As listed in the title: What are the best cleric prestige classes currently avalable. I've seen Stargazer, which looks rather nifty, but other than that, what are some good prestige classes?
Holy Vindicator can be pretty fun. Rather late entry however.
Arcane Savant
Veiled illusionist is very good if you're a cleric of Sivanah.
Maybe soul warden if you're really into channeling.
I find Soul Eater/Souldrinker really fascinating...Would you mind sharing some details if you have a build?
The key to building a Souldrinker is a conductive weapon. Build yourself a melee cleric, probably of Szuriel, and at 7th level (5 cleric plus 2 souldrinker), bestow a negative level every melee attack through your conductive weapon. Reach clerics, which let you cast then melee with AoOs, are generally solid.
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Dawnflower Anchorite (9/10 casting; can progress channel energy, domains, animal companion, etc).
Evangelist advances all Cleric class features 9/10, plus faster Obedience benefits
Stargazer full spell progression; domains progression (and 3rd domain); channel progression with The Mother's arcana; other fun stuff
Keep in mind that Souldrinker will be changing when it is reprinted in the upcoming Book of the Damned in September. The Energy Drain ability will be significantly different...
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While I really don't think that there are any notably good Cleric Prestige Classes, a few I'd consider would be Riftwarden from Paths of Prestige, which in some ways sort of feels like the Iconic Cleric, though mechanically it doesn't live up to it too much. It's not bad, it's just designed to be more of an Arcane PC than a Divine one, even if it fits thematically with a Caster Cleric.
The Gray Gardener from the same book, especially if you dump most of the assumed flavor and just go for the mechanics is actually pretty awesome. The flavor isn't bad, but the PC itself makes for a pretty good Divine Trickster type that I don't see a need to restrict it to a specific culture as the write up suggests. It also allows for a Cleric to play more of an Inquisitor Lite and/or Vigilante Lite type concept.
I want to eventually try a Holy Vindicator, but have never personally done so, or really even seen one in play, so I can't say. It sort of feels like it gives up too much for too little in some ways.
Lastly, I'd also really like to make a Cleric that goes Arcane Archer, but it requires too much house ruling.
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Lastly, I'd also really like to make a Cleric that goes Arcane Archer, but it requires too much house ruling.Take a look at the Hinterlander PRC. It gets 9/10 casting and Imbue Arrow.
Unfortunately it is also not allowed in PFS, which is mainly what I play at the moment. But yes I did. It's an interesting class, but also has a lot of unclear Class Features.
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At 2nd level, when a hinterlander is within a 10-mile radius of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer individuals, he gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks. A hinterlander traveling through this terrain leaves no trail and can’t be tracked (although he can leave a trail if he so desires). At 9th level, these initiative and skill bonuses increase to +4, and the bonuses function as long as the hinterlander is within 20 miles of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer.
Should I read that as;
"as long as there is a settlement of 2,000 or less people within 10 miles"
or
"any time the only settlement within 10 miles has less than 2,000 people"
Does a settlement within a city, such as "the Slums" within a large city count? In the same sense of You are Always considered your own Ally, do I myself count for this? I mean I am less than 2,000 people, even with a party, and I will always being within 5 miles of myself, right?
What about if I am underground? What if my character doesn't actually know if there is a settlement, say I'm walking through the Darklands and one step there is not within 10 miles, but suddenly the next step I take, technically there is a Deep Gnome Settlement exactly 10 miles away. (Do I know that suddenly?)
Defended Hearth (Su): At 6th level, a hinterlander can designate a settlement as a defended hearth, allowing him to sense the presence of unnatural creatures within 5 miles of it.
Is this saying that, no matter where I myself am, I can automatically sense that an unnatural creature is within 5 miles of my hearth or is this saying that as long as I am within 5 miles of my hearth, I automatically know that unnatural creatures are near it?
If the later, at what range does this kick in for them? If the former, does this information cross planar travel? How about nations? Oceans? Countries? How do I even know? Is it similar to seeing through a Familiar's eyes, or is it similar to an Empathic feeling?
