Article-At-A-Glance
- The Gravekeeper Witch[1] synergizes Spiritualist, Barbarian for a unique melee playstyle.
- Heavy reliance on melee with spellcasting enhances versatility and combat control.
- Address weaknesses like limited AC with strategic equipment and feat selections.
- Intriguing roleplay themes enrich the character, exploring identity and spectral connections.
Click on the level for more information
At level 1, this build focuses on utilizing high strength with a Changeling race to maximize melee damage. The character begins as a Spiritualist with a Phantom Blade archetype, allowing spell combat similar to a Magus. It aims for strong perceptive abilities through the Seeker talent and increased initiative with Reactionary. Early feats include Toughness for additional hit points and Power Attack for increased damage at the cost of accuracy.
Level 1 Stat Block
Spiritualist Gravekeeper Witch: female, Changeling Spiritualist (Phantom Blade) 1; CR 1/2; Medium humanoid (changeling); HD 1d8+2; hp 10; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +0; Grp +3; Atk Scythe +3 melee (2d4+4, x4) or Phantom Fist +0 melee (1d6+3); Full Atk Scythe +3 melee (2d4+4, x4) or Phantom Fist +0 melee (1d6+3); SA Spell Combat; SQ Phantom Blade, Strengthened Fist; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +0, Will +3; Str 16, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Perception +4 (1 rank), Spellcraft +4 (1 rank); Toughness, Power Attack.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Spell Combat (can cast spell and attack simultaneously with penalty), Phantom Blade (magical weapon that can be dismissed and summoned), Strengthened Fist (treats fists as weapons for phantom blade purposes).
Possessions:
Medium armor, scythe, basic adventuring gear.
At level 5, the Gravekeeper Witch[1] build is a potent melee combatant with a penchant for high damage and some utility spells. Utilizing the Titan Mauler Barbarian multiclass and Phantom Blade archetype, the character can wield a scythe in one hand and benefit from strong melee-focused feats like Power Attack and Cleave. The high Strength score boosts damage output significantly, while spells and Hexes such as Evil Eye provide debuffs.
Level 5 Stat Block
Gravekeeper Witch: female, Changeling Spiritualist 4/Barbarian 1; CR 5; Medium humanoid (changeling); HD 5d10+10; hp 42; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +4; Grp +8; Atk +9 melee (scythe, 2d4+6) or +5 melee (fist, 1d3+4); Full Atk +9 melee (scythe, 2d4+6) or +5/+5 melee (fist, 1d3+4); SA Raging, Cleave, Power Attack; SQ Spiritualist spellcasting, Phantom Blade, Rage, Hex (Evil Eye), Wild Empathy, Spellstrike, Spellcombat; AL CN; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +6; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Perception +10, Knowledge (Planes) +8, Spellcraft +8; Toughness, Power Attack, Cleave.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Phantom Blade allows for unique spell combat and spell strike abilities akin to a Magus; during Rage, gains a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution, with a -2 penalty to AC.
Possessions:
Scythe, best available medium armor, spell component pouch.
At level 10, the Gravekeeper Witch[1] is a versatile melee powerhouse. With the combination of Titan Mauler Barbarian and Spiritualist, wield a scythe one-handed thanks to the Phantom Blade archetype. Capable of spell combat and spellstrike akin to a Magus, the build excels in stealth with at-will invisibility and delivers devastating blow with Improved Vital Strike and Cerberus Style. The Hulking Changeling trait boosts melee damage, making them formidable in both physical and magical confrontations.
Level 10 Stat Block
Gravekeeper Witch: Female, Changeling Spiritualist 8/Barbarian 2; CR 9; Medium humanoid (changeling); HD 8d8+2d12; hp 56; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +8; Grp +11; Atk Scythe +14 (1d6+5/×4) or Phantom Blade (as longsword) +14 (1d8+5/19–20); Full Atk Scythe +14/+9 (1d6+5/×4) and Phantom Blade +14/+9 (1d8+5/19–20); SA Spell Combat, Spellstrike, Vital Strike; SQ Phantom Blade, At-will Invisibility, Rage 1/day, Seeker of Secrets; AL Chaotic Neutral; SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +11; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Perception +12, Knowledge (Planes) +10, Spellcraft +10; Toughness, Patron (Woodlands), Power Attack, Cleave, Evil Eye (Hex), Cerberus Style.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Phantom Blade allows spell combat and spellstrike, capable of using a weapon one-handed while raging; Mortal Usher prestige abilities include at-will invisibility and being friends with Psychopomps.
