Article-At-A-Glance
- The Soul Eater[1] builds focus on maximizing dual weapon fighting and supportive spells.
- Discusses effective strategies for enhancing spells and using key abilities.
- Examines tactical roleplaying that complements group dynamics in campaigns.
- Provides insights for character leveling progression from beginner to expert.
Click on the level for more information
At level 1, the focus is on stealth and agility, using a Vishkanya’s natural skill with poisons. Equipped with kukris, the character effectively leverages Weapon Finesse for nimble strikes. Access to basic spells like Detect Psychic Significance complements early adventuring.
Stat Block Level 1:
Soul Eater[1]: Female, Vishkanya Medium (Spirit Eater) 1; CR 1/2; Medium Humanoid (Vishkanya); HD 1d8+2; hp 10; Init +3; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +0; Grp +0; Atk Kukri +3 (1d4+0/18-20) or Shuriken +3 (1d2+0); Full Atk Kukri +3 (1d4+0/18-20) or Shuriken +3 (1d2+0); SA Poison use, Spirit Consumption; SQ Ghost Touch Attacks, Toxic; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Stealth +7, Bluff +7, Knowledge (Arcana) +4, Spellcraft +4; Weapon Finesse.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Spirit Consumption to consume incorporeal targets to enhance combat abilities; Ghost Touch Attacks, all attacks considered as having Ghost Touch.
Possessions: Pair of Kukris, Chain Shirt, Shurikens.
At level 5, the Vishkanya Medium is a Spirit Eater specializing in dexterous combat with a pair of Kukris. With high Dexterity, class skills in Stealth, and feats like Weapon Finesse and Piranha Strike, the character is adept at close combat and utilizes poisons effectively. Boasting keen proficiency with shurikens, it’s a lethal and stealthy build balanced by decent Charisma for spirit related abilities.
Stat Block Level 5:
Soul Eater[1]: Female, Vishkanya Medium 5 (Spirit Eater Archetype); CR 5; Medium humanoid (reptilian); HD 5d8+10; hp 32; Init 7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15; Base Atk 3; Grp +3; Atk Kukri +7 (1d4+2/18-20) or Shuriken +7 (1d2+2); Full Atk 2 Kukris +7 (1d4+2/18-20) or 2 Shurikens +7 (1d2+2); SA Spirit Eating, Poison Use; SQ Ghost Touch Attacks, Silent Hunter; AL CN; SV Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +4; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 16.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Stealth +12, Knowledge (Arcana) +8, Knowledge (Planes) +8, Bluff +9; Weapon Finesse, Fiendish Obedience, Piranha Strike.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Spirit Eating to consume incorporeal entities to enhance power; Ghost Touch to treat all attacks as if they have the ghost touch property.
Possessions: Pair of Kukris, Chain Shirt, Shurikens, assorted poisons.
The Level 10 Soul Eater[1] build focuses on combat versatility utilizing spirit-eating abilities and Kukri expertise. Combining the Medium class’s Spirit Eater archetype with levels in the Souldrinker Prestige Class, the Vishkanya gains strengths in Dexterity and Charisma. Their attacks are bolstered by abilities like Piranha Strike and Slashing Grace, while their proficiency in poisons adds strategic depth in battle. They wield Kukris with supernatural skill, having feats like Improved Critical for increased damage potential. Combining stealth, a Cacodaemon Familiar, and potent spells like Bestow Curse and Eagle’s Splendor enhances their mid range combat effectiveness and utility.
Stat Block Level 10:
Soul Eater[1]: female, Vishkanya Medium 7/Souldrinker 3; CR 10; Medium humanoid (reptilian); HD 10d8; hp 75; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +7; Grp +9; Atk Kukri +12 (1d4+2/18-20) or Shuriken +10; Full Atk Kukri +12/+7 (1d4+2/18-20) and Kukri +12 (1d4+2/18-20) or Shuriken +10; SA Poison use, incoporeal strike, Enervation; SQ Spirit sense, familiar, ghost touch, spirit eating; AL CN; SV Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +10; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 18.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Stealth +17, Knowledge (Arcana) +10, Spellcraft +10, Bluff +13, Knowledge (Religion) +8; Weapon Finesse, Fiendish Obedience, Piranha Strike, Improved Familiar.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
The character can eat incorporeal creatures to empower themselves, using ghost touch with strikes. Familiar summons aid, enhancing their magical capabilities.
Possessions: Pair of Kukris, chain shirt, variety of poisons.
