So, you're diving into the Stolen Lands, huh? Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a massive game, and choosing the right class build can make or break your experience. Don't worry, though! This guide is here to walk you through some of the most effective and fun class builds to dominate in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. We'll break down the strengths, weaknesses, and key features of each build, giving you a solid foundation to create your ultimate character. Whether you're a seasoned Pathfinder player or a newcomer, we've got something for everyone. Let's get started and forge your legend in the Stolen Lands!

Understanding Class Mechanics

Before we jump into specific builds, let's cover some essential mechanics that are crucial to understanding class effectiveness in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Knowing these will help you make informed decisions as you level up and customize your character.

• Ability Scores: Your ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma) are the foundation of your character. Strength affects melee combat, Dexterity impacts ranged attacks and AC, Constitution determines your hit points, Intelligence governs skills, Wisdom influences spellcasting for divine classes, and Charisma affects spellcasting for arcane classes like sorcerers and bards, as well as persuasion skills. Prioritize the ability scores that are most important for your chosen class.
• Classes and Archetypes: Each class in Pathfinder: Kingmaker comes with various archetypes. Archetypes are specialized versions of the base class, offering different abilities, spells, and features. For example, a Fighter can be a Tower Shield Specialist or a Two-Handed Fighter, each with a unique playstyle. Choosing the right archetype is vital to optimizing your build.
• Skills: Skills are essential for various tasks, from picking locks to persuading NPCs. Key skills include Persuasion, Perception, Stealth, and Knowledge skills (like Knowledge: Arcana or Knowledge: World). Distribute your skill points wisely based on your character's role and your party's needs. Don't underestimate the power of a well-placed Persuasion check! It can save you from many sticky situations.
• Feats: Feats are special abilities or enhancements that you can select as you level up. They can range from improving your combat prowess to enhancing your spellcasting. Choose feats that complement your class and playstyle. Some feats are must-haves for certain builds, so do your research!
• Multiclassing: Pathfinder: Kingmaker allows you to multiclass, meaning you can combine levels from different classes. While this can create powerful combinations, it can also dilute your character's strengths if not done carefully. Generally, it's best to stick to a single class or only multiclass if you have a specific plan in mind.

Understanding these core mechanics will empower you to make smarter choices as you progress through the game. Now, let's dive into some of the best class builds.

Melee Powerhouses

If you love being in the thick of the action, these melee builds are for you. They excel at dealing damage up close and personal, and can often take a beating while dishing it out.

1. The Stalwart Defender: Fighter (Tower Shield Specialist)

Keywords: Fighter build, Tower Shield Specialist, tank build, melee combat, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Fighter (Tower Shield Specialist) is the ultimate tank. This build focuses on maximizing your defenses to become an unkillable wall that protects your party. With a high AC and plenty of defensive feats, you'll be able to withstand even the toughest enemy attacks. Here’s how to build it:

• Key Abilities: Strength and Constitution are your top priorities. Strength for damage and carrying capacity, and Constitution for hit points.
• Feats:
  • Tower Shield Proficiency
  • Shield Focus
  • Shield Wall
  • Combat Reflexes
  • Dodge
  • Armor Focus
• Skills: Athletics and Mobility are useful for movement and avoiding being flanked.
• Gameplay: Position yourself in the front lines and use your tower shield to absorb damage. Use the "Defensive Stance" ability to further increase your AC. Taunt enemies to draw their attention and protect your squishier party members. Consider dipping a level into Monk for extra AC from Wisdom.

This build shines in prolonged engagements, where your ability to withstand damage becomes invaluable. While your damage output might not be as high as other melee builds, your survivability more than makes up for it.