Possessions:
Scythe, Cerberus Style feat set, best medium armor available, Plague Doctor Mask.
The Gravekeeper Witch[1] shines at level 15. This build uses Spiritualist, Barbarian, and Mortal Usher classes with variant Witch multiclassing. It excels in melee combat with high damage output from a scythe, boosted by Power Attack, Improved Vital Strike, and Cerberus Style, offering two-handed usage with the Titan Mauler archetype. The character also possesses a Phantom Blade, allowing Spell Combat and Spellstrike, multiple Hexes and self-buffing abilities. Defensive options include invisibility and mobility from spells like Fly and Dimension Door.
Level 15 Stat Block
Gravekeeper Witch: female, Changeling Spiritualist 8/Barbarian 2/Mortal Usher 5; CR 15; Medium humanoid (changeling); HD 15d8+15; hp 97; Init +5; Spd 30 ft.; AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +10; Grp +13; Atk scythe +18 (6d4+25d6+21) or phantom fists +15 (1d6+5); Full Atk scythe +18/+13 (6d4+25d6+21) or phantom fists +15/+10 (1d6+5); SA Power Attack, Vital Strike, Phantom Blade; SQ phantom blade, spell combat, spellcasting, hexes (Evil Eye, Cackle), rage; AL CN; SV Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +13; Str 18, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Perception +20, Knowledge (Planes) +15, Spellcraft +15; Toughness, Power Attack, Cleave, Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, Cerberus Style, Cerberus Snare, Cerberus Crush.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Spellstrike with phantom blade, at-will invisibility, and familiar benefit.
Possessions:
Scythe, Medium armor, various potions (Fly, Cure Moderate Wounds).
This Gravekeeper Witch build excels in delivering massive melee damage with both Phantom Blades and fists. Utilizing a combination of Witch Hexes, Cerberus Style, and Mortal Usher abilities, the character can deliver high damage and control the battlefield. With at-will invisibility and a Plague Doctor Mask from the Mortal Usher Prestige Class, it supports stealth and reconnaissance missions effectively.
Level 20 Stat Block
Gravekeeper Witch: female, Changeling Spiritualist 8/Barbarian 2/Mortal Usher 10; CR 20; Medium humanoid (changeling); HD 8d8+2d12+10d8+60; hp 186; Init +6; Spd 30 ft.; AC 26, touch 13, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +15; Grp +22; Atk Scythe +27 melee (6d4+13) or Phantom Blade +27 melee (6d4+13) or Fists +23 melee (6d4+13); Full Atk Scythe +27/+22/+17 melee (6d4+13) or Phantom Blade +27/+22/+17 melee (6d4+13) or Fists +23/+18/+13 melee (6d4+13); SA Spell Combat, Spellstrike, Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, Cerberus Crush; SQ Phantom Blade, Rage, At-will Invisibility, Hex (Evil Eye, Cackle, Animal Shape); AL N; SV Fort +18, Ref +11, Will +15; Str 24, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats
Perception +25, Knowledge (Planes) +15, Knowledge (Religion) +15, Spellcraft +15; Toughness, Power Attack, Cleave, Cerberus Style, Cerberus Snare, Patron (Woodlands), Familiar, Heavy Armor Proficiency.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Phantom Blades allow Spell Combat and Spellstrike, dealing high damage with Cerberus combination; Mortal Usher grants At-Will Invisibility and interaction with Psychopomps.
Possessions:
Best quality medium armor, Phantom Blade manifested as Scythe, Plague Doctor Mask.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: Establish fundamental abilities with Spiritualist backbone. Key feats like Toughness and Power Attack increase survivability and damage output. Begins with basic spell list and focuses on the essence of the Gravekeeper Witch[1]’s spellcasting and weapon techniques.