What exactly happens if, say being a long-lived Elf, at the time I picked a less than 2,000 person population area, but after a few decades, it suddenly becomes larger? What happens if there is suddenly a large refugee influx?
The key to building a Souldrinker is a conductive weapon. Build yourself a melee cleric, probably of Szuriel, and at 7th level (5 cleric plus 2 souldrinker), bestow a negative level every melee attack through your conductive weapon. Reach clerics, which let you cast then melee with AoOs, are generally solid.I see, as a 2-level dip for a melee Cleric. In this case your soul pool will be pretty limited, though. On the other hand, if you stay a Souldrinker you lose too much in your BAB...
Building your soul pool does have its advantages, namely that soul points are an unlimited resource. There's nothing to stop you from energy draining everything in your path: unconscious/helpless enemies, pack animals (with 2 HD or more), whatever. A 24g, 2 HD herd animal can be energy drained into 200gp of soul points towards item creation or spell components. More soul points means you can gain back higher level spells, get larger discounts on spells and magic items.
Presumably this is what the new Souldrinker class is being revised to fix.
Just saying to those people who are advocating the Souldrinker prestige class, that PrC is getting reprinted in the hardcover Book of the Damned and James Jacobs has specifically said that they're going to be removing the energy drain effect because it was quite honestly too good.
Just saying to those people who are advocating the Souldrinker prestige class, that PrC is getting reprinted in the hardcover Book of the Damned and James Jacobs has specifically said that they're going to be removing the energy drain effect because it was quite honestly too good.but it was the only prestige class that was actively worth going into all the others save for maybe dragon disciple are complete and utter garbage and actively worse than normal classes
Yes, the problem was that it was "only worth going into" because of an incredibly strong ability that in most cases PCs shouldn't be able to get their hands on, and on the obverse side it's unfun to play against an NPC that can knock off 1 or 2 negative levels per round with a weapon.
Not to mention now that the Favored Prestige Class feat is a thing, the caster level loss that Souldrinkers normally have to deal with is no longer a thing.
People need to get over this idea that prestige classes need to be upgraded versions of base classes. That idea died after 3.5 became flooded with prestige classes.
Lady-J, have you ever looked at the veiled illusionist, or stargazer PrCs?
Hellknight Signifer seems not too shabby for a Cleric, if you're inclined in that direction. Full progression spellcasting, continuing 3/4 BAB, and fairly rich in class features(*); also, you get to keep progressing any Domain/Inquisition Powers that you already have (doesn't give you any that you don't already have, though).
(*)No new class features at level 2 for divine casters -- the class feature there is arcane-only. But on the up side, the feat you use to qualify for Hellknight Signifer as a divine caster is actually not too shabby, unlike the feat you use to qualify as an arcane caster, which is what the level 2 class feature applies to.
Lady-J, have you ever looked at the veiled illusionist, or stargazer PrCs?yes and they are garbage
I'm guessing then that you only consider straight numerical bonuses and disregard extra options even when they might lead to more effectiveness. Because from the perspective of a cleric, getting access to sorc/wiz illusionist spells while losing no casting ability is a definite gain in effectiveness. Disregarding them as garbage is... short-sighted.
Arcane Savant
This right here.
The single best casting PRC in the game now.... Assuming you can take Prestigious Spellcaster.
"Arcane Savant" should actually be Pathfinder Savant. The choice of alternate name on www.d20pfsrd.com was unfortunate, since you can get into this as a divine or occult caster just as easily as an arcane caster for a given casting stat (being Intelligence-based does help a lot with the skill requirement, but a non-Sage Sorcerer is going to have just as much trouble as a Cleric in that department, with maybe just a bit of an edge if one of the Bloodlines gives you Magical Aptitude or an Item Crafting feat as a bonus feat -- can't remember if any of them do).
