I'm usually fine with the hurtful combo. 2 two handed attacks seems like 'enough' for a pseudo pounce.
I'd also advise arcane strike- it is just free damage for you. Blood ragers usually don't have too many swift actions (and even if that was a problem, you could take an additional feat to automatically get arcane strike on all attacks while blood raging).
I'd definitely ditch all the Cleave feats. As you're already finding out, they're very situational, and may rarely come into play for you.
Instead, absolutely go with Arcane Strike as soon as you can cast spells. (Level 4 for a Bloodrager, so take that as your Level 5 feat.) It's a must-have for all arcane casters who primarily focus on using traditional melee/ranged weapons. As noted, it's basically free damage.
Weapon Focus and/or Furious Focus is another good choice for a spare feat on a Power Attack build, to help offset the Power Attack penalty.
And if you want to go the Cornugan Smash Intimidate/Demoralize route, then Intimidating Prowess and Hurtful are both good choice as well.
So I'd recommend something like this:
1: Power Attack
1B: Furious Focus, or Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
3: Intimidating Prowess
5: Arcane Strike
7: Cornugan Smash
9: Hurtful
And max out your Intimidate skill with a point every level.
And if you want to go the Cornugan Smash Intimidate/Demoralize route, then Intimidating Prowess and Hurtful are both good choice as well.
So I'd recommend something like this:
1: Power Attack
1B: Furious Focus, or Weapon Focus (Greatsword)
3: Intimidating Prowess
5: Arcane Strike
7: Cornugan Smash
9: HurtfulAnd max out your Intimidate skill with a point every level.
The problem there is that the hurtful combo is actually one of the situations where arcane strike can be a problem- both hurtful and arcane strike need a swift action.
So I'd try to rearrange things so I could get blooded arcane strike (which removes the swift action needed for arcane strike). So my suggestion is:
1: power attack
3: hurtful
5: Arcane strike
7: Cornugan Smash
9: blooded arcane strike
This allows you to get both working by level 9. I leave out bonus feats (I tried to make this race agnostic; intimidating prowess is a good choice if human). I allowed cornugan smash to come before blooded arcane strike because the extra attack is just too valuable compared to the extra damage.
You can later combine arcane strike and the hurtful combo for a devastating debuff build-
1. Riving strike is a feat that forces enemies to take a -2 on saves vs. spells when you hit them with arcane strike. It is only 1 turn, so you can't take advantage of it personally, but it helps the party wizard
2. a cruel weapon is fantastic with the hurtful combo- when you hit an enemy that is shaken (ie- everytime you get off the hurful hit), the enemy becomes sickened (which is a -2 to saves and other d20 rolls).
3. Don't forget that shaken is its own -2 to saves and such.
Combined, you can force a -6 on saves.... and this happens AFTER you move+attack. So combining arcane strike and hurtful can make a build that would be appreciated in any party. At that point, no one will care that you don't have pounce- you are contributing enough by being a debuffing, good damage tank. They will be glad that you are hitting things in the head and knocking their saving throws out.
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Building on the previous comments, if retraining is allowed:
- Pick Power Attack at level 1.
- Retrain it to Cornugon Smash at level 6. Pick Power Attack as your Bloodline bonus feat.
- Pick Blooded Arcane Strike at level 7
- Pick Riving Strike at level 9
With Shaken, Riving Strike and a Cruel Weapon, you'll inflict -6 on saving throws, -4 on attack rolls and skill checks, and -2 to damage in a single round.
-4 to saves is still a rather powerful tool- it is the defining ability of the witch. So grabbing two damage boosting methods that also provide that nice debuff after a move action... it is still good.
Just make sure that your GM knows that a cruel weapon is on your wish list. Y'know- on the off chance he feels like providing a single really good item as a late game reward.
Raging Vitality is a must-have, and Steadfast Personality is very nice. You can’t kill things if you are dead or held.