Battle Familiar and Pact of the Chain

Quote from TeiranDragon >>

Quote from Actionsparda >>

Well this figures. I just made a post debating on whether or not going straight to third level for Battle Familiar was worth it for my Warlock as opposed to starting off Fighter. It sounds like as long as I have Pact of the Chain I’m doing better damage than I would with Battle Familiar. 

 

I mean, it depends heavily on what type of warlock you are as well. A duel wielding, heavy armor wearing Pact of the Blade lock who can give up their weakest attack every turn for a bonus hit from Battle Familiar is very different than a Blaster back line guy who wants the familair to use their reaction to boost their AC via Warlike Familiar. 

But there's a lot of synergy from the new Familiar feats that gives options for turning  the Pact of the Chain familiars into a proper menace. 

 Hu. I never thought of that. Still, I’m not a huge fan of dual-wielding due to how many feats are involved. I’m not sure I have the extra eldritch invocations to run warlike familiar either. I’m kind of locked in to war caster and asi’s in a sword and board build, which is a shame because I was interested in evocation adept with a Vestige patreon war cleric spelllist but might have to settle for War Caster and Light in a more gish sort of build.

Anyway, I think I’ll still take Battle Familiar if I purchase Arcana Unleashed or find a campaign that has it. What it lacks in damage it makes up for as a meat shield, right? 

That's the thing... if you're using a pet to replace the attack, you don't Need any feats to make dual wielding good. You only need the weapon master for a Nick and Light weapon.

Who cares if you can't add your stat to an attack and damage roll you are giving up for the familiar attack?

Quote from TeiranDragon >>

That's the thing... if you're using a pet to replace the attack, you don't Need any feats to make dual wielding good. You only need the weapon master for a Nick and Light weapon.

Who cares if you can't add your stat to an attack and damage roll you are giving up for the familiar attack?

 Hmmn… i get it now, but I hate to give up the extra AC from the shield. Plus, do I really want to be there being attacked up-close when my familiar could be taking the damage instead? Lastly, I just got a mini of said character using a shield and rapier and would like to use it accurately. Neat idea though!

RAW - I am pretty sure that if you attack with a light weapon with nick mastery you get an additional attack during your attack action that you can use with a different light weapon (or can give up to allow POC familiar to attack once).

You do not need to be dual wielding to do this and could be holding a shield in your off hand. Theoretically, you could weapon juggle but I don't think you even need to possess that second light weapon if you will always give up that attack to let your familiar attack.

Quote from StonyMac >>

RAW - I am pretty sure that if you attack with a light weapon with nick mastery you get an additional attack during your attack action that you can use with a different light weapon (or can give up to allow POC familiar to attack once).

You do not need to be dual wielding to do this and could be holding a shield in your off hand. Theoretically, you could weapon juggle but I don't think you even need to possess that second light weapon if you will always give up that attack to let your familiar attack.

 Oh wow! I mean, that sounds right on paper for sure. Perhaps I should be using a scimitar instead of a rapier’s vex? At least until level 5 when i can take Investment of the Chain Master. I could even use the shield with it! Just start off with a scimitar and then either buy or conjure via Pact of the Blade a Rapier!

I’m gonna do some experimenting. Thanks!