Versatile Metamagic Arcanist Advice

[Ravingdork]

Due to the way they can cast their spells, Arcanists have the potential to really excel with metamagic.

I want to make an arcanist that is extremely versatile with his spells and metamagic. What kind of options would you recommend for such a character around 10th-level?

I'm planning on taking a lot of metamagic feats, crafting some metamagic rods, having some spells prepared with metamagic and others added after the fact spontaneously with Metamixing. The questions are what metamagic should I bother with; which of those should be feats and which should be rods? Also, are there other abilities or options that might promote the concept of an extremely versatile spellcaster that can be ready for almost anything in only a round or two?

I also plan on getting a blessed book with all of the core arcanist spells of 5th-level and lower for use with Quick Study.

Please help me make this an awesome build.

[kestral287]

Well. It really depends on your goals. The immediate problem: most of the metamagic feats favor damage. This is not versatility.

The most generically-useful ones are Quicken and Piercing. Extend is nice too, for the spells it really works for. Persistent is good with SoS spells. Incidentally, Quicken is fantastic for a rod. Lots of important spells in the 3rd or lower range.

A more blastery focus opens up Intensified, Empowered, Maximized, and Dazing.

[Hama the Wandering Witch]

Reach spell comes to mind as being incredibly useful.