Animal Companions and Epic Feats

[Yogibear41]

If I am an epic level character, but my animal companion does not yet have 20+ hd, can the animal by virtue of being an epic level characters companion, take epic feats prior to reaching 20 hd?

[sleepyphoenixx]

No. Why would it?
Afaik familiars are the only thing that sometimes get to use the master's HD instead of their own.


Bonus HD

Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

No. Why would it?
Afaik familiars are the only thing that sometimes get to use the master's HD instead of their own.Nah. Those are psicrystals. Familiars just count as the master's HD when it comes to effects that require a certain number of HD, such as rainbow pattern. They don't actually gain HD of their own accord. Ever. That means no feats and no ability score bonuses. Again, unlike psicrystals, which gain both of those things.

Animal companions gain the benefits listed on the table, which includes HD. And epic animal companions gain +2 HD for every 3 of its master's HD when said master hits epic. If the companion is not yet of epic HD, it cannot gain epic feats (unless it's a dragon of a certain age; or a martial monk).