Hey guys I already have a build but I could use some help filling the blanks.
I need tips on arcana and feats
currently planned feats:
Level 1: Weapon focus (Wakizashi), Weapon Finesse, Slashing Grace
Level 3: Piranha Strike
Level 5: Intensified Spell
Level 7: Arcane Strike
Level 9: Improved Critical
No idea what arcana would be good except I'm thinking about wand wielder
Slashing grace dosent work with ligth weapons as it is. Unless there came a fix for that. Rapier and fencing grace is a good alternative.
I Think you want flamboyant arcana, and arcane deed(precise strike) Via arcana at level 6 and feat at 7.
Slashing grace dosent work with ligth weapons as it is. Unless there came a fix for that. Rapier and fencing grace is a good alternative.
I Think you want flamboyant arcana, and arcane deed(precise strike) Via arcana at level 6 and feat at 7.
Where does it say slashing grace doesn't work with light weapons? I was acutally going to use a rapier before but if I can I want to use the wakizashi as it makes much more sense.
Also I was thinking about that arcane anyway so it will probably go onto my list.
I like the wand wielder arcana, although you might want to clarify with you GM how he interprets it working with spell strike. Obviously want wielder works well with the craft wands feat too.
Spell blending can be nice to bring in some key wizard spells.
Spell Scars can be useful and flavorful.
Once you can, quickened spell and quickened magic arcana are obvious.
I never had a problem hitting with my Magus, so I didn't worry about anything like arcane accuracy.
I wouldn't take arcane strike feat. You already have one swift action to use your arcane pool. Several arcana and many magic items also use the swift action. I doubt you will find a lot of use for that feat. I also probably wouldn't bother with intensified spell until 7th level.
Improved Critical is questionable, sine you can keen your weapon with your arcane pool.
I don't think you can slashing grace with a Wakizashi.
As the Captain said, Slashing Grace will not work with Wakizashi. Unless your GM makes a house rule, many have concerning it.
Without the swashbuckler dip, you can only use slashing grace with the Whip and the Dueling Sword.
You are missing a 5th level feat btw, bonus combat, metamagic or item creation.
You get 1 arcana (level 6) so Flamboyant is a good choice. Other options are wand wielder, close range, and disruptive for that level. Your next arcana (level 12) opens up other options but it is unclear you will reach that point (you only list feats till 9)
EDIT: Slashing grace specifies one handed. Many posts on here have questioned this, however, that is how it is written.
Not gonna plan above level 10 yet because I'm not sure how far we will go in levels. OK, now I see what you're saying about the slashing grace thing but I always read it as if wield it in one hand it was allowed. Hmm, I might be able to get my gm to allow it on that principle. If I can't get him to agree on that would a rapier fix my issues? I really wish I could use a katana but I can't finesse it :/
As for the feats, with intensified spell moved up to 7 along with improved critical and arcane strike out of the picture I'm very open to feat ideas.
Rapier is good but if you can get the Aldori Dueling Sword, you will have the best damage (1d8). You get the exotic proficiency via kensai, so you can finesse it.
You may also be able to get the DM to approve slashing grace with light, as I said, many GMs do house rule it that way. You could also dip 1 level in swashbuckler, use the katana, no GM approval needed. (First level magus, second level swashbuckler, retrain a feat to SG or wait till 3rd to pick it up)
If you are dropping Improved Critical (in favor for Arcane pool Keen) you could pick up Critical Focus, practically a guaranteed crit if you threaten.
Extra Arcana (at 7th and/or 9th) helps you gain the arcana you want. You can not take it at 5th as you do not have an arcana at that point.
... I don't know how I didn't see the dueling sword before. Thanks I'l use that!
Note that you can't use Piranha Strike with a dueling sword though.
I don't know if I would want it anyway, as you are already going to be at -2 from 3/4 BAB with spell combat, taking more minuses probably won't be a winning plan unless you invest in more to make sure you hit.
You should be doing plenty of damage without it anyway.
