Quick Links
Fantasy has a few popular archetypes that everyone understands. Wizards, Rogues, Fighters, and Clerics are classes that appear in a wide array of games, and even people who aren't familiar with RPG lore know what those characters look like. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Pathfinder franchise has some unique classes that don't appear elsewhere, and the Kineticist is one of them. This is a class that moves the air or elements around them to do damage, but they aren't spellcasters.
The Kineticist is more of an acrobat or martial artist and has more in common with a Rogue or Monk than a Sorcerer. They manipulate the currents of energy around or within them, which can include elemental powers, psychic energy, or even blood. The closest pop culture equivalent might be the "Benders" of the Avatar universe. It's a complex and detailed class to build and play, partly because there are so few references for this class outside of the game.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, the latest installment in the video game wing of the franchise, rates the class as one of the most difficult. New players that want to experience this class can rely on the recommended build 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:and let the game guide their path if they're unsure how to proceed. Experienced players will appreciate the creative gameplay this unique class provides.
The Kineticist - Character Creation
One of the reasons that a Kineticist is more 🍃complicated to build right from the start is the focus on two Ability Scores instead of one. However, the party roles are 𓆏limited to dealing damage with little variation, which streamlines the process once the player gets into actual combat.
Ability Scores
- Dexterity. The first of two ability scores that are important for a Kineticist, the class has a reputation for talents in related skills like Athletics and Mobility.
- Constitution. A lack of armor means that more hit points are required, making Constitution just as important as Dexterity.
- Strength. The Kineticist is both a distance and melee fighter, but Strength is more important for combat in close quarters.
- Intelligence. A Kineticist who can use magical devices, which means reading from scrolls, could benefit from a higher Intelligence score.
- Wisdom. Only a priority for Kineticists who want some access to Divine spells or Religious Knowledge.
- Charisma. The Kineticist might be the party leader or want to acquire some spontaneous casting ability, but otherwise, Charisma isn't very important.
Party Roles
- Damage: The lack of versatility when it comes to party roles is one thing that makes the Kineticist easier to play than to build. Virtually all builds are focused on ranged damage with some variation.
- Crowd Control: Kineticists can also take on some battlefield management with some off-tanking and a mix of ranged and melee damage.
- Defense/CC: Make the Kineticist build even more interesting by giving them two useful roles depending on their specific abilities and Archetypes. A Kineticist has some limitations when it comes to armor, but some subclasses can give them an advantage.
Racial Choices
- Aasimar. Several choices for Aasimar heritage include bonuses to either Dexterity or Constitution, but not both, which gives the choice some potential.
- Dhampir. A few of the choices for a Dhampir Heritage have a Dexterity bonus but beware of the penality to Consitution, which is common with this race.
- Dwarf. The Constitution bonus is a good start. Dwarves take a penalty to Charisma but it's not crucial for a Kineticist.
- Elf. A bonus to Dexterity is great but that's countered by a penalty to Constitution.
- Gnome. This versatile race gets bonuses to Dexterity and Charisma, and the Strength penalty isn't a detriment to a ranged build.
- Half-Elf. One of the best choices available, add a +2 to the ability score of your choice, plus choose Backgrounds and Skills to fit the intended build.
- Half-Orc. Another ideal choice, the Half-Orc also has a +2 to any ability along with handy abilities that fit well with Kineticists, like Orc Ferocity and Keen Senses.
- Halfling. The +2 to Dexterity, plus innate abilities like Sure Footed and Halfling Luck, make this race a good option provided you don't need Strength.
- Human. A versatile choice that works with any build, you get a +2 to any Ability Score and other handy perks like an extra Feat and Skill point.
- Kitsune. The Dexterity bonus, regardless of the Heritage choice, is a good start for a Kitsune Kineticist.
- Oread. The only Heritage choice with a Constitution bonus is the Ironsoul, and that one also takes a penalty to Consitution so it might not be worth it.
- Tiefling. There are several choices here, with options for a Tiefling Heritage frequently offering Dexterity bonuses and occasionally Consitution, but not both.
The Kineticist Subclasses
- Blood Kinteticist. A damage dealer at long or close range, this Archetype has all of the signature abilities of the class plus the power to kinetically move blood.
- Dark Elementalist. These creepy Kineticists move souls and Dark Magic and have more class skills related to Lore and Knowledge.
