Magus tactic


Advice


I'm about to start a new game with a magus. I'm seeking advice based on your experience on what is better for a dex-based magus as a tactic for 1st level with 18 int:

1) spell combat daze spell (DC 14)+ 1 attack
2) spell combat with arcane mark to get potentially 2 attacks


Prepare both? You should have plenty of 0 level spell slots available to do both and cover your other bases as well.

Which is better will depend on the situation. If you're fighting low hd humanoids daze may work to lock them down. However, against 1hd oponents you will find you can likely kill them with 2 attacks.

Against non-humanoids clearly arcane mark is better. Against enemies that you think are weak enough to be killed in two hits arcane make is definitely better. Against a boss creature that is less than 4 hd and human, it might be a better tactic to use daze.

Edit: And then there is the consideration that I didn't think about that Imbicatus mentions. Yeah, you can't do it until level 2.

Perhaps acid splash instead.

Scarab Sages

You can't use the two attack trick as you don't get spellstrike until level 2.


ya forgot about spellstrike only at level 2, but the advices are good anyway at that level too...

so level one, daze might do the job against humanoid since no spellstrike yet...

thanks guys


Remember that Magic Weapon is your best spell at the early levels before you actually get a magic weapon. Combining the Magic Weapon Spell in Spell Combat, with your swift action Arcane Pool and you can get a +2 weapon starting at 1st level which ups your DPR to match or even exceed a full BAB class.

Scarab Sages

I'm a fan of taking the Two-World Magic trait out of the Sargava book to pick up Touch of Fatigue to use instead of Arcane Mark. That way you actually get a useful effect to go along with the free weapon attack. It is, however, a Magic Trait, so it prevents taking Magical Lineage. You could still take Wayang Spellhunter, though, if your GM will let you reflavor the backstory on the traits (or if you've spent time in both Sargava and Tian Xia).

Scarab Sages

A nice option for when you don't need to nova is to take close range arcana at 3rd level, this will allow you to daze spellstrike or acid splash spellstrike to get your psudeo-flurry.


Imbicatus wrote:
A nice option for when you don't need to nova is to take close range arcana at 3rd level, this will allow you to daze spellstrike or acid splash spellstrike to get your psudeo-flurry.

Are those legal to use with Close Range?

"Close Range (Ex)
Benefit: The magus can deliver ray spells that feature a ranged touch attack as melee touch spells. He can use a ranged touch attack spell that targets more than one creature (such as scorching ray), but he makes only one melee touch attack to deliver one of these ranged touch effects; additional ranged touch attacks from that spell are wasted and have no effect. These spells can be used with the spellstrike class feature."

Acid Splash looks to fill all those requirements but the word "ray".

Scarab Sages

Experiment 626 wrote:
Imbicatus wrote:
A nice option for when you don't need to nova is to take close range arcana at 3rd level, this will allow you to daze spellstrike or acid splash spellstrike to get your psudeo-flurry.

Are those legal to use with Close Range?

Close Range (Ex)
Benefit: The magus can deliver ray spells that feature a ranged touch attack as melee touch spells. He can use a ranged touch attack spell that targets more than one creature (such as scorching ray), but he makes only one melee touch attack to deliver one of these ranged touch effects; additional ranged touch attacks from that spell are wasted and have no effect. These spells can be used with the spellstrike class feature.

ah, I forgot it was ranged touch spells. That means daze is out, but acid splash or ray of frost is good.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Advice / Magus tactic All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Advice