Mesmerist advice - School with most will saves

[This Side]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to build a debuff-focused mesmerist, and an obviously going to focus on spells with will saves.

Does anyone have an opinion on which spell school has the most useful spells with will saves? Looking into planning spell focus feats, etc. Also trying to decide if going with a gnome for the illusion bonus is worth it.

[Jem'Nai]

Enchantment and illision have will saves.

[nennafir]

Honestly, playing a mesmerist now, I don't think this is really their strength. Yes, the stare does lower will saves, but you have to balance this against the fact that as a 6th level caster your spells will be on balance lower level than a 9th level caster and so will tend to have lower DCs. Also, you have less spells than the 9th level caster, so when one gets resisted it hurts that much more because you might not have another one.

I would go with a (PFS-legal) Kitsune fey sorcerer (use favored class bonus to increase DCs) possibly crossblooded with undead or serpentine bloodlines. I think your save DCs will overall be higher with this route, and you will get more spells.

For better or for worse, I think mesmerist is best done not as a pure caster but more of a hybrid where you also focus on doing damage so you get the benefit of painful stare.

Edit: Obviously, get Spell Focus (Enchantment) and Greater Spell Focus (Enchantment) on whichever one you do.