What ways can a pure martial get Find Familiar at level 1?

Question

I want to have a familiar on a character of a class without access to Spellcasting or Pact Magic features, and I want this to occur at level 1.

The way I know how to do it is with a feat that gives access to a level 1 spell, like Ritual Caster, but I don't want the character to be a variant Human; they are too mundane.

Are there ways to get a feat at level 1 without being a human or to obtain a familiar through some other means while still at level 1? (So multiclassing or a subclass that give classes like fighters and rogues spell slots are off the table.)

Answer 1

Custom Lineage gives you a feat at level 1

Source: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

Instead of choosing one of the game's races for your character at 1st level, you can use the following traits to represent your character's lineage, giving you full control over how your character's origin shaped them:

Creature type. You are a humanoid. You determine your appearance and whether you resemble any of your kin.

Size. You are Small or Medium (your choice).

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2.

Feat. You gain one feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Variable Trait. . You gain one of the following options of your choice: Darkvision with a range of 60 feet. Proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.

Note that Custom Lineage is not human as per the OP's requirement.

Answer 2

Kill a wyrmling dragon

Fizban's Treasury of Dragons includes the following draconic gift (p. 28):

Draconic Familiar

Draconic Gift, Uncommon You gain the aid of a draconic familiar, which might be a splinter of the consciousness of a dragon that invested you with power.

You can cast the find familiar spell as a ritual without using any material components. When you cast the spell in this way, your familiar always takes the form of a pseudodragon.

Uncommon draconic gifts can be won from killing a wyrmling dragon. A white dragon wyrmling, for example, is CR2 - a very risky and deadly fight for a level 1 party, due to the breath weapon, but winnable with a bit of luck and preparation. (How you deal with the enraged parents is another story — best leave no tracks and make sure to leave the scene fast and far).

Of course, you then also need to work with your DM and have your DM play along and have this be the transfer of power draconic gift effect. But it's an official rules based way to get this spell on level one for a martial, it is not based on just pandering to the DM for a gratuitous handout - you will have earned it. So, become a dragonslayer.

(Or, as @TreeSpawned points out, the dragon can also bestow this gift to their chosen heir (p. 27) so with DM support, this could be part of your backstory).

Answer 3

Obtain a Ring of Spell Storing

And a friendly caster who knows Find Familiar

The Ring of Spell Storing allows another caster to load up the item with spells up to 5th level, which includes Find Familiar. The person attuned to the ring (you in this case) can then cast the spell, with the effects acting with you as the caster - meaning you gain control of the familiar.

You'll need someone who knows the spell to cast it into the ring for you at least once initially, and if your familiar later dies (or you want to change its form) you'll need a new copy of the spell loaded. The ring can store up to 5 spell levels, so up to 5 castings of Find Familiar 'banked' at a time. If you don't have a party member with the spell, your DM could allow a friendly NPC to load up your ring on occasion.

The ring is a Rare item, and so usually not something that you'd find at 1st level. However, working with your DM you could, for example, come to an arrangement where the item is specifically only used for Find Familiar, making it less of a balance issue for those early levels.

Answer 4

In addition to the other answers provided, you could use a Spellwrought Tattoo (Common) from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. This is of course dependant on if your DM allows you to start with a magic item of common rarity. If they do, they could just as easily just allow you to start with it already cast.

The Spellwrought Tattoo lets you cast the spell only once, but so long as your familiar doesn't die, you presumably only need to cast it once and can still summon/dismiss it at your will. You won't be able to change its form without recasting the spell however.

Spellwrought Tattoo

Source: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

Wondrous item (tattoo), rarity varies

Produced by a special needle, this magic tattoo contains a single spell of up to 5th level, wrought on your skin by a magic needle. To use the tattoo, you must hold the needle against your skin and speak the command word. The needle turns into ink that becomes the tattoo, which appears on the skin in whatever design you like. Once the tattoo is there, you can cast its spell, requiring no material components. The tattoo glows faintly while you cast the spell and for the spell's duration. Once the spell ends, the tattoo vanishes from your skin.

The level of the spell in the tattoo determines the spell's saving throw DC, attack bonus, spellcasting ability modifier, and the tattoo's rarity, as shown in the Spellwrought Tattoo table.

Answer 5

A non-custom lineage option would be either rewarded or ruined backgrounds, which can grant the magic initiate feat.

Gold buy route could give you enough to buy a scroll of find familiar as well

Answer 6

If you choose a race with racial casting you can pick up a Strixhaven Primer.

It allows you to cast one level one spell once for free after a long rest, no spell slot required. The choice of school dictates what classes spell list you have access to; for example Witherbloom can choose Druid or Wizard spells. The attunement requirement is ‘Spellcaster’ so play a Drow, Elf, maybe even a Forest Gnome and make your familiar.

(You can also change the spell each day while keeping your familiar, for something useful on the fly, but I understand keeping Find Familiar as an option in case you lose your buddy.)