Mindblade Build Advice

[spectrevk]

I'm whipping up an Occult-flavored character for some PFS play, and I can't shake the impulse to try out a Mindblade Magus. Easy weapon switches sound too good to pass up. Something dex-based would be tempting, but I decided to try strength-based for this build:

Half-Orc Magus (Mindblade) 1

STR 16
DEX 10
CON 14
INT 16
WIS 12
CHA 08

Alternate Half-Orc trait: City Raised (proficient in whips/longswords, +2 knowledge: Local)

AC: 16 (20 with shield)
HP: 12
Psychic Pool: 4

EQUIPMENT
Scale Mail

FEATS
1: Medium Armor Proficiency
3: Power Attack
5: Artful Dodge
Bonus Feat: Defensive Combat Training
7: Two-Weapon Fighting

SPELLS (at first level)
0: Dancing Lights, Disrupt Undead, Ghost Sound, Ray of Frost
1: Shield, Monkey Fish

Monkey Fish is a good utility spell to have for PFS situations, as a climb speed/swim speed in one spell can make easy work of many non-combat encounters.

I suppose if I was going to go full-dex for this build, I'd swap the DEX/STR scores, go Human, and adjust the feats as follows:

1: Weapon Finesse
Human: Agile Maneuvers
3: Pirana Strike
5: Two-Weapon Fighting
Bonus: Two-weapon Defense
7: Double-Slice

Slashing Grace is incompatible with TWF, so I'd just cough up the money for Agile enchantments instead. Any suggestions? Does either build seem more sensible than the other, or am I on the totally wrong track here?

[kadance]

You mention Agile enchantments. Does this mean you are forgoing using the Mind Blades themselves?

[Secret Wizard]

Your build looks good, however, I'd start with 15 INT (you'll get the 16 after 4th level), which gives you 3 points you can put elsewhere. I'd put 2 on DEX, so when you get Heavy Armor Proficiency, you can get the full +10 AC with Full Plate.

[Kurald Galain]

Here, have a Magus guide. Both str and dex builds can be very effective, they just have a different focus.

Note that agile maneuvers is redundant once you have weapon finesse. Also, power attack / piranha strike are not so good on a partial-BAB class that routinely takes -2 to hit for spell combat. Use your spells for more damage, don't take more attack penalties.

[spectrevk]

kadance wrote:

You mention Agile enchantments. Does this mean you are forgoing using the Mind Blades themselves?

Ah, you're right. I forgot that Agile wasn't one of the enhancements you could put on a Mindblade :(

Thanks for the help, guys.

[Firebug]

I'd find it fun to play off the fact that you can keep manifesting the weapon for essentially free since you get the points back. Something like the disposable weapon feat to auto confirm threats using a keen Brass Knife and level 7 rapid manifest to get it back same round. Possibly even tank your hit bonus since you only care about getting a threat so you don't waste charges of shocking grasp on non crits.