The Ultimate Arcane Trickster Familiar Guide: Choosing Your Perfect Companion

The best familiar for an Arcane Trickster Rogue in Dungeons & Dragons 5e is generally considered to be an Owl. This is primarily due to the Owl’s Flyby ability, which allows it to use the Help action to grant advantage to the Arcane Trickster on their attacks without provoking opportunity attacks. This advantage is crucial for consistently triggering Sneak Attack, the Rogue’s primary source of damage. Let’s dive deeper into why the Owl reigns supreme and explore other viable options.

Why the Owl is King: A Masterclass in Advantage

The Owl’s strategic advantage is unparalleled, and it aligns seamlessly with the Arcane Trickster’s core mechanics:

• Flyby: This ability is the cornerstone of the Owl’s usefulness. It allows the Owl to swoop in, provide the Help action (granting you advantage), and then fly away without taking any damage. No opportunity attacks means consistent advantage without risking your familiar’s demise.

• Help Action and Sneak Attack: The Rogue’s Sneak Attack relies heavily on advantage or having an ally adjacent to the target. The Owl offers reliable advantage, ensuring you can consistently trigger your Sneak Attack, maximizing your damage output.

• Darkvision: The Owl’s excellent Darkvision is extremely helpful in dimly lit or dark environments, providing valuable scouting information and enhancing its ability to deliver the Help action effectively.

• Intelligence (3): While not a genius, the Owl’s intelligence is sufficient for understanding simple commands and executing them reliably.

Beyond the Owl: Exploring Alternative Familiars

While the Owl is the most popular choice, other familiars can provide unique benefits depending on your play style and campaign:

• Imp (Requires Pact of the Chain Warlock Dip): The Imp is the best familiar in general, because it grants the option of invisibility, superior stats, and magic resistance. It also gains the Flyby ability, like an Owl.

• Bat: If you’re operating primarily in dark environments, the Bat’s Blindsight (within a limited range) can be incredibly useful for detecting unseen enemies. However, it lacks the Owl’s Flyby ability, making it more vulnerable.

• Hawk: Similar to the Owl, the Hawk offers good vision and the ability to scout. However, it also lacks Flyby and is generally less useful in combat scenarios.

• Lizard: A Lizard can be a good choice for stealth-focused campaigns, as it’s more inconspicuous than a flying creature. Its ability to climb can also be helpful.

• Rat: Rats can be useful for infiltrating small spaces and gathering information in urban environments. They’re also relatively inconspicuous.

• Toad: While not as versatile as other options, a Toad can be used to deliver touch-range spells, though this is often risky.

• Weasel: The Weasel’s small size and agility make it a decent scout, but it’s generally outclassed by the Owl and Bat.

Optimizing Your Familiar’s Use

• Communication: Establish clear communication signals with your familiar. This allows you to quickly and efficiently direct it during combat and exploration.

• Positioning: Carefully position your familiar to maximize its utility while minimizing its risk. Use cover and concealment whenever possible.

• Ritual Casting: Remember that Find Familiar is a ritual spell. You can recast it outside of combat if your familiar is killed, though it does take time and resources.

• Consider the Environment: Tailor your familiar choice to the environment. A Bat might be better in a dark dungeon, while an Owl is great for open areas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can my familiar deliver touch spells for me as an Arcane Trickster?

Yes, your familiar can deliver touch spells for you. This can be particularly useful for spells like Shocking Grasp to disengage from melee or Inflict Wounds for extra damage.

2. What happens if my familiar dies?

If your familiar dies, you can recast the Find Familiar spell as a ritual. This takes one hour and requires 10 gp worth of charcoal, incense, and herbs. You can choose the same form or a different one.

3. Does my familiar benefit from my Rogue’s Expertise?

No, your familiar does not benefit from your Rogue’s Expertise. Expertise applies specifically to skill proficiencies you have.

4. Can my familiar use items?

Generally, familiars cannot use items, especially those requiring attunement. They are not designed to wield weapons or wear armor. However, they can interact with simple objects like opening doors or triggering traps.

5. How can I protect my familiar in combat?

The best way to protect your familiar is to keep it out of harm’s way. Use its abilities strategically and avoid placing it in direct danger. The Flyby ability of the Owl is excellent for this, minimizing the risk of opportunity attacks.

6. Can I communicate telepathically with my familiar?

The Find Familiar spell allows you to communicate telepathically with your familiar as long as you are within 100 feet of it. You can perceive through your familiar’s senses, though you are blinded and deafened to your own surroundings while doing so.

7. What are the limitations on my familiar’s actions?

Your familiar can take actions as normal, including Help, Dash, Disengage, Hide, and Search. It cannot attack, cast spells, or activate magic items.

8. Can I have more than one familiar at a time?

No, you can only have one familiar at a time. If you cast Find Familiar again while you already have a familiar, the current familiar disappears, and the new one takes its place.

9. Can my familiar carry items for me?

Yes, your familiar can carry items, but it is limited by its Strength score. A typical familiar like an Owl has a low Strength, so it can only carry a few small items.

10. Does my familiar count as an ally for Sneak Attack purposes?

No, your familiar does not count as an ally for the purposes of granting you Sneak Attack if it’s adjacent to the target. You still need advantage on the attack roll or an ally other than the familiar adjacent to the target. The Owl provides that advantage, ensuring Sneak Attack hits more often.

11. Can I use my familiar to scout ahead in dungeons?

Yes, using your familiar to scout ahead is a common and effective tactic. Be mindful of the range limitation of the telepathic link (100 feet).

12. How does True Polymorph or Shapechange interact with the Find Familiar spell?

These higher-level spells do not directly interact with the Find Familiar spell. You can’t turn your familiar into a dragon with True Polymorph, nor can you use Shapechange to turn yourself into your familiar.

13. Can an Arcane Trickster learn invisibility?

Yes! An Arcane Trickster can learn the Invisibility spell at 8th level, choosing it as one of the spells they can select from any school of magic, not just illusion or enchantment.

14. Can Arcane Tricksters use Booming Blade?

Yes, it can be an effective choice. Rogues can easily flank enemies and take them out with heavy damage, enhanced by Booming Blade.

15. What are some creative uses for Find Familiar outside of combat?

Beyond combat, familiars are invaluable for:

• Scouting and reconnaissance: Gathering information about enemy positions, traps, and surroundings.
• Delivering messages: Quickly and discreetly delivering messages to allies.
• Distracting guards: Creating diversions to allow you to slip past unnoticed.
• Retrieving objects: Retrieving keys or other small objects from hard-to-reach places.
• Setting off traps from a distance: Save yourself by setting off traps from afar.
• Roleplaying and social interaction: Enhancing your character’s personality and interactions with NPCs.

Ultimately, the best familiar for your Arcane Trickster depends on your play style and the challenges you face in your campaign. However, the Owl’s unparalleled ability to grant consistent advantage makes it the most popular and arguably the most effective choice for maximizing your damage output and overall utility. Remember to coordinate with your DM about the specifics of using your familiar, and always prioritize its safety! You can learn more about role playing games at GamesLearningSociety.org.