The Fighter (Tower Shield Specialist) excels in the tank role due to its focus on defensive capabilities. The build's strength lies in its capacity to absorb significant amounts of damage, making it an invaluable asset in any party composition. Key abilities to prioritize are Strength and Constitution, ensuring both adequate damage output and a substantial health pool. Essential feats include Tower Shield Proficiency, Shield Focus, and Shield Wall, all of which enhance the character's defensive prowess. Combat Reflexes, Dodge, and Armor Focus further bolster survivability, making the Fighter a formidable presence on the battlefield. Skills such as Athletics and Mobility are also important for maintaining positioning and avoiding flanking maneuvers. In terms of gameplay, the Tower Shield Specialist should always be at the forefront, utilizing the tower shield to mitigate damage and protect allies. Activating the Defensive Stance ability provides an additional layer of defense, increasing AC and overall resilience. Taunting enemies is a crucial tactic for drawing aggro away from more vulnerable party members, ensuring their safety and allowing them to deal damage without being targeted. For added survivability, consider taking a single level dip into Monk, which grants extra AC based on Wisdom. While this build may not boast the highest damage output, its unparalleled survivability makes it a critical component of any successful party, especially in challenging encounters where endurance is key. The strategic advantage of having a nearly unkillable character cannot be overstated, as it allows the rest of the party to focus on dealing damage without constantly worrying about the tank's safety.

2. The Damage Dealer: Barbarian (Mad Dog)

Keywords: Barbarian build, Mad Dog, DPS build, melee damage, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

If you prefer dealing massive damage to soaking it up, the Barbarian (Mad Dog) is the way to go. This build turns you into a raging whirlwind of destruction, tearing through enemies with ease. The Mad Dog archetype adds a pet companion into the mix for even more damage. Here’s the breakdown:

• Key Abilities: Strength is your primary ability, followed by Constitution for survivability. Dexterity is also important for AC.
• Feats:
  • Weapon Focus (your chosen weapon)
  • Power Attack
  • Cleave
  • Great Cleave
  • Outflank
  • Improved Critical (your chosen weapon)
• Skills: Athletics and Perception are essential.
• Gameplay: Activate your rage ability to increase your strength and damage output. Use Power Attack to trade accuracy for even more damage. Coordinate with your pet to flank enemies and trigger Outflank for additional bonuses. Unleash the fury! Just be mindful of your rage duration and don't get caught out of rage in a tough spot.

The Barbarian (Mad Dog) build is all about unleashing devastating melee damage while benefiting from the added utility of an animal companion. Strength is the most critical ability for this build, as it directly impacts damage output and carrying capacity. Constitution is also vital for maintaining survivability, ensuring the Barbarian can withstand incoming attacks. Dexterity is important for increasing AC, providing an additional layer of defense. Key feats for maximizing damage include Weapon Focus (for the chosen weapon), Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Outflank, and Improved Critical (for the chosen weapon). These feats enhance the Barbarian's ability to deal significant damage and efficiently clear groups of enemies. Skills such as Athletics and Perception are crucial for navigating the environment and detecting threats. In terms of gameplay, the Barbarian should always activate the rage ability to significantly boost strength and damage. Power Attack can be used strategically to trade accuracy for even greater damage output. The animal companion from the Mad Dog archetype should be coordinated to flank enemies, triggering the Outflank feat for additional bonuses. While the Barbarian excels at dealing damage, it's important to manage the rage duration effectively to avoid being caught vulnerable when the rage ends. This build is perfect for players who enjoy aggressive, high-risk, high-reward gameplay, tearing through enemies with relentless fury.

Ranged Masters

Prefer to stay out of melee range? These ranged builds will let you deal damage from a safe distance, picking off enemies before they can even reach you.

3. The Precise Sniper: Ranger (Hunter)

Keywords: Ranger build, Hunter, ranged DPS, archery build, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Ranger (Hunter) is a master of ranged combat, capable of dealing consistent and accurate damage from afar. The Hunter archetype's pet provides added utility and damage. Build it like this:

• Key Abilities: Dexterity is your primary ability for ranged attacks, followed by Wisdom for spellcasting and Perception.
• Feats:
  • Point-Blank Shot
  • Precise Shot
  • Rapid Shot
  • Manyshot
  • Weapon Focus (bow)
  • Clustered Shots
• Skills: Perception, Stealth, and Knowledge (Nature) are crucial.
• Gameplay: Stay at a distance and use your bow to pick off enemies. Use your pet to flank enemies and provide additional damage. Cast ranger spells like "Entangle" to control the battlefield. Choose a favored enemy that you'll be fighting often to maximize your damage against them.

This build is all about dealing consistent damage from a safe distance. With the right feats and spells, you'll be able to take down enemies before they even get close.

