How is the Shadowdancer in the modern era of PF?

[The Pale King]

With feats like Flexible and Extra Shadow Jump and the Slayer class I feel like Shadowdancer should be in a good place. What does everyone think? What are the best entry classes and builds? How many levels are worth taking?

[Tusk the Half-Orc]

Dotting for interest - I have a wayang unrogue I have played in a couple of PFS games that I have been planning to build into a Shadowdancer, but he is still only level 1 so I don't have any experience with him in the prestige class.

[Ascalaphus]

My slayer7/dancer3 is pretty fun to play. I think it's mainly the first three levels of shadowdancer that are really nice - you get a big package of abilities there.

It's a surprisingly good combination with Paladin, also. Paladin brings good saves for you to exploit with Evasion, and good base saves for your Shadow. Also good HP and BAB. Those help a lot for the shadow.

Shadows also make nice flanking partners for sneak attackers. They can lurk inside the wall, and still provide flanks. They're also really good scouts.

[666bender]

I play a ranger x / shadow 1.
It's the best combo i found so far .
Urban ranger has spells and with boon companion also a mount (wolf). That spring attack with me.

Slayer would do more damage, but the addition of resist energy, delay poison mount and scroll useage adds so much...

If planned on 3-4 levels than slayer is perfect

[Kryzbyn]

Really wish the shadowdancer had more love. Would like to see it as an archetype, rather than a PRC.

[Gisher]

The Pale King wrote:

With feats like Flexible and Extra Shadow Jump and the Slayer class I feel like Shadowdancer should be in a good place.

And every Shadowdancer should have a Shadow Jumper's Tunic.

[Eltacolibre]

It blows.

[Gisher]

Kryzbyn wrote:

Really wish the shadowdancer had more love. Would like to see it as an archetype, rather than a PRC.

The Spiritualist Shadow Caller has a bit of mechanical and thematic overlap with Shadowdancer. Among other things you get a shadowy Phantom, the darkness and deeper darkness spells, and a bit of Shadow Jump.

There is also the Vigilante Cabalist. You get access to Shadow Jump, some other shadowy powers, and some shadowy Witch spells. Dipping a couple of levels into Shadowdancer for all the goodies works nicely since those levels will stack for the purpose of Shadow Jump.

[Hayato Ken]

Unchained barbarians make good shadow dancers as well.

[djdust]

Ive got a fetchling unrogue (shadow walker) that i plan on taking to shadowdancer at lvl6. Im super excited about it. Im still trying to figure out how to get as much out of it while still getting as much out of unrogue as i can. The whole build is based around being able to control lighting conditions for maximum advantage. Wish i could get more advanced talents though.