Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous – Animal Companion Footprint

Guide on how much obstruction each Animal Companion causes.

Footprints

Image comparison: footprint Level 7+ Triceratops vs Level 1-6 Wolf.

Note: I measured the [mm] values with a ruler on my screen. The percentage values were estimated from the [mm] values but should almost exactly match the actual footprint.

The Level 1-6 footprint used by most Animal Companions, measured at 50mm, is the reference value / 100% in the table below.

The Area value represents the area that the footprint causes to obstruct. The Horse has the smallest area and this reference gets the value 100%.

Findings

These were my findings…

A.) Do NOT select either of the Velociraptor or Triceratops Animal Companions. They have an abnormal vast footprint leading to the following problems:

• Outside of battle, they get stuck themselves or allies in doors / hallways
• Outside of battle, they might not be able to reach all areas, causing the need to arise to unmount them and having to leave them behind
• Outside of battle, they cause allies to take longer to reach loot or use something highlighted
• Outside of battle, they might not traverse a trapped or otherwise hazardous area without springing the trap or be subject to the hazardous, potentially deadly effects
• In battle, they get stuck themselves or allies in doors / hallways regularly
• In battle, they can be flanked by more enemies due to the larger area they present the enemy
• In battle, they can be attacked by more Reach using enemies, same reason as above
• In battle, they cannot retreat or get other characters stuck when doing so
• In battle, they have a much larger chance to be inside an Area of Effect from hostile spells and are thus subject to hostile effects much more regularly
• In battle, allies incl. summoned monsters cant move past them, getting stuck
• In battle, allies incl. summoned monsters wont be able to reach enemies or will take longer
• In battle, allies incl. summoned monsters using reach weapons wont be able to attack enemies due to the larger footprint needing a longer range

B.) Small Animal Companions do NOT have an advantage here as they have the same or, in case of the Velociraptor, even a larger footprint. Do NOT select a Small Animal Companion if you think you get an advantage for positioning. There simply is none.

C.) Horses have the best footprint available. You can add several horses to your party without your characters getting stuck as much as when using a single Triceratops, which obstructs an area more than 4 times as large as a Horse, or several of the other Animal Companions.

Especially for characters sitting in a back row like spellcasters and archers, where the Animals stats are of a lesser concern, Horses are way to go. You can retreat much more readily with Horses, they are subject to fewer hostile spells due to the smaller area they obstruct and they just dont get stuck as easily.

D.) Wolfs have, for some reason, a smaller inherent footprint than all other Animals and are the clear winners when going for a Trip user. Since they are also one of the best Animals compared to the rest it is adviceable to use Wolfs if Horses are not your preferred Animals.

I hope these findings / infos are of use to you when selecting an Animal Companion.