pimp my animal companion

[Squider]

So long story short I've got a 11HD small earth elemental as a animal companion. I'm not really sure what to do with it. The party is about 16th level so I don't think it would be the greatest help in combat. We're not exactly optimized but it would be nice.

The thing looks like this:
Earth Elemental, Small
Size/Type: Small Elemental (Earth, Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 11d8+11 (99 hp)
Initiative: -1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+1 size, -1 Dex, +9 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple:
+8/(haven't bothered to figure it out)
Attack: Slam +13/+8 melee (1d6+5)
Space/Reach:
5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks:
Earth mastery, push, evasion
Special Qualities:
Darkvision 60 ft., earth glide, elemental traits, fast healing 1
Saves:
Fort 9, Ref 2, Will 3
Abilities:
Str 18, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Skills:
Listen +3, Spot +2




Any idea what this could be good for? also it has four feats, any suggestions? If need be I've only got about 20,000 GP to sink into him.

[Keld Denar]

Yeah....instead of advancing him in HD, consider advancing him in size. Even to medium would be better than small. Many of the elementals cool abilities (push!!!!) are based around strength checks modified by size. Being small leaves the poor guy at a disadvantage vs a lot of things around your CR. If you could get him up to large before advancing HD, that would be probably most advantageous. Lots of things like DR and Str mods are based on size, so while he'll lose a few HD, he'll gain some nice features to make up for it.

As far as gear, I don't think they can wear any. Even if they did, it would probably interfere with Earthglide, or at least fall off in the process.

Save up till you get a bit more cash and buy an inherant bonus for your little friend. Its permanant and won't cause problems with his perfered mode of transportation.

[Iku Rex]

Books available?

[Dode]

http://www.cooldoghalloffame.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/ip009018.jpg

[Lucyfur]

Bumping this because I have no idea what the op is talking about.