Best DPR by Level


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


I want to see what some good DPR builds are by level.Here are the rules:

*Must be able to attack consistently for 8 rounds.
*20-point buy.
*You get no prep round.However,you can have a spell cast on you before combat that lasts at least 8 rounds(48 seconds).
*Two traits.
*Wands are viable-other consumables are not.Use thiswealth by level.
*Use these monster defenses by level-using the CR equal to your level.I will try to provide rules for caster at a later time.

Finally,here is how you calculate DPR,shamelessly borrowed from the DPR Olympics thread:
* Damage/round formula: h(d+s)+ft(cd+cb+r)

h = Chance to hit, expressed as a percentage. This doesn't exceed .95 (unless you autohit for whatever reason) and never goes below .05.
d = Normal damage. This is any damage that happens any time you hit.
s = Damage which isn't multiplied on a crit. "s" stands for sneak attack, but this includes elemental/alignment properties on weapons, manyshot damage, and so on.
t = Chance to roll a threat. This is the threat range of your weapon or your chance to hit, whichever is lower.
f = This is your chance to confirm a threat. Most of the time, this is equal to h. If you have Critical Focus, it's (h+.2) or .95, whichever is higher. If you auto-confirm crits, as with a level 20 fighter or Bless Weapon, this is 1.
c = This is the number of bonus multiples you get from a crit. A 2x crit weapon is 1, a 3x crit weapon is 2, etc.

-- Remember to subtract one from your crit multiplier, or your damage will be over-done in the formula!

b = This is elemental burst damage, such as from fiery burst weapons and thundering. Such enhancements self-multiply based on your crit multiplier; if they don't, then they're added to r and not b.
r = This is fixed bonus damage dealt on a crit. No such abilities exist in PF core, to my knowledge.

Level 1
15.1 DPR:Barbarian 1/Scythe/Power Attack and Extra Rage/20 Str,14 Con.

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Level 8

Level 9

Level 10

Level 11

Level 12


sphar wrote:

*Must be able to attack consistently for 8 rounds.

To take this a step further, I think the DPR should be calculated for each of the 8 rounds then divided by 8 to give your average DPR over those 8 rounds. Why would you do this? So you can take into account those DPR builds that use bleed damage as their primary concept for dealing damage.


Good idea.


sphar wrote:


*Must be able to attack consistently for 8 rounds.

8 rounds? That's a long ass fight given the rocket launcher tag nature of combat. If your still fighting past the 5th round, in most cases, I think your in deep s@*@.


WPharolin wrote:
sphar wrote:


*Must be able to attack consistently for 8 rounds.
8 rounds? That's a long ass fight given the rocket launcher tag nature of combat. If your still fighting past the 5th round, in most cases, I think your in deep s#~@.

Well we could do the calculations for 5 rounds but that's really up to sphar. 5 or 8 rounds, either is ok with me as long as we have consistency across all the build ideas.


c873788 wrote:


Well we could do the calculations for 5 rounds but that's really up to sphar. 5 or 8 rounds, either is ok with me as long as we have consistency across all the build ideas.

Ultimately, the shorter amount of time is going to better represent what a real character does at the table. Also, the DPR of bleeding effects get artificially inflated in unreasonably long time tables.

I guess it really doesn't matter either way since this is just a friendly challenge, but I thought I'd point that out as something to consider.


I am assuming the 8 rounds is to prevent nova-ing 120dpr at level 2 sounds impressive until they tell you they are a staggered commoner for the rest of the day.


sphar wrote:
I want to see what some good DPR builds are by level.

Ok, here we go. 2 weapon kukri wielding Ranger who uses Power attack (assuming FE) and uses Bleeding Critical at 11th and 12th level to do extra damage.