Would spell scar bladed dash be good or would it be better to go into wand making/using?
Note that you can't use Piranha Strike with a dueling sword though.
I don't know if I would want it anyway, as you are already going to be at -2 from 3/4 BAB with spell combat, taking more minuses probably won't be a winning plan unless you invest in more to make sure you hit.
You should be doing plenty of damage without it anyway.
I agree one of the reasons for it was that my weapon did 1d6. doing 1d8 makes up for it at lower levels. YAY that's 4 feats I need to think of now :P
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First of all, remember that piranha strike only works with light weapons, not finessable weapons. If you want dex to damage and that damage bonus, you will need a light weapon with agile or slashing grace and a high enough strength for power attack.
There are basically two paths to being effective as a magus in the long run. You can either focus on spellstriking with blasting spells like shocking grasp, or you can focus on being a melee fighter that buffs and uses spell combat to full attack at range. Right now, you are trying to do both, and it's going to hurt you in the long run.
If you want to do the intensify shocking grasp, you will need to invest in measures to get through spell resistance and to get around elemental immunities and resistances. Just grabbing magical lineage and intensify doesnt cut it. If you dont take the appropriate steps to make sure your spells hit, once you get around 7th level, you will face a sharp decrease in effectiveness, as spell resistance becomes more ubiquitous, weird creatures with resistances show up more, and even the typical humanoid enemies can afford to carry resist energy potions or have a wizard on-tap with the spell on finger or in a scroll. I would recommend taking a level of wizard with the evocation(admixture) school so you can switch elements on-the-fly. You would also get some useful spells on your spell list like mage armor, which is very helpful for an armorless kensai.
The other route is to focus on maximizing your damage on normal attacks. You will want power attack/piranha strike, weapon specialization at 7, arcane strike, and arcana that increase your chance to hit and damage. Dimensional assault dimension door, bladed dash, and force hook charge would be your go-to spells, as they let you full attack at range when you use them with spell combat.
Having Arcane Strike can be a useful option, especially since you give up spell recall, and can help you deal damage without Power Attack/Piranha Strike. Definitely grab the Riving Strike feat from the advanced class guide. Any enemy you hit with an Arcane strike-infused weapon takes a -2 on all saves vs spells and SLAs for a round. Very useful.
First of all, remember that piranha strike only works with light weapons, not finessable weapons. If you want dex to damage and that damage bonus, you will need a light weapon with agile or slashing grace and a high enough strength for power attack.
There are basically two paths to being effective as a magus in the long run. You can either focus on spellstriking with blasting spells like shocking grasp, or you can focus on being a melee fighter that buffs and uses spell combat to full attack at range. Right now, you are trying to do both, and it's going to hurt you in the long run.
If you want to do the intensify shocking grasp, you will need to invest in measures to get through spell resistance and to get around elemental immunities and resistances. Just grabbing magical lineage and intensify doesnt cut it. If you dont take the appropriate steps to make sure your spells hit, once you get around 7th level, you will face a sharp decrease in effectiveness, as spell resistance becomes more ubiquitous, weird creatures with resistances show up more, and even the typical humanoid enemies can afford to carry resist energy potions or have a wizard on-tap with the spell on finger or in a scroll. I would recommend taking a level of wizard with the evocation(admixture) school so you can switch elements on-the-fly. You would also get some useful spells on your spell list like mage armor, which is very helpful for an armorless kensai.
The other route is to focus on maximizing your damage on normal attacks. You will want power attack/piranha strike, weapon specialization at 7, arcane strike, and arcana that increase your chance to hit and damage. Dimensional assault dimension door, bladed dash, and force hook charge would be your go-to spells, as they let you full attack at range when you use them with spell combat.
OK I think I'l focus on spell strike but how much would it hurt me to take the first three feats as they are? So I can get dex to hit and to damage?
I like the wizard idea, can I take a level in it after level 3 in bladebound and take my sword as my bound object?
