Arcanist Eldritch Knight


Advice


So I was wondering how to build a Blade Adept Arcanist into an Eldritch Knight. Assuming all Paizo books are open, and this character starts at 12th and goes to 17th, how would I build it? I was thinking Ranger (Guide) as the martial half, though a Fighter archetype or Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) might not be half bad. The character is supposed to be competent in melee but also an arcane fullcaster with 9th level spells. Any ideas?


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Swashbuckler (inspired blade) 1/arcanist (blade adept; sword bond with rapier) 6 (for 3rd-level spells)/eldritch knight 2/arcanist +3 (to qualify for Dispelling Strike and Hasted Assault), then eldritch knight +8. End up with +15 BAB and spell progression as an 18th level arcanist (9th-level spells).

Improved Critical and an agile weapon. Everything else to your taste.


Dragonchess Player wrote:

Swashbuckler (inspired blade) 1/arcanist (blade adept; sword bond with rapier) 6 (for 3rd-level spells)/eldritch knight 2/arcanist +3 (to qualify for Dispelling Strike and Hasted Assault), then eldritch knight +8. End up with +15 BAB and spell progression as an 18th level arcanist (9th-level spells).

Improved Critical and an agile weapon. Everything else to your taste.

Is this a comparable gish to a straight Magus? Or a battle Cleric?

Any way to get good armor that isn't mage armor, isn't wizard's mail, and aren't bracers?


Wizards Mail?

There is this Metal Wizard

Dunno if thats what you mean.

as for how it compares, 15 BAB is Pure Magus BAB. Might I suggest picking up the Dimensional Savant tree?


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My Self wrote:
Dragonchess Player wrote:

Swashbuckler (inspired blade) 1/arcanist (blade adept; sword bond with rapier) 6 (for 3rd-level spells)/eldritch knight 2/arcanist +3 (to qualify for Dispelling Strike and Hasted Assault), then eldritch knight +8. End up with +15 BAB and spell progression as an 18th level arcanist (9th-level spells).

Improved Critical and an agile weapon. Everything else to your taste.

Is this a comparable gish to a straight Magus? Or a battle Cleric?

Any way to get good armor that isn't mage armor, isn't wizard's mail, and aren't bracers?

At 12th character level, it will be 2 BAB behind (will only be one behind at 13th level and equal at 17th level), but has 5th-level spells instead of 4th-level spells (and will gain 6th-level spells at 14th and 7th-level spells at 16th, while the magus gains 5th-level spells at 13th and 6th-level spells at 16th). So, the arcanist/eldritch knight will hit slightly less often (unless you use heroism, which the arcanist has on its spell list without using an arcana to pick it up via Spell Blending) but is a better and (much) more versatile caster.

For armor, if you don't want to use your swift actions on Arcane Armor Training while wearing a mithral mail shirt/mithral kikko, a haramaki or silken ceremonial armor both have a base +1 armor bonus and no ACP or spell failure (and can be enhanced more cheaply than bracers). Alternately, darkleaf cloth studded leather only has a spell failure chance of 5%.


I only recommend Eldritch Knight builds for people who are starting at a high level. The Magus has much better class features, spellcasting on par until the mid-teens, and BAB that only pulls ahead at level 20 or so (provided you took a second prestige class with full casting and 3/4 BAB). The Blade Adept can claw back some of the class features, but it's still not as good for most of the game.


Would it be better using a Human-derivative, an Elf, a Tiefling, or a Samsaran?


My Self wrote:
Would it be better using a Human-derivative, an Elf, a Tiefling, or a Samsaran?

It depends on what you want from the character. Most people who want to go Eldritch Knight usually want more versatility. That typically requires more feats, and thus a human fighter is usually the best way to go about it.

Fighter 1/Blade Adept 6/Eldritch Knight 5

Would give a further breakdown but I need more info.

Point Buy? Stat rolls? Array?

Any significant house rules in effect?