- Levels 6-10: Significant power spike with the acquisition of Cerberus Style allowing for multiple engagements. Spell options expand to include significant utility and offensive spells like Haste. The switch to a Titan Mauler Barbadian favors larger weapons and integrates rage for enhanced combat prowess.
- Levels 11-15: Integration with Mortal Usher grants unique and flavorful abilities such as At Will Invisibility and advanced spellcasting capabilities featuring Instantaneous movement and battlefield control. Strength in melee through Improved Vital Strike complements powerful spells that hamper foes.
- Levels 16-20: Ultimate form of the Gravekeeper Witch[1] with access to the strongest spells and riveting Hex features, rounding out the character. Heavy Armor Proficiency merges defense with a prominent offensive approach with increased damage potential on multiple targets, establishing the character in its complete glory.
Core Abilities & Features
The Gravekeeper Witch[1] Blend: This Pathfinder 1E build brings a unique mix of abilities combining the Spiritualist, Barbarian, and Mortal Usher with a Variant Multiclass from Witch. The Phantom Blade Archetype allows players to manifest a sentient weapon while retaining the ability to cast spells, much like a Magus. However, this build focuses on melee damage and combat versatility, enhanced further with Barbarian’s Titan Mauler Archetype. You wield a phantasmic scythe one-handed, or use your fists to take advantage of the Cerberus Fighting Style.
Core Class Structure: The build has a structured class progression: Spiritualist 8/Barbarian 2/Mortal Usher 10. The Changeling race, particularly the Hulking Changeling trait, enhances melee prowess with added Strength. Core ability scores prioritize Wisdom and Strength, with configurations for different point-buys illuminating how to specialize this build. The use of Seeker and Reactionary talents enhances Perception and Initiative, capitalizing on early combat advantages.
Feats and Combat Style: The Gravekeeper Witch[1] employs a clever selection of feats. Power Attack and Cleave increase damage potential, while the Cerberus Style Feat Chain allows multi-target close combat maneuvers. Despite the build’s focus on melee, Witch Hexes like Evil Eye and Cackle provide crucial debuffs and crowd control. Defensive measures include Toughness and a favored class bonus dedicated to Hit Points due to weaker AC, aligning with the combat-focused playstyle.
Mortal Usher and Additional Skills: The Mortal Usher Prestige Class offers flavorful abilities such as At Will Invisibility, impeccable for scouting. Partnerships with psychopomps and the thematic Plague Doctor Mask fuse roleplay elements with gameplay mechanics. Knowledge of Planes, Religion, and Spellcraft are key skills supplemented by this varied class mix. These lend the character a well-rounded ability to combat diverse challenges beyond mere melee.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Masterwork Longsword | Use this before obtaining a Scythe for balanced attack and damage rolls. Enhances early combat ability alongside Phantom Blade. |
| L6-10 | Phantom Blade | This sentient weapon embodies your spiritual energy, enabling Spell Combat and Spellstrike. Shift appearance to a Scythe when feasible. |
| L11-15 | +2 Mithral Breastplate | Optimal medium armor provides necessary protection without hinderance. Enables higher Dexterity bonus. |
| L16-20 | +3 Phantom Blade | Enhance your weapon’s capabilities for increased damage output and efficiency in battle. |
Combat Scenarios
- Dungeon Crawls:
- Use your Phantom Blade for Spell Combat, giving you flexibility in tight spaces. Utilize Invisibility to scout ahead, minimizing risk. Apply debuffs with Hexes to manage clustered foes, especially in corridors.
- Open Fields:
- Leverage your high Strength and Power Attack alongside Vital Strike to maximize damage. With Cerberus Style, handle multiple foes from a distance. Your scythe’s range plays well here, thinning enemies before they close in.
- Ambushes:
- Activate Rage to swiftly retaliate. Use At-Will Invisibility to reposition tactically or strike unsuspecting enemies. Employ Hexes like Cackle to create chaos amongst the attackers, gaining the upper hand.
- Defensive Stands:
- Focus on sustainability by maximizing your Hit Points. Utilize your spells like Shield and Cure Light Wounds to bolster defenses. The Mortal Usher class abilities provide formidable resilience against aggressors.