Lady-J, have you ever looked at the veiled illusionist, or stargazer PrCs?yes and they are garbage
Eh?!?!
Out of all the 9th level casters... Stargazer prob benefits cleric the most! Yes its PFS banned but nevertheless...
Veiled Illusionist is fairly decent as well as there is no loss of casting.
The Exalted Prestige Class is pretty amazing for clerics.
I disagree... the 2 feat tax just kills it IMO
I dont ordinarily rate it but if you have the Divine Paragon archetype it gives you free entry into Evangelist PrC.
Assuming you enter at Lv 6.... you now gain 2 sets of boons,Aligned class, extra skill points, some other nifty tricks, better Reflex save... etc
Yes you lose out in Wis & Fort saves and a caster level but TBH the 2 feats required to get it back just isnt worth it for a cleric IMO. A lot of clerics take +1 skill point level anyway for FCB and you dont need to do that now because you get 6/lvl.
[I]At 2nd level, when a hinterlander is within a 10-mile radius of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer individuals, he gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks. A hinterlander traveling through this terrain leaves no trail and can’t be tracked (although he can leave a trail if he so desires). At 9th level, these initiative and skill bonuses increase to +4, and the bonuses function as long as the hinterlander is within 20 miles of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer.
To me the most important and glaring flaw is that you get Favored Terrain (Hinterlands), seemingly automatically when near a small settlement. And then you get this Defended Hearth thing, that just happens to give the same bonuses as Favored Terrain, and only when within a few miles of a small settlement (ie, the "hinterlands"), and you have to study the area first.
It seems obvious to me that these are two versions of the same ability, and somehow got through a confused editing process.
that one is actually not as bad as nearly all other prc interesting adding it to my list of prc that might be worth itArcane SavantThis right here.
The single best casting PRC in the game now.... Assuming you can take Prestigious Spellcaster.
I'm going this route with my reincarnated druid. Filling in the spell list with paladin self-sacrifice type spells. Also, as the party's only caster aside from a gray paladin, UMD and Craft Wondrous Item fill a lot of gaps in the party's capabilities given enough downtime.
Any decent prestige class + 10 levels of Evangelist with Aligned Class (that decent prestige class). I like Stargazer + Evangelist. One caster level loss, so much good stuff.
At 2nd level, when a hinterlander is within a 10-mile radius of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer individuals, he gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, and Survival checks. A hinterlander traveling through this terrain leaves no trail and can’t be tracked (although he can leave a trail if he so desires). At 9th level, these initiative and skill bonuses increase to +4, and the bonuses function as long as the hinterlander is within 20 miles of a settlement with a population of 2,000 or fewer.To me the most important and glaring flaw is that you get Favored Terrain (Hinterlands), seemingly automatically when near a small settlement. And then you get this Defended Hearth thing, that just happens to give the same bonuses as Favored Terrain, and only when within a few miles of a small settlement (ie, the "hinterlands"), and you have to study the area first.
It seems obvious to me that these are two versions of the same ability, and somehow got through a confused editing process.
You know what, never mind. I see now that the Defended Hearth bonuses apply [i]within the designated settlement. And stacks with other Favored Terrain that applies. So, sorry. Thought I had something.
Although the language is a little sloppy on a couple of these abilities, just err on the side of conservative common sense, and this class is fine.
Divine Scion has one potential niche use: the +4 to CMB from Strength is huge for a CMB battle Cleric.
Anchorite starts to have decent buffing once you can use it away from the sun and buff the whole party with a move action.
Depending on your deity the Exalted prestige class can be really good.
