Help me build a Red Mantis Assassin Rival / Vice-BBEG

[Helel13]

For context this will be an endgame nemesis for a PC; not final boss but penultimate territory. Thus the build will be at level 18-19, with a human base. I have a few general build ideas floating around in my head from prior feedback -

1. Arcane Trickster -> Full casting will ensure a high power level as a villain.

2. TWF Slayer with a dip into Mantis Zealot Warpriest -> Solid STR-TWF with a few key Mantis traits

3. TWF Mantis Zealot Warpriest all the way through -> Probably the best with regards to a consistent flavor

4. Arsenal Chaplain Warpriest -> Probably a superior melee build to the Mantis Zealot Warpriest but mechanically lacking in the Assassin flavor.

Any thoughts and feedback are appreciated!

[Air-Alan]

First thing, with rolling a Warpriest you can't get Stealth and Perception skills to get the Mantis Archetype... So, on another note, here's what I did.

I'm actually building one right now as a PC. I'm rocking out a Slayer/fighter Human.
From there, it's cake.

1st Fighter: H-bonus TWF, Alertness, & EWP Sawtooth Saber. All skill points into Intimidate.
2nd Fighter: Weapon Focus Sawtooth Saber (Here you're done with the feat requirements. Slap a few more in Intimidate to get your 5.)
3rd Slayer (1): Here is where you pick up your Perception and Stealth skills. Feat Iron Will.
4th: Slayer (2): Here you get a Slayer Feat and nab Double Slice for fun. Finish skill requirements.
5th: Mantis Assassin.

You can slap 1 more level into Fighter and Slayer 1 more time to pick up Sneak Attack and Armor Training (or you can grab Defensive Flurry with the fighter Two-weapon Archetype). I know you're thinking why grab a 3rd level of Slayer for sneak attack, and that's because it'll stack. :) Practically the same thing can be done with a Half-elf. An alternate Half-elf trait is that you can get a Exotic Weapon Proficiency at level 1 for a bonus feat, where you nab Sawtooth Saber.

Boom!

[MageHunter]

I had an idea for a Cleric with a Monk dip to grab Crusader's Flurry, and then pseudo-TWF. Won't be an actual Red Mantis Assassin but a priest of Achaekek is equally thematic.

[Helel13]

Air-Alan wrote:

First thing, with rolling a Warpriest you can't get Stealth and Perception skills to get the Mantis Archetype

Sorry if I wasn't very clear, but I meant the character is an assassin of the Red Mantis, not necessarily that he has to have the Red Mantis Assassin Prestige Class if that makes sense, which is why I mentioned the different build options.

[Helel13]

Bump

[Cory Stafford 29]

I like the mantis zealot warpreist archetype, but it doesn't really scream assassin due to limited stealthy skills. That being said 10 levels of it with the trickery domain gets you greater invisibility, so I'd probably go mantis zealot (warpriest) 10/sniper (slayer) 9. You should have plenty of feats to two-weapon fight and be a nasty sniper archer especially with swift action buffs from fervor and studied target. Another option is to replace the 5 of the slayer levels with sanctified slayer inquisitor for bane. After a round or so of buffing, this build would be a nightmare in melee and especially as a sniper.

[Forcy]

5 levels of ninja, then red mantis assassin... both need high CHA, for ki powers and for spells. Both have Sneak Attack.
Focus on high dex and cha build!!

[johnlocke90]

Main issue I see is that a Red Mantis Assassin NPC basically would try to sneak up on a player, 1 shot him then leave. Thats really all its built to do.

And from what I have heard, that is really unfun for the players.

[Dracoknight]

Well i have a lvl20 around and you can just "de-level" him as needed and he is 15-pointbuy with a bit of cash tossed about so he isnt the most optimal, but he is indeed servicable.

[Greeeit]

First of all, this build is neither red mantisy, nor does it have an instakill ability (And to be honest, I have no idea if it works at all at higher levels). But the fight as I've imagined it could be pretty fun (Or there's a glaring flaw in the build I haven't though of and it's over within the first round)

So it's a unchained monk 5/ninja 5/shadow dancer 3 (Will probably need some upgrading) For abilities you max dex and wis, dump str, get an agile amulet of mighty fists to bump up your damage.

Feats:
1 Mobility(+ 4 ac mot aoo) 1m Dodge
1h Weapon finesse 2m Improved Grapple
3 Piranah strike
5 Spring attack
7 accomplished sneak attacker
9 Weapon focus (unarmed)
11 Shadow strike
13 Sap addept

Additionaly you get the monk flying kick stylestrike and shadow companion to use as a flanker.

So the point with the build is to attack at night, lurking in the shadows and spring attacking until you can get in position to flying kick and fullround attack a player flanked by the shadow for (hopefully) tonnes of damage.