Shifter

Shifter

This class requires the Last of the Sarkorians DLC.

The Shifter has the following characteristics:

• Primary attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution and Wisdom
• Full AB progression
• 6 HP per level
• High saving throws for Fortitude and Reflex, low saving throws Will
• Wildshape ability
• Enhanced natural attacks
• 3 skill points per level
• Alignment must be within one place of Neutral.

Class Skills: Athletics, Mobility, Stealth, Lore (Nature), Perception

BAB progression and saves are shown in the table below:

The standard Shifter has the following level progression:

Shifter Proficiencies

A Shifter is proficient with all simple weapons, light armour, medium armour and shields.

Shifter Aspect

At 1st level, a Shifter can assume the minor form of his animal aspect for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his Shifter level. Assuming a minor form is a swift action and ending it is a free action.

From 4th level, the Shifter can assume the major form of his animal aspect for one hour at a time (permanent with the Master Shapeshifter mythic ability) and can do so a number of times per day equal to his Shifter level + Wisdom modifier. Assuming a major form is a standard action. Any assumed minor forms are cancelled.

At 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th levels, the Shifter gains another aspect.

Bear Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to Constitution, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in bear form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30'), a 1d8 bite attack and two 1d6 claw attacks with the grabber ability. At 8th level, you gain the improved natural attack ability with claw attacks. At 15th level, the critical multiplier of your claw attacks increases by +1 and you gain the Awesome Blow feat

Boar Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to Fortitude saves, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in boar form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30') and a 1d8 gore attack. At 8th level, you gain the improved natural attack ability with gore attacks and you gain the powerful charge ability. At 15th level, you gain +1 HP per Shifter level along with the Awesome Blow feat.

Dinosaur Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to initiative checks, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in dinosaur form, you gain +30' speed, the scent ability (30'), a 1d6 bite attack, two 1d8 talon attacks and the pounce ability. At 8th level, you gain two secondary 1d4 claw attacks and a +4 racial bonus to Mobility checks. At 15th level, you gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC and your movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Horse Aspect

Minor Form: You gain the Endurance feat and 5' speed, increasing to +10' at 8th level and +15' at 15th level.

Major Form: While in horse form, you gain +20' speed, the scent ability (30'), two 1d4 hoof attacks and your attacks deal double damage when charging or attempting an overrun manoeuvre. At 8th level, your movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity and you can use the overrun ability. At 15th level, you gain Overrun as a bonus feat.

Lizard Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to Reflex saves, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in lizard form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30') and a 1d8 bite attack with the grabber ability. At 8th level, the speed bonus to increases to +30'. At 15th level, you gain the improved natural attack ability with bite attacks.

Mammoth Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to Strength, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in mammoth form, you gain the scent ability (30'), a 1d6 gore attack and two 1d8 slam attacks. You also gain a +2 racial bonus to Strength and a +2 natural armour bonus to AC. At 8th level, you gain the overrun ability. At 15th level, you gain the Bull Rush feat and the racial bonuses to Strength and natural armour bonus increases to +4.

Spider Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major form: While in spider form, you gain the tremorsense ability (10'), the web special attack and a 1d6 bite attack. At 8th level, you gain a +4 racial bonus to Perception checks and the range of tremorsense increases to 20'. At 15th level, you gain the improved natural attack ability with bite attacks and the range of tremorsense increases to 30'.

Web: You make a ranged touch attack as a standard action immobilising the target. The target can break free with an Athletics or Mobility check with a DC equal to 10 + half your Shifter level + your Constitution modifier.

Tiger Aspect

Minor Form: You gain a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity, increasing to +4 at 8th level and +6 at 15th level.

Major Form: While in tiger form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30'), a 2d6 bite attack and two 2d4 claw attacks, the grabber ability with both bite and claw attacks and the pounce ability. At 8th level, you gain a +4 racial bonus to Stealth checks. At 15th level, you gain the rake ability.

Wolf Aspect

Minor Form: You gain the scent ability (10') and a +2 bonus to damage with natural attacks. At 8th level, scent range increases to 20' and the damage bonus becomes +4. At 15th level, scent range increases to 30' and the damage bonus becomes +6.

Major Form: While in wolf form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30') and a 1d8 bite attack. On a successful bite attack, you can attempt to trip opponents as a free action. At 8th level, scent range increases to 40' and you gain a +4 racial bonus to Lore (Nature) checks. At 15th level, you gain the improved natural attack ability with claw attacks.

