Pathfinder class builds

After reading through the forums at paizo.com you’ll reach a point when you’ll really want to know what all those builds are that they are talking about. Luckily someone asked just this question and created a thread of all the articles out there on building the best Pathfinder characters. I am reposting the list here so that should the thread disappear we’ll still have the list to reference.

Here is the Original article.

Guides in Alphabetical Order by Class Name

Alchemist

• Ogre’s RPG Stuff – Alchemist’s Guide (Core, APG, UM) [Discussion]
• Chasing the Philosopher’s Stone: N. Jolly’s Guide to the Pathfinder Alchemist (Thread) [Discussion]

Antipaladin

• Bodhi’s Guide to the Optimal Paladin & Antipaladin (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Barbarian

• BARBARIAN AM SMASH – A Practical Guide to Breaking Faces by Trinam (Core, APG, UC) [Discussion]
• Elewan’s Pathfinder Barbarian Guide (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• Anger Management: A Pathfinder Guide to the Barbarian by Novamurmson (Thread)
• kcmorris’s A Guide to the Barbarian and Titan Mauler Barbarian (Blog)

Bard

• Treantmonk’s Guide to Bards: Pathfinder Core Rules (Core only) [Discussion]
• All the World’s a Stage, and You the Stage Director: A Guide to the Pathfinder Bard (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM) [Discussion]
•  kcmorris’s Dervish Dance Bard (Blog, short)

Cavalier

• The Cavalier’s Code (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Cleric

• Tark’s Big Holy Book of Clerical Optimization (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• Axe’s Guide to Finding Divinity (Core only) [Discussion]
• Rogue Eidolon’s Guide to Clerics (Core only) [Discussion]
• Brewer’s Guide to Reach Clerics (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• The Hangover Cleric Build & Handbook (Build)
• Beckett’s Guide to Clerics (googledoc)
• Pupsocket’s Guide to Dipping Cleric (googledoc)

Druid

• Treantmonk’s Guide to Druids Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (Core only) [Discussion]
• Peterrco’s guide to Druids (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Fighter

• Rogue Eidolon’s Guide to Fighters (Core only) [Discussion]
• Bladestorm: “STR Ranger”‘s Guide to TWF for Fighters (Core, APG, UM, UC, SoS) [Discussion]
• Two Hands are Better Than One: A Guide for Fighters using Two-Handed Weapons (Core, APG, UM, UC, ARG, UE) [Discussion]
• kcmorris’s A Guide to the Fighter (Blog)
• Secrets of the Swordlord: A Guide to the Aldori Dueling Sword [Discussion]

Gunslinger

• Drake_Rocket’s Guide to Grand Gunslinginger Greatness (Core, APG, UC) [Discussion]
• The Gunslinger’s Handbook(thread)
• kcmorris’s Musket Master Gunslinger (Blog, short)

Inquisitor

• Nobody expects a guide to the Inquisitor (Core, APG, UM) [Discussion]
• Bodhi’s Guide to the Optimal Inquisitor (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC, Other+) [Discussion]

Magus

• Walter’s Guide to the Magus (Core, APG, UM) [Discussion]
• Magus Hexcrafter Guide: The Complete Guide For Dealing With The Devil (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM) [Discussion]
• A Guide to Touch Spells, Spellstrike, and Spell Combat

Monk

• Treantmonk’s Guide to Monks (Core only) [Discussion]
• Revel’s Guide to the Monk (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Zen and the Art of Monk Maintenance: A Guide to the Zen Archer (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Porpentine’s Guide to Zen Archery (Blog)
•  A Guide to the Qinggong Monk (Short, Blog)
• Optimizing your Qinggong Monk (Short, Blog) [Discussion]
• kcmorris’s Zen Archer Monk (Blog)

Ninja

• Death from the Shadow: A Guide to the Ninja by Joseph Bucceri (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Oracle

