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r/Pathfinder_RPG•
LetMeExplain

Newbie question, how to progress a TWF Slayer?

My game group recently switched over to Pathfinder and all things considered I much prefer it to 5e due to the sheer customization and crunchiness that it comes with. That being said, I decided to make a bro-tier Slayer for the Carrion Crown adventure modules we are running and so far I'm having a blast playing him but now as we creep upwards in levels I'm having a hard time solidifying what feats and styles to go for as the game goes on, even with just Paizo books there are so many options to consider. So I turn to you fine folks, hopefully your collective brains can help give this character more oomph so he can hit all the sick-nasty crits and get totally pitted.

Abstract: Crit-fishing with TWF Wakizashis plus a dash of teamwork feats to bounce off the party Inquisitor.

Race:Human

Traits:

Tactician (1/day +2 vs. AOO)

Adoptive Parents (Tengu- Sword trained for Wakizashi proficiency)

Stats: Str- 20 (+5)

Dex - 13 (+1)

Con - 16 (+3)

Int - 13 (+1)

Wis - 14 (+2)

Cha - 9 (-1)

Advancement so far:

1(Human): Iron Will

1: Combat Expertise

2 (Talent): Two Weapon Fighting

3: Accomplished Sneak Attacker (+1d6 Sneak Attack Die)

4 (Talent): Double Slice

5: Improved Dirty Trick

6 (Talent): Improved Two Weapon Fighting

6 (Favored Class): (Talent-Rogue Combat Trick) Dodge

7: Outflank

Gear

  1. Mythril Breastplate - for mobility and AC

  2. 2x Keen Wakizashi - 15-20 Threat x2

  3. What else would be good? I haven't taken any time to look through Ultimate Equipment so suggestions would be great.

So up to level 7 I've been fine, but going forward to 8th and beyond how do I maximize dealing critical damage and what would be the best advanced slayer talents to shoot for? There are so many to choose from like Butterfly's Sting which has great combo potential with the Barbarian and the Inquisitor. Critical Focus maybe?

I'm really curious what this character would look like at level 12 or 14

Posted Nov 12, 2017, 12:03 AM UTC

710
pstcx•

Your adopted isnt legal. Sword trained is a race quality but not a race trait.

6
LetMeExplainOP•

Can you explain the difference between qualities and traits? In the text it merely states that Tengu's living in Tengu society receive extensive training with sword like implements, to which I assumed (and DM agreed) that if my character was raised by one then that would be part and parcel with growing up.

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pstcx•

If it is in a race's stat block it's not a Trait.

Traits are a specific alternate rule, some of which are race restricted. Adopted lets you bypass THOSE restrictions.

2
LetMeExplainOP•

If thats the case, and only alternate Racial traits are allowed, I could simply choose Exotic Weapon Training, giving me up to 3 exotic weapons to be proficient with such as Wakizashis and Nodachis and what have yous.

Reading the Adopted text it states Benefit: As a result, you picked up a race trait from your adoptive parents and society, and may immediately select a race trait from your adoptive parents’ race.

From there, looking at the Tengu race in PFSRD Sword trained is listed as an Offensive Racial Trait. Is there something I'm not understanding?

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pstcx•

Those Racial Traits are part of the stat block. Traits are a completely different rule. One you will want to look up under traits and not the race page.

Using Archives of Nethys instead of d20pfsrd for this may make more sense.

1
TristanTheVikingI cast fist•

Possessed Hand chain! Free attack/damage bonuses on one hand, TWF penalty reduction, plus your hand can do stuff while you're unconscious (like force-feed you a potion, or drag you a few miles away while you sleep), even become a detachable familiar if you keep going.

Also, I'd trade Dodge for Greater Dirty Trick. Then at 11 or whenever, you can take Dirty Trick Master and start throwing dazes at enemies. Edit: might need to dip a level in Skulking Slayer (needs Racial Heritage since you're human) to trade sneak attacks for dirty trick attempts with bonuses. Pretty fun to daze an enemy for an entire encounter for the price of your first two attacks.

3
LetMeExplainOP•

That sounds hilarious, especially when the party Oracle finally gets the ability to do magical tatoos, ink a big smiley face on it.

1
Starkfistofremoval•

I'd go butterfly's sting, man. You're crit fishing? And there's a Barb, probably using a 2h? Mash it.

2
checkmypants•

Critical Focus, Improved Crit (as mentioned below by u/ClosetIntrovert) are mandatory. If you really wanna go full ham, coordinate with your Inquisitor, because Teamwork feats are gnarly as hell. Lots of tactical acumen required, and this won't be able to work 100% of the time, but it's great for just swarming something and murdering the hell out of it.

You already have Outflank, which is a great starting point. All 3 of you should pick it up. Ditch Keen, put a Menacing enchant on each sword, and get Improved Outflank, Paired Opportunists, and Seize the Moment. Now you have a +8 flanking bonus, and when you crit (which will be often), Seize the Moment provokes an AoO from your buddy, which then procs an AoO from you via Paired Opportunists. Improved Outflank also means that the enemy is flat-footed for those AoOs, and until their turn.

Grab Hunter's Surprise via Advanced Talents for some 1/day burst damage, because that talent rules. Other than that, you will probably want Combat Reflexes, and maybe some critical feats to dump debuffs on enemies. Weapon Focus never hurt anyone, either. Butterfly's Sting if it's worth giving up you 12d6+ or whatever your damage ends up being. Basically if someone else is using a 2handed weapon with a big crit multi and tons of extra damage (hi Barbarian), take it, otherwise you'll be doing plenty of damage as a Slayer anyways

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ClosetIntrovert•

I'd grab Improved Critical at level 9 instead of two Keen weapons. You have plenty of feats as a slayer, and you're gonna want those +1 equivalent bonuses to bump up your to-hit bonust to off-set TWF penalties.

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