Wolverine Aspect

Minor Form: You gain +2 HP per Shifter level and a +2 racial bonus to Constitution. At 8th level you gain the Diehard feat and +4 HP per Shifter level. At 15th level, your Constitution bonus increases to +4 and the HP bonus is +6 per Shifter level.

Major Form: While in wolverine form, you gain +10' speed, the scent ability (30'), a 1d6 bite attack and two 1d8 claw attacks. When damaged, you become enraged (as the Barbarian Rage ability) and can maintain this state for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + twice your Shifter level + your Constitution modifier. At 8th level, you can select two Rage Powers. At 15th level, you are no longer fatigued when Rage ends.

Shifter Claws

When not in major form, a Shifter can extend his claws as a swift action. Claw attacks become more powerful with level as shown below:

When shifted, the Shifter's primary natural attacks (bite, claw, gore, etc.) gain the benefits of the Shifter Claws ability and their damage is at least the damage from the Shifter Claws ability.

Defensive Instinct

At 2nd level, when unarmoured, the Shifter adds his Wisdom bonus to AC and CMD. This bonus applies against touch attacks and when the Shifter is flat-footed. They increase by +1 at 4th level and every four subsequent levels (max +5 at 20th level). If the Shifter is wearing non-metal armour, he adds half his Wisdom bonus to AC.

Track

At 2nd level, a Shifter adds half his class level to Lore (Nature) checks.

Woodland Grace

At 3rd level, a Shifter ignores movement penalties caused by difficult terrain, is immune to the entangled condition and gains a +2 AC bonus vs. attacks of opportunity.

Shifter's Fury

At 6th level, a Shifter with multiple natural attacks can choose instead to make full attacks with just a single natural weapon, gaining iterative attacks as they would when using a manufactured weapon. When doing so, all other natural attacks become secondary, no longer benefiting from the Shifter Claws ability.

Chimeric Aspect

At 9th level, a Shifter can take on two minor aspects simultaneously.

Greater Chimeric Aspect

At 14th level, a Shifter can take on three minor aspects simultaneously.

Final Aspect

At 20th level, a Shifter can assume the minor forms of all her aspects and can use her major and minor forms at will.

Playing a Shifter

The Shifter fixes many of the weaknesses of Wildshape by gaining more powerful attacks as he levels up along with full BAB progression. What is lacking compared to other full BAB classes is a way to boost attack beyond the attribute boosts provided by the Mammoth (or Tiger) forms. The Shifter's natural weapons eventually become roughly equivalent to glaives (d10, 20x3 critical) which is not terrible but not amazing either. Any enhancement bonus will have to come from (Greater) Magic Fang. The base class is also eclipsed by at least two of the archetypes.

The DLC adds several feats. Of these, Shifter's Edge is quite good and makes a Dexterity build straightforward. Most of the others are not worth spending a feat on, however.

A Child of the Manticore is a damaging ranged attacker. It is rather feat-starved compared to a Ranger or Mutation Warrior but partially makes up for this with the ability to throw up to four spikes in the first attack in a round.

The Dragonblood Shifter is a relatively weak archetype since it peaks at 14th level with Dragonkind II. You will get more benefit from playing a class with a Draconic bloodline.

The Feyform Shifter is the best of the archetypes by some margin: full AB, five attacks at full AB and full sneak attack progression is a powerful combination. The concealment is only countered by Echolocation which makes it much more useful than it might appear.

The Fiendflesh Shifter is another weak archetype, lacking a major form. Worse, the minor aspects are "either or" rather than "both and" which leaves the archetype lacking.

A Rageshaper is something of a one-trick pony since it gains attack and damage bonuses from rage but has no rage abilities. The Ground Slam ability is very good but you may find the base class and the Wolverine form more rewarding.

A Weretouched shifter's were forms are quite powerful, particularly the weretiger form which gains the pounce ability and a substantial AC bonus. The Werewolf's free trip attempts are nice, but this can be reproduced readily by an animal companion. The Wererat plays similarly to a full BAB Rogue and the free disarm is a little bit different.

A Wild Effigy basically swaps the ability to dodge attacks for the ability to shrug off damage. 20/- DR is good but +10 AC, say, is better.

The Griffonheart Shifter archetype is restricted to the DLC companion, Ulbrig. It compares favourably to the base class, trading flexibility for a higher inherent attribute bonus and three feats. The major form is decent, comparable to the Tiger and Dinosaur forms.

