Shadowdancer and other Prestiges


Advice


I'm not big on multi-classing but some of the prestige classes have some awesome abilities, so...

What are some classes that have good synergy with the Shadowdancer Prestige class?

Also, what are some other classes that work well with other prestige classes?

Sovereign Court

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I'm not gonna go into "all classes that work with one of the many prestige classes" because that list is too long and there are too many builds imaginable. If you have some specific class or prestige class ask away and we'll see :)

Shadowdancer
For most people the draw to this PrC is the Shadow companion. It inherits your BAB, base saves and HP. So we're interested in a class that has good ones. Particularly we're interested in good Will, because as an incorporeal undead it's already immune to most things that require Fortitude and tends to take half damage from things that require Reflex. But we also don't want to forget about BAB. Which brings us to...


  • Paladin. Sounds silly right? But with a patron like Tanagaar it's not unthinkable. Side benefit is that a couple of other Shadowdancer abilities work around Charisma and paladins will have that. The downside is not progressing your Smite. The upside is lots of skill points.

  • Inquisitor. Your shadow can be your teamwork buddy, you provide good saving throws and you've got just enough time to reach Inquisitor 5 and pick up Bane before going into the PrC.

  • Fighter, Arcane Bloodrager - the idea here is to make a mage-killer. You get access to Disruptive feats, your shadow does Strength damage. You sneak up on people, your shadow goes through walls. It's a wizard's nightmare. Tempered Champion paladins can also try this. Requires fine planning of levels though.

  • Gunslinger - after level 5 when you get your Dex to damage on guns, the gunslinger class becomes boring. Why not branch out?

  • Monk (chained) - good saves, easy PrC requirements. A fast-moving grappler monk and a strength-damaging shadow can be a nasty assassination team. Because Shadowdancer gives Evasion, feel free to pick a monk archetype that gives it up.

  • Monk (unchained) - better BAB, worse Will, otherwise same story.

  • Unchained Rogue - it's always nice to have a flanking partner that can incorporeally travel through the ground to pop up on the other side of your enemy without AoOs. The PrC requirements emphasize Dexterity so there's that.

  • Fighter (Lorewarden) - since you need Combat Reflexes anyway, let's make this a fighter based on tripping/maneuvering your enemy so that he has a choice between sucking or provoking. Take Greater Maneuver feats so your enemies will provoke a lot from your Shadow as well. Disarm magical weapons. The shadow's strength damage reduces enemy CMD. Best with about 6 levels of fighter. The skill points and class skills are nice too.

Grand Lodge

To Add onto Ascalaphus:

I have seen a player Take Ranger as the Base Chassis for Shadowdancer. He shored up his Will save with Iron Will, items and Ioun Stone/Wayfinder. He also knew going in that he will have a support increasing his performance in battle.

He still was disappointed with the PrC but I thought I would throw out you could Qualify with Ranger/Slayer.

Op wrote:
Also, what are some other classes that work well with other prestige classes?

Dragon Disciple:

Sorcerer
Bloodrager
Bard (Reach weapon, 4 levels DD, Banner of the Ancient Kings+ Flagbearer. Surprisingly very good.)

Horizon Walker:
(A half Orc with the alternative racial Shaman's Apprentice makes qualifying easy.)

Most Melee types but defiantly Ranger and Slayer.


The real question is what level are you playing. There are significant prerequisites. If you want an optimal and quick route to shadow dancer, you are looking at monk (standard), monk (unchained), zen archer, fighter (standard or several archetypes), ranger, or slayer.

The Bard mentioned above sound quick as well.

Higher levels, especially if they are high enough, any class can benefit from hide in plain sight.


Thanks for the advice so far, this is very usefull.

Ascalaphus said wrote:
I'm not gonna go into "all classes that work with one of the many prestige classes" because that list is too long and there are too many builds imaginable. If you have some specific class or prestige class ask away and we'll see :)

Right, let me narrow that down. How about good combos for the Shadwdancer, Pathfinder Chronicler, and any of your favorites/effective combos you know.

Sovereign Court

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The Pathfinder Chronicler is a mostly forgotten PrC. Honestly, I don't see any use for it. Why not just make a bard and say he's a Pathfinder? You'll get abilities that do mostly the same things and much more besides.

Prestige classes I've seen used to effect or that I'd like to try include:


  • Bloodrager -> Dragon Disciple. Obvious but probably quite effective.
  • Arcane Trickster becomes much more worthwhile now that Accomplished Sneak Attacker lets you enter two levels earlier.
  • Champion of Irori risks being crazy MAD, but any PrC that lets you use Ki pool to smite more often is worth trying. I've seen some pretty sick high AC shenanigans with this; the key piece to make it work is an Agile enchantment on an Amulet of Mighty Fists.
  • I like the Evangelist PrC for clerics as a way to sacrifice one caster level to become a full-caster skill monkey.
  • Hellknight is cute. Take Cornugon Smash and the Fearsomeness Discipline and it becomes quite crazy.
  • Inheritor's Crusader is a sort of dip for paladins or clerics. Another trick is to take one cleric level for channel, and ham it up with an Oath of Vengeance paladin otherwise.
  • Living Monolith is actually a very good PrC because growing Large as a swift action is just very powerful in combat.
  • Mammoth Rider works well for druids and hunters, who can use mobility-enhancing spells on their mount. A huge mount (gargantuan with a Dire Collar) tends to break a lot of monster design expectations.
  • Pathfinder Savant is cute if you're into UMD to use ALL the scrolls and wands. I think it's particularly sweet for wizards.
  • Ulfen Guard - I think this one is underappreciated. It really does make for a competent bodyguard-style PC. It brings a decent Will save, good HP, mobility options and hitting power.

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