Natural weapons character

[Wrath25]

Hey peoples of Pathfinder.

I'm doing some preparation for a future campaign, (curse of the crimson throne) and I wanted to make a character that focused on natural weapons claws/bite/hooves, as opposed to unarmed strikes. I like the imagery that comes with the savage swing of the claw or the viciousness of a powerful bite.

What I was wondering though, what is an effective class for this as there are some many that can do it well. Race wise I was leaning to a skinwalker of some flavor.

Thanks in advance for you opinion.

[Chess Pwn]

Bloodrager, gets claws while raging. Also get the str boost. Combine with a bite from race and have three natural attacks. Kill everything with your 3x str.

[axatillian]

If you can play 3rd party material I would check out the cryptic from the Enhanced psionics handbook. I'm not sure what stats the Skindancer gets but If you can pick up a good Int you can add it + your str to damage.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Tieflings and tengu of any class is rock solid for this. Half orc lunar oracles or sorcerers are also really good.

I personally like tiefling barbarian since rage powers can get you even more natural attacks when raging (beast) on top of layering defenses, all while having scaling strength and full BAB.

[Dragonchess Player]

Core/APG, a half-orc ranger with the Toothy alternate class feature, the Natural Weapon combat style, and Aspect of the Beast (Claws of the Beast) can use a claw/claw/bite melee attack routine all day from level 1 (technically, you select your ranger combat style at level 1, not at level 2 when you gain the first bonus feat). It gets better at level 2 with Rending Claws as your combat style feat. The shapeshifter archetype is OK, although its "shapeshifting" limited before 20th level; however, it can be combined with the wild hunter archetype in the ACG (again, not true "shapeshifting," but some nice benefits).

Alternately, the bloodrager (as mentioned) is also a possible choice. Especially a Toothy half-orc bloodrager (draconic) 5/dragon disciple 4 (for the +4 Str)/bloodrager +6 (for Greater Bloodrage)/dragon disciple +2 (for the Blindsense 30 ft, +2 Con, and energy damage to bite)/bloodrager +3; .../dragon disciple +3/bloodrager +2 is also an option, depending on if you want Indomitable Will or Dragon Form (useable outside of bloodrage) and an extra +1 to natural armor.

Barbarian with the Beast Totem rage powers (also mentioned) is another option. In some aspects (on gaining pounce with the Greater Beast Totem rage power), this option has potentially the highest melee DPR (search "ragelancepounce" in the forums); however, its "shapeshifting" ability is probably the least of the three.

As a final option if you're willing to wait a bit, then an arcanist (brown fur transmuter)/eldritch knight or wizard (Transmutation/Shapechange school)/eldritch knight has the best options to actually change shape (and can end up with +17 BAB and either 8th- or 9th-level spells, depending on the actual progression). Especially with the Multimorph arcane discovery (UM); note that the eldritch knight Diverse Training class feature lets any eldritch knight qualify for arcane discoveries, even if they don't have any actual levels in wizard.

[axatillian]

Ratfolk make nice natural attackers if you can find a way past the small size they get claw/claw and with a ring found in their section of the ARG they also get a bite. Also in the ARG is the tail knife which counts a natural attack for all affective purposes for a claw/claw/bite/tail knife
attack routine. The only problem is each attack is a little weak due to size. I have one that is a Cryptic (from my previous post) and he is awesome since he can add his Int to damage.

[Godferret]

Alchemist with Feral Mutagen is a popular Natural Attack build, from what I understand. For an absurd number of Natural Attacks be a Ragebred Skinwalker with the Extra Feature feat and always be in bestial form, so you have Gore/Hoof/Hoof. When using your Mutagen you will add Bite/Claw/Claw (All Primary) to your routine, for 6 natural attacks at level 2, 4 of which will be primary. Take the tentacle discover if you want to add even more attacks.

[Wrath25]

all great suggestions, i really appreciate them. I though about the ranger, and barbarian builds, but the bloodrager and alchemist didn't readily occur to me. I think i might pass on them though. I'm not much for spellcasting melee characters, with the exception of magus. I also though about the brawler/savage warrior fighter archetypes. I mean, the weapon training the brawler gets with close weapons+feral combat training, can be mean at the expense of a feat. And the savage sounds really interesting if you can get pounce. There are just so many options.

[zza ni]

if you play with a gm that allow it. go for summoner with the synthist arch type.
i made a level 1 with the extra revolution that while in his monky(gorila) suit. had 3 primery attacks (2 claws one bite) that each delt 1d6 damage + 3 for the suit's str score. with mage armor spell the +1 dex of the suit and making all the normal ac a natural ac(you pick ether to have natural or normal ac or split them) it was ac 19 at level 1 with +3/+3/+3 attacks of 1d6+3 each (you also need to take the evolutions to get the bite and increase damage of clasw and ad ac).

[Renegadeshepherd]

Despite your saying you don't like melee spellcasters I have one to throw out, cleric. There are three ways to go about this option and both have excellent potential depending on taste.

1) be a vanilla cleric and grab demon subdomain and ferocity subdomain. The result ends up being that every attack gets plus to hit and damage. Then if you need a quick no a ferocity adds even more damage on top of that.

2) be an evangelist (archetype) and boost urself and allies with inspire courage on top of demon subdomain so the every attack you get has two boosters to hit and damage. Eventually you can do both in the same turn. It may look like your attributes will be all o we the place but really they won't be as lingering performance and a 12 charisma will suffice.

3) crusader cleric: unlike the pure offensive builds above we can bring to the table heavy armor, enhanced shield AC, weapon focus if you have the same weapon a lot, and more stuff that helps your survivability.

My pitch? Spells to buff if you just can't stand anything but smashing. Channeling to out of combat heal is always welcome to party. Im reasonably sure Best saves of natural weapons options except synthesist and barbs (against spells). Will is definitely highest and fort is comparable to barb or fighter.

[axatillian]

O something I forgot to add to my post about the ratfolk is that the ring that gives them a bite attack works for anyone.....If you don't mind looking kinda rat faced.

[Dafydd]

There is also Catfolk, I would suggest hunter and a pouncing companion. Yes you lose full BaB, but the teamwork feats and flanking make up for it quite well.

There is also a catfolk feat that gives you pounce. Very handy for a natural attacker.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

If your GM isn't unreasonable, then you could use demonic implants.

[graystone]

Lizardfolk. Swim, a bite+2claws, 2 natural armor, +2 str/con at start. Monster Codex gives feats to breathe underwater, faster swin speed AND a tailslap natural weapon.

[T.A.U.]

Wereboar-kin Skinwalker can easily get 3 natural attacks (gore, 2 hoof [secondary]) at 1st level, and 5 nat attacks at 2nd level (gore, 2 claws, 2 hoof[secondary]) in a lot of different classes