Child of the Manticore

A Child of the Manticore limits himself to just a single, powerful aspect.

• Loses access to multiple Shifter aspects
• Gains access to the Manticore aspect.

He has the following level progression:

Manticore Aspect

At 1st level, a Child of the Manticore can assume the minor form of of a manticore for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his Shifter level. Assuming a minor form is a swift action and ending it is a free action. While in this form, he gains a +2 inherent bonus to Strength and Dexterity.

At 5th level, when making the first attack in a round, the shifter throws two spikes rather than one. Damage from both is summed before adding damage bonuses.

At 10th level, the inherent bonus to Strength and Dexterity increases to +4. This further increases to +6 at 15th level.

At 20th level, when making the first attack in a round, the shifter throws four spikes rather than one. The inherent bonus to Strength and Dexterity increases to +8. He can use Manticore Aspect and Manticore Shape at will.

Grow Spikes

At 1st level, a Child of the Manticore can throw spikes from his body as a ranged attack. Spike attacks become more powerful with level as shown below:

Manticore Shape

At 4th level, the shifter can assume the form of a manticore as a standard action for one minute at a time (permanent with the Master Shapeshifter Mythic ability) and can do so a number of times per day equal to his Shifter level + Wisdom modifier.

When in manticore form, the shifter gains +10' speed, the scent ability (30') and four spike ranged attacks (1d6 damage), At 9th level, he gains immunity to ground-based effects and a +4 bonus to damage with natural attacks. At 14th level, he gains the improved natural attack ability with spike attacks.

Dragonblood Shifter

A Dragonblood Shifter has a thing for dragons.

• Loses access to beast aspects
• Gains access to Draconic aspects.

He has the following level progression:

Draconic Aspect Selection

At 1st level, a Dragonblood Shifter can imbue himself with draconic power for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his Shifter level. Doing so is a swift action and ending it is a free action.

Draconic aspect abilities grant resistances and deal damage according to the element related to the dragon type. While shifted, he gains the scent ability and energy resistance 5 against the dragon's element. Any damage resisted is provided as healing.

The shifter can choose any permitted dragon type but any previously selected draconic aspect ends. Good characters may choose only metallic dragon types while evil characters are restricted to chromatic dragon types. Neutral characters may select any type of dragon

Wyrmshifter

At 9th level, the shifter gains a +2 racial bonus to saves vs. sleep and paralysis effects and can assume dragon form as the Dragonkind I spell. This is a standard action with a duration of one minute at a time (permanent with the Master Shapeshifter Mythic ability). It can be used a number of times per day equal to the Shifter's class level + Wisdom modifier.

Improved Wyrmshifter

At 14th level, the shifter gains a +4 racial bonus to saves vs. sleep and paralysis effects and can assume dragon form as the Dragonkind II spell. This ability lasts one hour (permanent with the Master Shapeshifter Mythic ability) and can be used a number of times per day equal to the Shifter's class level + Wisdom modifier.

Greater Wyrmshifter

At 20th level, the shifter becomes immune and sleep and paralysis effects and can transform into a dragon at will.

Feyform Shifter

A Feyform Shifter has a link to the First World.

• Gains minor aspects of beast forms
• Can assume the form of an ankou.

He has the following level progression:

Fey Aspect

At 1st level, the shifter can take on First World aspects as a swift action, gaining DR 1/Cold Iron and 20% concealment. He can maintain this form for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his class level.

At 5th level, the shifter's DR increases to 2 / Cold Iron and he grows wings that make him immune to ground-based effects.

At 10th level, the shifter's DR increases to 5 / Cold Iron and he gains a +4 inherent bonus to saves vs. mind-affecting effects.

At 15th level, the shifter's DR increases to 7 / Cold Iron and he gains a +6 inherent bonus to saves vs. mind-affecting effects.

Finally, at 20th level, the shifter's DR increases to 10 / Cold Iron and he becomes immune to movement-impairing effects. He also gains 30 spell resistance.

Fey Shape

At 4th level, the shifter can assume the form of an ankou as a standard action for one minute at a time (permanent with the Master Shapeshifter Mythic ability) and can do so a number of times per day equal to his Shifter level + Wisdom modifier.

When in ankou form, the shifter gains +20' speed, two claw attacks (1d6 damage), two wing attacks (1d4 damage) and a tail attack (1d4 damage). He can make sneak attacks using his class level as his effective rogue level.

