(3.5) Best combat familiar match-up for a Duskblade?

[Coidzor]

So, I was working on a Duskblade build (ECL 8 to start), but wasn't sure what kind of familiar would be the most ferocious auxiliary combatant/flanker.

Or is this misguided and a more utility-oriented familiar like an imp or other familiar that can use tools and magic items would be better even with the BAB/HP of a combat focused Duskblade master?

[dsmiles]

So, I was working on a Duskblade build (ECL 8 to start), but wasn't sure what kind of familiar would be the most ferocious auxiliary combatant/flanker.

Or is this misguided and a more utility-oriented familiar like an imp or other familiar that can use tools and magic items would be better even with the BAB/HP of a combat focused Duskblade master?

Can you get a weasel, then cast enlarge animal on it? Or perhaps a racoon, they have cute little hands, and with a familiar's intelligence, they could be taught to use simple tools.

[SurlySeraph]

There are combat familiars in Complete Warrior that you might find useful; a Winter Wolf would be pretty nice.

[true_shinken]

Winter wolf seems to be ranked pretty high, but a properly equiped imp is just nasty.
But are sure burning two feats on that is worth it?

[realbombchu]

I like blink dogs, also from Complete Warrior's improved familiars list. Blink dogs are good at flanking, but yeah, imps are very powerful familiars too.

[Akal Saris]

I'd go with a winter wolf, especially if one of the PCs can ride it as well.