- Elemental Engine. As the name implies, these Kineticists use their bodies to channel the power of the elements.
- Kinetic Knight. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:A specialist in melee fighting, this subclass has better armor proficiencies and wields a blade of energy.
- Overwhelming Soul. A decent choice for a ranged fighter, this Archetype uses kinetic and mind powers to control the elements from a distance.
- Psychokineticist. Their powers are often chaotic and dangerous, rooted in the power of their minds and often responding spontaneously to their emotions.
Prestige Classes And Multi-Classing Options
When you're building a class that's already unique, multi-classing options can seem too confusing or just unnecessary. However, Pathfinder has so many interesting options it's hard not to take advantage of the opportunity. Other ways to customize your Pathfinder class include choices of Feats, Skills, Backgrounds, and Heritage Choices, so multi-classing isn't always the only way to give your character the ability to brew potions or pick locks.
The Kineticist has high Ability Scores in Dexterity and Consitution, so the best multiclass options also prioritize these abilities. Dual-classing, a common practice in Dungeons & Dragons game rules, allows a character to take a few levels in one class before switching to another. This practice doesn't exist in Pathfinder, as most of the gaps in a character's abilities can be filled using the myriad of other options available for customization, like Prestige classes and multiclassing. The rule about having an ability score of 13 in the most important stat of the target class remains the same.
Regular Classes
- Bard. The Charisma score might be a hurdle, but this is one way to give your Kineticist some spontaneous casting and some healing spells.
- Magus. A type of spellcaster that uses either intelligence or charisma, depending on the subclass. There are some overlapping abilities here when it comes to Athletics and Persuasion.
- Barbarian. A Kineticist with some Rage abilities would be pretty badass, and there's some overlap here with a high Constitution Ability Score.
- Fighter. Normally the best multiclass option in the game, this combination would only work with a Dexterity-based Fighter build.
- Monk. There's a lot of overlap here when it comes to Ability Scores, armor proficiencies and Skills, and this gives the Kineticist even more melee damage abilities.
- Rogue. This could be the best combination thanks to the common Dexterity score and shared abilities like Trickery and Perception.
- Warpriest. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:A more defensive or martial Kineticist with a Wisdom score of at least 13 can take on a Diety and some spontaneous casting abilities.
- Wizard. One of the most powerful casters in the game, this makes a good combination provided your character has an Intelligence score of 13.
Prestige Classes
- Arcane Trickster. Usually a Prestige Class for Rogues, this also works well for the Kinteticist provided they have a basic knowledge of Arcane spellcasting.
- Assassin. A natural choice for a Kineticist as long as they have an Evil Alignment and at least five points in the Stealth Skill.
- Stalwart Defender. A natural progression for a Kineticist that has taken the role of defender. Toughness and Dodge are required, common skills for a Kineticist.
- Duelist. This Prestige Class requires Weapon Finesse, which your Kineticist can acquire through a Background or Skill.
- Student of War. Another obvious choice for a Kineiticst, this is a class for a leader or a planner that has a wide range of Lore and Knowledge skills along with Combat Expertise.
Examples of Kineticist Builds
The Bloodbender
- Party Role: Damage, both ranged and melee.
- Ideal Race: Gnome or Halfling, since both races have a Dexterity buff and innate abilities related to Perception, Luck, and Keen Senses.
- Best Subclass: Blood Kineticist, which actually treats blood as an element the character can manipulate.
- Important Ability Scores: This Kineticist build is focused on ranged damage so movement and hit rating - in this case, Dexterity, might be slightly more important than Constitution.
The Mind Flayer
- Party Role: Damage and CC
- Ideal Race: Human
- Best Subclass: Psychokineticist or Overwhelming Soul, two subclasses that use psychic power. Abilities include Emotional Intensity, Mind Burn, and Mental Prowess.
- Important Ability Scores: It's up to the player how they balance Constitution and Dexterity with this build, which takes two party roles and might need more hit points then other Kineticists.
The Shadow Dancer
- Party Role: Damage and CC.
- Ideal Race: Half-elf for more damage, Half-orc for more CC.
- Best Subclass: Dark Elementalist
- Important Ability Scores: Closer to a defense build than others, this Kineticist needs more hit points as opposed to hit rating, and it might be one of the few builds for this class that relies on Constitution as opposed to Dexterity.