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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mistwell" data-source="post: 7471738" data-attributes="member: 2525">That was part of "not useless". He uses his pet all the time. It depends on the circumstances, but it's very useful in the game for us. You should try it. Get creative.For example, do things which are aided by someone else attacking next to you. Like take sentinel, and use your pets attacks to trigger your sentinel attacks. Or use a net - which normally means you can only use one attack action but in this case it's not an attack action to have your pet attack.  Or be a magic archer. Starting at 5th level, whenever you command your beast to attack you get to make one free weapon attack. To make the most of this attack, pair it with spells like ensnaring strike, hail of thorns, or lightning arrow. These require a bonus action to cast, but you do not need to use the Attack action to trigger them.  Or try a Duelist (DEX with rapier). Use a Giant Badger as a pet in early levels (the multiattack + the beastmaster bonuses is pretty gnarly) and then switch to a Wolf at Level 5 for the potential synergy of the Wolf knocking the target prone.Halflings and gnomes can ride the medium sized pets. The mastiff is in the RAW category allowing small PCs to ride with a saddle. So you can take the mounted combatant feat and this will generally make you more mobile than your team, except monks, and you can possibly get flying mounts earlier than other players which just makes you stupidly safe in fights.I've read about this build: Archery Fighting Style, A companion with Flyby, Sharpshooter, Level 7. Animal flies to the enemy, helps as a bonus action. You fire at the -5 penalty helped by the +2 from Archery and advantage granted by the beast. Enjoy your +10 damage.The pets are disposable. They can be used for a utility function. You have spells that help you befriend an animal like Animal Friendship and Speak with Animals, and bring several potential pets with you while only commanding one. There are so many things you can do with this class. It just takes a lot of creativity. There are some good guides out there to help figure it out though.</blockquote>

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