I'm not quite sure why you believe Magus would be treated any differently than any class level for calculating a monsters CR.
Quatar: If a monster with hit dice has a key class and you give it a level in a non-key class the CR is different.
Example: A troll has a key class of combat (Bestiary p323). If you give a troll a level of fighter it's CR goes up by 1. However, if you give it a level of wizard (which is non-key for a troll) then it takes two levels of wizard to equal +1CR. If the troll were to gain wizard levels equal to hit dice then those wizard levels kick over to 1lvl = 1CR instead of 2lvl = 1CR
Troll with 2 levels of fighter = CR5 +2 = CR7
Troll with 2 levels of wizard = CR5 +2/2 = CR6
These rules are on Bestiary p297 under Determine CR.
- Gauss
I think he was asking about how Monsters rate their Cr with class levels diferently based on wether the monster is suitable to the role. a raskshasha lvl 6 barbarian isnt the same cr as a rakshasha lvl 6 sorcerer. But i may be wrong about what the op was asking.
I'd say:
Combat: Cavalier/Samurai
Spell: Oracle, Witch
Skill: Alchemist, Ninja, Inquisitor
Gunslinger would also be key if you wanted to advance a Pale Stranger, but that's kind of a special case. Is there a monster that uses alchemy anywhere?
The question has no straight forward answer. When adding a class to a monster, step back and look at the monster. If its abilities synergize with the class, they are associated levels. If they don't then they aren't...
I am asking because i builded a erinyes Myrmidarch lvl 8, and i do not know if she is CR 12 or Cr 16
Build her. Look at how well her abilities synergize with one another. Compare her to the table that shows average monster abilities per CR. Compare her to other monsters from the CR range you are aiming at.
Then, rate her accordingly. Odds are, she might be neither 12 nor 16. CR is a guideline about how tough a monster is, not some target number to reach via templates and additions.
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Yeah, it's best to just ignore the "Key Classes for Roles" table and assign what classes are key based on common sense.
Otherwise a Succubus Antipaladin 10 is a mere CR 12...and if you can't tell why that's not an accurate reflection of anything, you are not paying attention sufficiently.
For an Erinyes Myrmidarch specifically...I'd guess you're gona wind up a lot closer to CR 16 than 12, though as others say, it could well be somewhere in the middle there.
Magus should probably fit the combat role, effectively never matching up with a spell using monster because no monster to date has innate magus casting levels. At a cursory glance it will probably do better as a magus or inquisitor than a fighter so I am inclined to say CR 16, I think CR 14 fits though with a corresponding reduction in gear.
Similar options :
sorcerer 6, Arcane Archer 2 for CR 13
sorcerer 8, Arcane Archer 2 for CR 14
sorcerer 4, Arcane Archer 3 for CR 13
you can also play with Eldritch Knight since she qualifies with 6 sorcerer levels being proficient with all martial weapons.
Yeah, it's best to just ignore the "Key Classes for Roles" table and assign what classes are key based on common sense.
Otherwise a Succubus Antipaladin 10 is a mere CR 12...and if you can't tell why that's not an accurate reflection of anything, you are not paying attention sufficiently.
For an Erinyes Myrmidarch specifically...I'd guess you're gona wind up a lot closer to CR 16 than 12, though as others say, it could well be somewhere in the middle there.
Even with non-key levels the succubus anti-paladin would not be CR 12, since it is a CR 7 creature it only has 7 'non-key' levels, so anti-paladin 10 would be CR 13 or 14 depending on wether you round up or down, though rounding up would seem fitting. That CR is doable, though it will rip apart good-aligned foes assuming a +10 charisma modifier (and not optimizing it too hard).
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Compare the monster's stats after adding class levels to Table: Monster Statistics by CR to help see where it fits best. CR is sometimes more of an art than a precise science.
"Determining the final CR for a creature with class levels requires careful consideration. While adding a class level to a monster that stacks with its existing abilities and role generally adds 1 to its CR for each level taken, adding classes that do not stack is more complicated."
Adding classes to a monster is an art not a science. If you can't come up with something comfortable then maybe you should avoid it? I generally try to keep monsters classes to the basics just to keep it simple. While it might add some flavor, unless the monster is going to be an ongoing villain there's really not much of a point than to make the monster overly complex for no apparent reason.
What you need to ask yourself is what point do you have to advance into magus than say fighter? If it's not a REALLY good one then just stick with fighter. If you think "well this monster is just gona be baddass, then i think you just answered your own question of it stacks with it's existing abilities". Plus the advanced classes i feel are more world specific and revolve around culture of the mortal world, not just throwing in class abilities. To allow them to all monsters kind of diminishes them and dissolves cohesion , unless your building a whole campaign around it. unless it's built into your campaign i would avoid advanced roles for monsters unless you have a complete story arc, and it's explained to the characters somehow. When you get a world full of gun toting demons, dragon ninjas, or giant cavaliers this flips the world upside down and players will have a hard time immersing themselves
There is no completely strict rules in monster advancing, it should be CAREFULLY considered by the GM and should only be done with experienced GM's. When in doubt you should always error in favor of the players. In this case it doesn't matter what the ACTUAL CR is, for the players sake it should be treated as a CR 16 encounter level because in the end your just not sure how it's going to play out. Are the players ready for 16 CR? If they wipe the floor with it then award XP for a 12 CR. but you shouldn't throw the players at a possible over epic encounter and kill them just because you wanted to "make a cool monster".
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Even with non-key levels the succubus anti-paladin would not be CR 12, since it is a CR 7 creature it only has 7 'non-key' levels, so anti-paladin 10 would be CR 13 or 14 depending on wether you round up or down, though rounding up would seem fitting. That CR is doable, though it will rip apart good-aligned foes assuming a +10 charisma modifier (and not optimizing it too hard).
Okay, Succubus Anti-Paladin 6 at CR 10. Please don't try and claim that's balanced, especially not with the, what, more than +20 on each save? Or the 152 HP or so (with an AC of 26 assuming a non-magical breastplate)...and the +14 BAB. And so on. I can stat this up in the most obvious way possible, that makes use of none of the Succubus's existing abilities (aside from high Charisma), and uses no magical equipment and still make something that should be at least CR 13.
And that's not even a very good example of brokenness, since succubi don't start off as melee combatants.
Well, lets see
** spoiler omitted **...
Your numbers are off.
BAB 15 and Str 24 (+7), with a +1 sword should be a melee attack pattern of +23/+18/+13Con 22 (+6) is 6HP / HD. Total HP should be 9d10+8d8+102 (plus another +8 if the favored class bonus goes to HP), for a total of 9*5.5 + 8*4.5 + 102 = 187 hp (or 195). Which along CR 13-14.
I stopped calculating after that.
Oh, one more thing: Your Myrmidarch is woefully under-equipped at the time.
And that's not even a very good example of brokenness, since succubi don't start off as melee combatants.
May I suggest a Marilith? *ducks for cover*