Find Steed 5e: A Comprehensive Guide to Summoning Your Loyal Companion

The Find Steed spell is a cornerstone for many Paladins in 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. It provides a loyal, intelligent companion that enhances combat, exploration, and roleplaying opportunities. This guide provides a deep dive into the spell, offering detailed instructions, strategic insights, and answers to frequently asked questions. Whether you’re a seasoned Paladin or just starting your divine journey, this comprehensive resource will help you master the art of summoning your steed.

Understanding the Find Steed Spell

Before we jump into the specifics, let’s establish a clear understanding of what the Find Steed spell does.

Spell Details

• Spell Level: 2nd
• School: Conjuration
• Casting Time: 10 minutes
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Instantaneous
• Classes: Paladin

Spell Description

You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, loyal, and obedient mount, telepathically bonded to you. The steed’s statistics are determined by the form you choose: a warhorse, a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. The steed is of the celestial, fey, or fiendish type (your choice) and remains until it drops to 0 hit points, until you cast this spell again, or until you dismiss it as an action.

Whenever the steed is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with it telepathically. You can also perceive through the steed’s senses as long as you are on the same plane of existence.

While mounted on your steed, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target the steed.

If your steed dies, you can cast this spell again to summon it again, but the spell now takes 1 hour to cast.

Step-by-Step Guide to Casting Find Steed

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps involved in casting Find Steed:

1. Prepare the Spell: As a Paladin, you need to prepare Find Steed like any other spell. This involves choosing it from your list of known spells during your daily spell preparation. Make sure you have a spell slot of 2nd level or higher available.
2. Choose the Form: Decide which form you want your steed to take. The standard options are:
3. Warhorse: A strong combatant, ideal for charging into battle.
4. Pony: Smaller and more agile, good for navigating tight spaces.
5. Camel: Excellent for traversing deserts and other harsh environments.
6. Elk: Fast and maneuverable in forests and other wooded areas.
7. Mastiff: A loyal and protective companion, great for scouting and guarding.
8. Select the Type: Choose whether your steed is of the celestial, fey, or fiendish type. This choice is largely thematic and might influence how other creatures react to your steed. A celestial steed might be welcomed in a holy city, while a fiendish steed might provoke suspicion.
9. Find a Suitable Location: While not explicitly stated, it’s best to cast the spell in a relatively safe and quiet location. A distracting environment could hinder your concentration.
10. Gather Your Focus: There are no material components for this spell, meaning that no specific objects are required. However, maintaining focus for the 10-minute casting time is vital.
11. Cast the Spell: Begin the casting process, focusing your mind on the chosen form and type of your steed. Maintain concentration throughout the 10 minutes. Any distraction that forces a Constitution saving throw could break your concentration and ruin the casting.
12. The Steed Appears: Upon successfully completing the casting, your steed appears within 30 feet of you. It is telepathically bonded to you and obeys your commands.

Strategic Considerations and Tactical Advantages

Find Steed is more than just a way to get around faster. It offers numerous strategic and tactical advantages in various situations:

Combat

• Mobile Combat Platform: A warhorse significantly increases your mobility on the battlefield, allowing you to reach distant enemies quickly or reposition yourself as needed.
• Shared Spells: The ability to target your steed with spells that only target you is incredibly powerful. Buffing spells like Bless or Shield of Faith can protect both you and your mount.
• Mounted Combatant Feat Synergy: If you take the Mounted Combatant feat, your steed becomes even more formidable. The feat grants advantages like redirecting attacks targeting your steed to yourself and imposing disadvantage on attacks against your steed while you are mounted.
• Flanking Advantage: Your steed can help you flank enemies, granting you advantage on attack rolls.

Exploration

• Increased Travel Speed: A steed allows you to cover more ground in a shorter amount of time, making exploration more efficient.
• Carrying Capacity: Steeds can carry significant amounts of gear and supplies, freeing you from encumbrance.
• Scouting: You can perceive through your steed’s senses, allowing you to scout ahead and identify potential dangers.
• Terrain Navigation: Different steeds are suited for different terrains. A camel is ideal for deserts, while an elk excels in forests.

Roleplaying

• Loyal Companion: Your steed is not just a tool; it’s a loyal companion with its own personality and quirks. This can add depth to your character and create memorable roleplaying moments.
• Social Interactions: The appearance of your steed can influence how other characters perceive you. A celestial steed might inspire trust, while a fiendish steed might provoke fear.
• Symbol of Divine Power: Your steed can serve as a symbol of your Paladin’s divine connection, reinforcing your role as a champion of justice and righteousness.

Choosing the Right Steed

The optimal choice of steed depends on your Paladin’s fighting style, the campaign setting, and your party’s needs. Here’s a more in-depth look at each option:

Warhorse

• Stats: High Strength and Hit Points.
• Best For: Direct combat, charging into battle, and carrying heavy loads.
• Tactical Use: Use the warhorse to engage enemies head-on, providing a strong front line and disrupting enemy formations. Buff the warhorse with spells like *Shield of Faith* to increase its survivability.
• Roleplaying Notes: A warhorse is a symbol of martial prowess and unwavering courage. Paladins who choose this steed often embody these qualities themselves.

Pony

• Stats: Lower Strength but higher Dexterity than a warhorse.
• Best For: Maneuvering in tight spaces, scouting, and carrying lighter loads.
• Tactical Use: The pony’s agility makes it useful for navigating crowded battlefields or exploring narrow passages. It can also be used to quickly reposition yourself or to flank enemies.
• Roleplaying Notes: A pony might be chosen by Paladins who value cunning and adaptability over brute strength.

