Pathfinder | Kingmaker Magus Sword Saint Guide ((free))
Pathfinder: Kingmaker — Magus (Sword Saint) Guide
Contents
- Overview & role
- Race & background recommendations
- Ability scores & point-buy guidance
- Traits, skills, and feats
- Class progression and archetype specifics
- Combat tactics and spell selection
- Equipment and crafting
- Party role & synergies
- Typical builds (level-by-level)
- Endgame and mythic considerations
- Example playthrough notes
Skills
- Max (Rank every level): Perception (never miss hidden threats), Use Magic Device (cast scrolls of Wizard spells you lack).
- Put points: Mobility (3 ranks for the +3 AC while fighting defensively), Knowledge (Arcana/World) for Magus class features.
- Ignore: Persuasion, Stealth (you have no armor penalty, but let the rogue do it).
Sword Saint Abilities
- Arcane Blade: A core feature that allows you to imbue your sword with magical properties.
- Sword Saint Combat: Enhances your ability to perform two-weapon fighting with a spell combat.
Equipment
- Start with a good sword. Any versatile or potentially high-damage sword works well.
- Invest in armor that provides a good balance between protection and mobility.
Magus Arcana: Supercharging Your Blade
You get Arcana at levels 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18. Choose these: pathfinder kingmaker magus sword saint guide
- Arcane Accuracy (Level 3): Spend Arcane Pool to add INT to attack rolls for 1 round. Mandatory for hitting high-AC enemies (looking at you, Wild Hunt).
- Enduring Blade (Level 6): Double duration of your weapon enchantments (e.g., Keen lasts minutes/level instead of rounds). Saves you spell slots.
- Ghost Blade (Level 9): Bypass all damage reduction. Essential for mid-game ghosts and golems.
- Bane Blade (Level 12): Add Bane property to your weapon (+2 to hit, +2d6 damage vs chosen enemy type). Pop this before a boss.
- Devoted Blade (Level 15): Add Holy (+2d6 vs evil) or Axiomatic to weapon. Most enemies are evil.
- Critical Strike (Level 18): Swift action to make an attack at full BAB. Less useful for SS due to Spell Combat, but fine filler.
Avoid: Prescient Attack (you have Shatter Defenses), Spell Shield (your AC is high enough), Hasted Assault (you can cast Haste). Overview & role Race & background recommendations Ability
5. Class progression and archetype specifics
- Early levels (1–5): focus on Weapon Focus, establishing a reliable weapon, acquire Spell Combat and Spellstrike (or Sword Saint equivalents), and pick damaging 1st–2nd level spells (Haste, Shocking Grasp, Mirror Image for defense).
- Mid levels (6–12): improve weapon enchantments, pick higher-level magus spells (Dispel Magic, Dimension Door for repositioning if available, Invisibility synergy), take Arcana that increase accuracy/damage.
- Late game (13–20): focus on maximizing spellstrike damage, critical enhancement (keen, greater critical), and defensive immunities; obtain spells for utility (True Strike only occasionally useful) and battlefield control (Black Tentacles if allowed by campaign rules or control spells).
Sword Saint archetype specifics:
- The Sword Saint typically trades some spell progression or magus school abilities for increased weapon training, more reliable arcane-to-attack conversion, or extra critical-focused features. Prioritize feats and enchantments that exploit these features (e.g., critical-enhancing feats).
13. Difficulty Notes
- Normal/Challenging: Any STR or DEX build works. Estoc + Arcane Accuracy crushes.
- Hard/Unfair: Need max Intelligence (20 start), Shield + Mirror Image + Displacement always active. Consider 1 Scaled Fist dip? Not optimal (loses capstone), but viable for Cha to AC + Crane. Use Scrolls of legendary proportions.
9. Equipment & Items
- Weapon enchants: Keen (until Improved Critical), Speed (extra attack), Shocking/Flaming/Icy.
- Bracers of Armor (+AC)
- Headband of Vast Intelligence (+Int to AC)
- Cloak of Resistance
- Ring of Protection, Amulet of Natural Armor
- Boots of Speed (stacks with Speed weapon? No, but gives haste)
- Mnemonic Vestment (extra spell per day)