The difference between 1d6 and 1d8 is so small. Average 3.5 vs 4.5 damage. Getting exotic just to go up a die is basically the same as a feat that gives you +1 to damage, which is actually pretty bad compared to something like Weapon Specialization.
Going up a die really only become "worth it" when you are in the d8+ neighborhood, as 1d8 sizes up to 2d6 which is average 4.5 vs 7. Anything below that point is just not the best use of your feats.
The difference between 1d6 and 1d8 is so small. Average 3.5 vs 4.5 damage. Getting exotic just to go up a die is basically the same as a feat that gives you +1 to damage, which is actually pretty bad compared to something like Weapon Specialization.
Going up a die really only become "worth it" when you are in the d8+ neighborhood, as 1d8 sizes up to 2d6 which is average 4.5 vs 7. Anything below that point is just not the best use of your feats.
Except Kensai get proficiency with one martial or exotic weapon for free, so there isn't a cost to go up the die.
Precise strike is better than power attack so if you get that you can live without PA. If Katana is on the wish list start out with a swasbuckler dip. (Or make your GM let you finesse Katana, it seems like Many do). If you dont take PA your to hit will easily follow full bab guys.
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First of all, remember that piranha strike only works with light weapons, not finessable weapons. If you want dex to damage and that damage bonus, you will need a light weapon with agile or slashing grace and a high enough strength for power attack.
There are basically two paths to being effective as a magus in the long run. You can either focus on spellstriking with blasting spells like shocking grasp, or you can focus on being a melee fighter that buffs and uses spell combat to full attack at range. Right now, you are trying to do both, and it's going to hurt you in the long run.
If you want to do the intensify shocking grasp, you will need to invest in measures to get through spell resistance and to get around elemental immunities and resistances. Just grabbing magical lineage and intensify doesnt cut it. If you dont take the appropriate steps to make sure your spells hit, once you get around 7th level, you will face a sharp decrease in effectiveness, as spell resistance becomes more ubiquitous, weird creatures with resistances show up more, and even the typical humanoid enemies can afford to carry resist energy potions or have a wizard on-tap with the spell on finger or in a scroll. I would recommend taking a level of wizard with the evocation(admixture) school so you can switch elements on-the-fly. You would also get some useful spells on your spell list like mage armor, which is very helpful for an armorless kensai.
The other route is to focus on maximizing your damage on normal attacks. You will want power attack/piranha strike, weapon specialization at 7, arcane strike, and arcana that increase your chance to hit and damage. Dimensional assault dimension door, bladed dash, and force hook charge would be your go-to spells, as they let you full attack at range when you use them with spell combat.
OK I think I'l focus on spell strike but how much would it hurt me to take the first three feats as they are? So I can get dex to hit and to damage?
I like the...
You should get dex to damage or go strength based so you have decent static damage. You dont really need spell penetration until 5.
Also, keep in mind that Perfect Strike wont increase the multiplier on your spell damage, even if you are spellstriking. The way it's worded, it increases the weapons crit multiplier, but spellstrike specifically does not use the weapon's crit multiplier.
Just as an aside, I know that strength based gets a bad rap, but my level 10 (almost 11) PFS bladebound kensai is strength based, and he's quite effective. There's nothing wrong with dex; just dont think that you HAVE to pick dex.
...OK I think I'l focus on spell strike but how much would it hurt me to take the first three feats as they are? So I can get dex toFirst of all, remember that piranha strike only works with light weapons, not finessable weapons. If you want dex to damage and that damage bonus, you will need a light weapon with agile or slashing grace and a high enough strength for power attack.
There are basically two paths to being effective as a magus in the long run. You can either focus on spellstriking with blasting spells like shocking grasp, or you can focus on being a melee fighter that buffs and uses spell combat to full attack at range. Right now, you are trying to do both, and it's going to hurt you in the long run.