No significant house rules that will affect this sort of character, 4d6 drop lowest stat roll. Leadership is technically allowed, but nobody takes it as a sort of gentleman's agreement. GM occasionally hands out useful things for classes that fall significantly behind in terms of everything (Read: Rogue). Feats need to have a brief explanation of why they're there, so if this character has a religion feat or becomes a Paladin or whatnot, it shouldn't be out of the blue.

Optimization floor is CRB, though some players will be better than that.

Can expect to see a Paladin, a Bard, and a Rogue.

Edit to the first post: It's probably going 15th-20th.


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If you're starting that late, here's a trick:

Magus 1/{Witch or Wizard} 5/Eldritch Knight 6

Using the EK diverse training feature, take Extra Arcana (Broad Study: Wizard) at level 11 when your effective magus level for prereqs is 6. You get spellstrike and spell combat with wizard spells, and you have 6th level spells from the start.

If you go the same route with Arcanist as the full caster you'll need to retrain a feat at character level 12 or wait till next level for the broad study.


My Self wrote:

No significant house rules that will affect this sort of character, 4d6 drop lowest stat roll. Leadership is technically allowed, but nobody takes it as a sort of gentleman's agreement. GM occasionally hands out useful things for classes that fall significantly behind in terms of everything (Read: Rogue). Feats need to have a brief explanation of why they're there, so if this character has a religion feat or becomes a Paladin or whatnot, it shouldn't be out of the blue.

Optimization floor is CRB, though some players will be better than that.

Can expect to see a Paladin, a Bard, and a Rogue.

Edit to the first post: It's probably going 15th-20th.

I missed that part. A few things to note:

- If you want 9th level spells, the only way to do it by level 20 (with an Arcanist base and without VMC:Oracle) is to fill your last levels (after completing Eldritch Knight) with either more Arcanist levels or a full-spellcasting prestige class. If you choose one with 3/4 BAB and full casting you can have 9th level spells and 16 BAB at level 20, but the choices there are very limited: Hellknight Signifer comes to mind, but it has some pretty severe restrictions and requires you to burn a feat on Arcane Armor Training anyways. Not sure if there are any others out there.

- As Pathfinder still lacks a Practiced Spellcaster equivalent feat, the only way to regain caster levels lost to multiclassing is through the Magical Knack trait.

- The only combat feat you will really need is Fencing Grace, and Inspired Blade takes care of the prerequisites for you.

- Strongly consider the Dimensional Agility feat line, and ask your DM if you can use Outflank in conjunction with Dimensional Savant. After all, you do count as your own ally.


I am surprised nobody has mentioned VMC:Battle Oracle. It removes the need for you to take a martial class, so you only end up 1 level behind in your casting.


Snowblind wrote:
I am surprised nobody has mentioned VMC:Battle Oracle. It removes the need for you to take a martial class, so you only end up 1 level behind in your casting.

That would make for a rather... interesting? flavor. Though it kinda bothers me that VMC Oracle can get all martial weapons, but VMC Fighter doesn't (and is generally just weak).

I like the Arcanist casting, especially with the ability to prepare the spells Magi use a lot and cast them on the fly. And even if the intensified shocking grasp doesn't stick, you haven't wasted your spell slots because you have other spells.

I found Living Monolith as a 3/4 BAB full caster class, but the flavor is rather esoteric. Any less weird classes that advance CL and BAB?

Are Extra Arcanist Exploits good feats to take?


I am surprised nobody mentioned VMC:magus. I mean blade adept gets spell strike too, but you are giving up most of your exploits for it. plus this opens up other archetypes like the blood arcanist (innate strength? elemental manipulation?), white mage, or the brow fur transmuter.


Use Headbutt!! wrote:
I am surprised nobody mentioned VMC:magus. I mean blade adept gets spell strike too, but you are giving up most of your exploits for it. plus this opens up other archetypes like the blood arcanist (innate strength? elemental manipulation?), white mage, or the brow fur transmuter.

VMC Magus only works with spells off the Magus list.


My Self wrote:


VMC Magus only works with spells off the Magus list.

Yes but you can still take Broad Study as an arcana/feat if you really want.

@avr Diverse Training does not count for Arcanas, only for feats, so that trick does not work

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