My character is a Kitsune dervish Magus (currently level 4), and to qualify for the Kitsune pounce feat (Req BAB of 10) by a reasonable level (13 instead of 15, as it won't see much use if I have to wait), I need to take a one level dip of something with full BAB by the time I hit level 13.
- Barbarian, can't cast spells so that is out.
- Fighter is nice for the feat
- Ranger gets Favored Enemy (we are playing Jade Regent, so I have a few ideas what might be good to take)
- Paladin, I'm not LG
- Gunslinger doesn't really make sense
- Cavalier gets a teamwork feat and either mount or banner (only archetype that would make sense for a single level dip I think).. Could take Gendarme for the feat (Power Attack or Spring Attack) doesn't seem bad, but I would lean more towards..
- Samurai gets Resolve, which is pretty powerful.
- Gunslinger just doesn't make sense
So at the end of the list I'm basically stuck choosing between Fighter, Ranger, and Samurai. Which one of these would be the best single level dip, and at what point would you take it?
Or are there some PrC's with interesting abilities and not overly steep req's that might mesh well with a dervish magus?
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The Duelist have a pretty good synergy with the dervish dance feat, if you are looking for a PrC and the feats it requires is decent for a magus.
I would probably go for the fighter archetype lore warden (from Pathfinder Society Field Guide), because of the bonus feat.
If you want to dip into the samurai (it would certainly fit the setting), I would look at this if you don't care for the mount.
Duelist doesn't really give much in terms of actual bonuses, sadly. It would essentially net me 1 AC and 1dmg - I somehow thought that the damage only applied when wielding a single weapon, so it's not an awful idea. But it would cost me a feat (Mobility, as I have Dodge and Finesse already)..
Sword Saint I looked at.. But the full-attack to do an extra 1d6 damage on a single attack gets nowhere close to the damage potential of Spell Combat.
Duelist is actually a not bad choice for even a 2nd level, but is it worth it at the cost of a feat?
I'm not entirely impressed with most of the spells beyond 4th level (level 3 gives me fly, 4th gives me Dim. Door, 5th gets me overland flight.. plus a few goodies).
I had not heard of the Sash before, that may tip the balance in favor of the fighter. I also don't currently have ANY(!) armor prof, but I'm wearing Mithril Shirt with 10%ASF (only bit me in the butt once so far).
Edit: as a level 1 Fighter with the Sash, would that give me both Bravery and Armor Training? Or would it only treat my class level as 4 higher for the purposes of what those abilities give me?
LoreWarden2 wouldn't actual give me anything, as SpireDefender magus archetype trades all armor prof (but keeps the ability to cast in them) for Dodge and Combat Exp.
Surprisingly enough, my Magus only memorizes 1 Shocking Grasp/day. I've decided to go the Frostbite/Rime/Enforcer route since we don't have a healer, and that nets the enemy -4AC for one round after I hit them (full combo does Fatigue/Shaken/Entangle). Frostbite does 1d6+CL and can hit CL/times before the spell ends. Eventually I will likely take Extra Traits to pick up the metamagic reduction for frostbite, and the +2CL increase to reclaim the lost level or two.
Don't poo poo the barbarian just yet. d12 hit die and fast movement are great even if you don't use your rage all that often. Rage is good in a pinch too, like if you're out of spells and just need swing at things as hard as you can.
Samurai would be good for the proficiencies. I assume jade regent has a lot of eastern weapons floating around, being able to use them might come in handy.
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If you have enough time to do stuff during you actions most of the time, you can try the Freebooter (Ranger) Archetype. You lose Favored Enemy, but as a move action, can say "hey, take out this one guy!"; +1 Attack/Damage to all allies within 30 ft to that target until dead or you choose another target.
Bladed Dash and Greater Bladed Dash are like pounce on steroids for a magus especially as i don't think pounce works with spell combat (not sure of this but spell combat is a full round action as is charge).
If you are dipping...
Ranger (Guide) offers the ability to get +2 to hit and damge 1 target per day as well as lots of nice skill points and class skills.
Urban Barbarian Lets you rage boost dex for a few rounds, some nice skills, as well as +1 to hit and ac against more than 1 opponent.
If you want to do the 1 level dip I'd go unarmed fighter. You get imp. unarmed strike and one style feat without having to have the prerequesites.
There are several style feats that can be interesting for a magus:
- Monkey style. You get no penalty to attack or AC for being prone and don't provoke when standing up.
- snapping turtle style: When one hand is free (you're a magus, right?) you get a +1 shield bonus to AC.
- Snake style: You get a bonus to sense motive and as a immediate action you can make a sense motive check and use the result as your AC or your touch AC for one attack. If someone makes a touch attack with an ugly spell you'll be glad you have that chance. If you botch the roll never mind, you may use the result but you don't have to.
- Janni style: opponents flanking you only get +1 to hit. When you charge you only get -1 AC.
I don't add crane style because, as a magus I don't think you'll be fighting defensively very often. But it would be an option, too. With acrobatics high enough it would give -2 to hit with +4 to AC while fighting defensively.
If you'd be willing to invest another feat firin style + kirin strike could be nice for double int as bonus damage.
Best options would be crossblooded sorcerer with.... the two bloodlines that add bonus elemental damage to spells, whatever they are.
Or Unarmed Fighter or Master of Many Styles monk. Both of which bring you 2 feats closer to the 4-feat-requiring (IUS, Dodge, Crane Style, Crane Wing) Crane Wing, a feat any Magus should want. In general, I would do MoMS if you already have Dodge and are about to take your 3rd character level (and thus could take Crane Style as your level 3 feat and immediately gain Crane Wing as your monk feat), and Unarmed Fighter in all other cases (so you don't lose BAB).
EDIT: And I agree, don't dip just for end-game pounce. Just use Bladed Dash and/or Force Hook Charge, as others have said.
Wait until you get to 11th level, and see where you want to go then. My guess is that you'll have other fish to fry, and if you dip now, you'll regret it later.
Vulpine Pounce is lousy for a Magus--you have to use your fox form attacks, instead of 15-20 crit weapons, unless you have kind of work around. Don't bother.
The best one level dip for a Magus is a Crossblooded sorcerer Draconic/Orc or if your GM allows it, Draconic/Primal Elemental, to buff the damage of Shocking Grasp.
The best two level dip is probably White Haired Witch.