What are your favorite archetypes in vanilla Pathfinder*, and why?
I'm trying to figure out my next character, and all I know so far is that I want to lean heavily into an archetype. So I'm looking for ideas. What are the most interesting? Which are the most beloved? Which are the most powerful? Which are the most fun?
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You expect me to have only one?
I'm not sure that I could limit the choices to just one for even the specific categories listed.
To be honest, I think for me it depends on each character specifically. Sometimes I like the multiclass archetypes. Sometimes I want something more specific. Occasionally I think the character is better without an archetype.
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Outside of multiclass options, I love the flavorful shooter options.
Unexpected Sharpshooter -https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=123
You get to be that wild card wherever you go. Super flavorful and fun to RP.
Sniping Duo - https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=121
Closest we got to combo team play. Love the build up and the mini buffs you can give between yourself and the spotter. Nothing like built in RP story stuff.
Soulforger and Mindsmith - https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=102
https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=194
My weapons are my mind/soul. Super fun and iconic to play. I made a Orc Barbarian with a spectral scythe weapon for my students to play with and they have always loved it.
Honorable mentions - All of the Pathfinder society archetypes. Flavourful and full of useful skills/actions for all types of players. Better for the RP group though. So Swordmaster, Pathfinder Agent, Etc.
Also Shadowdancer and Eldritch Archer. Mostly due to PF1E love, but they are still so much fun to design and play out these kind of characters.
I'm too much mechanically focused player that build my character story over my choices and not the opposite like many does. So I don't have exactly a preferred archetype using them as I need them.
But in the past (the legacy version) I the archetypes that I liked was Sentinel due it gives heavy armor proficiency to medium armored characters (current isn't anymore once the champion archetype does the same thing, it's a MC archetype and allows me to get some interesting champion feats too) and Eldritch Archer because its makes my archers worth without someone saying "Why you didn't made a character with thrown weapon? They are stronger (due add str to dmg) and one-handed".
Currently my "preferred" archetypes are:
I love the Starlight Sentinel! It's very flavourful, so it is a shame it feels rather weak mechanically.
IDK. A strength based ranged attack is a nice back pocket option for a martial, and focus spell healing is always valuable. Most martials don't have access to good AoE damage either. AoE Demoralize + Dazzled at 8 is pretty good too. So is an almost unconditional fly speed tied to your land speed.
It's really only Blade of the Heart that's a total dud, since all it does is save you a little gold.
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Medic. More healing, more often, in fewer actions. That's all upside for anyone that wants to be good at it. The bang for your feats is huge.
Life is better with pets, adopt your own fur baby with beast master archetype!
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I love Swashbucklers (hence my guide), so Acrobat.
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I really like mind smith. Specifically for mind projectiles which is one of the best tools for switch hitting. Great for dex builds and since the ranged attack shares the weapon group with the base weapon, fighters can have a pretty useful ranged option, even if they're strength based.
I used it for a thaumaturge of course. It was the best ranged option at the time. The time before boomerangs and throwers bandoliers lol.
Outside of multiclass options, I love the flavorful shooter options.
Unexpected Sharpshooter -https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=123
You get to be that wild card wherever you go. Super flavorful and fun to RP.
Sniping Duo - https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=121
Closest we got to combo team play. Love the build up and the mini buffs you can give between yourself and the spotter. Nothing like built in RP story stuff.
Soulforger and Mindsmith - https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=102
https://2e.aonprd.com/Archetypes.aspx?ID=194My weapons are my mind/soul. Super fun and iconic to play. I made a Orc Barbarian with a spectral scythe weapon for my students to play with and they have always loved it.
Honorable mentions - All of the Pathfinder society archetypes. Flavourful and full of useful skills/actions for all types of players. Better for the RP group though. So Swordmaster, Pathfinder Agent, Etc.
Also Shadowdancer and Eldritch Archer. Mostly due to PF1E love, but they are still so much fun to design and play out these kind of characters.
All of the above, plus medic and beast gunner.
Better healing, more healing, movement and healing, nonmagical rez.Call gun, guided bullet, spells and access to crazy weapons.
Most of these are flavorful and mechanically useful, story and effectiveness what more could you want?
I'm seeing a whole lot of declaration of favorite archetype, but not enough selling it!
Please tell me WHY you like the archetype(s), and explain why I should too.
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My experiences with archetypes that I have actually played. You should play them too!
Bullet Dancer:
Did you ever feel like Monk was *too* action efficient, so you want to spend one of those actions you saved every turn to reload? Then this archetype is for you! Plus, you will occasionally crit and then all the struggles will feel worthwhile.
