Pathfinder 1E Fighter The Reaper: Scythe-Wielding Ravager
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Article-At-A-Glance
- The Reaper[1] build excels with Two Handed combat styles and armor optimization.
- Strategically plan feats to enhance combat capabilities and damage output.
- Maintain versatility with weapon mastery, ensuring situational advantage.
- Explaing how Role playing this particular build enriches gameplay with immersive storytelling and character depth.
Click on the level for more information
This build focuses on a high-damage output using a Scythe and leveraging Strength. At level 1, with the Two-Handed Fighter Archetype, the build can deliver significant damage with Power Attack and utilize Intimidate effectively, thanks to feats and racial bonuses.
Stat Block Level 1:
Reaper: male, Orc Fighter 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 1d10+4; hp 14; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +1; Grp +6; Atk Scythe +6 melee (2d4+9) or Scythe; Full Atk Scythe +6 melee (2d4+9); SA Power Attack, Intimidate +9; SQ Light Sensitivity, Dayrunner; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 22, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +9; Power Attack, Intimidating Prowess, Weapon Focus (Scythe). Dayrunner: Negates light sensitivity effects.
Possessions: Scythe, best available armor.
By level 5, the Reaper[1] build focuses on dealing massive damage with a Scythe. With feats like Power Attack and Weapon Specialization (Scythe), it maximizes attack and damage output. The ability to Intimidate consistently compensates for low Charisma via Intimidating Prowess and Skill Focus (Intimidate). This level maximizes attack strategies with Shatter Defenses, synergizing with Cornugon Smash for effective intimidation.
Stat Block Level 5:
Reaper: male, Orc Fighter 5; CR 5; Medium Humanoid (Orc); HD 5d10+10; hp 45; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +5; Grp +11; Atk Scythe +10 (2d4+15/19-20/x4); Full Atk Scythe +10 (2d4+15/19-20/x4); SA Intimidating Prowess; SQ Fighter traits, Dayrunner; AL CN; SV Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 22, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +12; Power Attack, Intimidating Prowess, Weapon Focus (Scythe), Dazzling Display, Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Skill Focus (Intimidate).
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Light Sensitivity, two-handed weapon bonuses.
Possessions: Scythe, +1 Breastplate, miscellaneous adventuring gear.
The Reaper[1] fighter build at level 10 wields a Scythe with devastating efficiency. Leveraging the Two-Handed Fighter archetype, it emphasizes immense Strength for massive damage output. With feats like Power Attack, Dazzling Display, Cornugon Smash, and Shatter Defenses, it combines brutal damage with an intimidating presence in battle. The strategy maximizes critical hits with a 19-20/x4 crit range, ignoring Damage Reduction with Penetrating Strike.
Stat Block Level 10:
Reaper: male, Orc Fighter 10; CR 10; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 10d10+30; hp 95; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 10, flat-footed 21; Base Atk +10; Grp +17; Atk Scythe +20 melee (2d4+28/19-20/x4) or Scythe; Full Atk Scythe +20/+15/+10 melee (2d4+28/19-20/x4); SA Devastating Attack, Cornugon Smash; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., Unnatural Presence; AL CE; SV Fort +12, Ref +6, Will +5; Str 22, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +18; Power Attack, Intimidating Prowess, Weapon Focus (Scythe), Dazzling Display, Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Skill Focus (Intimidate), Cornugon Smash, Shatter Defenses, Greater Weapon Focus (Scythe).
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Devastating Attack lets the fighter take a -5 penalty to auto-crit on landed attacks.
Possessions: Masterwork Scythe, Full Plate Armor, assorted adventuring gear.
This Fighter build focuses on dealing massive critical damage with a Scythe, critical threat range of 19-20/x4, enhanced by Critical feats and the Penetrating Strike. Using Power Attack maximizes damage, and Cornugon Smash provides debuffs with every hit. Weapon Mastery and Two-Handed Fighter features increase effectiveness significantly.
Stat Block Level 15:
Reaper: male, Orc Fighter 15; CR 15; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 15d10+30; hp 112; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 12, flat-footed 25; Base Atk +15; Grp +24; Atk Scythe +25 melee (2d4+36/19-20/x4) or slam +20 melee (1d4+11); Full Atk Scythe +25/+20/+15 melee (2d4+36/19-20/x4); SA Cornugon Smash, Devastating Strike -5 for auto-crit; SQ Dayrunner, Weapon Training (Heavy Blades x4), Improved Critical (Scythe); AL CE; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +9; Str 27, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +23; Power Attack, Intimidating Prowess, Weapon Focus (Scythe), Dazzling Display, Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Skill Focus (Intimidate), Cornugon Smash, Shatter Defenses, Greater Weapon Focus (Scythe), Improved Critical (Scythe), Disruptive, Toughness, Greater Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Penetrating Strike, Deadly Stroke, Critical Focus.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Devastating Strike, Penetrating Strike ignores DR.