- Urban Encounters:
- Capitalizing on mobility with Dimension Door, you can reposition in dense environments. Use spells for crowd control, like Obscuring Mist, while relying on Hexes such as Evil Eye to weaken city adversaries.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Low Armor Class (AC) | Invest in the best Medium armor available. Consider acquiring Bracers of Armor (+X) to boost AC. |
| Low Constitution | Prioritize the Toughness feat early to increase hit points. Investing in a Belt of Mighty Constitution could also help bolster HP. |
| Weapon Dependency for Spellstrike | Ensure your Phantom Blade is attuned and enhance it with a weapon crystal like a Crystal of Returning for versatility. |
| Reliance on Strength | Use the Belt of Giant Strength to boost melee attacks and damage, maintaining high effectiveness in combat. |
| Vulnerability to Hex Counters | Prepare spells like Protection from Evil and use Hexproof gear to prevent hexes from being dispelled or countered. |
Roleplaying the Gravekeeper Witch
Opportunities & Themes
Navigating the life of a Gravekeeper Witch opens up a world teeming with intriguing roleplaying angles. This character, a hulking changeling with a Phantom Blade, weaves spells with a unique style. Imagine a twilight graveyard scene, the Witch standing stoically, the scythe glinting ominously as ominous chants roll off her tongue.
Adopted by a true Gravekeeper, her upbringing amuses specters and frightens mortals. Put yourself in her shoes, torn between spectral guidance and mortal companions. Are you haunted by past students of the grave? How do you react to these influences on quests?
Morality and Complexity
Being a changeling, her very nature questions identity. The Mortal Usher prestige adds layers of complexity, as she taps into shadowy realms to further veil her intentions. Her ability to slip between the lines of morality, owing to her bond with psychopomps, adds gray areas for deep ethical debates.
During encounters, use your Barbarian’s rage to heighten the drama. Picture the Witch raging mid-battle, her scythe slicing through foes as whispers from the beyond embolden her. Is she channeling grief from the departed or rendering justice?
FAQ
What makes the Gravekeeper Witch[1] unique in Pathfinder 1E builds?
The Gravekeeper Witch[1] combines the Spiritualist, Barbarian, and Mortal Usher classes. This blend offers melee versatility with spellcasting abilities, using a phantasmic scythe. The build focuses on damage output and crowd control through Witch Hexes and Barbarian’s rage. Its uniqueness lies in the mix of physical prowess and mystical abilities, making it both flexible and formidable.
How should I allocate ability scores for the Gravekeeper Witch[1]?
Prioritize Wisdom and Strength for casting and melee. Allocating points here enhances your spell effectiveness and melee damage. Constitution is next, for overall durability in combat. Dexterity helps, but it can be lower if armor compensates. Balance the rest for combat versatility and sustainability.
What are the best feats for maximizing the Gravekeeper Witch[1]’s abilities?
Power Attack is crucial for increasing melee damage. Cleave helps in handling multiple foes swiftly, and Cerberus Style enhances close combat prowess. Toughness provides additional hit points for survivability. Hex-related feats improve your spell efficacy and crowd control. Choose equipment that complements these feats for maximum synergy.
How can roleplaying enhance the Gravekeeper Witch[1] experience?
Embrace the cryptic and mystical aspects of the Gravekeeper Witch[1]. Use your connection with spirits and undead for intriguing character arcs. Engage with NPCs using your changeling identity for moral and ethical dilemmas. Incorporate roleplay elements like the Plague Doctor Mask and spiritual guidance for richer narrative experiences.
What strategies work best with the Gravekeeper Witch[1] in combat?
Utilize spell combat with your Phantom Blade for flexibility in tight spaces. Leverage Witch Hexes for debuffing, and Barbarian rage for power spikes. Position strategically using At-Will Invisibility from Mortal Usher. Use area control spells to manage groups, reserving melee for tougher opponents.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the Gravekeeper Witch!