The Ranger (Hunter) build is designed for players who prefer dealing consistent ranged damage while benefiting from the versatility of an animal companion and utility spells. Dexterity is the most important ability for this build, as it directly impacts the accuracy and damage of ranged attacks. Wisdom is also crucial for spellcasting and enhancing Perception skills. Key feats include Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Weapon Focus (bow), and Clustered Shots, all of which significantly boost ranged damage output and accuracy. Skills such as Perception, Stealth, and Knowledge (Nature) are vital for scouting, avoiding detection, and understanding the environment. In terms of gameplay, the Ranger should maintain distance from enemies, using the bow to deliver consistent damage. The animal companion can be used strategically to flank enemies, providing additional damage and tactical advantages. Ranger spells like "Entangle" can be used to control the battlefield, slowing down or immobilizing enemies. It's also important to choose a favored enemy that is commonly encountered to maximize damage against those specific targets. This build is perfect for players who enjoy a balanced playstyle with a mix of ranged combat, utility spells, and tactical pet usage.

4. The Arcane Archer: Eldritch Archer Magus

Keywords: Magus build, Eldritch Archer, ranged magic, spell combat, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Eldritch Archer Magus combines arcane magic with ranged combat, creating a versatile and powerful damage dealer. This build uses the Magus's spell combat ability to deliver spells through ranged attacks. Here's how to make it work:

• Key Abilities: Intelligence is your primary ability for spellcasting, followed by Dexterity for ranged attacks.
• Feats:
  • Point-Blank Shot
  • Precise Shot
  • Rapid Shot
  • Weapon Focus (bow)
  • Spell Penetration
  • Greater Spell Penetration
• Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) and Perception are essential.
• Gameplay: Use Spell Combat to cast spells like "Shocking Grasp" or "Scorching Ray" through your bow attacks. Use Spellstrike to deliver melee touch spells from a distance. Utilize your arcane pool to enhance your weapon and spells. This build requires careful management of your spell slots and arcane pool, but the payoff is well worth it.

This build offers a unique blend of martial prowess and arcane power, allowing you to deal both physical and magical damage from afar.

The Eldritch Archer Magus is a unique and potent build that combines arcane magic with ranged combat, offering versatility and significant damage output. Intelligence is the primary ability for this build, as it governs spellcasting effectiveness and the size of the Magus's spellbook. Dexterity is also vital for improving ranged attack accuracy and AC. Key feats include Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (bow), Spell Penetration, and Greater Spell Penetration, all of which enhance the Magus's ability to deliver spells effectively through ranged attacks. Skills such as Knowledge (Arcana) and Perception are crucial for identifying magical threats and gathering information. In terms of gameplay, the Magus utilizes the Spell Combat ability to cast spells like "Shocking Grasp" or "Scorching Ray" through bow attacks, delivering both physical and magical damage simultaneously. Spellstrike allows the Magus to deliver melee touch spells from a distance, adding an unexpected element to ranged combat. The arcane pool is used to enhance weapons and spells, further increasing damage output and magical effectiveness. Managing spell slots and the arcane pool is critical for optimizing this build, ensuring that the Magus has the resources needed to deal consistent damage. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a complex and rewarding playstyle that blends martial skill with arcane power, allowing for a dynamic and engaging combat experience.

Divine Casters

If you prefer supporting your party with healing, buffs, and powerful divine magic, these divine caster builds are perfect for you.

5. The Healing Machine: Cleric (Ecclesitheurge)

Keywords: Cleric build, Ecclesitheurge, healer build, support build, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Cleric (Ecclesitheurge) is the ultimate healer and support caster. This build focuses on maximizing your healing and buffing abilities to keep your party alive and thriving. The Ecclesitheurge archetype sacrifices armor proficiency for enhanced spellcasting. Here’s the rundown:

• Key Abilities: Wisdom is your primary ability for spellcasting, followed by Constitution for survivability.
• Feats:
  • Selective Channeling
  • Extend Spell
  • Empower Spell
  • Maximize Spell
  • Spell Focus (Conjuration)
• Skills: Knowledge (Religion) and Persuasion are crucial.
• Gameplay: Stay in the back lines and focus on healing and buffing your party. Use channel energy to heal multiple allies at once. Cast powerful buffs like "Bless," "Prayer," and "Haste" to enhance your party's combat capabilities. Choose healing and support spells as your primary focus.

