Monster Cohorts

The Leadership feat allows a character to gain a loyal cohort. With the GM's approval, this cohort can be a similarly aligned monster rather than a humanoid with the appropriate number of class levels. Monsters on the following list all work well as cohorts (be they bodyguards, mounts, assassins, etc.)—their effective cohort "level" corresponds to the level available to the PC as afforded by his Leadership score.

A monster cohort gains experience points as if it were a character of its cohort level, and when it gains enough XP to advance a level, it should generally gain a key class level (fighter is often the best choice for most cohorts). You can use the monsters on the following table as guidelines when determining effective cohort levels for monsters not on this list.

Bestiary Monster Cohorts
MonsterLevel
Babau (demon)11
Bralani (azata)11
Young dragonSpecial*
Drider11
Erinyes (devil)16
Ettin15
Ghoul5
Giant eagle6
Griffon8
Hell hound7
Hound archon7
Manticore9
Pegasus6
Pixie8
Satyr7
Skeletal champion6
Stone giant18
Unicorn8
Worg5
Wyvern10
* A young dragon's effective cohort level equals its CR + 8. Dragon cohorts do not advance via aging as normal dragons do, but by gaining class levels (typically in fighter or sorcerer).
Bestiary 2 Monster Cohorts
MonsterLevel
Aranea8th
Avoral15th
Axiomite14th
Azer5th
Blink dog4th
Dragon horse16th
Howler7th
Leonal17th
Leucrotta9th
Redcap10th
Bestiary 3 Monster Cohorts
MonsterLevel
Adlet14
Ahuizotl11
Derhii10
Dragonne10
Garuda16
Giant owl8
Giant vulture7
Kech6
Kirin13
Maftet11
Nephilim13
Sabosan9
Sasquatch6
Shadow mastiff8
Shae7
Shedu14
Sleipnir16
Tanuki8
Bestiary 4 Monster Cohorts
MonsterLevel
Blood Hag16
Contemplative7
Fossegrim8
Huldra9
Nependis13
Owb11
Phantom armor, giant9
Phantom armor, guardian7
Saguaroi9
Sea cat8
Shobhad8
Shriezyx7
Shulsaga7
Snallygaster7
Svartalfar12
Swan maiden10
Vanth (psychopomp)13
Xanthos17
Bestiary 5 Monster Cohorts
MonsterLevel
Apallie4
Cambion (demon)5
Chuspiki6
Deep merfolk6
Dragonkin12
Encantado11
Firbolg8
Flytrap leshy6
Gancanagh (azata)8
Heikegani6
Kabandha (cyclops)14
Karkadann7
Liminal sprite6
Lotus leshy8
Muckdweller1
Psychemental15
Pyrausta3
Reptial (agathion)7
Thought eater7
Uraeus9
Wysp6