Consider playing a Gravekeeper Witch in your next game session. Could this be the ultimate build in Pathfinder 1E? Join discussions on the Stellar Dragons Discord server: https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7
Author
Terms definitions
1. ↑ Spiritualist – The Gravekeeper Witch – Pathfinder 1E ( The Gravekeeper Witch )
The Gravekeeper Witch
And we have finally come to our third and final Witch Sister for our three builds. This sister was adopted early on by a Gravekeeper and taught her the methods of a Phantom Blade, a great Archetype that switches our Phantom for a Sentient weapon. We will multicall into Barbarian with the Titan Mauler Archetype. We will also Variant Multiclass into Witch and take the Mortal Usher Prestige Class. Our leveling should look like the following:
Class
Spiritualist 8/Barbarian 2/Mortal Usher 10 Variant Multiclass(Witch)
Race
Changeling, we will also pick the Hulking Changeling Racial Trait for more melee damage.
Ability Scores
Put everything in Strength.
15Point-Buy
Str 16/Dex 10/Con 10/Int 10/Wis 16/Cha 10
20Point-Buy
Str 17/Dex 10/Con 10/Int 10/Wis 17/Cha 10
25Point-Buy
Str 18/Dex 10/Con 12/Int 10/Wis 16/Cha 10
Talents
We wank Seeker for Perception as a Class Skill, and Reactionary for a nice bonus to Initiative
Favored Class Bonus
We are a melee character with piss poor AC and low Con. Repeat after me: Hit Points.
Skills
Perception, Knowledge(Planes and Religion), Spellcraft
Feats and Variant Multiclass by Level
1-Toughness
1-Patron(Woodlands)
3-Familiar
Bonus 3-Power Attack
5-Cleave
7-Hex(Evil Eye)
Bonus 8-Cerberus Style
9-Cerberus Style
11-Cantrip(Prestidigitation)
Bonus 11-Vital Strike
13-Cerberus Snare
15-Hex(Cackle)
Bonus 16-Improved Vital Strike
17-Cerberus Crush
19-Hex(Animal Shape)
Bonus 20-Heavy Armor Proficiency
So, we get a few very nice Hexes, and with Power Attack and the Cerberus Style combined with Vital Strike, we will deal some downright stupid damage, both with our Manifested weapon or with our Fists.
Phantom Blade
So, Phantom Blades let us Spell Combat and Spellstrike like a friggin Magus. This lets us do some crazy ass stuff. And if the Blade resides in our mind, we can punch stuff like a Monk. I love this Archetype so damned much.
Why Titan Mauler Barbarian
Because Spellstrike and Spell Combat specifically requires you to use a weapon one handed. But we really want a Scythe for roleplay purposes. So we get to use both here. Plus Rage is neat once our spells are used.
Mortal Usher
Okay, so Mortal Usher is chokeful of flavor, grants us some kickass abilities like At Will Invisibility????????
Plus we get friends with Psychopomps which is nice. Also, Plague Doctor Mask yay!
Spells Learned by Level
1-Stabilize, Bleed, Telekinetic Projectile, Detect Magic, Cure Light Wounds, Shield
2-Read Magic, Inflict Light Wounds
3-Guidance, Obscuring Mist
4-Death Knell, Cure Moderate Wounds
5-Inflict Moderate Wounds
6-See Invisibility
7-Detect Undead, Bestow Curse, Haste
10-Vampiric Touch
12-Fly
14-Touch of Idiocy, Dimension Door, Black Tentacles
16-Positive Pulse, Enervation18-Freedom of Movements
20-Blindness/Deafness, Suffocation, Telekinesis
Equipment
The best Medium armor you can get. You get your Phantom Blade from the get go anyway.
Final Thoughts on the Build
So, we get to be full witchy, deal stupid levels of damage Vampiric Touch+Scythe+Improved Vital Strike+Cerberus Style+Reaping Strike for 6d4+25d6+21 on three targets each turn, grant some great debuffs, some great buffs, some battlefield control, can be invisible at will for the best Scouting ever. And we can do all that both with a Scythe one handed(before level 10 just use a Longsword, as you can shift the Phantom Blade’s appearance), as a Whip, or with our Fists. This gets ridiculous really, really darned fast and is a massively good build. Easily one of my favorites thus far.
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