If you want to do the intensify shocking grasp, you will need to invest in measures to get through spell resistance and to get around elemental immunities and resistances. Just grabbing magical lineage and intensify doesnt cut it. If you dont take the appropriate steps to make sure your spells hit, once you get around 7th level, you will face a sharp decrease in effectiveness, as spell resistance becomes more ubiquitous, weird creatures with resistances show up more, and even the typical humanoid enemies can afford to carry resist energy potions or have a wizard on-tap with the spell on finger or in a scroll. I would recommend taking a level of wizard with the evocation(admixture) school so you can switch elements on-the-fly. You would also get some useful spells on your spell list like mage armor, which is very helpful for an armorless kensai.
The other route is to focus on maximizing your damage on normal attacks. You will want power attack/piranha strike, weapon specialization at 7, arcane strike, and arcana that increase your chance to hit and damage. Dimensional assault dimension door, bladed dash, and force hook charge would be your go-to spells, as they let you full attack at range when you use them with spell combat.
My Magus was str based as well. But with the coming of level to damage and dex to damage if you keep the weapon in one hand. Str based magus took a step down.
...OK I think I'l focus on spell strike but how much would it hurt me to take the first three feats as they are? So I can get dex toFirst of all, remember that piranha strike only works with light weapons, not finessable weapons. If you want dex to damage and that damage bonus, you will need a light weapon with agile or slashing grace and a high enough strength for power attack.
There are basically two paths to being effective as a magus in the long run. You can either focus on spellstriking with blasting spells like shocking grasp, or you can focus on being a melee fighter that buffs and uses spell combat to full attack at range. Right now, you are trying to do both, and it's going to hurt you in the long run.
If you want to do the intensify shocking grasp, you will need to invest in measures to get through spell resistance and to get around elemental immunities and resistances. Just grabbing magical lineage and intensify doesnt cut it. If you dont take the appropriate steps to make sure your spells hit, once you get around 7th level, you will face a sharp decrease in effectiveness, as spell resistance becomes more ubiquitous, weird creatures with resistances show up more, and even the typical humanoid enemies can afford to carry resist energy potions or have a wizard on-tap with the spell on finger or in a scroll. I would recommend taking a level of wizard with the evocation(admixture) school so you can switch elements on-the-fly. You would also get some useful spells on your spell list like mage armor, which is very helpful for an armorless kensai.
The other route is to focus on maximizing your damage on normal attacks. You will want power attack/piranha strike, weapon specialization at 7, arcane strike, and arcana that increase your chance to hit and damage. Dimensional assault dimension door, bladed dash, and force hook charge would be your go-to spells, as they let you full attack at range when you use them with spell combat.
I know, I play strength based characters all the time and a few of my friends have played dex based ones so I wanted to try it. What feats would you recommend? Getting craft wand and wand wielder might be a good idea. However, A few people have been insisting flamboyant arcana, and arcane deed(precise strike) will help me a lot. Opinion?
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Precise strike is better... but in my opinion this choice, should it work, is overpowered and dubious logic on it actually working. It is meant to make the 1h swashbuckler do decent damage compared to the 2h weapon martials. Magus are already balanced around 1h fighting. No actual swashbuckler levels and no panache in your pool, other deeds don't make this requirement of you.
See developer post below:
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r7kg&page=15?Ask-Mark-Seifter-All-Your-Que stions-Here#720
I have an Aldori Sword Magus myself, i really enjoy him. Have you possibly considered the aldori dueling mastery feat? It gives you what you want and some of what you are missing. (shield ac)
with high dex, init, and an ioun stone boost. My magus has +17 initiative.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/aldori-dueling-mastery
Precise strike is better, but in my opinion overpowered and dubious logic on it actually working. No actual swashbuckler levels and no panache in your pool, other deeds don't make this requirement of you.
See developer post below:
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r7kg&page=15?Ask-Mark-Seifter-All-Your-Que stions-Here#720I have an Aldori Sword Magus myself, i really enjoy him. Have you possibly considered the aldori dueling mastery feat? It gives you what you want and some of what you are missing. (shield ac)
with high dex, init, and an ioun stone boost. My magus has +17 initiative.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/aldori-dueling-mastery
I actually already saw this feat. The problem is it requires quickdraw which is not only an extra feat I would need, but also redundant with iaijutsu (7th level Kensai ability) which does pretty much the same thing.
