GMs: What is your favorite and least favorite non-NPC class for enemies?

[deuxhero]

When making enemies what classes do you favor and disfavor and why?

My thoughts:
Barbarian is great for a beatstick, fitting thematically on any "savage" enemies and the rage bonuses helping make up for low ability scores. With Bless, and Inspire Courage an Evangelist Cleric really helps weak enemies hit, even if the cleric is low level compared to the rest of the combatants. Kineticist hits touch AC and it's rare for a PC to have more than 5 energy resistance against more than one element.

Swashbuckler is boring to run/fight and in some ways worse than Warrior for an NPC enemy: NPCs won't have super high dex and are generally better off with heavier armor, especially at lower levels when it's impractical to loot, fort saves are more common and encounter ending than reflex. Full casters are mostly bosses only unless someone stated them up before me because deciding on spells takes a while. Paladins aren't usable against non-evil PCs and Anti-Paladins are boss only for thematic reasons.

[VoodistMonk]

I love the Slayer class for enemies. Relatively few and simple archetypes. Lots of flavor and versatility in what the class offers. Ranger fighting styles help bring them up to par in combat without exuberant amounts of feats. A little bit of sneak attack damage to remind your party not to get complacent. Full BAB, medium armor, studied target, decent skills, what's not to love?

Least favorite is probably the Swashbuckler, because I pretty much abhor everything about that class, and literally cannot find a single thing I respect or enjoy about it.

[blahpers]

Favorite: All the fun archetypes and prestige classes that nobody ever plays.

Least favorite: Anything that novas, because NPCs rarely have to worry about having used up some of their resources already so they come off as strong as someone who could keep up that pace all day. But it's a mild dislike, not a "I hate playing nova types" thing.

[Ryze Kuja]

Rogues, Slayers, Witches, Clerics and Sorcerers - there's just so much they can do

[deuxhero]

blahpers wrote:

Favorite: All the fun archetypes and prestige classes that nobody ever plays.

Reminds me of Siege Mage Wizard. Gives up a lot in exchange for being pretty good at siege engines. It's good for an enemy attacking a PC defended fortress, and nothing else.

[VoodistMonk]

Siege Mage is perfect for an NPC. Lonely cruel wizard all alone in his tower except for a small group of large summons to rotate the platform and load the ballista.

Wizard lays on ballista aiming through a magical scope, using the ballista like a sniper rifle, shooting anyone who comes within 1200' of his tower.

Has a handful of hidden scrying objects in the treeline, but the land within 1200' of his tower is devoid of trees or rocks.

I wonder if you can enchant a ballista with Heart-Piercing...