Arcanist Question

[Dafydd]

So I am writing up a Shadow Illusion Arcanist X/Wizard 1. The reason I am looking at the 1 level dip in wizard is for the school ability.

Please correct me if I am wrong (as that would be why I am asking for a clarification) but gaining the school via wizard and taking the school exploit means I can use Int instead of Cha for all the school abilities.

Thank You

[kestral287]

Correct, you'd use Int.

[Epsilon]

You don't need to do a 1 level dip in wizard. If you want the school take the School savant archetype for arcanists. It will still let you use int for school abilities, but you won't need to do a 1 level dip in wizard.

[Dafydd]

Problem with the Savant is that I not only gain the school powers, but the 2 opposition schools, and I also end up not getting any exploits till level 5.

It is also PFS, so I lose Spell Focus too.

It works out much better to take the 1 level dip and get to have the school and familiar (also taking the familiar exploit) not take any hits for the dip.

[TGMaxMaxer]

Arcanist are already a spell level behind, taking another hit is kinda bad for a full caster.

Better to do the Exploiter Wizard, and get full wizard casting with the ability to take exploits.

[Epsilon]

Yeah, but then he can't select an arcane school.

Exploiter Exploit

At 1st level and every 4 levels thereafter, the exploiter wizard gains a single arcanist exploit. The exploiter wizard uses his wizard level as his arcanist level for determining the effects and DCs of his arcanist exploits.

This ability replaces arcane school.

[Dafydd]

After working out the spells per day, I gain around 8 cantrips. That gives me Jolt, Ray of Frost, Acid Splash and Disrupt Undead. All touch attacks and with the +18 I have in stealth, usually just need to hit a 10.

I am down on all those later spell levels, but I have a plethora of attack cantrips to take advantage of.

Additionally, if I am reading Ring of Wizardry right, I gain a lot of spells for each ring (gonna try to get 3, we will see where funds land me).

Anyway, thank you for the confirmation. That defiantly helps me keep it from being MAD.

[Epsilon]

You can only use two rings. Also look up false focus, alchemical power components, and Pathfinder Savant prestige class.
Also Jolt and a few other cantrips aren't isn't PFS legal.

Cantrips for a Arcanist alone isn't a big deal as every other level you you get another prepare slot for cantrips up to 9 at level 10.
The ones you should always have is Detect magic and Read magic.

Then after that Acid Splash and Disrupt Undead. Message can also be pretty useful and who could forget the best cantrip Prestidigitation.

Rings of Wizardry are very expensive, not saying don't buy them but you probably won't be able to afford the first one until you are level 5-7 assuming you've been saving for it.

Been Playing a Blood Arcanist 5/ Pathfinder Savant 1/ Slayer 1. Oh the fun I've been having.

[Dafydd]

You can use 3 via the amulet Hand of Glory.

Too bad about Jolt, that one I hand not caught yet. I have not done the final rules check just yet on him.

I am still looking at 8 cantrips now, maxing at 13 at level 11. Plenty of fun times at low levels and nearly no need for a weapon (random antimagic zones and insane SR make me sad)