Rogue Talent

At 8th and 14th levels, the shifter can choose a Rogue Talent. Note that you cannot choose Advanced Talents.

Fey Shifter

At 9th level, the shifter chooses a second aspect from the animal aspects available to the base class. When the shifter assumes his ankou form, he can assume the minor form of his second aspect.

Greater Fey Shifter

At 14th level, the shifter chooses a third aspect from the animal aspects available to the base class. When the shifter assumes his ankou form, he can assume the minor forms of his secondary aspects.

Final Fey Shifter

At 20th level, the shifter chooses a fourth aspect from the animal aspects available to the base class. When the shifter assumes his ankou form, he can assume the minor forms of his secondary aspects and can use his major and minor forms at will.

Fiendflesh Shifter

A Fiendflesh Shifter has been corrupted by his proximity to the Worldwound.

• Loses access to beast forms
• Gains fiendish aspects.

He has the following level progression:

Fiendish Aspect

At 1st level, the shifter can take on otherworldly aspects as a swift action, gaining a 1d6 gore attack and DR 1/Good. He can maintain this form for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his class level.

At 5th level, the shifter's DR increases to 2 / Good and he grows wings that make him immune to ground-based effects.

At 10th level, the shifter's DR increases to 5 / Good and the electricity and fire resistance granted by Fiendish Resilience doubles.

At 15th level, the shifter's DR increases to 7 / Good and he gains a +4 inherent bonus to Reflex saves.

Finally, at 20th level, the shifter's DR increases to 10 / Good and he becomes immune to electricity and fire. He also gains 25 spell resistance.

Fiendish Resilience

At 2nd level, while wearing no armour or light or medium nonmetal armour, the shifter gains a +1 natural armour bonus to AC and 5 resistance to electricity and fire. At 4th, 12th and 20th level, the natural armour bonus increases by 1. At 8th and 16th level, the shifter's resistance to electricity and fire increases by 10.

Chimeric Fiend

At 9th level, the shifter gains an additional ability that he can use with fiendish aspect:

• Daemon: Fiendish Resilience also grants acid resistance and the shifter gains a +4 profane bonus to saves vs. disease.
• Demon: Fiendish Resilience also grants cold resistance and the shifter gains a +4 damage bonus to natural attacks
• Devil: +4 dodge bonus to AC and a +4 profane bonus to Reflex saves.

Greater Chimeric Fiend

At 14th level, the Chimeric Fiend ability provides additional bonuses:

• Daemon: +4 inherent bonus to Constitution and immunity to disease
• Demon: +4 inherent bonus to Strength; the damage dice of all natural attacks are increased by by one category
• Devil: +4 inherent bonus to Dexterity and immunity to blindness.

Rageshaper

A Rageshaper reflects nature's fury.

• Loses access to beast forms
• Gains Rage.

He has the following level progression:

Devastating Form

As a swift action, a Rageshaper gains one size category and becomes enraged (as in the Barbarian Rage ability) for 1 minute. He can assume this form a number of times per day equal to his class level (the Limitless Rage ability removes this restriction).

Once per use of Devasting Form, the Rageshaper can use the Ground Slam ability.

Ground Slam: the shifter deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage per class level + 1d6 for each affected creature to all enemies within 20', knocking them prone. A Reflex save (DC = 10 + half class level + Constitution modifier) halves the damage and negates the prone effect.

When the Rageshaper ends his Devastating Form, he is fatigued for 5 rounds.

At 10th level, the Rageshaper grows two size categories larger and his rage is treated as Greater Rage. The damage die of the Ground Slam ability increases to 1d8.

At 20th level, the Rageshaper gains a +4 racial bonus to Strength and improved natural attack. His rage is treated as Mighty Rage and the damage die of Ground Slam increases to 1d10.

Terrible Slam

At will, a Rageshaper can gain two 1d4 slam attacks. The slam attack deals additional damage to constructs (+5 at 1st level, +10 at 5th level, +15 at 15th level and +20 at 15th level). It is otherwise identical to the Shifter Claws ability.

Invulnerable Defenses

At 2nd level, while wearing no armour or light or medium nonmetal armour, the shifter gains a +2 natural armour bonus to AC and DR 2/-. At 10th level, the shifter's DR increases to 5/- and 7/- at 15th level. Finally, at 20th level, the DR increases to 10/- and the natural armour bonus increases to +4.

Weretouched

The Weretouched archetype requires the Lord of Nothing DLC.

