The SAC also suggests Multiattack isn't intended to be used off-turn for situations like Opportunity Attacks (a Reaction):
What actions can monsters use to make Opportunity Attack? Are Multiattack and breath weapon actions allowed?
When making an Opportunity Attack, a monster can make any single melee attack listed in its stat block. A monster also has the option to make an Unarmed Strike as an Opportunity Attack, following the normal rules of an Unarmed Strike.
An action, such as a breath weapon effect, that doesn’t include a melee attack roll isn’t eligible to be chosen for an Opportunity Attack. Additionally, a monster can’t use its Multiattack when making an Opportunity Attack, because the use of Multiattack specifically predicates on taking the Attack action, and an Opportunity Attack takes a Reaction.
The Opportunity Attack is separate from Readying an action. I was looking at the Drider 2025 entry for Multiattack and unlike Extra Attack, it does not mention the extra attacks/abilities can only be used on its turn. It looks like, if a creature has Multiattack, they cannot use that as part of an Opportunity Attack, but they can use it as part of a readied Attack action.
Point buy is an interesting concept, but I play with plenty of folks who would see that and just not take a familiar because it looks too complicated.
5e (and 2024) first and foremost are about onboarding new players. Just picking yourself a little critter is fun, and they wanted it to be accessible.
But yeah, owl is the best on paper. Although it's not like it's breaking the game. Anything using the help action to flap in the face of deadly enemies should not live very long unless the DM is being very nice - even with flyby it is not hard to kill an owl. It's honestly more fun to pick something that fits your character and find ways for it to be useful.
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
I don't want some Lovecraftian Australian abomination. I want this adorable little guy:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Attulus_distinguendus.jpg
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
A really tiny creature should have incredibly high stealth and be hard to hit. This is a 'the 5e rules aren't doing what I need them to do' thing.
Current rules, you shrink yourself to the size of a door mouse, and you're no better at hiding/sneaking than you were as a medium creature. That's mindbogglingly stupid.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
There are ... small distinctions. The mount you can ride is one. Who you can push and grapple is another. That would be a better discussion for another thread though. The familiar size generally doesn't matter unless your DM allows you to pull shenanigans with technicalities using unique stat blocks.
Apart from that:
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Yeah it feels absurd that you can spot a spider that isn't like a tarantula or something at 100 paces with ease, and then shoot it with an arrow with no problem. The mechanics reflect the inherent rules of the universe and while ease of play is a nice goal sometimes it shapes the settings in ways that break immersion. And yes a DM can fix it. Things like that would add value to under used familiars. Don't get me wrong they still have can fit under the door when the DM allows type things, and normal critters might not raise an alarm etc.
Small in 2025 summarizes the impact of being small under the 2024 rules.
giant fly
you can ride it and get a flying speed
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I mean sure if your DM allows it, but its not really a beast those are the stats for a magic item, the picture even reflects that, its not a living beast but a creature made of stone. Figurines of wonderous power. But it does kind of show the flaws in just using CR as the guideline whether its familiars, wild shape, polymorph etc. One extra thrown in from a magic item, a supplement etc and now the system breaks.
For the Warlock I will be playing, I'm gonna use the Chimeric Rat as a familiar. It has 60 ft. of blindsight & Tremorsense, and can breathe underwater which fits with my character being a Triton.
I find my familiar handy for delivering a Dragon's Breath spell. While I usually use an owl I think it would be more funny to use a spider.
Funny, but not good. When using dragons breath in combat, the spider has 3 disadvantages. 20 ft of movement vs 60ft, it lacks Flyby, and fly speed is better than climb speed in every way. You'll be able to deliver more attacks and get the owl to safety every turn with an owl, while the spider will get 1 and then get squished.
I think they cast the spell on an ally with a hidden spider. Dragon's Breath is a buff that gives the target a breath weapon. The ally is making the Dragon Breath attacks. We're not talking about a fire breathing spider. The familiar will need to be in touch range when the spell is cast in order to use its reaction to deliver it, so the owl would still need to be sitting in clobbering range to deliver spells.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Actually, the spider can touch itself. It can, of course, touch another creature, but that creature (or party member in this case) probably has other good options. My owl or spider will definitely be the most optimal here since familiars cannot attack... but do have a magic action.
Yes, the owl is better. But sometimes it's all about the memes rather than optimization. Unless the situation is dire... then my party might get irritated.
If you thnk yout dm might be open to homebrew, Check the familiars that warlocks get.
As dm, i might work to allow you to take a level of warlock (ignoring any multiclas requirement) if all you take is pact of the chain and a warlock familiar. No pact magic, no warlock spells, in exchange for ignoring the multiclass requremnt.
Other options are the familiard for strixhaven, famikiars in the Crooked Tree, and so on.
As for "help", technically your familiar takes itd turn inmediately after you, so they would help you on your next turn.
HOWEVER, on your turn, you can take the READY action to do what you normally plan on doing, and thr trigger would be "after my familiar helps me"
You can cast spells, you can one melee attack, and so on, so should work as a druid since druid normally gets one attack. If your wildshapped and use that to multiattack, then RAW, there may be some issued
IMO, it's not possible to Ready Multiattack, since using it requires the creature to take the Attack action. The SAC also suggests Multiattack isn't intended to be used off-turn for situations like Opportunity Attacks (a Reaction):
Yeah. I was referring to the fact that its an extremely common homebrew to just let thr familiar do "help" before the player goes, so probably just convince the dm to allow that.
The Opportunity Attack is separate from Readying an action. I was looking at the Drider 2025 entry for Multiattack and unlike Extra Attack, it does not mention the extra attacks/abilities can only be used on its turn. It looks like, if a creature has Multiattack, they cannot use that as part of an Opportunity Attack, but they can use it as part of a readied Attack action.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.