At level 15, this Soul Eater[1] Medium build excels in both melee combat with dual kukris and in debilitating opponents with enervation. Utilizing the Souldrinker abilities, they can devour incorporeal creatures to fuel powerful attacks. The build leverages high Dexterity and Charisma for combat effectiveness and spellcasting, while employing stealth and bluff for versatility. The use of poisons, improved critical, and the ability to attack as if the kukris had Ghost Touch enhances its threat. Its familiar, a Cacodaemon, provides additional tactical benefits. Charon’s soul eating powers present a unique synergy with this build’s theme and potency.
Stat Block Level 15:
Soul Eater[1]: female, Vishkanya Medium (Spirit Eater) 8/Souldrinker 10; CR 15; Medium humanoid (human); HD 8d8+7d10+45; hp 117; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +12; Grp +18; Atk +17 melee (kukri, 1d4+9/18-20/x2); Full Atk +17/+12/+7 melee (kukri, 1d4+9/18-20/x2), +17/+12 offhand (kukri, 1d4+9/18-20/x2); SA Enervation, soul-consuming strike, spirit boost; SQ Spirit eating, ghost touch, familiar (Cacodaemon), poison use, Emerald playstyle; AL Neutral Evil; SV Fort +11, Ref +13, Will +14; Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 18.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Bluff +23, Knowledge (Arcana) +10, Knowledge (Planes) +10, Spellcraft +10, Stealth +18, Knowledge (Religion) +3; Weapon Finesse, Fiendish Obedience, Piranha Strike, Great Fortitude, Improved Familiar, Two-Weapons Fighting, Weapon Focus(kukri), Slashing Grace, Improved Critical(kukri), Improved Two-Weapons Fighting, Improved Initiative.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Enervation (multiple selective targets), Ghost Touch (treat all weapons as ghostly), Cacodaemon Familiar (aids in combat, intelligence tasks), Spirit Manifestations (varied buffs/debuffs), Soul Consumption (power growth from incorporeal enemies).
Possessions: +1 Ghost Touch kukris, +2 chain shirt, poisons (various), and essential spell components.
This build focuses on eating Incorporeal creatures to enhance combat abilities. Combining Spirit Eater archetype with the Souldrinker Prestige Class results in a character with potent soul eating capabilities and formidable combat prowess. The Vishkanya race adds a unique dimension with poison related abilities. Equipped with Kukris for high damage output using feats like Weapon Finesse and Slashing Grace. A Cacodaemon Familiar offers additional utility. Enervation is a key strategy for rapid creature elimination.
Stat Block Level 20:
Soul Eater[1]: female, Vishkanya Medium 10/Souldrinker 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (poisonous); HD 20d8; hp 180; Init +7; Spd 30 ft.; AC 24, touch 16, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +15; Grp +17; Atk Kukri +25 melee (1d4+8/15-20) or Shuriken +22 ranged (1d2+4 plus poison); Full Atk 2 Kukris +23/+18/+13 melee (1d4+8/15-20) and +23/+18/+13 melee (1d4+8/15-20); SA Spirit Eating, Enervation, Incorporeal eating; SQ Ghost Touch, Poison Use, Darkvision 60 ft, Vishkanya traits, Improved Familiar; AL CE; SV Fort +14, Ref +15, Will +17; Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 18.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Knowledge(Arcana) +20, Knowledge(Planes) +20, Spellcraft +20, Stealth +26, Bluff +23; Weapon Finesse, Fiendish Obedience, Piranha Strike, Great Fortitude, Improved Familiar, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus(Kukri), Slashing Grace, Improved Critical(Kukri), Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Initiative.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Spirit Eating allows for the consumption of Incorporeal creatures, providing boosts to enhancements; Enervation allows rapid weakening and elimination of targets. Ghost Touch applies to all attacks, allowing hits on incorporeal creatures.
Possessions: Magical Kukris, Chain Shirt, assorted poisons, Shurikens, items for spellcasting focus.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: Begin the journey as a Medium (Spirit Eater). Focus on Dexterity with Weapon Finesse. Select Silent Hunter to improve stealth, and Reactionary to boost initiative. Learn basic spells like Detect Magic and Detect Psychic Significance to start honing your arcane senses. Develop combat skills with Weapon Finesse and enhance versatility with Fiendish Obedience.
- Levels 6-10: Transition into the Souldrinker Prestige Class. Acquire Two-Weapon Fighting to wield double kukris effectively. Improve resilience with Great Fortitude. Gain an Improved Familiar, ideally a Cacodaemon, increasing tactical options. Enhance arcane talents with spells like Augury and Bestow Curse, adding layers to your combat strategy.
- Levels 11-15: Focus on maximizing damage output with Weapon Focus (Kukri) and Slashing Grace. Develop keen combat acumen with Improved Critical (Kukri). Acquire potent mobility spells such as Fly and Haste, providing vital battlefield agility. Explore deeper arcane insights with Dream and Divination, allowing strategic foresight in encounters.