This build ensures that your party can withstand even the most challenging encounters. With your healing and buffs, your allies will be nearly unkillable.

The Cleric (Ecclesitheurge) is designed to be the ultimate healer and support caster, focusing on maximizing healing and buffing abilities to keep the party alive and thriving. Wisdom is the most important ability for this build, as it directly impacts spellcasting effectiveness and the number of spells the Cleric can prepare. Constitution is also vital for maintaining survivability, ensuring the Cleric can withstand incoming attacks. Key feats include Selective Channeling, Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Maximize Spell, and Spell Focus (Conjuration), all of which enhance the Cleric's healing and buffing capabilities. Skills such as Knowledge (Religion) and Persuasion are crucial for understanding divine matters and influencing NPCs. In terms of gameplay, the Cleric should stay in the back lines, focusing on healing and buffing the party. Channel energy can be used to heal multiple allies simultaneously, providing efficient and effective healing. Powerful buffs like "Bless," "Prayer," and "Haste" can be cast to enhance the party's combat capabilities, significantly increasing their damage output and survivability. The primary focus should be on selecting healing and support spells to ensure that the party can withstand even the most challenging encounters. The Ecclesitheurge archetype sacrifices armor proficiency for enhanced spellcasting, making positioning and protection even more important. This build is perfect for players who enjoy a supportive role, ensuring the party's survival and success through strategic healing and buffing.

6. The Righteous Warrior: Paladin

Keywords: Paladin build, divine warrior, melee support, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Paladin is a powerful combination of melee combatant and divine spellcaster. This build focuses on dealing damage in melee while providing support to your party through auras and spells. Here’s what you need:

• Key Abilities: Strength is important for melee combat, while Charisma is essential for spellcasting and paladin abilities. Constitution adds to your survivability.
• Feats:
  • Weapon Focus (your chosen weapon)
  • Power Attack
  • Outflank
  • Divine Grace
  • Extra Lay on Hands
• Skills: Persuasion and Knowledge (Religion) are crucial.
• Gameplay: Engage in melee combat, using your divine spells to support your allies. Use Lay on Hands to heal yourself and your allies. Your auras provide passive buffs to your party. Smite Evil is a powerful ability against evil enemies.

The Paladin excels at both dealing damage and providing support, making them a valuable asset to any party.

The Paladin is a versatile and powerful class that combines melee combat prowess with divine spellcasting, making them a valuable asset to any party. Strength is an important ability for this build, as it directly impacts melee damage output and carrying capacity. Charisma is essential for spellcasting and enhancing Paladin abilities, such as Lay on Hands and Divine Grace. Constitution is also vital for maintaining survivability, ensuring the Paladin can withstand incoming attacks. Key feats include Weapon Focus (for the chosen weapon), Power Attack, Outflank, Divine Grace, and Extra Lay on Hands, all of which enhance the Paladin's combat and support capabilities. Skills such as Persuasion and Knowledge (Religion) are crucial for influencing NPCs and understanding divine matters. In terms of gameplay, the Paladin should engage in melee combat, using divine spells to support allies and enhance their own combat abilities. Lay on Hands can be used to heal both the Paladin and their allies, providing crucial healing during combat. The Paladin's auras provide passive buffs to the party, increasing their overall effectiveness. Smite Evil is a powerful ability that can be used against evil enemies, significantly increasing damage output. This build is perfect for players who enjoy a balanced playstyle that combines melee combat with divine support, making the Paladin a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Arcane Tricksters

If you enjoy using arcane magic to control the battlefield and deceive your enemies, these arcane caster builds are for you.

7. The Crowd Controller: Wizard (Exploiter Wizard)

Keywords: Wizard build, Exploiter Wizard, crowd control, arcane magic, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Wizard (Exploiter Wizard) is a master of arcane magic, capable of controlling the battlefield with powerful spells. This build focuses on maximizing your spellcasting abilities and using metamagic to enhance your spells. Here’s how it’s done:

• Key Abilities: Intelligence is your primary ability for spellcasting, followed by Constitution for survivability.
• Feats:
  • Spell Focus (your chosen school of magic)
  • Greater Spell Focus (your chosen school of magic)
  • Spell Penetration
  • Greater Spell Penetration
  • Metamagic feats (like Extend Spell, Empower Spell, or Heighten Spell)
• Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) and Use Magic Device are crucial.
• Gameplay: Stay in the back lines and use your spells to control the battlefield. Use crowd control spells like "Web," "Grease," and "Stinking Cloud" to hinder your enemies. Choose a specialized school of magic to maximize your effectiveness.