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I took a 1 level dip of the Aldori Swordlord prestige class to get my dex to damage (plus the aldori sword feat). No quickdraw, but does have the prerequisite dazzling display. However, I kind of like the dazzling display ability. There are times when you are just stuck in a hallway or can't move for some reason or another. This is a good option. And works very nicely with shattered defenses, which i plan to take at 13 (10 now). Then my enemies will virtually always take int to damage.
i took traits bruising intellect, blade of mercy. Also have the enforcer feat.
Granted, i did this before slashing grace came out. I'm happy with it. I don't know what i would have done had slashing grace been on the table to start with. No regrets though.
How does this look?
Planed Feats:
Level 1: Weapon focus (Dueling Sword), Weapon Finesse, Slashing Grace
Level 3:
Level 5: Intensified Spell
Level 7: Extra Arcana
Level 9: Craft Wand
Planned Arcana:
Level 6: Flamboyant Arcana
Level 7: Arcane Deed (precise strike)
Level 9: Wand Wielder
Level 12: Arcane Deed (Evasive)
Still need a third level feat though.
EDIT: Hold on if I take a level in wizard things need to be moved around give me a few to rework.
EDIT#5!
Level 1: Weapon focus (Dueling Sword), Weapon Finesse, Slashing Grace
Level 3: Arcane Strike?
Level 5: Intensified Spell, (FEAT)
Level 6*: Scribe Scroll
Level 7: Extra Arcana
Level 9: Extra Arcane Pool?
Level 11: Extra Arcana, Craft wand
*level in wizard
Planned Arcana:
Level 7: Flamboyant Arcana
Level 7: Arcane Deed (precise strike)
Level 11: Wand Wielder
Level 13: Arcane Deed (Evasive)
Need feats for lvl 3, 5 and 9
You do not get an arcana at magus 9 with kensai. Otherwise, it looks good.
OK thanks I'l edit it accordingly.
your level 3 feat could be arcane strike maybe?
don't forget your magus bonus feats at 5 and 11.
Make sure your GM oks the precise strike.
I FORGOT ABOUT THOSE! Thanks!! And I will check with my GM
I'm pretty sure you can't take Arcane Deed twice. If you can show me where it states that because my Kensai will be grabbing up another Arcane Deed arcana at level 11 then.
"A magus can take this arcana multiple times, each time gaining a new deed." :D
Also what do you guys think about extra arcane pool for a 9th level feat?
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I spent a feat on extra arcane pool, and I honestly wonder about retraining it. However, that character is also in PFS, which typically has 2-4 combats, so it's harder to run out of resources than in a home game in which you are doing the recommended number of encounters each day and aren't novaing every encounter.
I spent a feat on extra arcane pool, and I honestly wonder about retraining it. However, that character is also in PFS, which typically has 2-4 combats, so it's harder to run out of resources than in a home game in which you are doing the recommended number of encounters each day and aren't novaing every encounter.
My magus was just a normal blade bound and i retrained extra arcane pool on level 8 where the favored class bonus gave me the same to. But a kensai lose Spell recall and Perfect strike is not worth it IMOP. I would go for weapon spec and/or some of the crit feats thet the class open up to.
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I am not a fan of extra arcane pool either. But it does depend how long your adventuring day is. I'd steer clear, but if you have lots of encounters before resting its value increases. Something to keep in your back of your mind.
Darling, i think you are wrong about prefect strike. The biggest bonus with it is you can do it 'after' you hit and it is not an action to activate. With a d8 weapon it increases the expected damage 3.5 points. Much better then an arcane strike until later levels. And the critical multiplier is really strong. Especially if you give your weapon an elemental burst enchantment.
4 points is ok at level 1 and at level 7 when precise strike gets online you will have 6 that is good for 5 encounters pr Day.