fresh bloodrager build - 5 levels, most strength

[Cuman]

I've been discussing with my GM and he has allowed me to rebuild my level 5 character. I would like a bloodrager with as much strength as possible but it won't die immediately. I'd like it to be in basic wording so my brain doesn't die trying to understand the build. much appreciated!

[Ryan Freire]

Abyssal bloodline bloodrager who builds toward improved eldritch heritage abyssal (sorceror) bloodline. maxes your strength.

Human (abyssal) bloodrager

Start with 16 str put your human +2 here

Have at least 14 con

Have a plan to get least 15 cha from levels or items before 11

Level 1 feats Power attack, exotic weapon proficiency (butchering axe)

At level 6 take vital strike

Feats you want from eldritch heritage: Skill focus (knowledge:planes) Eldritch heritage, improved eldritch heritage (for the level 9 bloodline ability). You don't need IEH til 11, this chain can kind of wait.

Feats you want for murdering people: The Vital Strike chain, Furious focus, and Furious finish.

When you rage you will enlarge, giving you +2 size to strength as well as making your butchering axe a 4d6 weapon. You'll want impact on it as well to make it a 6d6 weapon. Move about the battlefield vital striking people for 12-24d6 damage. Or end your rage and just maximize it.

[Firebug]

Half-orc (to take Amplified Rage teamwork feat), trade out your 1st level bloodline power for Bloodline Familiar and choose the archetype Valet for said familiar to share teamwork feats with it (ie, Amplified Rage). Protect the familiar in a Familiar Satchel because it just needs to be alive and near you for the teamwork feat to work.

Abyssal Bloodline to auto-enlarge person at 4th level and setting up for increasing your +str from bloodrage at 12.

Start with an 18 or 20 strength, Bloodrage for another +8 (+Amplified Rage), Enlarge Person for another +2. You could probably afford a belt of giant strength +2 at level 5, or you are getting close to doing so. Str = 32.

You still have 2 feats free if you want add in stuff from Ryan Freire.

I would be careful with Furious Finish. It doesn't say you are fatigued for the same number of rounds as normal, just fatigued. Period. A literal-reading GM would state that the fatigue from Furious Finish doesn't end until you do something to end it (lesser restoration, sleep). Which is why I recommend such builds to look into taking a couple levels of Paladin to be able to remove fatigue with Lay on Hands.

[rorek55]

as above, abyssal bloodline is probably your best bet. While I wouldn't suggest going full swiss with the cheese of the above, it DOES work RAW.

That said, if you want you can also go for cross-blooded bloodrager and grab abyssal+ arcane.

Take either 1st level power, at 4th, take the abyssal power, at grab the arcane line level 8 power, then at 12 take the abyssal power. After that, its just whichever bloodline you like better.

This nets you all the things you want from abyssal (enlarge self+strength boost)
and arcane (Displacement or Haste).

This way you have a lot of strength, and are hard to take down usually.

Also, the spelleater archetype gains fast healing instead of DR, most of this time this is all together much better, unless you are fighting A LOT of weak enemies.

[Cuman]

rorek55 wrote:

That said, if you want you can also go for cross-blooded bloodrager and grab abyssal+ arcane.

What about the will check loss? Wouldn't that be damaging for a melee fighter?

[rorek55]

sure, but in pathfinder its really hard to get "everything"

If you are worried, take half-elf and take the alternate racial trait dual minded. That gives you a flat +2 to will, on top of the +2 vs enchantment effects.

Feats like Iron will/Improved Iron will with a defiant weapon can also help.

You could also take the primalist archetype and trade out a power at some point to get the superstitious rage power. (though, this either comes at the cost of something else, or won't be a thing until level 16)

Steadfast personality also can be picked up to use charisma in place of wisdom for will saves vs most effects you will be worried about.

[Firebug]

Also if you are willing to trade in your 1st level power for a bloodline familiar, you can pick Hedgehog for +2 Will.