A Weretouched shifter embraces the beast within. He has the following level progression:

Lycanthropic Aspect

At 1st level, a Shifter can assume a minor form for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his Shifter level. Assuming a minor form is a swift action and ending it is a free action. While in this form, the Weretouched gains a +2 inherent bonus to his Strength, Dexterity and Constitution attributes. At 8th level, the bonus increases to +4 and at 16th level, it increases to +6.

Lycanthropic Tracker

At 2nd level, a Weretouched gains a +4 bonus to Perception checks and the Scent ability (10').

Major Lycanthropic Form

From 4th level, a Weretouched can transform fully into one of several Werebeasts as a swift action. The transformation lasts for one hour and the Weretouched can use this ability once per day, gaining an additional use at 8th and 12th levels.

Major Lycanthropic Form (Wererat)

The wererat has the Jump Up talent, DR 1/silver, two 1d4 claw attacks and a 1d6 bite attack. The bite attack makes a free disarm combat manoeuvre against the target and the wererat's attacks do an additional +1d6 sneak damage if the requirements are met.

At 8th level, DR increases to 3/silver and sneak damage increases to +2d6. The wererat also gains the Bestial Roar ability and the Weakening Wound talent.

At 15th level, DR increases to 5/silver and sneak damage increases to +3d6. The wererat also gains the Crippling Strike and Opportunist talents.

Major Lycanthropic Form (Weretiger)

The weretiger gains Combat Expertise as a bonus feat, DR 5/silver, two 1d6 claw attacks, a 1d6 bite attack and an AC bonus equal to half his class level.

At 8th level, DR increases to 10/silver and claw damage increases to 2d6. The weretiger also gains the Bestial Roar and Pounce abilities.

At 15th level, DR increases to 15/silver and claw damage increases to 2d8. The weretiger also gains Fast Healing 5 and Lunge as a bonus feat.

Major Lycanthropic Form (Werewolf)

The werewolf gains Trip as a bonus feat, DR 3/silver, two 1d4 claw attacks, a 1d6 bite attack and an AC bonus equal to half his class level. The claw attacks make the target take +1 bleed damage each round (Fortitude DC = 10 + class level + Strength modifier) stacking to a maximum +5.

At 8th level, DR increases to 5/silver and the bleed damage increases to +2. The werewolf's bite attack makes a trip attempt as a free action and he also gains the Bestial Roar ability.

At 15th level, DR increases to 7/silver and bleed damage increases to 5. The werewolf also gains Greater Trip as a bonus feat.

Wild Effigy

A Wild Effigy transforms into a stone effigies of animal aspects. He has the following level progression:

Armor Plating

When shifted, the shifter gains DR N/- equal to his class level.

Heart of Earth

When shifted, the shifter gains the ferocity ability and 25% chance of ignoring critical hits and precision damage. At 9th level, this chance increases to 50% and he becomes immune to petrification. At 15th level, this chance increases to 75% and he becomes immune to bleed.

Stoneclaw Strike

At 6th level, the shifter can expend 1 minute of his minor aspect ability to ignore an amount of DR equal to his shifter level for 1 minute.

Griffonheart Shifter

The DLC companion, Ulbrig, has a unique shifter archetype:

Griffon Aspect

At 1st level, Griffon Aspect grants the Shifter a +2 inherent bonus to Strength and allies within 30' gain a +2 bonus vs. fear effects. He can maintain this aura for a number of minutes per day equal to 3 + his class level. At 5th level, the shifter becomes immune to ground-based effects. At 10th level, the inherent Strength bonus increases to +4 and allies within 30' become immune to fear. At 15th level, the bonus to Strength increases to +6 and the shifter gains a +4 inherent bonus to Will saves. Finally, at 20th level, the bonus to Strength increases to +8, the bonus to Will saves increases to +6 and the shifter becomes immune to Movement-Impairing effects.

Griffon Form

At 4th level, the shifter can use Wildshape to assume griffon form for 1 minute (permanent with Master Shapeshifter). His base speed is 50' and he has two 1d6 claw attacks and a 1d8 bite attack. He gains the grabber ability with his claw attacks and is immune to ground-based effects. At 9th level, the shifter gains the pounce ability and improved natural attack with his bite ability. Finally, at 14th level, the shifter gains the rake ability.

Bonus Combat Feat

At 4th, 9th and 14th levels, the shifter receives a bonus combat feat. His shifter level is equivalent to fighter level for the purpose of unlocking feats like Weapon Specialization.