Pathfinder Slayer’s Build Guide (Quick Tips)

Introduction

The purpose of this Pathfinder Slayer’s Build Guide is to provide a “quick tips checklist” of things to do to when making a Slayer’s build.  It will start by reviewing the structure & the Strengths / Weaknesses of the class.  It will follow by giving quick tips on how to take advantage of the structure / strengths of the class and make up for the weaknesses of the class.  Feel free to leave helpful comments below critiquing and/or adding to the advice given below.

Optibuilds’ Slayers Builds PDF Part 1 (10 build variations; only $7.99)

 

Other Build Guides: Bloodrager, Hunter, Slayer, Bard, Arcanist, Brawler, 
Warpriest, Investigator 

Structure of the Class

1. As with all classes, you can customize through the selection of leveling feats, skills, traits, race, and multiclassing.
2. It only allows for further customization through the selection of your Slayer Talents.
3. The fact that the Slayer Talents (which are available every other level) allow you to select rogues talents and/or Ranger Combat Style bonus feats means that this class was meant to be able to adopt any fighting style.
4. The fact that you can select Trapfinding as a Slayer Talent and that you have perception as a skill means this class can serve as a trap finder and disarmer.
5. The skill selection, skill points and track / swift track class abilities suggests that the class was meant to be a scout.
6. Sneak Attack: The sneak attack ability that increases +1d6 every three levels suggests that the build focus on ways to maximize sneak attack damage.
7. Studied Target: Studied Target is like a Fighter’s Weapon Training at the cost of a move action (initially) and a swift action (7^th level on) that can be used against a limited number of targets.  The fact that it gets better and allows for more targets suggest that you will want to get to at least 7^th level to get the most out of this ability.
8. Archetypes: Other than the Stygian Slayer which I will rate at least as good as the standard Slayer and maybe slightly better all according to your builds, the other Archetypes are absolutely horrible. Anyone playing a Slayer was, therefore, obviously meant to play a standard Slayer or the Stygian Slayer Archetype.

Strengths and Weaknesses

1. The Hunter’s class is a full BAB martial class.
2. It has strong Reflex &Fort Saves and a poor Will Save.
3. The class has no alignment restrictions.
4. The class has the second strongest hitpoint progression D10.

Build Advice

Shore up your Will Saves.  The poor Will Save can be addressed with Iron Will, Improved Iron Will, the proper selection of race (any race with a +2 in Wisdom or racial trait bonuses to will saves), traits (i.e Indomitable Faith or Animal Friend), a Wisdom of 12 or higher, headband of Wisdom, and a Cloak of Resistance.

Choose a Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting, Archery, Two-Handed Weapon Melee, Gunslinger, Sword & Board, Unarmed and Natural Weapon all make sense for a Slayer.

The Quintessential Slayer would probably be a Scout and a Trapfinder.  I am not saying that you have to do both or either, I am just saying that you would be good at both – so why not.  Maybe one “why not” to the trapfinding is that you do not have evasion.  Maybe you could dip into a class that will give you evasion? You can also get evasion in advance levels as an advance Slayer Talent. Trapfinder or not, max Perception, Survival, Stealth, and Acrobatics.  Add Disable Device to the max skill list if you are a Trapfinder.  If you do not dump your Intelligence, this should leave you with 1-2 skill points per level extra.  If your favorite class selection is a skill point, if you make a Human with the skilled racial ability, or if you make a build with Int 12 or higher, then you will have additional skill points at your disposal.

Get Your Sneak Attack On by doing some of the following:  1) Blind your foe (Glitterdust, Dirty Trick, etc…); 2) Obscuring Mist and similar spells + Fogcutter Lenses, 3) Flanking by making an acrobatic move to get into position; 4) Surprise attack; 5) Getting the Initiative (Initiative related traits, Improved Initiative, Dexterity Build); 6) Improved Invisibility; 7) Hide-in-Plain-Sight; 8) Goz Mask plus Ever Smoking Bottle; and 8) Shatter Defenses; 9) Slayer Switch Hitter Builds which effortlessly get off sneak attack because they can full attack from range the initial round of fighting and flank once in melee.   Some of these tricks you could do yourself based on your build.  Other things you could do with the help of your party members.

 Conclusion

Okay, I think the class is that simple.  You will have a character that is effective with one or two fighting styles.  You will be a great scout and maybe even a great trapfinder.  Your hitpoints will be good to great. You will have a plan for getting your sneak attack on.  If you want a taste of how Optibuilds would go about maximizing the fun and effectiveness for Slayers, check out Optibuilds’ Slayer PDF Part 1 (10 build variations; only $7.99).