• Channeling the Cosmos: A guide to the Oracle (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Brewer’s Guide to the Jargonaut (Words of Power Oracle) [Discussion]

Paladin

• Thallin’s Guide To Paladins (Optimization) (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• Cryptic’s Guide to the Pathfinder Paladin: Being a God’s Wrecking Hammer (Core) [Discussion]
• Bodhi’s Guide to the Optimal Paladin & Antipaladin (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Ranger

• Treantmonk’s Guide to Rangers in Pathfinder (Core only) [Discussion]
• Lastoths Guide to Archery Rangers (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Ginsu Master: A Ranger’s Guide to Two Weapon Fighting (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Rogue

• Rogue Eidolon’s Guide to Rogues (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• kcmorris’s Guide to the Rogue (Blog)
• kjb200’s Update to Rogue Eidolon’s Guide to the Rogue [Discussion]
• Bravo’s Knife Master Scout Guide [Discussion]

Samurai

• Way of the Samurai (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Sorcerer

• The (almost) Complete Guide to Sorcerers- a practical handbook (Core only) [Discussion]
• The Inner Power. A Guide for Sorcerers (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• A Quick Guide to Pathfinder Sorcerers: gods don’t need spellbooks (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Magic in the Blood: A guide to Eldritch Heritage and Sorcerer Bloodlines (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Thus She Spoke: The Words of Power Sorcerer [Discussion]

Summoner

• The Summoner’s Handbook (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• Summoning Information – A Guide to an Alternate Eidolon
• Punching Expectations in the Mouth:  Guide to the Melee Summoner [Discussion]

Witch

• Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble (Core, APG) [Discussion]
• The Viking Irishman’s Witch Guide (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• A Witch’s Guide to Shutting Down Enemies (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Witch Handbook (Thread)

Wizard

• Treantmonk’s Guide to Pathfinder Wizards: Being a God (Core only) [Discussion]
• Professor Q’s Guide to the Core+ Wizard (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• THE COMPLETE Professor Q’s Guide to the Pathfinder Wizard (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• The Blockbuster Wizard (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Guides in Alphabetical Order by Core Prestige Class Name

Arcane Archer

• The Human Diversion’s Guide to the Caster-Centric Arcane Archer [Discussion]

Arcane Trickster

• Abraham Spalding’s Guide to the Arcane Trickster (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• A Highly Regarded Expert’s Guide to the Arcane Trickster (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Assassin

• //TODO: Need content

Battle Herald

• Guide to the Battle Herald [Discussion]

Champion of Irori

• Fist of the Heavens! A Guide to the Champion of Irori [Discussion]

Dragon Disciple

• Oterisk’s Guide to the Dragon Disciple – A “How To” for the Living Myth (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Duelist

• Oterisk’s Guide to the Duelist – or How to be a Fighter with out being Big and Stupid.(Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Eldritch Knight

• Zolthux’s Guide to the Gish (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Loremaster

• //TODO: Need content

Mystic Theurge

• //TODO: Need content

Pathfinder Chronicler

• Oterisk’s guide to Optimizing the Pathfinder Chronicler?!?! (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Psychic Warrior

• Jackiscool’s Guide to the Psychic Warrior (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Shadowdancer

• Why does the Shadow have a Great Sword? Guide to the Two-Handed Shadow Dancer [Discussion]

Soulknife

• Sharpening the Mind: A Guide to the Pathfinder Soulknife (Thread)

Stalwart Defender

• Guide to the Stalwart Defender [Discussion]

Tactician

• The Chess Master: A Tactical Guide to the Tactician (Thread)

Vitalist

• Mental Medicine: Psionic Healing Through the Vitalist (Thread)

