Dragon Companion (Dragon Defender)

A dragon companion’s abilities are determined by the dragon defender’s level and its dragon racial traits. Table: Dragon Companion Base Statistics determines many of the base statistics of the dragon companion. They remain creatures of the dragon type for purposes of determining which spells can affect them.

Table: Dragon Defender Dragon Companion Base Statistics

Class Level

This is the character’s defender level. The defender’s class levels do not stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the dragon companion’s statistics.

Hit Dice

This is the total number of 12-sided (d12) Hit Dice the dragon companion possesses, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal.

Base Attack Bonus 

This is the dragon companion’s base attack bonus. A dragon companion’s base attack bonus is equal to its Hit Dice. Dragon companions do not gain additional attacks using their natural weapons for a high base attack bonus.

Saves

These are the dragon companion’s base saving throws. A dragon companion has good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves.

Skills

Dragon companions with Intelligence scores above the base value modify these totals as normal (an dragon companion receives a number of skill ranks equal to 6 + its Intelligence modifier per HD). A dragon companion cannot have more ranks in a skill than it has Hit Dice. Dragon companion skill ranks are set once chosen, even if the creature changes when the summoner gains a new level.

Dragon Companion Skills

The following skills are class skills for dragon companions: Acrobatics* (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb* (Str), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Fly* (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Perception* (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth* (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str). All of the skills marked with an (*) are class skills for dragon mounts. Dragon companions with an Intelligence of 3 or higher can put ranks into any skill. Note that dragon companions receive Spellcraft (Int) as a free class skill, even if they do not gain the ability to cast spells.

Feats

Dragon companions can select any feat they are physically capable of using, including those listed under Monster Feats (see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary). GMs might expand this list to include feats from other sources.

Natural Armor Bonus

The number noted here is an improvement to the dragon companion’s existing natural armor bonus.

Str/Con Bonus

Add this modifier to the dragon companion’s Strength and Constitution scores.

Int/Cha Bonus

Add this modifier to the dragon companion’s Intelligence and Charisma scores.

Special

This includes a number of abilities gained by dragon companions as they increase in power. Each of these bonuses is described below.

Breath Weapon (Su): A dragon companion’s breath weapon deals 1d6 points of energy damage per Hit Dice in a line or cone, as determined by the companion’s dragon subtype. The base breath weapon is listed with each dragon mount, below. Every dragon companion deals one kind of damage, and has either a line or a cone. Each breath weapon allows a Reflex save for half damage, the save DC for a dragon companion’s breath weapon is 10 + 1/2 the mount’s Hit Dice + the dragon’s Constitution modifier. A dragon mount may use its breath weapon once every four rounds, not to exceed a total number of uses per day equal to 3 + the mount’s Constitution modifier.

Change Shape (Su): A dragon companion can assume any animal or humanoid form a number of times per day equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice as if using polymorph.

Link (Ex): A defender and his dragon companion share a metal link that allows for communication across any distance (as long as they are on the same plane). This effect functions as the telepathic bond spell, but with unlimited range. This communication is a free action, and duplicates the effects of the telepathic bond allowing the defender to council with his dragon at any time. In addition, this link places both the defender and the dragon under the permanent effect of a deathwatch spell, enabling the two to monitor each other’s conditions at all times.

Ward of the Dragon (Sp): A dragon companion can place a protective ward upon its defender to keep him in the battle for as long as possible. This ward functions as the shield other spell, using the dragons Hit Dice as the caster level. The dragon can use this ability a number of times per day equal to its Charisma modifier.

Dragon Powers (Ex or Su): As a dragon defender gains more power, his dragon companion gains the additional special abilities of a dragon many years older. At 2nd level, the dragon companion gains the special abilities of a wyrmling dragon of its subtype. This improves to those of a young dragon at 7th level, a young adult dragon at 12th level, and a mature adult dragon at 17th level.

Evasion (Ex): If a dragon companion is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex save for half damage, it takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw.

Ability Score Increase (Ex): The dragon companion adds +1 to any two of its ability scores, except Dexterity.

Shared Healing (Sp): Starting at 11th level, a defender establishes an even closer bond with his dragon. Whenever the defender’s dragon takes enough damage to place its life in jeopardy, the defender can, as a free action, sacrifice up to half his current hit points and transfer those hit points to his dragon, thus preventing his dragon from dying. Each hit point sacrificed in this way heals 1 point of damage done to the dragon. Should a defender become gravely injured, his dragon can likewise sacrifice its own hit points to heal the defender. This ability can be used once per day, and an additional time per day at 10th level. Regardless of whether the defender or dragon uses the ability, each use counts against the total number of times per day it can be used.

Dragon Companion Base Form

Each dragon companion has the same base form, regardless of subtype. However, each dragon companion gains specific abilities according to their dragon type and subtype.

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision (4x), blind sense 60 ft.; Speed 30 ft., fly 40 ft. (good); AC +6 natural armor; Saves Fort (good), Ref (good), Will (good); Attack bite (1d6), 2 claws (1d4/1d4); Ability Scores Str 15, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 12; Special Abilities breath weapon (60-foot line or 30-foot cone), energy resistance 10.

Basic Advancement

At dragon companion gains the following advancement adjustments at the indicated level.

8th-Level Advancement: Size Large; Speed +10 feet to all modes, fly maneuverability worsens to (average); Attack bite (1d8), 2 claws (1d6/1d6), 2 wings (1d4/1d4); Ability Scores +8 Str, +4 Con, –2 Dex; Special Abilities breath weapon (80-foot line or 40–foot cone) DR 5/magic, energy resistance 20, frightful presence.

16th-Level Advancement: Size Huge; Speed additional +10 feet to all modes, fly maneuverability worsens to (poor); Attack bite (2d6), 2 claws (1d8/1d8), 2 wings (1d6/1d6), tail slap (1d8); Ability Scores +8 Str, +4 Con, –2 Dex; Special Abilities DR 10/magic, energy immunity, spell resistance (11 + Hit Dice).

DRAGON COMPANIONS

A dragon defender can bond with any one of the following dragons.

Chromatic Dragons

Chromatic dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

Gemstone Dragons

Gemstone dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

Imperial Dragons

Imperial dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

Metallic Dragons

Metallic dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

Planar Dragons

Planar dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.

Primal Dragons

Primal dragon companions gain the following abilities according to their subtype.