Runescarred:
A CHA spellcasting dedication that is 100% innate spells, so you won't be able to use scrolls, wands or staves. But you do have badass tattoos, including an Armor Property Rune you can put directly on your body. By having a Swallowspike Rune even while naked, you can indulge in the ultimate Calistrian revenge fantasy!
Dandy:
Boasts social skill boosts which will cause the other players at the table to doubt your ability to do math. Also, can get an invitation to any party you want. My PFS Dandy only plays scenarios with parties -- and there are *so many parties*. Everyone loves you...and then combat starts.
Shadowdancer:
Every GM's favorite thing is having to track lighting levels, so this archetype will make you their favorite character. It's shtick is fun and it does it well, but foes with Greater Darkvision will invalidate your entire character. Everybody Dance Now!
Gladiator:
Massively leverages the Performance skill on Martials, so be sure and put it on a class that doesn't use CHA. Needs an audience to function, but don't we all. Honestly pairs really well with Shadowdancer above, until you end up dancing alone in the dark.
Sniping Duo:
Sets up a lot of really cool teamwork combos, which guarantees that the character you partner with will refuse to engage. But you can have lots of cool conversations about how *obvious* it was that if they had only attacked *this* guy that you would both have gotten great bonuses!
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Bullet dancer is a lot more fun with the recent changes too. Double barrel musket makes fob at range much better or you can even go strength key with a hammer gun
Yeah, mine made it to Level 10 under the old rules (half that way Premaster!) so I'm not going to change anything to take advantage of them, but it does look way more versatile now. It has been my most fun character -- it's very fiddly but the turns that work are *amazing*.
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Don't you hate it when you roll equal to opponent and they go first? Not any longer! Look at situation and make initiative interesting with 50-50 coin flip or take it safe and secure 10.
Free hero-point once per day for failed check! Give sure strike to friends! Get hasted or slow down enemies! Be here and then suddenly there and don't care about reactive strikes! Amplify your melee skills with Reverse charge or superimposed time duplicates!
The best there is? Perhaps not. The most fun? Based on my GM:s many "What the frell" as I say "I use space-time shift", heck yeah.
I'm not sure I like it, but Acrobat sure is powerful. Spend a class feat to get a skill scaled to legendary.
Then you have Dodge Away as a great reaction, if your class doesn't have one (or many options).
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The Wandering Chef, for those who wish to bring flavor and benefit to a party:
Are you adventuring in the wilderness, a dungeon, or somewhere else without ease of access to restaurants, inns, or grocery stores? Your party consists of urbanites with no proficiency in Survival?
Well, worry not! With the Wandering Chef, sustenance is but a Craft or Cooking Lore roll away, where even failure leads to success!
Do like Alchemical Foods? Magic Morsels? Well, the Wandering Chef can let you make both through quick alchemy and advanced alchemy!
Using the "Packed with Flavor" feat, you can even replace the DC any saves your alchemical foods, or magic morsels might offer with your Class or Spellcasting DC, whichever is higher!
Does your party hate getting bleeding, clumsy, drained, stupefied, and/or frightened conditions? Well, with Wandering Chef's capstone feat "Regional Specialty" you can use your food to reduce those conditions!
The Wandering Chef, for those who want to play like Delicious in Dungeon, without all the ethical dilemmas and body horror.
The Wandering Chef, for those who want to play like Delicious in Dungeon, without all the ethical dilemmas and body horror.I'm not an anime person, myself, so I asked my wife and she assured me that the ethical dilemmas and body horror are the best parts.
She's right.
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I think Pactbinder is super cool.
If the group is okay with a kind of rotating spotlight, the Pactbinder let's you have some Powerful roleplaying hooks and opportunities of the most classic variety: bargains with supernatural entities.
You might roleplay meeting the creature and initiating the pact or be put in to situations where the pact is making things difficult because of the terms that you all have to work through.
Plus the mechanical benefits are good. But it's most cool factor and roleplaying hooks.
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She's right.The Wandering Chef, for those who want to play like Delicious in Dungeon, without all the ethical dilemmas and body horror.I'm not an anime person, myself, so I asked my wife and she assured me that the ethical dilemmas and body horror are the best parts.
Oh, I don't disagree either. It helps the world building. I just figured that not everyone would be into it.
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Don't you hate it when you roll equal to opponent and they go first? Not any longer! Look at situation and make initiative interesting with 50-50 coin flip or take it safe and secure 10.
Free hero-point once per day for failed check! Give sure strike to friends! Get hasted or slow down enemies! Be here and then suddenly there and don't care about reactive strikes! Amplify your melee skills with Reverse charge or superimposed time duplicates!
