Ancestries for Magus


Pathfinder Second Edition General Discussion


My magus character is inexorable iron with rune witch for life boost and spell slots. I chose to make him an orc to triple down on the harder to kill theme. What are some other ancestry synergies you all have found for your magi?

Liberty's Edge

As with every class concept, Ancient Elf is just hands down one of the best choices you can make due to them effectively getting a free Class Feat one level early and opening your 2nd level Class Feat for something that is actually for your Class instead of dumping it on an MCA.


Spell Trickster Magus Gnome with Razzle Dazzle can extend the dazzle effect of the Light cantrip. The wellspring heritage can give a cantrip from the divine list, choose Divine Lance and now you have access to good damage from the start.


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Kyrone wrote:


Spell Trickster Magus Gnome with Razzle Dazzle can extend the dazzle effect of the Light cantrip. The wellspring heritage can give a cantrip from the divine list, choose Divine Lance and now you have access to good damage from the start.

...and hey, that lets you grab flickmace too, if you like laughing shadow or sparkling targe. I imagine that having reach could help quite a bit with that whole "spellstrike provokes opportunity attacks" thing, on top of the normal benefits for tactical flexibility.


Sanityfaerie wrote:
Kyrone wrote:


Spell Trickster Magus Gnome with Razzle Dazzle can extend the dazzle effect of the Light cantrip. The wellspring heritage can give a cantrip from the divine list, choose Divine Lance and now you have access to good damage from the start.

...and hey, that lets you grab flickmace too, if you like laughing shadow or sparkling targe. I imagine that having reach could help quite a bit with that whole "spellstrike provokes opportunity attacks" thing, on top of the normal benefits for tactical flexibility.

Make it extra magus"y" by making it a crystal ball on a chain.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Man, I also went with an inexorable iron orc magus, he got murdered by a swarm of hermit crabs at level 1, our fault for not bringing healing. Poor Zaretchi, we will always remember your Waffle Iron and Lore: Waffles.


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Themetricsystem wrote:
As with every class concept, Ancient Elf is just hands down one of the best choices you can make due to them effectively getting a free Class Feat one level early and opening your 2nd level Class Feat for something that is actually for your Class instead of dumping it on an MCA.

100% agree. Extra class feat can really help. If you are playing with free archetype its much less important.

Elf also get Ageless Patience for a +2 circumstance bonus on any skill if you spend an exra action.

But for me the main event is the Otherworldly Acumen which gives you an extra level 2 spell slot of whatever you want. With a familiar that can be two. For wave casters like the Magus, they can really use the extra slots. They are a major class limitation and this is one of the better ways to offset it.
Other ancestries can give you specific spells, which are nice especially Tengu and Sprite, but this is a changeable spell of your choice.


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I like Great Gnoll as an option because it gives you boosts to two scores you care about, and you can easily make them into a magical brawler type. Laughing Shadow gives you the speed to get into position more easily and then use athletics or spellstrike as required.


Gortle wrote:
Themetricsystem wrote:
As with every class concept, Ancient Elf is just hands down one of the best choices you can make due to them effectively getting a free Class Feat one level early and opening your 2nd level Class Feat for something that is actually for your Class instead of dumping it on an MCA.

100% agree. Extra class feat can really help. If you are playing with free archetype its much less important.

Elf also get Ageless Patience for a +2 circumstance bonus on any skill if you spend an exra action.

But for me the main event is the Otherworldly Acumen which gives you an extra level 2 spell slot of whatever you want. With a familiar that can be two. For wave casters like the Magus, they can really use the extra slots. They are a major class limitation and this is one of the better ways to offset it.
Other ancestries can give you specific spells, which are nice especially Tengu and Sprite, but this is a changeable spell of your choice.

I can't see myself ever taking elf with that con penalty though. Especially on a class that will presumably be in melee with 8 hp/level. Aside from ancient though, half-elf suffices as always.


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Leshy is great, grasping reach is a really nice option to have when facing AoO.


Clearly Dwarf. No penalty to movement with armor, greater darkvision to drop darkness and maul people, all great.


I played an orc inexorable iron magus from levels 1-2 and found i didn't really like the action economy. If I play another magus, it's going to be starlight span. At first level casting magic weapon and shooting a bow is awesome.


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Themetricsystem wrote:
As with every class concept, Ancient Elf is just hands down one of the best choices you can make due to them effectively getting a free Class Feat one level early and opening your 2nd level Class Feat for something that is actually for your Class instead of dumping it on an MCA.

Every class concept except Eldritch Trickster where the two conflict. ;)

Scarab Sages

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Any human or part human (1/2 elf, 1/2 orc, aasimar, etc) is great for getting that first level class feat. That way you can start your career as a punchy magus or get the book shield.


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gesalt wrote:
Especially on a class that will presumably be in melee with 8 hp/level.

Except the Hybrid Study that that doesn't melee but uses a bow.


graystone wrote:
gesalt wrote:
Especially on a class that will presumably be in melee with 8 hp/level.
Except the Hybrid Study that that doesn't melee but uses a bow.

As I read it, Starlit Span Magi can use Spellstrike for both ranged and melee attacks.


Not sure if ancient elf helps that much. Magus level 2 feats are all okay but nothing too amazing imo. And you still have to wait to level 4 to get dedication spellcasting. Not sure if its worth the CON flaw and lower ancestry HP. Maybe as starlit.

I personally like orc or half orc for grabbing crit specc for Hammers at level 5 with hold mark.

For laughing shadow i take every ancestry or heritage that gives a speed boost. If you you take nimble elf or nimble hooves or something of the like you can get 35 movespeed. Ad the +5 from cascade and you have 40 speed, which lets you use your teleport for 20 feet. Thats pretty nice. That said thats better at early game, later you will have lvl 2 longstrider up constantly and therefor be able to reach 40 movespeed easier.

Sovereign Court

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I have an ancient elf starlit span magus, with wizard multiclass to round out the spellcasting and later on monk dedication to get flurry for switch-hitting.

Starlit Span doesn't IMO have quite as nice level 4 feat as the other studies do, so multiclassing is not as big a sacrifice.

I've been looking at a great gnoll twisting tree build too, you get Trip on your staff so that gives you a lot of options.

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