Beast Rider

Few Rangers dare to tame and control the largest of creatures, but those who do forge unbreakable bonds. 

Beast Riders are masters of mounted combat and deeply in tune with their bestial partners, working in conjunction with them to become deadly hunters and fighters.

Bestial Mount

At 3rd level, you gain a beast companion that you are able to ride. Use the Primal Companion stat block as a guideline. This companion must be at least 1 size larger than you. When riding a creature more than 1 size larger than you, you must use a Reach or Ranged weapon to deal damage as a rider. You and the creature share a space while mounted, and gain all the benefits and detriments of doing so(Attacks of opportunity, cover, etc). 

 

Your companion acts on your turn - you can use your bonus action to command your mount to take an action, but it can move and use its reaction on its own. If it is not given a command, your mount will take the Dodge action. If you begin a turn already mounted, and you command your mount to Dash, it can use both its action and bonus action to Dash twice.

 

You can use your bonus action or 5 feet of movement to mount or dismount your companion, rather than expending half your movement speed. Additionally, you gain proficiency in all mounted combat, and can use your mount’s speed to calculate your travel pace(Spd/3 per hour).

Intimidating Presence

At 7th level, you and your mount have learned to maximize your physical advantages. You can use your bonus action to have your mount impose advantage on the next strike against that creature. If a creature at least one size smaller than your mount is within melee range of your mount and targets you for an attack, your mount may use its reaction to impose disadvantage on that attack.

 

If you have the Mounted Combatant Feat, this effect can apply to any creature not larger than your mount.

Move As One

At 11th level, you and your mount’s movements are more in sync. If your mount Dodges or Disengages while you are riding it, you also gain the benefits of Dodging or Disengaging(respectfully).

 

Additionally, you and your companion share a telepathic link. You can communicate thoughts and ideas telepathically. If you or your companion is able to see while you are not (Ex. If your companion has blindsight/darkvision and you do not) and you are within 5 feet of each other, the blind individual can move and act as if they could see, guided by

Ride-By Attack

At 15th level, you can use the kinetic energy of your mount’s movement to empower your attacks while mounted. If your mount moves 10ft directly towards or passes by a creature and you hit it with an attack, that target takes an additional 1d8 of that weapon’s damage type.