is mystic theurge worth it? [PFS]


Advice


Looking at the prestige class mystic theurge... in PFS spell like abilities don't count towards pre-reqs. Meaning you won't be able to get your first level in until 7 and at 11 you still will only have access to 4th level spells...

IDK it seems like a lot to give up, but the flavor is so tempting....


It is a lot to give up - doable, but your contribution lags behind a lot. If it's the flavor you're after, perhaps try a lore oracle or lore shaman? Or, heck - why not both?


Without aasimar early entry cheese, no.


Can a class that trades Offensive effectiveness for greater adaptability?

Not if Offensive effectiveness is the highest priority.


If your group is optimized enough and doesn't need a full caster (or already has one) it'll be okay. You're right though, the time between 1st and 9th level (before you get 4th level spells if you're a cleric/wizard Mystic Theurge) is absolutely brutal.

If I may make a suggestion, use the Ecclesitheurge cleric archetype if possible. You already can't use armor so this archetype gives you more versatility (an Arcane Bonded Item and the ability to swap out one of your domain bonus spell lists when you prepare) in return for only -1d6 to your channel energy.

Liberty's Edge

Mystic theurg is hard too Lev but worth it when you start leveling both classes. A mystic theurg is all about quantity over quality. Huge number of spells per day and insane verity. Suggest leveling up to level 3 cleric and then taking level 3 wizard as you will get the higher level spells quicker than sorcerers and oracles. Take domains and arcane schools that don't rely too much on level. (I went with hand of acolyte and hand of apprentice for my character) leveling will be a b$#@* but that level 16 ability to dual vast spells with a bonus to how hard they hit is so worth it.


cdkc wrote:

Mystic theurg is hard too Lev but worth it when you start leveling both classes. A mystic theurg is all about quantity over quality. Huge number of spells per day and insane verity. Suggest leveling up to level 3 cleric and then taking level 3 wizard as you will get the higher level spells quicker than sorcerers and oracles. Take domains and arcane schools that don't rely too much on level. (I went with hand of acolyte and hand of apprentice for my character) leveling will be a b@**@ but that level 16 ability to dual vast spells with a bonus to how hard they hit is so worth it.

Please note that the advice requested was for PFS, which more or less tops out around level 12. You're horrible from level 3 to 9 or pretty much most of your PFS career.

You're not getting THAT many more spells (consider that each level adds more spells, stat bonus, and specialization/domain*) and the ones you get are much weaker. A level 8 mystic theurge is going into 7-11 scenarios with the spells of a 3rd level character. Krune is not impressed by second level spells.

* there is no call to be a generalist wizard, at all

Silver Crusade

It depends on what you mean by "Worth it".

You'll definitely be weaker than a full caster would be.

You'll still be an effective character as you partly make up for that lack of strength with an amazing amount of versatility.

It REALLY hurts at the odd levels and especially at the low odd levels.

At level 8, for example, you're getting 3/3 spells as opposed to 4. Not a huge problem.

But at level 7 you're still getting L2 spells as opposed to L4 which IS a huge deal.


Oh.... OP, if you're only going to get to 12 or so you might not want to play Mystic Theurge unless you really, really like the flavor of it. The class by itself doesn't become fun until later (n my opnion at least); you'll only have about 2-3 levels of class-based fun (if that makes any sense).

Dark Archive

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Mystic Theurge is a tricky concept, but you have to remember that despite its flaws (like diluded casting, straining your point buy, completely cannibalizing your class features, undercutting any kinds of spells involving Spell Resist or Saving Throws, taking more than half of your entire PSF carreer to actually kick in, and making your desirable stat headband painfully expensive) there is that one great level. That one Character level where you can really shine.

At level 1.

There are a several ways to play as a caster who's spell list blends divine nd arcane. Unchained Summoners, Cleric domains, Oracle mysteries, that healing Arcanist archetype, or hell, even a Kineticist with the healing Wild Talent if you fluff it up.

There's "versatility" and then there's "watered down." By the time a Theurge is getting their first level in the class, your average 9th level caster is going to be able to toss out about as many spells while having magic strong enough to get the job done with fewer castings anyway.


I would say "no" to the original question.

I opened my own thread if the Mystic Theurge is ultimately worth the losses, and that is a "maybe", but its also about a character than can get to level 20.

In pathfinder society you really dont gain anything for being prestige. Prestige classes are mainly there to latch onto another class level 7-8ish and you stop once your prestige class gets to level 10.

Max level outside of certain events in PFS is level 12, and usually its more like 8 as not everyone wants to max out their levels fast and go through characters like tissues. You get almost nothing from being a Mystic Theurge. Their primary gain is really the final ability they get, Spell Synthesis as it allows them to cast one Arcane and one Divine spell every turn instead of picking.

Thats actually a major problem is the Mystic Theurge as a concept. You can get more spells overall, but you can still only cast once per turn until you get Spell Synthesis at about level 16. Also, you can only use it once per day.

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