The Beast Master

The goal of this subclass is to find a strong and balanced way to incorporate a beast companion in battle without too much worry of it dying or being worse than the ranger attacking by itself. The major differences of this subclass to the original is how the companion's stats are scaled into later game. I borrowed abilities from both the ranger's beast master and the revised ranger's beast conclave to create a template as to what the finished subclass would include.

 

Ranger’s Companion

Choose a beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating of 1/2 or lower. It gains the following abilities.

• The animal companion loses its Multi-attack action, if it has one.
• Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as to any saving throws and skills it is proficient in.
• When you and your companion roll initiative you roll both and can choose which one to take. 
• The hunter's mark spell also applies to attacks and checks made by your companion.
• Your animal companion gains proficiency in two skills of your choice.
• Your animal companion gains proficiency in all saving throws.

The beast obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative, though it doesn’t take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you). You can use your action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, or Help action. Once you have the Extra Attack feature, you can make one attack yourself and you can command the beast to take an Attack action.

While traveling through your favored terrain with only the beast, you can move stealthily at a normal pace. You can attune to a beast by spending 8 hours magically bonding with a beast that isn't hostile towards you. You may only attune to one beast at a time, and may choose a new companion at any time. If the beast dies from unnatural causes, you can summon it by spending at least one hour during a long rest after which the companion comes back fully restored.

Like any creature, the beast can spend Hit Dice during a short rest. If you are incapacitated or absent, the beast acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself. It never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack. If you don't issue a command, the beast takes the Dodge action.

For every ranger level after acquiring this ability, the ranger's companion roll's hit dice or takes the average just as the ranger does. In addition, the companion gets an ability score increase on every ranger level the ranger does.

Nature's Might

During difficult challenges, your animal companion can be pushed to further defend you and your allies. On your turn, if your animal companion can hear your command, you may call out to it and have it attack your foes. As a result, you may spend your reaction, if you have one available, to have your animal companion make one single attack. Multi-attack is not allowed for this attack. This feature can be used a limited times per long rest, as seen below.

Level	Number of Times it Can Be Used
3	1 time per long rest
7	2 times per long rest
11	3 times per long rest

Exceptional Training

Beginning at 7th level, on any of your turns when your beast companion doesn't attack, you can use a bonus action to command the beast to take the Dash, Disengage, or Help action on its turn. In addition, the beast's attacks are now considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage

Bestial Fury

At 11th level, you can use your action to command your companion to make a melee attack against each creature of its choice within 5 feet of it, with a separate attack roll for each target.

While your companion can see you, it has advantage on all saving throws.

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