So, Doing Eldritch Archer Research got me curious on the best class option for an Archer. Only restriction is this: You need to focus on firing arrows (Or crossbow bolts, I'll count crossbows for this). You can have other abilities but they should improve your ability to shoot arrows.
I just want to see what the consensus is on the best builds for archery. Martial, magical, and even psionic. All archers welcome.
Inquisitors, Molthuni Arsenal Chaplain Warpriest, and Fighters make the most damaging archers.
The "best" in what specific way? Number of attacks, straight DPR, burst DPR, versatility, etc.?
There are quite a few "best" archers. It just depends on what you want them to be "best" at...
I have a related question that may also help Sarvis. How does a bolt ace compare against inquisitors or warpriests that use bows? (strengths / weaknesses and the like) ...it seems interesting to me, but I rarely see it mentioned.
Bolt Ace is cool in the sense that it makes a normally not useful weapon useful, but it doesn't out damage an optimized archer.
Main thing is, don't take more than 5 levels in bolt ace. In fact you're best thing to do is to probably take 5 levels in bolt ace and then multiclass into one of the other classes I mentioned.
Bolt Ace is basically bad at everything that isn't dealing damage with a crossbow.
Bolt Ace is cool in the sense that it makes a normally not useful weapon useful, but it doesn't out damage an optimized archer.
Main thing is, don't take more than 5 levels in bolt ace. In fact you're best thing to do is to probably take 5 levels in bolt ace and then multiclass into one of the other classes I mentioned.
Bolt Ace is basically bad at everything that isn't dealing damage with a crossbow.
Yeah, i'd looked over the class/archetype and that was my exact conclusion. Would you lag behind a straight fighter if you went Bolt Ace 5 / Fighter X, or would it be worth the "dip"? (and/or are other classes better to continue from a 5 level bolt ace "dip"*?)
Zen Archer Monk has all the necessities baked into the class, and will likely have the best saves out of any archer, and the Holy Hunter (?) has ranged smite so, you know, that ridiculous.
Sohei Monk has the potential to be crazy early (Mounted Skirmisher 13 levels early) and can flurry with a bow, but the feats needed are just ridiculous.
While perhaps not as strong as the Inquisitor or MAC Warpriest in terms of the numbers it can put out, I do want to make an argument for the Haunt Collector Occultist in an environment where the "Trappings of the Warrior" Panoply is legal (i.e. not PFS.) You're tight on feats but you're eventually a full BAB 6-level caster with bane on demand and gravity bow on your spell list (and you don't need hands to cast it or anything else.)
Be a half elf for the elf-FCB and free EWP in the Hornbow, pick Abjuration and Transmutation at level 1, some implement with a useless/weak resonant power at level 2 (e.g. Conjuration) and Haunt it with the Champion Medium Spirit, then take the Trappings of the Warrior Panoply at level 6 to get your first iterative attack.
You can dump charisma and take student of philosophy and pragmatic activator to be a face on top of your combat prowess, spellcasting acumen, and pile of skill points.
Zen Archer Monk has all the necessities baked into the class, and will likely have the best saves out of any archer, and the Holy Hunter (?) has ranged smite so, you know, that ridiculous.
Sohei Monk has the potential to be crazy early (Mounted Skirmisher 13 levels early) and can flurry with a bow, but the feats needed are just ridiculous.
Zen Archer is great at low levels because they get all the really important feats early on, but in the long run they're actually pretty terrible archers compared to most anyone else. The big problem being that they don't have much in the way to add significant damage to their attacks, and no being able to spend ki to substitute your unarmed strike damage instead of your normal bow damage isn't enough compared to the fighter, inquisitor, or warpriest.
Also, fighter has strong saves since the release of weapon masters handbook and the ability to add Bravery Bonus to Will saves. Inquisitor has good fort and will save from the beginning and a number of tricks to pump up saves. Warpriest start with good fort and will.
The best use I've seen for zen archer is starting your first 3 levels in Zen archer and then multiclassing into Inquisitor.
A straight fighter archer vs a bolt ace 5/fighter?
I'd have to run the math. I think they'd be pretty comparable.
If you force the fighter to try to use a crossbow he'll be worse, but honestly the fighter has no reason to use a crossbow. Crossbow are simply objectively worse in Pathfinder except for the Bolt Ace which is uniquely good with them and can add dex to damage, which is an interesting proposition.
Regarding the Bolt Ace being interesting because it allows you to fight at range based on a single attribute, I wonder if anybody has tried to build an archer fighter who takes a 2 level dip into Sanguine Angel for "Strength to Hit with Bows". You have to take two feats that are useless for an archer (WF (Longsword) and Imp. Shield Bash) but you can build a sword and board fighter who transforms into an archer (in heavy armor no less) at level 7. That's at least interesting.
Not PFS legal, but what about the eldritch archer magus?
What's the board's opinion on Slayer (Sniper)?
What's the board's opinion on Slayer (Sniper)?
Slayer's make good archers (the non-archetyped version) because of their access to Ranger Combat style feats. The abilities of the Sniper archetype aren't impressive, but what they give up isn't really important either. The decrease in penalties for ranged penalties is okay, but since bows already have a range of 110ft it doesn't come up much.
The second ability is marginally useful, but also doesn't replace anything.
Not PFS legal, but what about the eldritch archer magus?
I've played one once, briefly. Truly a terror on the battlefield.