Total DPR
lvl 1 10.26
lvl 2 14.20
lvl 3 15.70
lvl 4 18.34
lvl 5 28.18
lvl 6 49.79
lvl 7 55.83
lvl 8 58.31
lvl 9 66.22
lvl 10 93.53
lvl 11 155.54
lvl 12 158.64
60.38 Average over 12 levels

The link for all the details, go here:

ranger dpr.


c873788 wrote:
sphar wrote:

*Must be able to attack consistently for 8 rounds.

To take this a step further, I think the DPR should be calculated for each of the 8 rounds then divided by 8 to give your average DPR over those 8 rounds. Why would you do this? So you can take into account those DPR builds that use bleed damage as their primary concept for dealing damage.

Most enemies will be staying alive one or two rounds by the time you get a chance to full attack. 8-round calculations make bleed appear a lot better than it actually is, as you will NEVER be full attacking for 8 continuous rounds.

At most I'd calculate it out for two rounds of full attacking against the same target if you want semi-accurate bleed DPR. And honestly, most enemies will probably be dead after the second full attack (i.e. before the second turn of bleed damage gets dealt).


Omelite wrote:

Most enemies will be staying alive one or two rounds by the time you get a chance to full attack. 8-round calculations make bleed appear a lot better than it actually is, as you will NEVER be full attacking for 8 continuous rounds.

At most I'd calculate it out for two rounds of full attacking against the same target if you want semi-accurate bleed DPR. And honestly, most enemies will probably be dead after the second full attack (i.e. before the second turn of bleed damage gets dealt).

I based my bleed damage calculations at 5 rounds, not 8 rounds for the ranger build.

As an aside, the massive difference in damage from 10th to 11th levels (about 60% increase) confirms my belief that the original DPR Olympics are flawed in setting the level for builds at 10th.


c873788 wrote:


I based my bleed damage calculations at 5 rounds, not 8 rounds for the ranger build.

As an aside, the massive difference in damage from 10th to 11th levels (about 60% increase) confirms my belief that the original DPR Olympics are flawed in setting the level for builds at 10th.

Picking any level will skew the results toward certain classes. I do like the averaging over levels 1-12, I think that shows more then anything else.


c873788 wrote:


As an aside, the massive difference in damage from 10th to 11th levels (about 60% increase) confirms my belief that the original DPR Olympics are flawed in setting the level for builds at 10th.

That's because there's a whole confluence of factors going into that 10th to 11th jump that really benefit full BAB characters.

Full BAB characters get and extra attack, and +1 to hit, on top of what would most likely be a new class feature, and 20k extra gold to spend on magical trinkets, and don't forget the feats. That extra attack and chance to heat are REALLY good.

While all other classes get extra class features and feats, any non full BAB class will not get a new iterative attack, thus losing out on massive damage potentials compared to their full BAB buddies.

Just some food for thought.


Excuse my absence,sorry :P.

I'll put down the new builds.Here's one from me.

Also,I will change the duration down to 5 rounds.

Vocabulary:
PA=Power Attack
WF=Weapon Focus
TWF=Two Weapon Fighting
ITWF=Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
QD=Quickdraw

This is the order of how the setup goes below:
Name of Build/Levels/Weapon(s)/Feats/Related Ability Scores/Other(Class features,etc.)

Level 1
15.9 DPR:Switch Hitter(Melee)/Ranger 1/Greatsword/PA and QD/19 Str,14 Dex/Favored Enemy
15.1 DPR:Grim Reaper/Barbarian 1/Scythe/Power Attack and Extra Rage/20 Str,14 Con.
10.6 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 1/2X Mwk Kukris/PA and WF/19 Str,15 Dex.

