magus and desired weapons

[ngc7293]

I've seen the Scimitar as the best weapon. I have read about someone liking the Whip. The iconic character uses a Scimitar.

I had the impression that the you wanted a weapon that had a high crit range like 18-20. There are several. I was even building a character around a Katana.

What I want to know is when I build a Strength based Magus, what sort of weapon should I be using?

I mean I could make a halfling magus and use a kukri that does almost no damage. But do I need to do damage or does it all come from the magic like Shocking Grasp?

[Chaotic Fighter]

If you want all your damage to come from shocking grasp I don't see much point in making a magus.

[Shimesen]

Katana is the best weapon for a Strength Magus statistically speaking. however you need EWP (Katana) which requires a feat slot to make it work unless you are an archetype like the Kensai that gets it for free.

honestly, since you arnt making a character that is doing something like stacking damage dice (such an enlarge person +vital strike combos) it really doesn't matter what the damage dice your weapon deals is. so long as its got a good critical range. the most effective way to increase damage dealt per hit is with more strength+power attack+anything else that grants more static damage instead of dice. all your dice damage is going to come from spells via spellstrike when you hit.

so instead of trying to do 4D8+12 (and 5D6 from shocking grasp), you should be aiming for 1D8+24 (and 1D6+5 from frostbite). there is far more damage to be done this way and you arn't relying on random rolls of the dice, you are doing consistent damage that only varies slightly with each hit.

[Thaago]

For a standard strength magus: use a scimitar. I think the extra average 1 damage that the katana has over the scimitar isn't worth it (unless its free from kensai of course). The same feat could be spent on Arcane Strike, which will give the same damage boost on every round you aren't swifting (at low level, most rounds) and will scale with your character.

The builds that use a whip are concentrating on reach and control, not damage, so unless you are going that way on purpose avoid it.

Where your damage comes from depends on your level. At low level, you'll be two handing for ~d6+8 and casting shocking grasp is mainly worth it for the extra attack (if you can make the concentration check next to an enemy... better to use a cantrip and save your 1st level spells for things more useful than damage). Its only around level 5 when you can make your weapon keen, have a little breathing room with spell slots, and have spell recall that the shocking grasp damage train really takes off.