Camel

• Stats: High Constitution and resistance to exhaustion.
• Best For: Traversing deserts and other harsh environments, enduring long journeys, and carrying water.
• Tactical Use: In desert campaigns, the camel is invaluable for its ability to travel long distances without tiring. It can also carry extra water and supplies for the party.
• Roleplaying Notes: A camel is a symbol of resilience and endurance. Paladins who choose this steed are often stoic and determined.

Elk

• Stats: High Speed and maneuverability in forests.
• Best For: Exploring forests and other wooded areas, scouting, and quick hit-and-run attacks.
• Tactical Use: The elk’s speed and agility make it ideal for navigating dense forests and ambushing enemies. It can also be used to quickly escape from dangerous situations.
• Roleplaying Notes: An elk is a symbol of wilderness and freedom. Paladins who choose this steed often have a strong connection to nature.

Mastiff

• Stats: Keen senses and loyalty.
• Best For: Guarding, tracking, and providing companionship.
• Tactical Use: While not as strong in direct combat as a warhorse, the mastiff can be a valuable asset for scouting and guarding. Its keen senses can help detect ambushes and track enemies.
• Roleplaying Notes: A mastiff is a symbol of loyalty and protection. Paladins who choose this steed are often compassionate and dedicated to defending the innocent.

Common Questions and Misconceptions

Here are some frequently asked questions and common misconceptions about the Find Steed spell:

• Can my steed attack independently? Yes, your steed can attack independently, following your commands. However, you must use your action to command it to attack.
• Does my steed share my hit points? No, your steed has its own hit points and is a separate creature.
• Can I choose a different type of creature for my steed? The spell explicitly limits the options to a warhorse, pony, camel, elk, or mastiff. You cannot choose other creatures.
• What happens if my steed dies? You can cast the spell again to summon it back, but the casting time increases to 1 hour. This makes protecting your steed important.
• Can I use Find Steed to summon a flying mount? No, the spell does not allow for flying mounts. For that, you’ll need the Find Greater Steed spell (available at higher levels).
• Does the steed level up with me? No, the steed’s stats remain the same regardless of your level. However, you can enhance its capabilities through spells and feats.
• If I have the mounted combatant feat, and an enemy targets my steed, can I choose to take the hit even if I am not mounted? No, you must be mounted to redirect attacks.
• Does the steed have its own initiative? Yes, the steed has its own initiative. It rolls initiative at the start of combat just like any other creature.

Advanced Tactics and Synergies

Once you’ve mastered the basics of Find Steed, you can explore more advanced tactics and synergies to maximize its effectiveness:

• Combining with the Mounted Combatant Feat: This feat is almost essential for any Paladin who relies on their steed. It provides significant benefits, including:
• Redirecting attacks targeting your steed to yourself.
• Granting your steed evasion, allowing it to avoid damage from area-of-effect spells.
• Imposing disadvantage on attacks against your steed while you are mounted.
• Utilizing Buff Spells: Spells like Bless, Shield of Faith, and Aid can significantly enhance your steed’s survivability and combat effectiveness.
• Coordinating with Party Members: Coordinate with your party members to take advantage of your steed’s abilities. For example, a rogue can use your steed for flanking, while a wizard can cast area-of-effect spells around your steed without harming it (thanks to the Mounted Combatant feat).
• Using the Steed for Reconnaissance: Send your steed ahead to scout out dangerous areas, using its senses to detect traps and enemies.
• Strategic Positioning: Use your steed to control the battlefield, blocking enemy movement and creating advantageous positions for your party.

Roleplaying Considerations

Your steed is more than just a combat tool; it’s a character in its own right. Consider the following roleplaying aspects to enrich your game:

• Name and Personality: Give your steed a name and develop its personality. Is it brave and loyal, or timid and cautious? Does it have any quirks or habits?
• Bonding with Your Steed: Spend time interacting with your steed, strengthening your telepathic bond. Share your thoughts and feelings with it, and listen to its responses.
• Steed’s Reactions: Consider how your steed reacts to different situations. Does it shy away from danger, or does it eagerly charge into battle? Does it trust certain characters more than others?
• Steed as a Reflection of Your Character: Your steed can be a reflection of your own personality and values. A Paladin who is just and righteous might have a celestial steed, while a Paladin who is ruthless and vengeful might have a fiendish steed.
• Steed’s Relationships with Other Characters: Your steed can develop relationships with other characters in your party, creating interesting dynamics and roleplaying opportunities.

Alternatives to Find Steed

While Find Steed is an excellent spell, there are other ways to acquire a mount in D&D 5e. Here are a few alternatives:

• Find Greater Steed: This higher-level spell allows you to summon more powerful and exotic mounts, including griffons and pegasi.
• Animal Handling Skill: With a high Animal Handling skill, you can tame and train wild animals to serve as mounts.
• Purchasing a Mount: You can purchase a mount from a stable or merchant. However, mundane mounts lack the special abilities and intelligence of a steed summoned by Find Steed.
• Magic Items: Some magic items can summon mounts or grant you the ability to transform into a mount.

Conclusion

Find Steed is an incredibly versatile and powerful spell that can significantly enhance your Paladin’s capabilities. By understanding the spell’s mechanics, choosing the right steed, and employing effective tactics, you can transform your mount into a formidable ally. So, embrace the power of Find Steed and ride forth to defend the innocent and uphold justice!

Whether you choose a warhorse for its strength, a pony for its agility, a camel for its endurance, an elk for its speed, or a mastiff for its loyalty, your steed will become an integral part of your adventures, providing companionship, support, and a trusty ride into the heart of danger. Good luck, Paladin, and may your steed always carry you safely on your journey!