Level 2
14.20:Whirler/Ranger 2/2X Mwk Kukris/PA,WF,TWF/19 Str,15 Dex/Favored Enemy

Level 3
15.70:Whirler/Ranger 3/2X Mwk Kukris/PA,WF,TWF/19 Str,15 Dex/Favored Enemy

Level 4
18.24:Whirler/Ranger 4/2X +1 Kukris/Favored Enemy

Level 5
28.18:Whirler/Ranger 5/2X +1 Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 6
49.79 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 6/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 7
55.83 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 7/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 8
58.31 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 8/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 9
66.22 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 9/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 10
93.53 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 10/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+4 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 11
155.54 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 11/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+4 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 12
158.64 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 12/2X +2 Keen Kukris/Favored Enemy

Average DPR(Over all levels)
60.38 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 12/2X Kukris/Favored Enemy


Anyone have more builds to add to the thread?

Liberty's Edge

I'm really bad at making combat builds, but someone with more skill than I might do some thing with a paladin, mounted on something fairly fast (half-celestial unicorn with horseshoes of speed or the like), casting saddle surge and doing ride-by spirited charges with a lance...something on the order of +40-60 per attack, even at low levels.


Just going to say that averaging the DPR over 12 levels isn't a good way to do it statistically. The DPR at the higher levels will swamp out the DPR for the lower levels. You could make a build that complerely sucks from level 1-5, but then performs well from 6-12, and the overall average will still be pretty good.

It would be better to figure up a baseline build, then compare everything to that using percentages. I would use a two hand fighter for the baseline.


Charender wrote:

Just going to say that averaging the DPR over 12 levels isn't a good way to do it statistically. The DPR at the higher levels will swamp out the DPR for the lower levels. You could make a build that complerely sucks from level 1-5, but then performs well from 6-12, and the overall average will still be pretty good.

It would be better to figure up a baseline build, then compare everything to that using percentages. I would use a two hand fighter for the baseline.

You could try dividing the DPR by the level. So if you do 5 DPR at level 1, 8 at level 2, and 24 at level three, currently that would average to 12.33, but if you divide by the level before averaging, it becomes the average of (5+4+8), which is 5.67. So this character would have an average DPR of (5.67 * current level).


by have a spell already cast, does an alchemist mutagen being active (as it has a 10 min duration) work?

how bout haste?

also is BAB progression Fractional or Per what is says on the level, makes a difference for multi-classing Medium BAB classes.


Charender wrote:

Just going to say that averaging the DPR over 12 levels isn't a good way to do it statistically. The DPR at the higher levels will swamp out the DPR for the lower levels. You could make a build that complerely sucks from level 1-5, but then performs well from 6-12, and the overall average will still be pretty good.

It would be better to figure up a baseline build, then compare everything to that using percentages. I would use a two hand fighter for the baseline.

Well higher average shows one of two things.

Either the build puts out decent damage every level.

or you have to work a few levels for it to really come into its own and that's good too.

The builds are posted with damage at each level so you can figure out which yourself.


@DeathSpot:Sounds like a cool build,I'll check it out.

@Charender:Alright,I'll try it out.Though,there are going to be some builds that only span a few levels...

@Waiph:Yes,an alchemist mutagen works.All class features that last 5 rounds or more work.Haste works if it lasts for at least 5 rounds.And what do you mean by BAB being fractional or per what it says...?

Alright,I would like to make some new proposals:I would like to create either an entirely new Nova DPR thread or add it to this thread.What do you guys think?

Also,I have a few builds that would be nice to see,props to whoever does the best!Here they are:
*A bowladin
*A 2H Fighter
*A TWF Fighter
*A rogue/ninja that does DPR nearing a fighter(this might be hard)
*A Dervish Dancing Magus
*A plain old archer ranger.

Scarab Sages

sphar wrote:

@DeathSpot:Sounds like a cool build,I'll check it out.

@Charender:Alright,I'll try it out.Though,there are going to be some builds that only span a few levels...

@Waiph:Yes,an alchemist mutagen works.All class features that last 5 rounds or more work.Haste works if it lasts for at least 5 rounds.And what do you mean by BAB being fractional or per what it says...?

Alright,I would like to make some new proposals:I would like to create either an entirely new Nova DPR thread or add it to this thread.What do you guys think?