The best there is? Perhaps not. The most fun? Based on my GM:s many "What the frell" as I say "I use space-time shift", heck yeah.
Thank you for reminding me that I wanted to put Chronoskimmer on Future, my Awakened Owl Cleric of Shyka, who is also the familiar of my Elven Witch/Cleric of Shyka, but who has traveled back in time from sometime after the Witch has died.
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Sparkling Targe Magus dedication on a sword and shield martial.
you get access to the focus spell for lower level action compression of raise a shield and a strike, Might even take the hybrid study before spellstrike.
Champion with the shields of the spirit focus spell is a nice base to have an more uses of focus spells that raise a shield and do other stuff.
Even on a fighter it will feel like you are doing a lot each round with compressed movement like sudden charge followed by a shielding strike then a reactive strike as things try to move away from you.
Also of course having spellstrike as an offensive option once per fight as a sword and shield martial is nice.
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Sparkling Targe Magus dedication on a sword and shield martial.
you get access to the focus spell for lower level action compression of raise a shield and a strike, Might even take the hybrid study before spellstrike.
Champion with the shields of the spirit focus spell is a nice base to have an more uses of focus spells that raise a shield and do other stuff.
Even on a fighter it will feel like you are doing a lot each round with compressed movement like sudden charge followed by a shielding strike then a reactive strike as things try to move away from you.Also of course having spellstrike as an offensive option once per fight as a sword and shield martial is nice.
Eh, but you don't get any other benefits of Sparkling Targe (like being able to Shield Block against magic).
If I was going to play a Martial and take Magus dedication... I'd rather play a Magus and take a martial class dedication.
Sparkling Targe Magus dedication on a sword and shield martial.
you get access to the focus spell for lower level action compression of raise a shield and a strike, Might even take the hybrid study before spellstrike.
Champion with the shields of the spirit focus spell is a nice base to have an more uses of focus spells that raise a shield and do other stuff.
Even on a fighter it will feel like you are doing a lot each round with compressed movement like sudden charge followed by a shielding strike then a reactive strike as things try to move away from you.Also of course having spellstrike as an offensive option once per fight as a sword and shield martial is nice.
Eh, but you don't get any other benefits of Sparkling Targe (like being able to Shield Block against magic).
If I was going to play a Martial and take Magus dedication... I'd rather play a Magus and take a martial class dedication.
I like that direction as well for a more magic focused martial but for one thats not really going to do magic you get to have the fighter base which makes using deadly 1 handed weapons with your shield even better with their +2 and reactive strike at level 1. Then at level 9 fighter gets to reach back and pick a class feat they didnt get yet because they were picking up magus feats like the dedication hybrid study and spell striker, I would at that point pick up quick shield block and at 10 get tactical reflexes.
I'm seeing a whole lot of declaration of favorite archetype, but not enough selling it!
Please tell me WHY you like the archetype(s), and explain why I should too.
Alright, alright. As for Acrobat:
- Free scaling to legendary for Acrobatics, getting the dedication at level 2 also gets Acrobatics to Expert before anybody else but the Rogue and Investigator (if they choose to skill increase Acrobatics at that level).
- One (or two, if your GM is generous or you are joining the (hurrrkk...) Firebrands) good skill feats, i.e. Graceful Leaper for using Acrobatics for jumping and Quick Spring for absurdly good action compression. Quick Spring is actually a bit too good, IMO, which makes it being uncommon handy, because I'd probably not allow it.
- More action compression with Tumbling Strike and Tumbling Opportunist.
- And, as mentioned by Claxon above, a very decent reaction with enhanced AC and movement, i.e. more action compression.
I highly value action compression in 2E, so the Acrobat is a top-tier archetype for me.
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Cleavious the friendly neighborhood goblin merchant makes a big ear-to-ear tooth-filled grin when hearing someone is looking to be sold an archetype.
"Did you say sell me an archetype? It's your lucky day I'd be more than happy to sell you an archetype, let me tell you those free archetypes are overrated, much better if I sell you one! My favorite is this really expensive one over here, how much gold did you say you have?"
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Cleavious the friendly neighborhood goblin merchant makes a big ear-to-ear tooth-filled grin when hearing someone is looking to be sold an archetype.
"Did you say sell me an archetype? It's your lucky day I'd be more than happy to sell you an archetype, let me tell you those free archetypes are overrated, much better if I sell you one! My favorite is this really expensive one over here, how much gold did you say you have?"
I feel this post is a prime example of 'Tell me you're a dandy archetype without saying you're a dandy archetype" kind of thing.
