the 11th level beastmaster feature lets the beast make two attacks when it takes the attack action, or use the multiattack action if it has it, however from what i have seen there does not seem to be any creature who is an legal animal companion whose multiattack allows them to make more than two attacks or whose multiattack has some other benefit beyond just attacking. Is there any beast companion or any niche situation where commanding your beast to use multiattack is better?
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
I don’t think so. A second regular attack always seems to be superior choice. I am a big fan of the PHB ranger class and beast master subclass, but both are written in very mysterious and clunky ways.
That being said, if you aren’t in a game that is DDAL organized play or very strict to KISS RAW, there are rules for customizing NPCs in the DMG that either a DM or player with their DM can use to make or modify a beast that does benefit from a multiattack ability at level 11. The beast only needs to be a beast, medium or smaller, and a CR of 1/4 or lower. No other restrictions!
That being said, if you aren’t in a game that is DDAL organized play or very strict to KISS RAW, there are rules for customizing NPCs in the DMG that either a DM or player with their DM can use to make or modify a beast that does benefit from a multiattack ability at level 11. The beast only needs to be a beast, medium or smaller, and a CR of 1/4 or lower. No other restrictions!
yes but that would of course mean taking into account the multiattack action when calculating CR, and that would result in an rather weak beast companion compared to the others unless you compensated by putting the companion in the lowest health bracket of 1-6 to compensate knowing that the health of the critter will be replaced anyways (something that is very cheesy and exploity), having a weaker companion levels 1-10 so that you can have a much stronger one levels 11-20 is not really sustainable game design
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
The hawk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Actions
Multiattack.
The hawk can make a talons attack against any number of creatures within 10 feet of it, with a separate attack roll for each target, provided it has enough movement to reach each target.
Talons.
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
that stat block is kinda meh, the multiattack option does not specify that the fury hawk can move between attacks, so the brief mention of movement and the effect being to all within 10 feet makes no sense, and also having a companion that only deals 1 + proficiency bonus damage between levels 1 and 10 and who has no better skills than any other companions to make it worthwhile makes this not a very compelling choice at all
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Yeah. When I work with WotC to release this in the next official book I'll make sure the language on multiattack meets your specifications. Until then, you understand the intent, and we can still give it some more stuff that doesn't effect the CR. Make it a scout with double proficiency in perception. Give it a couple of saving throws. Give it a bonus action dash. Give it a reaction to move up to half it's speed and impose disadvantage on one attack roll it can see.
Why would you need a beast with multiattack? The current wording of Primal Companion in TCoE allows your beast to attack 4 times at lvl 11. That should be good enough.
Why would you need a beast with multiattack? The current wording of Primal Companion in TCoE allows your beast to attack 4 times at lvl 11. That should be good enough.
Those are optional rules. A creature can only take one action on it’s turn. So no 4 attacks.
the 11th level beastmaster feature lets the beast make two attacks when it takes the attack action, or use the multiattack action if it has it, however from what i have seen there does not seem to be any creature who is an legal animal companion whose multiattack allows them to make more than two attacks or whose multiattack has some other benefit beyond just attacking. Is there any beast companion or any niche situation where commanding your beast to use multiattack is better?
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
I don’t think so. A second regular attack always seems to be superior choice. I am a big fan of the PHB ranger class and beast master subclass, but both are written in very mysterious and clunky ways.
That being said, if you aren’t in a game that is DDAL organized play or very strict to KISS RAW, there are rules for customizing NPCs in the DMG that either a DM or player with their DM can use to make or modify a beast that does benefit from a multiattack ability at level 11. The beast only needs to be a beast, medium or smaller, and a CR of 1/4 or lower. No other restrictions!
yes but that would of course mean taking into account the multiattack action when calculating CR, and that would result in an rather weak beast companion compared to the others unless you compensated by putting the companion in the lowest health bracket of 1-6 to compensate knowing that the health of the critter will be replaced anyways (something that is very cheesy and exploity), having a weaker companion levels 1-10 so that you can have a much stronger one levels 11-20 is not really sustainable game design
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Fury Hawk
Tiny beast, unaligned
Armor Class
13
Hit Points
1 (1d4 - 1)
Speed
10 ft., fly 60 ft.
STR
5 (-3)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
8 (-1)
INT
2 (-4)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
6 (-2)
Skills
Perception +4
Senses
passive Perception 14
Languages
—
Challenge
1/8 (25 XP)
Keen Sight.
The hawk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Actions
Multiattack.
The hawk can make a talons attack against any number of creatures within 10 feet of it, with a separate attack roll for each target, provided it has enough movement to reach each target.
Talons.
Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
that stat block is kinda meh, the multiattack option does not specify that the fury hawk can move between attacks, so the brief mention of movement and the effect being to all within 10 feet makes no sense, and also having a companion that only deals 1 + proficiency bonus damage between levels 1 and 10 and who has no better skills than any other companions to make it worthwhile makes this not a very compelling choice at all
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Yeah. When I work with WotC to release this in the next official book I'll make sure the language on multiattack meets your specifications. Until then, you understand the intent, and we can still give it some more stuff that doesn't effect the CR. Make it a scout with double proficiency in perception. Give it a couple of saving throws. Give it a bonus action dash. Give it a reaction to move up to half it's speed and impose disadvantage on one attack roll it can see.
Fury Hawk
Small beast, unaligned
Armor Class
12
Hit Points
7 (2d6)
Speed
10 ft., fly 60 ft.
STR
6 (-2)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
10 (+0)
INT
3 (-4)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
5 (-3)
Saving Throws
Dex +4, Wis +4
Skills
Perception +6
Senses
passive Perception 16
Languages
—
Challenge
1/8 (25 XP)
Keen Sight.
The fury hawk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Flyby.
The fury hawk doesn't provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy's reach.
Actions
Multiattack.
The fury hawk can make a talons attack against against any number of creatures within 5 feet of it, with a separate attack roll for each target.
Beak.
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Talons.
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
Deathstalker Scorpion
Tiny beast, unaligned
Armor Class
12 (natural armor)
Hit Points
4 (1d4 + 2)
Speed
20 ft.
STR
2 (-4)
DEX
11 (+0)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
1 (-5)
WIS
8 (-1)
CHA
2 (-4)
Saving Throws
Dex +2, Con +4
Skills
Stealth +2, Survival +1
Senses
blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages
—
Challenge
1/8 (25 XP)
Actions
Multiattack.
The scorpion makes three attacks: two with its claws and one with its sting.
Claw.
Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 bludgeoning damage.
Sting.
Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1 piercing damage plus 7 (3d4) poison damage.
Why would you need a beast with multiattack? The current wording of Primal Companion in TCoE allows your beast to attack 4 times at lvl 11. That should be good enough.
#OpenDnD
Those are optional rules. A creature can only take one action on it’s turn. So no 4 attacks.