Also,I have a few builds that would be nice to see,props to whoever does the best!Here they are:
*A bowladin
*A 2H Fighter
*A TWF Fighter
*A rogue/ninja that does DPR nearing a fighter(this might be hard)
*A Dervish Dancing Magus
*A plain old archer ranger.

Half orc rogue (falchion, 20 str, killer trait)

lvl 1 - 14.5 with sneak attack, 11.3 without

I call this my Bacon bites back build. I'll stat up some more levels when I get the chance tonight

EDIT: AHHH slight error in my initial calc. Levels 1 and 2 look like this

Lvl1 - with sneak 13.6, without 10.6
Lvl2 - with sneak 15.4, without 12.0


Okay,I will put them down.Also,what feat does your rogue have?

Vocabulary:
CF=Class Feature
PA=Power Attack
WF=Weapon Focus
TWF=Two Weapon Fighting
ITWF=Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
QD=Quickdraw

This is the order of how the setup goes below:
Name of Build/Levels/Weapon(s)/Feats/Related Ability Scores/Other(Class features,etc.)

Level 1
15.9 DPR:Switch Hitter(Melee)/Ranger 1/Greatsword/PA and QD/19 Str,14 Dex/Favored Enemy
15.1 DPR:Grim Reaper/Barbarian 1/Scythe/Power Attack and Extra Rage/20 Str,14 Con.
13.6 DPR:Bacon Bites Back/Rogue 1/Falchion/X/20 Str/Killer(Trait),Sneak Attack(CF)
11.5 DPR:Bacon Bites Back/Rogue 1/Falchion/X/20 Str/Killer(Trait)
10.6 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 1/2X Mwk Kukris/PA and WF/19 Str,15 Dex.

Level 2
14.20:Whirler/Ranger 2/2X Mwk Kukris/PA,WF,TWF/19 Str,15 Dex/Favored Enemy

Level 3
15.70:Whirler/Ranger 3/2X Mwk Kukris/PA,WF,TWF/19 Str,15 Dex/Favored Enemy

Level 4
18.24:Whirler/Ranger 4/2X +1 Kukris/Favored Enemy

Level 5
28.18:Whirler/Ranger 5/2X +1 Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 6
49.79 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 6/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 7
55.83 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 7/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 8
58.31 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 8/2X +1 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 9
66.22 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 9/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+2 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 10
93.53 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 10/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+4 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 11
155.54 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 11/2X +2 Keen Kukris,+4 Str Belt/Favored Enemy

Level 12
158.64 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 12/2X +2 Keen Kukris/Favored Enemy

Average DPR(Over all levels)
60.38 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 12/2X Kukris/Favored Enemy


if you take 2 levels in a 3/4 BAB class, your bab is 1.
If you take a level in Monk and Rogue, your BAB using a fractional system is going to be 1, cause they're both 3/4 BAB classes
If it isn't fractional, then you get a bab of 0 at level 2.
Working on a progression and using Fractional progression or not changes the DPR by quite a bit, (what a difference 1 point of BAB makes)

and is it 1 spell active on you, cause that changes DPR too, like being able to have enlarge and mutagen active. I can work out lists with both, on and off, like i sort of did with the different ways of tracking BAB


@Waiph:I don't know,the way I thought I've always gone per what it says on the level and just combine it,so yes,MCing two levels of medium-BAB classes would be +0.

I'll be putting up a baseline build later.


Bobson wrote:
Charender wrote:

Just going to say that averaging the DPR over 12 levels isn't a good way to do it statistically. The DPR at the higher levels will swamp out the DPR for the lower levels. You could make a build that complerely sucks from level 1-5, but then performs well from 6-12, and the overall average will still be pretty good.

It would be better to figure up a baseline build, then compare everything to that using percentages. I would use a two hand fighter for the baseline.

