Sword Saint / Kensai multiclass. Lets make it work!

[Bluehulk45]

Hi guys! First time posting on this website! Im getting ready to play the Jade Regent campaign and I really like the sword-saint samurai archtype and the Kensai magus archtype, and I was wondering, how would i multiclass with these two classes and would it viable in the long run for this campaign?

Thanks

-Bluehulk

[Kazaan]

Well, both classes scale strongly with levels so, unless you're going to Gestalt, you're going to be sub-par right out of the gate. That having been said, since Magus can pretty much "do their thing" right out of the gate, whereas the Sword Saint needs a bit of a level ramp before he can really come to the fore, I'd say you're best off dipping Kensai just for supplemental benefits.

Shocking Grasp comes to mind as, with Spellstrike, it will give you a +3 to your attack roll against opponents wearing metal. Probably focus more Shocking Grasp and self-buffs and stay away from spells that require a save, since your caster level and Int are going to be pretty low.

Another thing to mention, just in case you didn't know, is a little trick to the Sword Saint. Iaijutsu Strike is a full-round Use Special Ability action. That means you can use the Start/Finish Full-round Action actions with it. So you can Start the Iaijutsu Strike in one round, move, then complete it in the next round in order to get your positioning.

However, if you can go Gestalt for this, it can be a monster combo.

[swoosh]

My honest advice would be to not. Sword Saint is one of the worst archetypes in the entire game unless you're level 3 and its core mechanic is incompatible with the magus' core mechanic.

Otherwise Kazaan has some good advice.

[Bluehulk45]

So I can't have the spellstrike affect the Iaijustu strike?

[swoosh]

Spellstrike can, but spell combat cannot.

It's also going to take two rounds to pull off unless you can quicken your spell.

[Bluehulk45]

and can i take a feat for that?

[Ventnor]

Not until you can cast Level 4 Magus spells, which would be when you get 10 Magus levels.

If your character concept is "Mystical Swordsman with a Katana," then just go with a Kensai Magus. You'll be fine.

[BadBird]

Here's a rather different character concept for combining Sword Saint and spellcasting:

1. Race: Basic Aasimar with the Daylight SLA
2. Abilities: 16+ STR, 10 DEX, 12 CHA, 10 INT, 8/10 WIS, 16/18+ CHA
3. Main Class: Sword Saint Samurai
4. Other Class: Dual-Cursed Lore Oracle with Sidestep Secret, plus take Extra Revelation for the Dual-Cursed Misfortune revelation.
5. "Spellcasting": Use the Aasimar Heavenly Radiance feat to gain Wandering Star Motes and Sunbeam. Take it as many more times as possible to gain extra uses per day.

This gives you a character who has almost full Sword Saint levels, plus the ability to use CHA for armor class, plus the ability to cast a couple of powerful spell-like abilities, plus the ability to use the Misfortune revelation to make those spell-like abilities crush enemy saving throws. The biggest benefit to how it comes together is that you can throw a spell while positioning to use your Iaijutsu Strike on the next round.

[Kazaan]

To add to BadBird's suggestion, take the Noble Scion trait for Scion of War which lets you use Cha in place of Dex for Initiative rolls.