Looking for Wildshaping / Shapechanging Martial


Advice


What possible builds are there to create a melee oriented character, that relies on polymorphing?
Many Archetypes only get natural attacks, but cannot truly transform themselves.

-Beastmorph Alchemist is pretty strong, but neither a martial character nor can he fully transform
-Kitsune with Fox Shape, pretty small and weak lacks extra attacks, might work with a Dex build
-Werebatkin-Skinwalker with Dire Bat Shape can fly but lacks extra attacks


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Honestly, a druid makes a damn fine melee oriented character.

Grab the growth domain to enlarge yourself for reach easily, grab a reach weapon from somewhere (a dip, a trait, etc) and the stat boost from wild shape easily overcomes the 3/4 BAB


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A 4 level dip and Shaping Focus is all you need in Druid to make full use of their animal line as they get beast shape at level 8. If you want the elemental line, you have to drop 8 levels, but after that other classes are good options. Feral Hunter is also an option, as it gives you a low permanent bonus as well as more skill points.

Then you can take your choice of Barbarian or alternatively Monk, or other martial based class and roll from there. I like to take at least one level of Barbarian first, for the rage and the extra HP.


druid, primal hunter, Metamorph alchemist.


I know the druid is fine, I would prefer not being a druid though. A 4-level dip could work though.
There is also that new Ranger/Druid feat(forgot the name), that lets their abilities scale further when multiclassed.

So a Primal Companion Hunter, whose pet dies can get lots of Evolutions.

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

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6th level Cave Druid with Shaping Focus and 2 levels of Ranger for Improved Natural Attack and Fighter levels for feats.

Various Ooze forms like Tyrant Ooze or Crystal Carn (7d8).

Sovereign Court

Aww mentioned above the metamorph alchemist gets you long duration monstrous humanoid shapschange (basically all day by around lvl 6).


I3igAl wrote:
What possible builds are there to create a melee oriented character, that relies on polymorphing?

Here's one

Liberty's Edge

If third party material is allowed, check out the
Skin-changer in the New Paths Compendium from Kobold Press

skin-changer


I3igAl wrote:

I know the druid is fine, I would prefer not being a druid though. A 4-level dip could work though.

There is also that new Ranger/Druid feat(forgot the name), that lets their abilities scale further when multiclassed.

So a Primal Companion Hunter, whose pet dies can get lots of Evolutions.

The feat you were asking about, that allows Ranger and Druid abilities scale while multiclassed, is called Shapeshifting Hunter.


Metamorph is interesting, but it gives up so much!! I've explored some builds that incorporate it (four or five levels give you enough shifting and mutagen to last; then you can go into a full BAB class of your choice), but it just seems weak if you single-class it. Metamorph 4/mutagenic mauler brawler X looks strong (would the two mutagens stack for duration, though?); metamorph/monk is cool, but a bit weak; metamorph/barbarian gives you all the STR.

Has anyone worked out a good metamorph build? Maybe its viability would surprise us.


his functions as an alchemist's mutagen and uses the brawler's class level as her alchemist level for this ability (alchemist levels stack with brawler levels for determining the effect of this ability).

so for the brawler they stack because it specifically says it does. But the Mutation Warrior fighter archetype doesn't specifically say so it doesn't stack and you'd have two separate mutagens.


I3igAl wrote:

I know the druid is fine, I would prefer not being a druid though. A 4-level dip could work though.

There is also that new Ranger/Druid feat(forgot the name), that lets their abilities scale further when multiclassed.

So a Primal Companion Hunter, whose pet dies can get lots of Evolutions.

You're thinking of the feat Shape-shifting Hunter, let's your ranger/druid levels stack for wild shaping and favored enemy


Catfolk Nimble Guardian


Are you permitted 3pp? The taskshaper might be what you're looking for


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Barbarian 2 (Moment of Clarity)/skald (spell warrior; Lingering Song feat) 1/wizard (Transmutation/Shapechange school) 2/dragon disciple (increase wizard casting) 4/eldritch knight 10/wizard +1 and learn/scribe every polymorph subschool spell (1st- through 8th-level), as well as taking the Multimorph arcane discovery.

Unless you mean "martial" = "non-spellcaster."


If your table accepts 3PP material, an Alteration user from Spheres of Power can be an EXCELLENT shapechanging martial.


Shaping Focus will let you count your druid level as 4 higher (to a max of your class level), if you're going multiclass. It specifically requires you to be a muticlass druid, though.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

If third party is allowed, I'm a fan of Paranormal Adventures' shapeshifter.

Otherwise, perhaps the flesheater barbarian? Some bloodrager bloodlines - such as arcane and draconic - offer such possibilities, but usually only at high level. An alchemist isn't a terrible option, though, they have a lot of polymorph spells on their formulae list, and their mutagen can really help make up the difference between not being full BAB. The metamorph is also an interesting take on it, though they give up a lot.


Darigaaz the Igniter wrote:
Shaping Focus will let you count your druid level as 4 higher (to a max of your class level), if you're going multiclass. It specifically requires you to be a muticlass druid, though.

The OP said that if he were to be a Druid, it would only be a 4 level dip, so Shaping focus would be essential.

The build I linked to further up on this thread uses Shaping Focus.

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