You could try dividing the DPR by the level. So if you do 5 DPR at level 1, 8 at level 2, and 24 at level three, currently that would average to 12.33, but if you divide by the level before averaging, it becomes the average of (5+4+8), which is 5.67. So this character would have an average DPR of (5.67 * current level).

Yeah, you can do that, but damage increases exponentially, so eventually, the damage/level at the upper end is going to win out.


Shadow_of_death wrote:
Charender wrote:

Just going to say that averaging the DPR over 12 levels isn't a good way to do it statistically. The DPR at the higher levels will swamp out the DPR for the lower levels. You could make a build that complerely sucks from level 1-5, but then performs well from 6-12, and the overall average will still be pretty good.

It would be better to figure up a baseline build, then compare everything to that using percentages. I would use a two hand fighter for the baseline.

Well higher average shows one of two things.

Either the build puts out decent damage every level.

or you have to work a few levels for it to really come into its own and that's good too.

The builds are posted with damage at each level so you can figure out which yourself.

Yes, I am just pointing out that the average is misleading. A build that puts out 30 more damage at level 11 and 12 is going to identical to a build that beats it by 5 DPR at every other level.

Actually, probably the best benchmark would be to use the average HP of a creature of equal CR. At level on,e the average creature has 8 HP, so the difference between 7 and 9 DPR is the difference between one-shotting something or not. At level 10, the average HP is more like 80.


Vocab:
CF=Class Feature
PA=Power Attack
WF=Weapon Focus
TWF=Two Weapon Fighting
ITWF=Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
QD=Quickdraw
II=Improved Initiative

Here's a benchmark 2H fighter build:

Level 1
25.8 DPR:Bruiser/2H Fighter 1/Greatsword/PA,WF,Cleave/20 Str/Cleave
20.575 DPR:Scyther/2H Fighter 1/Scythe/PA,WF,Cleave/20 Str/Cleave
15.9 DPR:Switch Hitter(Melee)Ranger 1/Greatsword/PA and QD/19 Str,14 Dex/Favored Enemy
15.1 DPR:Grim Reaper/Barbarian 1/Scythe/Power Attack and Extra Rage/20 Str,14 Con.
13.6 DPR:Bacon Bites Back/Rogue 1/Falchion/X/20 Str/Killer(Trait),Sneak Attack(CF)
11.5 DPR:Bacon Bites Back/Rogue 1/Falchion/X/20 Str/Killer(Trait)
10.6 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 1/2X Mwk Kukris/PA and WF/19 Str,15 Dex.

Level 2
19.6 DPR:Scyther/2H Fighter 2/Scythe/PA,WF,Cleave,II/20 Str/Cleave
14.20 DPR:Whirler/Ranger 2/2X Mwk Kukris/PA,WF,TWF/19 Str,15 Dex/Favored Enemy

Liberty's Edge

Bit of thread necromancer, but behold the tried and true Barbarian at level 1.

Assumptions -- CRB only, 20 point buy

Human Barbarian
STR 20
CON 16

Power Attack feat
Extra Rage feat (to allow for 8 rounds of constant rage)
Rage is a free action, thus requiring no setup

Regular damage is 20 (assuming average damage rolls of 7 on 2d6 plus 10 from the 7 strength modifier plus 3 from power attack), when raging strength is 24. Chance to hit a CR 1 enemy, based on Bestiary entries, is about 85%. Crit chance with a greatsword is maybe 10%. Chance of confirming is maybe 75% considering the +8 attack bonus, meaning any roll of 5 or higher will confirm on an average low level baddie. No sneak attack or flanking is necessary. No gimmick bonus elemental damage. No need for recalibrating. Fast movement allows a very high chance of hitting an enemy every round, since Barbarians have more mobility at level 1 than fighters.

By the given equation:

.85*(20+0) + .75*.10*(1*20+1*0+0)

18.5 DPR

Given my first test run with this character, this seems about on par with what I usually roll. One shot most CR 1 creatures, though I don't expect this build to scale all so well.

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