Possessions: Masterwork Scythe, Full Plate Armor +2, Belt of Giant Strength +4, Cloak of Resistance +3.
The Reaper[1] build is a powerhouse with a scythe, dealing devastating critical hits thanks to the Two-Handed Fighter Archetype. With a 25 point buy setup, the Orc Fighter exploits high Strength to deliver 10d4+240 damage on confirmed crits, thanks to increasing crit multipliers and melee enhancements. Leveraging feats like Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, and Shatter Defenses, the fighter intimidates enemies with ease, leaving them vulnerable to his relentless assaults.
Stat Block Level 20:
The Reaper[1]: male, Orc Fighter 20; CR 20; Medium humanoid (orc); HD 20d10+80; hp 190; Init +8; Spd 30 ft.; AC 25, touch 16, flat-footed 25; Base Atk +20; Grp +31; Atk +23 melee (2d4+48/19-20/x5, Scythe) or +18 melee; Full Atk +23/+18/+13/+8 melee (2d4+48/19-20/x5, Scythe); SA Devastating Attack, Shatter Defenses, Stunning Critical; SQ Dayrunner, Weapon Mastery, Unnatural Presence; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +20, Ref +6, Will +6; Str 27, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Intimidate +33; Power Attack, Intimidating Prowess, Weapon Focus (Scythe), Dazzling Display, Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Skill Focus (Intimidate), Cornugon Smash, Shatter Defenses, Greater Weapon Focus (Scythe), Improved Critical (Scythe), Disruptive, Toughness, Greater Weapon Specialization (Scythe), Penetrating Strike, Deadly Stroke, Critical Focus, Greater Penetrating Strike, Staggering Critical, Stunning Critical, Tiring Critical, Exhausting Critical.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Devastating Attack allows -5 Attack for autocrit; Weapon Mastery ensures crits are confirmed and add +1 to crit multiplier.
Possessions: Scythe and the best magical and protective armor available.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: At these levels, establish your foundational feats with Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Scythe), and Intimidating Prowess. You’ll enhance your initiative with Reactionary, bolster intimidate checks with Intimidating Prowess, and start intimidating enemies easily.
- Levels 6-10: Expand your offensive capabilities with feats like Cornugon Smash to synergize with Power Attack and Shatter Defenses to exploit enemy weaknesses. Also, improve your attack rolls and critical range with Greater Weapon Focus (Scythe) and Improved Critical.
- Levels 11-15: Focus on penetrating tough defenses with Penetrating Strike, and increase your critical damage with feats like Deadly Stroke and Critical Focus. You’ll further boost your intimidate skills with Skill Focus (Intimidate).
- Levels 16-20: Reach peak performance with Greater Penetrating Strike and access a suite of debilitating critical feats including Stunning, Tiring, and Exhausting Criticals. With Weapon Mastery, your scythe becomes unparalleled, allowing auto-crit and critical confirmation, dramatically increasing your damage output.
Core Abilities & Features
The Fighter archetype in Pathfinder 1E offers significant flexibility, but the Reaper[1] build stands out for those who crave unmatched damage output. The essence of this build lies in its strategic focus on maximizing Strength and leveraging the Two-Handed Fighter Archetype, a pathway that unlocks devastating potential with every swing of the scythe. The Reaper[1] is designed to be an unyielding force in melee with Orc as the chosen race, capitalizing on its +4 Strength bonus and offsetting its Light Sensitivity with the Dayrunner trait.
The Reaper[1]’s capacity for raw power is further supplemented by a deliberately crafted ability score configuration. All resources funnel into Strength, achieving a monumental 22 at character creation. This build isn’t just about pure muscle; its tactical trait choices, like Reactionary and Unnatural Presence, offer swift initiative and intimidation advantages, crucial in controlling the flow of battle. Even with limited skill allocation, the singular focus on Intimidate ensures that enemies cower at the Reaper[1]’s fearsome presence.