- Levels 16-20: Finalize Medium (Spirit Eater) development for potent spirit abilities. Strengthen attack capabilities with Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and increase responsiveness with Improved Initiative. Master higher-level spells, including Invisibility and Glimpse of Truth for stealth and strategic dominance. Utilize Enervation tactically, quickly finishing off weakened enemies.
Core Abilities & Features
The Soul Eater[1] build brilliantly combines the Spirit Eater archetype with the Souldrinker prestige class, crafting a character that thrives on consuming incorporeal creatures to enhance its own power. The inherent Ghost Touch capability on all attacks ensures that this build can effectively target otherwise elusive foes, making it particularly formidable in encounters with ghosts and similar entities.
The Vishkanya race selection augments the build’s capabilities with its natural affinity for poisons. Dexterity is maximized for this build, emphasizing agility and precise attacks, while Charisma supports the Medium’s abilities and supernatural presence. This focus on Dexterity dovetails with vital feats such as Weapon Finesse and Slashing Grace, allowing the character to deftly wield Kukris with deadly efficiency.
Strategically, the choice of feats solidifies the character’s role in combat. From Piranha Strike for added damage to Two-Weapon Fighting for maximizing attack opportunities with Kukris, the build ensures high damage output. Improved Critical further amplifies this by increasing the chances of critical hits. The additional layer of a Cacodaemon Familiar provides support and versatility in the form of auxiliary actions and potential for strategic maneuvers.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Kukris | A pair of kukris allows for high critical hit potential, enhanced by Weapon Focus and Improved Critical feats. |
| L6-10 | Mithral Chain Shirt | Upgraded armor option providing better protection with less encumbrance, further benefiting Dex based abilities. |
| L11-15 | Boots of Speed | Boosts initiative and speed, allowing for faster repositioning and improved combat effectiveness. |
| L16-20 | Belt of Physical Perfection | Increases physical stats such as Dex, enhancing overall combat effectiveness and survivability. |
Combat Scenarios
- Dungeon Crawls:
- With Stealth and Kukris, you disable enemies quietly. Spells like Silent Image redirect foes.
- Open Fields:
- Use Invisibility to close distance, then attack with Piranha Strike and Slashing Grace. Kukris grant critical hits.
- Ambushes:
- Boost Stealth with Silent Hunter. When enemies approach, unleash Enervation and follow with rapid Kukri strikes.
- Defensive Stands:
- Summon Spirit Aid to bolster defenses and retaliate with spells like Bestow Curse. Position to control chokepoints.
- Urban Encounters:
- Blend with crowds using Disguise and Bluff. When combat begins, use Close-Quarter Fighting tactics with improved criticals and high Dexterity.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Low Strength | Utilize Enervation for debuffing enemies. Pair with poisons to maximize impact from a distance. |
| Weak Against Protection from Evil | Include Dispel Magic as a prepared spell or item (e.g., Wand of Dispel Magic) to remove these protections. |
| Reliance on Incorporeal Creatures | Work closely with the GM to ensure appropriate encounters or utilize capture spells like Soul Bind to store and use souls tactically. |
| Poison Dependency | Craft or buy poisons with high DCs and consider using Alchemical Allocation from another caster to get additional uses from rare poisons. |
| Lack of Healing | Stockpile potions such as Cure Moderate Wounds or invest in a Wand of Cure Light Wounds for emergencies. |
Roleplaying
The Soul Eater[1] Medium offers thrilling opportunities to embody a unique character type. Imagine, for example, you’re Khazan, a Vishkanya with an enigmatic presence and fearsome reputation. Khazan thrives in the shadows, leveraging their ghost touching prowess. Roleplay the unpredictability of living between worlds, where spirits are both sustenance and companions.
Themes of duality and inner conflict can be rich narrative fodder. This character walks a fine line between life and the spectral realm. Consider scenarios where Khazan absorbs incorporeal spirits; each encounter adds layers to their character. Revisiting religious influences from Khazan’s past can enhance your genre immersion. Vishkanya’s mystical charm creates diverse interactions, enhancing Khazan’s mysterious allure. Ultimately, the Soul Eater[1] embodies scare tactics and intricate labyrinths of moral complexity, delight in their nuance and potential for deception.
FAQ
What are the core abilities of the Soul Eater[1]?
The Soul Eater[1] specializes in consuming the souls of their enemies for power. They can drain this energy to enhance their strength or weaken foes. Skills like Soul Drain and Spectral Hand are staples. Master these abilities to adapt to any battle condition.
