Best defensive Divine Caster Build? (PFS)


Advice

Scarab Sages

So, I have a lot of characters that do pretty well at destroying enemies and I want to create a new character that's a bit different. I'm curious on what is the best route / plan to make a defensive divine caster that's capable of keeping everyone alive and making sure that PFS missions don't fail. I'm essentially thinking of a character that has the ability to walk into a room, not give a crap about getting killed, and save his allies from impending doom.

I've thought of Life Oracle - seems a bit dull and super heal'ish. Which is great for keeping people alive but I'm not seeing anything that really keeps HIM alive when the bad guys decide to tackle him.

I've also considered an Abjuration focused Sanctuary caster. Which I've found to be able to get up to an impressive 25-27 Will save DC by level 7-9'ish. BUT, it means that the 1st turn in every combat is used up by casting Sanctuary. It keeps enemies off the caster...but, you're kind of forced to burn your 1st turn all the time. Maybe there's something better?

So, what are your thoughts on a super defensive divine caster? Some really cool defensive abilities? Insane AC? Some go-to spell that shuts majority of enemies from just outright 1shotting the healer? Would love to hear everyone's thoughts on how to make a character with healing access that is hard to kill or shut down.

Grand Lodge

I haven't been targeted much at all in PFS with my Life Shaman. But Arcane Enlightenment gives you access to Sorc/Wiz spells like Mirror Image, and provides you with the sort of control to keep your group from getting focused. Human FCB to pick up Resist Energy Communal for fire.

I wouldn't over-invest in personal defenses unless you're expecting to get up into melee. Toughness and Reactive Healing are probably all you need. A protector familiar will also go a long way towards keeping you up, although the familiar itself is a little squishier than I'd like.

Spell Storing armor with Stricken Heart or Frigid Touch is a great way to shut down full attacks, and a heal item that triggers when you drop below 0 (Dawnflower Sash or similar.)

The main thing you need to worry about is crits. Jingasa will protect you, but I like Fate's Shears for general group protection. But you could go Dual Cursed Life Oracle as well.

Scarab Sages

Any other suggestions? Archetypes / Combos that increase survivability or defense?


Dual Cursed Spirit Guide Life Oracle.

Dual Cursed gives Misfortune which is, by itself, a very powerful probability control ability, allowing you to cancel crits and failed saves on your team.

Spirit Guide gives you spells and a hex known that can be swapped out each scenario to cover holes in your party composition. No knowledge monkey? Lore Spirit makes you instantly competent in every knowledge skill you have a rank in (which should be all of them) and gives you some handy divination spells. Nothing for dealing with swarms? Grab the Flame Spirit and drop burning hands, fireball, and wall of fire. Team lacking in mobility? Heavens Spirit gives you a free teleport for each of your team mates, as well as a stack of save or suck/lose spells.

Life Oracle? That's for Channel for team heals when the poop hits the proverbial fan. Snag Selective Channel early on. Party member drops? Channel for ranged aoe heals to keep them alive. At level 4, you're going to want Burst of Radiance, a spell from Champions of Purity, as the aoe blind status and piddly damage go a surprisingly long way to keeping the party alive.

Remember that succeeding in a PFS scenario often requires more than simple combat viability. I just played my oracle in a scenario the other night, and without my knowledge skills, our party would've been incredibly hard put to earn even one prestige, let alone both. Defensive healer is a good start, but make sure to be versatile in your capabilities.


Here's an incredibly defensive druid/stalwart defender build I made a while back. Develops too late for PFS play, but I thought I'd mention it just the same.


Ryzoken wrote:

Dual Cursed Spirit Guide Life Oracle.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those both alter the Mystery Bonus Class skills class feature.

Silver Crusade

Cleric with a two level dip in Monk. Can have a really high AC and evasion. To the point where they can go in to a room move around and provoke all the AoO they want and not care.


Do a search for Oradin (Oracle/Paladin).


Anzyr wrote:
Ryzoken wrote:

Dual Cursed Spirit Guide Life Oracle.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those both alter the Mystery Bonus Class skills class feature.

So they do. Meh. Dual cursed is better defensively, spirit guide is more flexible. Take your pick.

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