Equipped with a scythe, the Reaper[1] transforms into a harbinger of doom thanks to an array of feats meticulously selected for crit-maximizing synergy. The build taps into feats such as Power Attack and Cornugon Smash, ensuring that every hit has the potential to stagger and demoralize foes. At level 20, the Reaper[1] boasts a staggering +23 attack bonus and deals 2d4+48 damage per attack before enhancements. With critical hits auto-confirmed, courtesy of Weapon Mastery, the Reaper[1] pushes its damage output even further, turning a critical strike into a cataclysmic blow with a potential total of 10d4+240 damage. This specialization makes the Reaper[1] a nearly unstoppable executioner in any campaign.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Masterwork Scythe | Start with Masterwork to enhance attack rolls while saving gold for magical enhancements. |
| L6-10 | +1 Keen Scythe | Upgrade to a Keen Scythe to double crit threat range to 17-20. |
| L11-15 | +2 Furious Scythe | Enhance your Scythe with the Furious property to gain extra attack bonuses when raging. |
| L16-20 | +3 Vorpal Scythe | Vorpal Scythe maximizes crit potential by adding an instant kill on a 20 roll. |
Combat Scenarios
- Dungeon Crawls:
- The narrow corridors favor your combat style. Use corners for cover, pop out to intimidate with Dazzling Display, then charge with your Scythe. Utilize Cornugon Smash for free Intimidation each time Power Attack lands, making foes less effective in tight spaces.
- Open Fields:
- Your strength shines here. Engage enemies at a distance to demonstrate prowess with Shatter Defenses. In open fields, your Critical feats and auto-confirming Crits will rack up serious damage, intimidating those at the rear with chain-reactions of fear.
- Ambushes:
- Immediate response is key. Use Intimidating Prowess even as you hit to shake off attackers. The surprise element adds thrill, but your Reactionary trait ensures a quicker draw, while the defensive capabilities of your armor mitigate ambush damage.
- Defensive Stands:
- Hold the line with your powerful build. Cornugon Smash and Critical feats work to disrupt advancing foes. Your Scythe’s wide arcs control multiple combatants simultaneously, while Tiring and Exhausting Criticals slow their assault, letting you dominate the defense.
- Urban Encounters:
- Swift action is required amidst bustling towns. Weave through crowds, using Intimidate to clear your path. Urban settings offer many opportunities to surprise foes, using buildings as cover and catching adversaries unaware with a well-placed Stunning Critical.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Low Charisma | Utilize social or magical allies to assist with diplomacy or persuasion checks. Consider magic items like the “Circlet of Persuasion” which grants a +3 competence bonus on Charisma-based checks. |
| Vulnerability to spells targeting Reflex and Will saves | Enhance saves with magic items like the “Cloak of Resistance” which adds to all saving throws, or the “Ring of Evasion” to avoid damage from spells with Reflex saves. |
| Lack of versatility in combat scenarios | Consider acquiring “Boots of Speed” for increased mobility, or invest in feats and items that allow for different types of damage like the “Elemental Fury” to bypass resistances. |
| Reliance on critical hits | Utilize magical enhancements such as the “Keen weapon” property to increase critical threat range, and carry backup weapons with consistent damage output. |
| Day-to-day survivability with low Constitution scores in some point buys | Improve survivability with a “Belt of Physical Might” which can increase both Strength and Constitution, providing a hit point buffer. |
Roleplaying
Playing the Reaper[1] build opens a treasure trove of thematic opportunities. This Orc, wielding a deadly scythe, symbolizes raw, unbridled strength. Lean into the primal nature of your character. Portray the Reaper[1] as a force of nature, an unstoppable whirlwind on the battlefield, both feared and respected.
Consider the underlying motivations that drive the Reaper[1]. Perhaps they’re a misunderstood anti hero, whose terrifying exterior masks a desire for retribution or justice. Engage in roleplay moments that allow glimpses behind their fierce facade, showing unexpected depth. Collaborate with your Dungeon Master to weave a narrative that utilizes your immense strength not only for combat prowess but for impactful storytelling as well.
FAQ
What is the Reaper[1] build in Pathfinder 1E?
The Reaper[1] is a fighter build focusing on wielding a Scythe as a deadly weapon. It’s designed to maximize damage output with critical hits using Power Attack and Cleave. The build is great for cutting through multiple enemies quickly. This style makes you a formidable combatant, perfect for front line attacks. It relies on precise strikes and devastating combos while granting massive damage if pulled off properly.
How effective is the Reaper[1] at higher levels?
At higher levels, the Reaper[1]’s critical hit potential becomes extraordinary. You’ll have feats like Great Cleave and Improved Critical to increase threat ranges. With a critical multiplier of x4, damage spikes significantly. Level 20 players can expect consistent high damage per round. Gear will enhance your destructive power, like bracers of striking.
