Familiar

In the Castlevania series, 'Familiar is the name given to any eidolon summoned by the player. Familiars can take many forms,such as bats, ghosts, and imps. Or, they could be formed from the souls of captured enemies. Their most common purpose is to provide the player with support skills. Some Familiars may also use special attacks to assist the player in combat.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night marks the first appearance of any such summoned creature in the series.

Origin of the Familiar
The concept of Familiars is one of many series elements borrowed from console role-playing games, where similar creatures are commonplace. The term "Familiar" has also been used historically as a reference to any of a witch's companion spirits. References to witches, witchcraft and associated practices are frequently used in the series.

Series Appearances
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Alucard can call five Familiars by locating Card relics scattered throughout the game's two castles. Only one of these may be active at any time during gameplay. They include:

Demon Familiar

Faerie Familiar

Ghost Familiar

Bat Familiar

Sword Familiar

The Faerie Card can be found in the Long Library. You will need to be able to transform into a Bat.

The Dracula X series also has:

Nose Demon Familiar

Fairy Familiar

Aria of Sorrow

The only familiars in this game are:

Mini-Devil Familiar

Alastor Familiar

 Dawn of Sorrow

Soma can summon familars after absorbing certain enemy's souls. All of them are guardian souls.
 * Bat Familiar
 * Corpseweed
 * Mini Devil
 * Needles
 * Great Armor
 * Harpy
 * Quetzalcoatl
 * Gaibon
 * Alastor
 * Alura Une