How should I develop my Medium for a Soul Eater[1] build?
Focus on excelling at soul manipulation. At levels 1-5, bolster your spirit linking skills. From levels 6-10, enhance your mastery over power releasing techniques. Diversify with abilities like Ghostly Grasp to complement attacks, ensuring you can handle diverse challenges.
What role does a Soul Eater[1] play in a party?
A Soul Eater[1] acts as a disruptor and powerhouse. They drain energies from enemies, limiting foe abilities while boosting allies. Their skills work best against enemy spellcasters. Position your Soul Eater[1] correctly to maximize their potential.
What equipment is essential for a Soul Eater[1] early game?
Early on, prioritize items that enhance defensive capabilities and necromantic skills. Seek a Cloak of Resistance for defense. Consider an Amulet that boosts spell efficacy. As you progress, items like a Potion of Grave Soul further empower soul manipulation.
How do I roleplay a Soul Eater[1] effectively?
Roleplaying a Soul Eater[1] involves embracing a darker narrative. Your motivations often revolve around power and control. Consider your character’s backstory as a spirit manipulator. Do they hoard power or seek ultimate knowledge? Integrate this into your interactions with NPCs.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the Soul Eater!
Try playing a Soul Eater[1] in your next game and see the thrill of energy control firsthand! Join discussions at the Stellar Dragons Discord server at https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
Authors
Terms definitions
1. ↑ Medium – Soul Eater – Pathfinder 1E ( Soul Eater )
Soul Eater
So, a certain archetype of the Medium is the Spirit Eater. It…pretty much does what it says on the tin. You eat Incorporeal creatures to fuel your abilities. You also consider all your attacks as if they had Ghost Touch. Now what if we were to combine that with, say, the Souldrinker Prestige Class?
Our leveling should look like the following:
Class
Medium (Spirit Eater) 7/Souldrinker 10/Medium (Spirit Eater)+3
Race
We are going for a Vishkanya, who are Pathfinder’s not Yuan-Ti we swear wink wink. They get a bunch of poison related stuff which is fun and will play into what we will try to achieve here.
Ability Scores
Increase Dex to 20, the rest goes into Charisma.
15Point-Buy
Str 10/Dex 16/Con 14/Int 10/Wis 8/Cha 16
20Point-Buy
Str 10/Dex 16/Con 14/Int 10/Wis 8/Cha 18
25Point-Buy
Str 10/Dex 18/Con 14/Int 10/Wis 8/Cha 18
Traits
We want Silent Hunter to get Stealth as a Class Skill, and Reactionary is always good.
Favored Class Bonus
We are going for Skills. Yeah, wack. I know.
Skills
So we will need Knowledge(Arcana and Planes), and Spellcraft. We also want Stealth. Lastly we need at least 3 ranks in Knowledge(Religion), but after that, take Bluff and max it out.
Feats by Level
1-Weapon Finesse
3-Fiendish Obedience
5-Piranha Strike
7-Great Fortitude
Bonus 8-Improved Familiar
9-Two-Weapons Fighting
11-Weapon Focus(Kukri)
13-Slashing Grace
15-Improved Critical(Kukri)
17-Improved Two-Weapons Fighting
19-Improved Initiative
We are using a pair of Kukris(which we are automatically proficient in as a Vishkanya) with actually great efficacy between Weapon Finesse, Slashing Grace, Piranha Strike and Improved Critical, for some surprising amounts of damage capability. We also get a Cacodaemon Familiar and of course, as usual, familiars are really, really good.
Spells Learned by Level
1-Detect Psychic Significance, Detect Magic
2-Dancing Lights
3-Stabilize
4-Psychic Readings, Wizened Appearance
5-Ghost Sounds, Ventriloquism
6-Silent Image
7-Prestidigitation, Augury, Bestow Curse
9-Detect Thoughts
10-Oneiric Horror, Eagle’s Splendor
11-Divination, Dream
12-Scrying
13-Object Reading, Haste, Fly
14-Invoke Deity, True Seeing
15-Thoughtsense
16-Invisibility, Glimpse of Truth, Dream Council
19-Hollow Heroism, Nightmare
Equipment
A Pair of Kukris and a Chain Shirt will do. You are proficient with Shurikens which can be great to apply poisons at a distance. Also, invest in poisons.
Final Thoughts on the Build
You can Enervation people a lot. Like. A lot. And Enervation kills creatures really, really fast. Add to that your Spirits which you still get access to, the fact that you can eat Incorporeal Creatures to boost your combat abilities even further. You are actually surprisingly terrifying in Combat. Of the four Horsemen, I highly recommend you pick Charon for its various soul eating abilities which are quite thematic.
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