What are crucial feats for the Reaper[1] build?
Essential feats include Power Attack, Cleave, and Improved Critical for Scythe. These maximize damage and attack opportunities. Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization enhance attack and damage bonuses. Critical Focus is crucial to exploit the Scythe’s critical threat range. Adding feats like Weapon Expertise increases versatility in combat.
Why choose the Reaper[1] over other fighter builds?
The Reaper[1] is excellent for those interested in critical hit mechanics. Its Scythe specialization offers high risk-reward combat, ideal for bold players. It’s straightforward yet powerful, appealing to those who enjoy simple mechanics with complex results. The Reaper[1] excels in raw damage compared to other fighters. Its ability to sway battles with a single strike is unmatched.
How does teamwork enhance the Reaper[1] build?
The Reaper[1] thrives with a well-balanced party backing it. Healers ensure you survive prolonged combats. Tanks can draw attention, allowing you to strike from safer positions. Spellcasters provide buffs that enhance your attack power and survivability. Tactical coordination lets you exploit your high-damage capability.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the Reaper Build!
Call to Action Try playing the Reaper[1] in your next game session and see its power firsthand. Consider if you think the Reaper[1] could be the best build in Pathfinder 1E. Join our discussions on the Stellar Dragons Discord server at https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
Authors
Terms definitions
1. ↑ Fighter – The Reaper – Pathfinder 1E ( The Reaper )
The Reaper
This build was a build I wanted to play for a while for a fighter in Pathfinder. A Scythe wielding fighter that deals downright stupid amounts of damage. We will go Fighter 1-20 and will take the Two-Handed Fighter Archetype. Prepare for brutal numbers.
Class
Fighter 20
Race
We are taking Orc as we want that +4 in Strength. We will also be taking Dayrunner as Light Sensitivity.
Ability Scores
Just put everything into Strength.
15Point-Buy
Str 22/Dex 10/Con 10/Int 6/Wis 10/Cha 6
20Point-Buy
Str 22/Dex 10/Con 12/Int 6/Wis 12/Cha 6
25Point-Buy
Str 22/Dex 10/Con 14/Int 6/Wis 12/Cha 8
Traits
Reactionary for bonus to Initiative, Unnatural Presence to Intimidate Vermin and Animals.
Favored Class Bonus
Skill as we would gain no skill points otherwise.
Skill
Intimidate. That’s it. This is your sole skill. Deal with it.
Feats
1-Power Attack
Intimidating Prowess
Weapon Focus(Scythe)
3-Dazzling Display
4-Weapon Specialization(Scythe)
5-Skill Focus(Intimidate)
6-Cornugon Smash
7-Shatter Defenses
Greater Weapon Focus(Scythe)
Improved Critical(Scythe) 10-Disruptive
Toughness
Greater Weapon Specialization(Scythe) 13-Penetrating Strike
14-Deadly Stroke
15-Critical Focus
16-Greater Penetrating Strike
17-Staggering Critical
18-Stunning Critical
19-Tiring Critical
20-Exhausting Critical
Since we will always be using Power Attack, this means Cornugon Smash, Shatter Defenses every single attack and between Intimidating Prowess and Skill Focus, despite our abysmal Charisma we are Intimidating for days. With the Weapon Focus feat line, we get +2 Atk/+4 Damage, and our Scythe now has a crit range of 19-20/x4.
Penetrating Strike let us downright ignore DR.
Finally, we get various Critical feats that make our Critical Hits exceedingly deadlier (and we are already quadrupling our damage on a critical, which admittedly is only on a 19-20).
Equipment
A Scythe and the best armor you can get.
Final Thoughts on the Build
Two-Handed Fighter let us get get double our Strength bonus on damage with two handed weapons, and double instead of 1.5 Power Attack. With Weapon Training with our Scythe, a Str at lvl 20 of 27, without magic item, we are looking at an attack routine like the following:
+23/+18/+13/+8 2d4+48. All that is before any buff or magic item.
Now, thats all good and all, but combining the Two-Handed Fighter’s Devastating Attack feature lets us take a -5 to attacks to autocrit on each attacks that lands.
Remember how our Crit is x4 and all those juicy Critical Feats? Oh, I am not done yet. Weapon Mastery at lvl 20 add +1 to that crit modifier and we auto confirm our crits. So now we crit x5. So now each attack deals 10d4+240 damage. Again. Before magic items. Have fun with this 😈
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