Source: Inner Sea Gods
Id second that, even more if your going to a high level game.
a cleric who go into that class at level 6 after 5 levels of cleric and say pick the divine subdomain for his 5th level prestige class ability would have the following.:level 13+ - once per day a 'free' ressuraction sla - no diamond dust cost needed.
level 15+ - the class lesser miracle ability 1/day (i call it that since it's somewhat less powerfull then a full out miracle. but also can be free, depand on use).
level 17+ a 1/day free miracle sla.
and that's not counting the other abilities you gain from the class (like permenet protection from your opposed aligmnent,enemy bards hate this!) and the obidience boons.
if your not too focused on cleric, my Shenron mark 2 Build uses a dragon oracle. i call him "the wish granting dragon...oracle"
taking elf with the lightbringer alt ability, and adopted racial trait (into one of the gieny races, like sylph ifrit etc) and picking minor wish crafting. and going dragon oracle 10 exalted 10 (following irori or other god with divine subdomain) last picking the revolution that grant you a sla 1/day (or twice at oracle level 11- which come into effect at level 20 with the elven fev calss ability picked 6 times).
all this will grant you:
level 1+ free casting of ALL level 0 spells as much as you want per day (you are a humanoid so you can grant your own wishes, and you don't run out of racial light sla) - someone you meet want to be a 'super saiyen? cast prestigitation to make his hair yellow, eyes blue. then cast breeze directed up on him and tell him he has asended ;)
level 14+ free resuraction 1/day.
level 16+ free 'minor miracle' 1/day. (since you enter the prestige class at levels 7-16)
level 18+ (with retrainig and the dragon revulotion) 1/day free miracle and 1/day free leser wish.
level 20 (might need rtrainig on the fev class bonus) - 2/day lesser wish.
all this without costing spells. how cool is that?
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The Exalted Prestige Class is pretty amazing for clerics.I disagree... the 2 feat tax just kills it IMO
I dont ordinarily rate it but if you have the Divine Paragon archetype it gives you free entry into Evangelist PrC.
Assuming you enter at Lv 6.... you now gain 2 sets of boons,Aligned class, extra skill points, some other nifty tricks, better Reflex save... etc
Yes you lose out in Wis & Fort saves and a caster level but TBH the 2 feats required to get it back just isnt worth it for a cleric IMO. A lot of clerics take +1 skill point level anyway for FCB and you dont need to do that now because you get 6/lvl.
Well I'll disagree with your disagreement hehe. I have a level 9 (5 Separatist, 4 Exalted of Irori) character that's quite amazing. I plan on taking this character into Seeker levels after hitting lvl 12 in PFS.
I took the Memory subdomain and the Tactics subdomain so I reroll knowledge checks 10 times a day with a +7wis bonus and I reroll initiative checks 9 times a day. Thought domain grants all Knowledges as class skills and Deific Obedience grants +4 to all knowledge skills.
* 10th lvl - All Healing domain spells as 1/day SLA's.
* 11th lvl - Irori's 2nd boon: Grants close range, instead of touch, 3 times a day for conjuration healing spells (AKA ranged Breath of Life for offensive or defensive purposes). Plus free Empowered cure spells from Healing domain's "Healer's Blessing"
* 12th lvl - permanent Protection from Chaos
* 13th lvl - Detect Chaos at will
* 14th lvl - Taking the feat Diverse Obedience allows you to grab Runic Form as your 3rd boon.
Mind Tattoos: Two can each be discharged as a swift action to allow you to reroll a saving throw against an enchantment spell or effect. You must use this ability before you learn the result of your save, and you must take the second result, even if it is lower. The third can be discharged to grant you a +4 sacred bonus to Wisdom for 1 minute.
Spirit Tattoos: Two allow you to assume an ethereal state for 1 minute as though using the spell etherealness. The third allows you to gain spell resistance equal to 10 + 1 for every Hit Dice you possess for 1 minute.
* 15th lvl - 1/day Miracle
I'm considering dipping 1 level in Monk sometime for the free flurry of blows, proficiency with all monk weapons, monk base saves boost, free feat, unarmed strike dmg boost, and to add my +7wis bonus to AC and CMD. I'll probably dip 1 lvl after I get Runic Form.
I'm sure there's other deities out there that have some great obediences and boons, or give access to some great spells (Pharasma for one). But Exalted can definitely be a strong Prestige option.