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I'm seeing a whole lot of declaration of favorite archetype, but not enough selling it!
Please tell me WHY you like the archetype(s), and explain why I should too.
Alright, alright. As for Acrobat:
- Free scaling to legendary for Acrobatics, getting the dedication at level 2 also gets Acrobatics to Expert before anybody else but the Rogue and Investigator (if they choose to skill increase Acrobatics at that level).
- One (or two, if your GM is generous or you are joining the (hurrrkk...) Firebrands) good skill feats, i.e. Graceful Leaper for using Acrobatics for jumping and Quick Spring for absurdly good action compression. Quick Spring is actually a bit too good, IMO, which makes it being uncommon handy, because I'd probably not allow it.
- More action compression with Tumbling Strike and Tumbling Opportunist.
- And, as mentioned by Claxon above, a very decent reaction with enhanced AC and movement, i.e. more action compression.
I highly value action compression in 2E, so the Acrobat is a top-tier archetype for me.
Yeah, there are some extremely good feats in there, that are gatekept by being a member of the Firebrands.
But even if you just go for Legendary Acrobatics, Dodge Away, and Tumbling Strike it's pretty worth it IMO.
As mentioned free scaling into legendary skill, a good defensive reaction, and an action compression ability that let's you move without provoking and attack.
Acrobat is also really good for the 'I have plenty of good class feats and aren't playing FA' type characters too since legendary for a feat is pretty unique.
I really like skill increases, so Dandy, Archaeologist, Pathfinder Agent, Investigator/Rogue. Some of them can be kind of a pain to exit easily though.
... I don't like a lot of Archaeologist's feats but you get Expert in Society/Thievery for one feat, then you can grab some decent utility cantrips at level 4 but also pick up Settlement Scholastics as your level 4 skill feat for a slightly stronger additional lore (provided there's a city you want lore from) and then you've satisfied your conditions and can pick a new archetype again at 6.
.. As an aside, it feels kind of weird that it's an Archaeologist dedication but Settlement Scholastics gives you Lore in a town or city and not some ancient culture or whatever.
Still neat.
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Cleavious the friendly neighborhood goblin merchant makes a big ear-to-ear tooth-filled grin when hearing someone is looking to be sold an archetype.
"Did you say sell me an archetype? It's your lucky day I'd be more than happy to sell you an archetype, let me tell you those free archetypes are overrated, much better if I sell you one! My favorite is this really expensive one over here, how much gold did you say you have?"
I enjoyed this use of character, but the forum foolishly and humorlessly marked it as spam. Don't worry, Cleavious. We won't ban you for you doing your normal merchant work. ^_^
Are you too impatient to wait for Commander to come out or want to be a bard without all those pesky spells? Then dedicate yourself to the Marshal archetype. Use one action to make everyone in your aura do more damage for the rest of the encounter. Or fail constantly because you roll horribly and be upset. But with remaster that's a lot less likely! Do fun stuff like giving people temp HP or give them a chance to move or attack.
No FA makes marshal a bit harder to justify, but even then I've definitely seen it be a fun pick on some classes like Champion.
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Always have loved spellshot, even before it got access to wizard spells. But now that you get spells? Brilliant, and not just for spamming true strike! Haste is great, and I like having a summon spell ready to keep something occupied in melee while you pepper with elemental bullets.
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Always have loved spellshot, even before it got access to wizard spells. But now that you get spells? Brilliant, and not just for spamming true strike! Haste is great, and I like having a summon spell ready to keep something occupied in melee while you pepper with elemental bullets.
Personally, for me, one of the most welcome changes to Spellshot the remaster added was the ability to spell strike with your gun the way Eldritch Archer can with arrows.
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I enjoyed this use of character, but the forum foolishly and humorlessly marked it as spam. Don't worry, Cleavious. We won't ban you for you doing your normal merchant work. ^_^Cleavious the friendly neighborhood goblin merchant makes a big ear-to-ear tooth-filled grin when hearing someone is looking to be sold an archetype.
"Did you say sell me an archetype? It's your lucky day I'd be more than happy to sell you an archetype, let me tell you those free archetypes are overrated, much better if I sell you one! My favorite is this really expensive one over here, how much gold did you say you have?"
"Thanks Maya, I appreciate you watching out for us merchants, if you need more flags for marking spam I can cut you a good deal!"
Mentioned before but I really enjoy the Unexpected Sharpshooter. The way it directly encourages a metatextual relationship with your character, stepping back out of roleplay proper to interact more with the PC's place in the story, and gives you an easy and effective way to play someone who is, narratively, lame, while still contributing just as much as the rest of the party is not something this game interacts with a lot.
