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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 6879078" data-attributes="member: 6677017">Well it is competing with Pact of the Tome which gives the warlock 3 cantrips cherry-picked from all class lists, and the ability to potentially learn all ritual spells from all classes (as of current publication that means adding up to 32 spells of levels 1-6 that can be cast at-will with a bit of time (and occasionally money) by such a warlock).Also, you can get the same ability with a magic item.MM p69, under the "Variant: Imp Familiar" sidebar are the rules. In addition the "Variant: Familiars" sidebar on p347 strongly implies that the find familiar spell must be involved. "Any spellcaster that can cast the find familiar spell (such as an archmage or a mage) is likely to have a familiar. The familiar can be one of the creatures described in the spell (see the Player's Handbook) or some other Tiny monster, such as a crawling claw, imp, pseudodragon or quasit."Note that this also provides precedent for a DM to allow other types of special familiars to be bonded via the type of contract that one can make (apparently in concert with the find familiar spell), though such familiars would presumably not grant the special abilities that imps, pseudodragons and quasits are able to grant as described in their sidebars.I would say rather that the PHB doesn't assume such variants are in use. If such a variant is in use, it isn't a big stretch to allow it to apply to those special familiars (there is a reason they are popular!) It also wouldn't be out of line to disallow it on the metaphysical basis that it isn't really an imp. However, by that standard it doesn't make a lot of sense that the fake imp still gets its own special abilities. DM's call either way.However, the variants (and this is all variants, so it extends the material in the PHB if used) relating to familiar specifically mention the find familiar spell. Not on the same page or in the same sidebar, but in my opinion it is significantly more of a stretch to assume those sidebar variants are not intended to function together than to assume that they are, especially since the special familiar sidebars explicitly note that they apply to spellcasters--not just anyone. In other words:1) Variants in monster entries say spellcaster can bond with ceature + variant in back says spellcaster must be able to cast find familiar => spellcaster makes use of find familiar spell + contract to gain unusual familiar.2) Special creatures die easily + PHB familiar have insurance against this + special familiar are supposed to be "superior famliars" + Pact of the Blade game concept provides precedent of sending existing entity to Spare Sock Drawer with a power that normally only works on magically created entity => special familiars should have access to the Spare Sock Drawer for death insurance (and probably the other benefits provided by find familiar).This is of course interpretation--but I think it is the most consistent interpretation that takes into account all of the potentially relevant information in the books.I'd say that the overall design would imply that the special familiar variant rules could or should also be applied to Pact of the Chain familiars (otherwise they are inferior to special familiars acquired by other casters, and this special ability appears designed to give them the best familiars in the game), should said variants be used in your campaign at all.I will also guess that Jeremy Crawford will likely say that the PHB does not include that feature from the special familiars (citing they are spirits, etc), and it is up to the DM whether to apply it if that variant is used. Mike Mearls will likely say that the warlock doesn't gain that feature but it doesn't break anything and he would allow it in his game.</blockquote>

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