Shadow Companion Feats

[Azelyan]

I need some ideas.

My DM has ruled that the shadow companion takes levels like an animal companion. So I am level Shadow uses half my life, and my base saves. All the other things it gets come from the animal companion guide. Thus it is level 3. If I get boon companion near end game + my 10 shadow dancer levels. I wind up with a level Shadow Companion.

However as it stands, my shadow gets 2 feats. Any ideas what a shadow should take for feats? Lol!

I wanted to find a way to increase his strength damage, but I cant figure out a method to make that happen :(.

[Byrdology]

You are a Shadow Dancer PrC I take it? Tell us a bit about your build. What are your lvls exactly, I didn't quite catch it above. What ideas exactly do you need help with? You have 2 feats to spend on your shadow companion and you are wondering if you can up its Str damage?

[Azelyan]

My Shadow Dancer: (Fetchling)

Lore Warden 2/Paladin 2/Monk of Many Styles/Sohei 2/Shadow Dancer 3

Feats:
Dodge - Level 1 Feat
Weapon Finesse - Fighter (1)
Combat Reflexes - Fighter (2)
Combat Expertise - Fighter (2)
Improved Unarmed Strike - Monk
Crane Style - Level 3 Feat
Crane Wing - MoMS 1
Crane Riposte - MoMS 2
Evasion - Monk/Shadow Dancer
Mobility - Level 5 Feat
Spring Attack - Level 7 Feat
Wind Stance - Level 9 Feat

Rogue Talent: Fast Stealth

We run 18-13 stats (18 highest 13 lowest)

Her stats:
Str - 13
Dex - 23 (10 +2 Racial +1 level 8 enhancement, 2 belt)
Con - 16
Int - 15
Wis - 12 (14 -2 Racial)
Cha - 22 (17 + 2 Racial +1 Level 4 enhancement + 2 Headband)

Shes essentially a tank in dimlight. 50% less chance to be hit in dimlight, 20% additional for ranged with wind stance. Deflects first attack that hits her. Charisma to saves (via paladin).

Shes an all around badass, without doing any damage. :( 1d6 + 3 LAWL. (+2 Rapier), I want to make it a rapier of Puncturing when I can afford it!

So yea I need feats for my Shadow. My first thought was find a way to make it do 1d8 instead of 1d6. I can't figure out how!

[Ascalaphus]

How about Weapon Finesse (instead of getting no Str bonus, get a Dex bonus to hit) and 2-Weapon Fighting? While damage bonuses to ability damage are hard to get, more attacks will get you more chances to damage...

Another candidate would be Flyby Attack, and then on towards Dodge->Mobility. Then the shadow can fly out of a wall, attack, and fly back into a wall, eating only one AoO.

[Shadowlord]

Ascalaphus, don't monsters automatically use either STR or DEX for their natural attacks, whichever is better for them. IIRC they do, but might have had something to do with size though, I can't remember exactly off the top of my head.

Both you and your shadow should take a couple Teamwork Feats:
1. Outflank
2. Precise Strike

[Azelyan]

hmm not bad ideas x)

[Shadowlord]

Well I couldn't find the rule that says what I was refering to above, but I looked at the Shadow stats in the bestiary and it's pretty clear they are using Dex bonus to determine their bonus to attack rolls.

They have Str-
They have Dex 14
They have BAB 2

Their bonus to melee attack is +4. They can only be getting that from the 14 Dex score.

[Azelyan]

well shadow dancer shadows uses her BAB.

[Caderyn]

The Incorporeal Universal Monster ability is where it says that dex is used

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/monsters/universalMonsterRules.html

"An incorporeal creature moves silently and cannot be heard with Perception checks if it doesn't wish to be. It has no Strength score, so its Dexterity modifier applies to its melee attacks, ranged attacks, and CMB. Nonvisual senses, such as scent and blindsight, are either ineffective or only partly effective with regard to incorporeal creatures. Incorporeal creatures have an innate sense of direction and can move at full speed even when they cannot see."

[Ascalaphus]

Yeah, now that I look at it they do already use Dex. Anyway, I think Flyby -> Dodge -> Mobility is sweet, or alternatively Weapon Focus+2WF.