This build turns you into a powerful arcane force, capable of shaping the battlefield to your advantage.

The Wizard (Exploiter Wizard) is a master of arcane magic, specializing in controlling the battlefield with a variety of powerful spells. Intelligence is the most important ability for this build, as it directly impacts spellcasting effectiveness and the number of spells the Wizard can learn. Constitution is also vital for maintaining survivability, ensuring the Wizard can withstand incoming attacks. Key feats include Spell Focus (for the chosen school of magic), Greater Spell Focus (for the chosen school of magic), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, and various Metamagic feats such as Extend Spell, Empower Spell, and Heighten Spell. These feats enhance the Wizard's spellcasting capabilities, allowing for more potent and versatile spell usage. Skills such as Knowledge (Arcana) and Use Magic Device are crucial for understanding magical phenomena and utilizing magical items effectively. In terms of gameplay, the Wizard should stay in the back lines, using spells to control the battlefield and hinder enemies. Crowd control spells like "Web," "Grease," and "Stinking Cloud" can be used to slow down or immobilize enemies, making them easier targets for the party. Specializing in a particular school of magic can further enhance the Wizard's effectiveness, allowing for more powerful and focused spellcasting. The Exploiter Wizard's ability to manipulate arcane energy and control the battlefield makes them a valuable asset to any party, turning them into a potent arcane force capable of shaping the course of battle.

8. The Charming Deceiver: Sorcerer (Sage)

Keywords: Sorcerer build, Sage, charisma caster, spell damage, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

The Sorcerer (Sage) is a master of innate arcane magic, capable of dealing massive damage with spells. The Sage archetype uses Intelligence as their primary spellcasting ability, making them unique among sorcerers. Here’s how to optimize:

• Key Abilities: Intelligence is your primary ability for spellcasting, followed by Constitution for survivability.
• Feats:
  • Spell Focus (your chosen school of magic)
  • Greater Spell Focus (your chosen school of magic)
  • Spell Penetration
  • Greater Spell Penetration
  • Metamagic feats (like Empower Spell, Maximize Spell, or Quickened Spell)
• Skills: Knowledge (Arcana) and Persuasion are crucial.
• Gameplay: Stay in the back lines and unleash your powerful spells. Use damage spells like "Fireball," "Lightning Bolt," and "Magic Missile" to obliterate your enemies. Choose a bloodline that complements your playstyle.

This build turns you into a walking magical artillery cannon, capable of decimating your enemies with raw arcane power.

The Sorcerer (Sage) is a master of innate arcane magic, capable of dealing massive damage with spells and controlling the battlefield with their innate abilities. For the Sage Sorcerer, Intelligence is the most crucial ability, as it directly enhances their spellcasting capabilities and spell DC (Difficulty Class). Secondary to Intelligence is Constitution, needed to maintain survivability. Notable feats for the Sage Sorcerer include Spell Focus (for your chosen school of magic), Greater Spell Focus (for your chosen school), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, and Metamagic feats, such as Empower Spell, Maximize Spell, and Quickened Spell. These feats greatly amplify the Sorcerer’s innate abilities, making their spells more potent. Skills for this build should emphasize Knowledge (Arcana) and Persuasion to enhance understanding of magic and influence interactions. In combat, the Sage Sorcerer should stay in the back lines, unleashing powerful spells to devastate enemies. Effective damage spells include "Fireball," "Lightning Bolt," and "Magic Missile." The choice of bloodline is also critical, as it shapes additional spells and class features. In summary, the Sage Sorcerer becomes a formidable magical force, capable of decimating enemies with raw arcane power, making them a premier damage dealer in any party.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right class build is essential for success in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Whether you prefer being a melee powerhouse, a ranged master, a divine caster, or an arcane trickster, there's a build that's perfect for you. Experiment with different builds and find one that suits your playstyle. Don't be afraid to multiclass if you have a specific plan in mind. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your adventure in the Stolen Lands! Good luck, adventurers!