[Ryan Freire]

TBH if im ever worried about will saves i suck it up and just go dwarf, then shell out for steelsoul instead of one of the +2 to a single save feats.

One feat and you're net +5+4+5 vs spells and spell likes Dwarf is really a weird race. They're honestly wildly strong for making sure your character can actually GET to the level your build takes off but because they don't bend toward maximizing an offensive stat they kinda get overlooked.

[Cuman]

what about this build: (not mine)
Carl Jr.
Archetype: Primalist & Spell Eater

Race: Half-Orc
Alternative Racial: Sacred Tattoo and Shaman's Apprentice

Point Buy:
Str:19, Dex: 12, Con: 15, Int: 7, Wis: 10, Cha: 12 (+1 to Con @ 4 and rest +1 STR)

Traits:
Fate's Favored
Dangerously Curious

Bloodline:
Arcane

Feats:
1 HD: Shaman's Apprentice- Endurance
1 HD: Diehard
3 HD: Fast Healer
5 HD: Raging Vitality
6 HD (Bloodline): Power Attack
7 HD: Arcane Strike
9 HD: Improved Critical Scimitar
9 HD (Bloodline): Iron Will
11 HD: Bloodied Arcane Strike
12 HD (Bloodline): Combat Reflexes
13 HD: Raging Brutality

Bloodline Powers:
1: Familiar (Familiar Folio Choice)Protector Archetype Hedgehog (+2 Will saves)
4: Use the 4th level power, but retrain at Level 8 for Lesser Beast Totem and Beast Totem
8: Keep this Power for Displacement or Haste while raging
12: Rage Powers: Come and Get Me & Greater Beast Totem

It uses the Hedgehog Archetype but isn't crossblooded so would it be worth customising this build so it was?

[avr]

Arcane is a really good bloodline. You don't need to go crossblooded with it, especially since the above is trading out three powers for a familiar and rage powers anyway - what else would you trade for another bloodline's powers? And I'm not sure that spelleater is worth losing uncanny dodge and improved uncanny dodge, those are useful.

But yeah, pretty solid as given.

[MrCharisma]

I think Fast Healer is a waste of a feat.

Likewise I don't think Arcane Strike and Blooded Arcane Strike are worth it. Arcane Strike alone is fine if you're not taking Raging Brutality (or even if you want to use Arcane Strike on rounds when you're not using Raging brutality), but 2 feats for +3 damage isn't a great trade in my opinion. If you wanted to do something with Riving Strike I'd consider it, but it's getting pretty feat heavy at that point. Obviously Raging Brutality is better, but comes online later.

I'm playing a Bloodrager at the moment and I'm not bothering with the Beast Totem line. I know they're strong but with proper positioning you can force enemies to come to you. I've got Come And Get Me (CAGM), and I'm paring it with:
Combat Expertise +5 AC, -5 attack
Reckless Abandon rage power -5 AC, +5 attack (negates penalty from Combat Expertise)
Stalwart -5 AC, +5 DR (turns bonus from Combat Expertise into DR
Improved Stalwart +5 DR (doubles DR from Stalwart)
Dazing Assault -5 to hit, Daze enemies on a hit (fort save negates)
(And obviously Combat Reflexes. I also took the Quick Reflexes rage power, though you don't need to)
So with all of that, when I use CAGM I get -5 to hit, -9 AC, +10 DR (stacks with Barbarian DR), AoO enemies before they attack me, and Daze enemies on every hit.

I also have Raging Brutality on my to-get list, but I'm doing enough damage that this is less of a priority. And I took the Strength Surge rage power because it's awesome to be able to literally kick down the fortified steel door.

And while we're at it I 100% would never go Crossblooded without a very good reason. It's -4 to your Will save on a fairly MAD class with a slow will save progression and no incentive to pump WIS, and it has huge damage output potential. You have a very good chance of killing the rest of the party in a single round (maybe 2).

Just my 2 cents.