Other Useful Guides for Spell casters

• Abraham Spalding’s Guide to the Holy Vindicator (or more specifically channeling) (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Being a Most Concise and Helpful Guide to the Noble Arts of Wild Shaping and Polymorphing (Core) [Discussion]
• A Guide To Sharing Spells With Animal Companions for Non-Druids (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Guide To Spells (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• A Guide to Touch Spells
• Shadow Conjuration – Guide and Reference Manual (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion] Shadow Evocation: More Than Just Blasts (A Guide) (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

—

Other Useful Guides in Alphabetical Order

• Ashiel’s Guide to Adventure: Preparation, Tricks, and Strategies (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• Getting X to Y: How to make a stat do other things (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM) [Discussion]
• Guide to the Builds (Core, APG, ARG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• The Forge of Combat: Thoughts on victory and how the group achieves it.
  (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM, UE) [Discussion]
• Improving Your Class With Items (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM, UE) [Discussion]
• So you want to play Pathfinder RPG: A comprehensive guide for Dungeon Masters and Players [Discussion]
• Races of Pathfinder: An Optimization Guide (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM, UE) [Discussion]
• Tips and Traits: A guide to Pathfinder Traits (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
• The Viking Irishman’s Guide to Weaponry (Core, APG, UC) [Discussion]

3rd Party

• Psychic Warrior Introduction (Core, Dreamscarred Press) [Discussion]

This guide is also mirrored at:

• D20 Min-Max Wiki

Many of the guides above and more:

• The Comprehensive Pathfinder Guides Guide

Other Useful Guides

Tips & Tricks
Action Economy: Time Savers (Blog)
Ashiel’s Guide to Adventure: Preparation, Tricks, and Strategies (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
The Forge of Combat: Thoughts on Victory and How the Group Achieves it [Discussion]

Equipment
Good And Cheap Equipment Part 1 and Part 2 and Cheap Ioun Stones and Cheap Wands (Blog)
Improving Your Class with Items [Discussion]
The Handy Haversack Pack (3185 Gold and 5 pounds, this sack has everything the adventurer might need)
The Viking Irishman’s Guide to Weaponry (Core, APG, UC) [Discussion]

Summoned Monsters and Animal Companions
Animal Companion Comparison (Blog)
Spells Your Summoned Monsters Can Cast (Short)
Summon Good Monster: A Closer Look (Thread)
Why Work When Others Can do it For You (Monster Summoning)

General Character Building
Dipping for Fun and Profit (Thread)
Getting X to Y: How to make a Attribute do other things (Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM) [Discussion]
Possible Archetype Combos

Tips and Traits: A guide to Pathfinder Traits (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]

Specific Class Abilities
Abraham Spalding’s Guide to the Holy Vindicator (or more specifically channeling) (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
Being a Most Concise and Helpful Guide to the Noble Arts of Wild Shaping and Polymorphing (Core) [Discussion]
Guide To Spells (Core, APG, UM, UC) [Discussion]
Polymorphamory – The Love of Changing Form: A Guide to Shapeshifting [Discussion]
Shadow Conjuration Handbook (Discussion)
Abusing Animals: A Guide to Sharing Spells with Animal Companions for Non-Druids [Discussion]
Word of Power Handbook (Thread)

GM Guides
Brewer’s GM Guide to Campaign Design [Discussion]
GM’s Guide to Creating Challenging Encounters [Discussion]

Other
 A Guide to Trip Builds in Pathfinder
So you want to play Pathfinder RPG: A Comprehensive Guide for Dungeon Masters and Players [Discussion]
Brewer’s Guide to Undeath (Building an Undead Army) [Discussion]
How to Use Leadership [Discussion]
Raving Dork’s Crazy Character Emporium (An Amazing List of Creative and Interesting Builds)
Casting Spells from other Lists (Thread) [Discussion]
Guide to the Builds (Discussion)

Great thanks to Harmon’s Guide to the Class Guides on the Paizo messageboards, Hallack’s Pathfinder Handbook and Handy Links Index on Minmax Boards, Novawurmson’s Optimization Guides Compendium on Giant in the Playground, and all the rest.