One Hit Wonders: Building a Bigger, Badder Brute

[Neal Litherland]

Another (hopefully helpful) guide brought to you by Improved Initiative. Because there's been argument in the past, the section regarding the Titan Mauler and the use of large-sized great weapons is because I haven't been able to find a definite consensus as to whether or not that's the intention of the Massive Weapons ability. If someone has a specific ruling on it, I would greatly appreciate chapter and verse. For the rest of it though, it's always fun laying your enemy low with a single blow. Happy rolling!

One Hit Wonders

[666bender]

I think Druids do bttter as one hit

[Neal Litherland]

666bender; the goal for this build is to build a melee strike without any assistance from magic, supernatural abilities, etc. While I agree that spellcasters, shapeshifters, and even rogues may have the capacity to do more damage under certain circumstances, this build can be used in any fight, round after round without end.

[AndIMustMask]

dotting, i do love me a big hit build.

(speaking of, look up the various big hit build threads, if'n you want more ideas to expand on)

also, narrow frame mount cavaliers (or the infamous halfling FCB cavalier) makes for a nice single-hit smashy guy.

[666bender]

well - shape shift is a "all day long" but i get the view.

cavalier, small size. mount = wolf, must feats are wheeling cart + ride by attack + spirited charge.
mount take dragon style for charge.
its 1 hit - and 1 hit its all its gonna take you .

other : fighter:
vital chain & intimidate chain. 2 hander archtype and stack up STR.
must have feats:
Deadly Stroke, vital strike. specialize, expertise, trip, greater trip, felling smash, weapon focus etc.
Deadly Stroke* + vital strike = 1 VERY hard hit.
that open free felling smash >>> trip = AOO = another hit.

its a one hit chain reaction nuclear hitter.

[Thaago]

666bender wrote:

well - shape shift is a "all day long" but i get the view.

cavalier, small size. mount = wolf, must feats are wheeling cart + ride by attack + spirited charge.
mount take dragon style for charge.
its 1 hit - and 1 hit its all its gonna take you .

other : fighter:
vital chain & intimidate chain. 2 hander archtype and stack up STR.
must have feats:
Deadly Stroke, vital strike. specialize, expertise, trip, greater trip, felling smash, weapon focus etc.
Deadly Stroke* + vital strike = 1 VERY hard hit.
that open free felling smash >>> trip = AOO = another hit.

its a one hit chain reaction nuclear hitter.

Unfortunately deadly stroke cannot be combined with either vital strike or felling smash. However, vital strike does work with felling smash (I was VERY surprised when I checked)! So yes - greater trip + vital strike + felling smash combos (though the vital strike does not apply to the AOO's).

[666bender]

Art one level is maeuver master monk....and now you get 2 AOO she tripping.
And a free grapple with ki binding ...
It one hit that turn into 3-4 hits.
Take crane, snake or turtle style and you get yet another ...
It's 1 hit that are more hits than a 2 weapon ranger

[CWheezy]

Titan mauler's can't wield weapons sized for them larger than medium btw.

Nothing in titan mauler lets you wield a large greataxe or a large greatsword

Note: I believe that it should, but paizo will never release errata on this, even though the author of the archetype wanted it to be that way

[Wiggz]

Here we go.

The concept is a character that hits very, very hard once per round and doesn't just deal damage but placed debilitating effects on his opponent like the Sickened, Shaken and Frightened conditions should they survive. And like all of my characters, he has some solid out of combat utility as well. The Fighter levels are taken at 1st, 2nd, 18th and 19th.

Human 4th level Two-Handed Fighter / 16th level Thug & Scout
Focused Study, Favored class option for Rogues (levels 3rd - 14th)

Attributes: (20 point buy)
STR - 16 (+2 racial bonus, +2 @ 11th, 15th & 17th)
DEX - 12
CON - 14
INT - 12
WIS - 8
CHA - 13 (+1 at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th)

Traits:
Defender of the Society (+1 AC when wearing medium or heavy armor)
Carefully Hidden (+1 Will saves, +2 vs. Divination effects)

Feats & Rogue Talents:
1st - Power Attack
1st - Furious Focus
1st - Skill Focus: Survival
2nd - Bludgeoner
3rd - Sap Adept
4th - Strong Impression *
5th - Eldritch Heritage Feat (Orc Bloodline) - Touch of Rage
6th - Combat Trick: Enforcer *
7th - Sap Master
8th - Skill Focus: Intimidate
8th - Offensive Defense *
8th - Weapon Training: Earthbreaker *
9th - Vital Strike
10th - Underhanded *
11th - Improved Eldritch Heritage (Orc Bloodline) - Strength of the Beast
12th - Hunter's Surprise
13th - Iron Will
14th - Hard to Fool *
14th - Opportunist *
15th - Dreadful Carnage
16th - Unwitting Ally *
16th - Skill Focus: Bluff
17th - Greater Eldritch Heritage (Orc Bloodline) - Power of Giants
19th - Improved Vital Strike
19th - Weapon Specialization: Earthbreaker
20th - Feat: Greater Vital Strike *

At 17th level, with a single attack using Power of Giants and gaining the benefit of sneak attack (which he will on a charge), the character deals 14d6+27 lethal damage or 22d6+43 non-lethal damage. At 20th level those numbers become 20d6+37 lethal or 28d6+53 non-lethal... and please bear in mind that this is with NO magic items whatsoever. Obviously a magical weapon, strength boosts, etc. would all significantly increase that damage. Also, th ebuild could obviously be optimized to be less well-rounded and more damage focused, but that would be to the detriment of the character as a whole in my opinion.