Confound your enemies with whatever the hell just happened and how you survived it!
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I like the rogue archetype myself. I used it a lot on casters and martials.
Base archetype gives a few skills, a skill feat, and surprise attack class feature.
Rogue has a ton of great feats at levels you can get them.
I move the Mobility which maximizes all forms of movement.
I liked picking up Gang Up and Opportune Backstab for my martials.
You can pick up way more Master level skills and skill feats with their skill feat you can take 5 times.
Deny Advantage can also be great at level 10.
Even Sneak Attack if you use an agile or finesse weapon can add a little damage.
Rogue Archetype is probably the best archetype in the game that adds a lot of flexible feats that allow you to boost skills or gain useful abilities for almost any character.
It even lets you pick up Master level Reflex saves, while using your General feat to get Master level Fort or Perception depending on if a caster or a martial without good Reflex saves.
Rogue archetype is worth the feat investment on nearly any character other than a rogue.
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Medic because it makes a non-Cleric as efficient an in-combat healer as a Cleric in my experience (granted, PFS so low levels).
And, when taken on a Cleric, well, just have the party make sure they can quickly bring you back from Dying should it ever happen. Because you are Healing incarnate.
And now I have thoughts of playing a Harm Cleric with Medic dedication.
Psychic archetype archetype on a magus is the best method I've found for making a bare handed force adept; laughing shadow and the extra slots from magus inches it for me bc monk/psychic doesn't have enough slots and psychic/monk is pretty painful in star spread. Heck, I don't even get imaginary weapon bc magus damage doesnt need the cheese.
The sheer fact this feat is level 10 while Diverse Lore for Thaumaturge is level 1 is gross to me despite the -2 Penalty which becomes only a -1 with Tome Implement. I understand why it is so high and it is pretty fun for some builds like a Wizard, I could make good use out of it or if I was an Inventor with auto-scalign Crafting.
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I mean, do you not love getting free shit? Didn't think so. Ever wanna feel like a master craftsman, able to create the tools for the job when you need them, even when you don't have the luxury of downtime while the BBEG is currently riding the moon into the surface of Golarion? All while not spending a bloody silver piece???
Did I mention it's free!?
I can't not recommend any of the archetypes that give access to daily consumables or versatile vials for people like me!
-Gunslingers post-Remaster get the highest number of daily consumables from a non-class-feature source, which makes it an excellent dip of 2 feats if you wanted some powder with your bombs.
-Inventor multi is a little slower, being a level 4 feat, but gadgets are an interesting pick-up if you were already looking to innovate!
-Witch not only gives you a cute little buddy and some fun little pact-based magic to boot, but it's currently the only source of temporary potions! Get a patron today for free cauldron lessons!
...Not convinced? Ah, I see. I understand that these may feel like... a commitment. Perhaps wielding a gun just isn't your style? Don't like pets running around? Sure, sure, I get it... weirdo. But, no worries, that's only what's on the Premiere Menu.
-Poisoner, for all you aspiring assassins out there, eliminates the gold cost for all those... solutions to your "pesky problems." Bonus points that you don't have to get your fingerprints all over the black market. Don't ask me for more formulae, though. That's your job.
-Scroll Trickster is awesome for all those who just need a teensy bit of magical assistance without having to spend all that precious mortal time of yours at Wizard academies. No use spending four years and tuition when you can just stop by a library now and then to brush up!
-Do others just not understand that you aren't a "dumpster diver", but a recycling connoisseur!? Scroungers can make nearly anything mundane you'd ever need on an adventure in ten minutes flat - and later on, they can even spice it up with a little magic! Reduce, reuse, recycle, eh?
-For all those kobolds (and adopted brethren; you know who you are~) and rangers out there, Snarecrafter and Trapsmith help augment your sneaky little pranks into trickier and deadlier contraptions!
-Talisman Dabblers out there, representing the finest of esoteric trinkets and strange little baubles. For even the most niche situation, there's sure to be a talisman that can assist, as long as your teammates aren't too concerned about it matching their outfits.
-Wandering Chefs, the humble on-the-go homemakers of the world, cooking lovely meals for themselves and companions that can put a real kick in their step! Seriously, stop eating jerky and hardtack; surely you still have a palate?
-And finally, for those wanting to bring a little bang, crackle, pizzaz to the battlefield? What better than showing your foes just how dangerous a Firework Technician can truly be? Sparks will certainly fly as you make your enemies tremble from the awesome displays you create!
Oh, and, of course, a special mention goes to Weapon Improvisor, for making even weapons understand the concept of "consumable!"