PF2 Classes: Optimization Handbooks for Pathfinder 2e – RPGBOT (2024)

Classes are the mechanical heart of characters in Pathfinder 2e, defining your characters’ advancement, their capabilities, and the majority of their feats. Understanding how to build and play a class effectively is the most important part of building an effective character.

The handbooks listed below include those written prior to the Pathfinder 2e Remaster. These handbooks are left in place for players using pre-remaster content. For information on moving from legacy content to remaster content, see our transition guide.

Table of Contents

  • Classes
    • Alchemist
    • Barbarian
    • Bard
    • Champion
    • Cleric
    • Druid
    • Fighter
    • Gunslinger
    • Inventor
    • Investigator
    • Kineticist
    • Magus
    • Monk
    • Oracle
    • Psychic
    • Ranger
    • Rogue
    • Sorcerer
    • Summoner
    • Swashbuckler
    • Thaumaturge
    • Witch
    • Wizard

Classes

Alchemist

Uncontested masters of alchemical items, alchemists can create free, high-level alchemical items using a daily pool of Infused Reagents, allowing them to create powerful items like bombs, mutagens, and poisons which would normally be too expensive or impractical to use, and use them either offensively or to empower the party.

  • Alchemist Handbook (Legacy)
  • Alchemist Research Fields Breakdown (Legacy)

Barbarian

An aggresive melee-focused martial character, barbarians are built around their Rage feature to boost their effectiveness in combat.

  • Barbarian Handbook (Legacy)
  • Remastered Warpriest Cleric Example Build

Bard

Occult spellcasters often associated with magic, bards are skilled at supporting their party and overwhelming their foes using a combination of spellcasting and Composition Cantrips which allow them to produce various effects, such as buffing the party with Inspire Courage.

  • Bard Handbook (Legacy)

Champion

Divine warriors with more of a martial focus than fighters. Champions have the best armor proficiency in the game, making them extremely durable, and their Champion’s Reaction feature allows them to protect allies and harass foes. Each champion subclass is associated with a specific alignment.

  • Champion Handbook (Legacy)

Cleric

Divine spellcasters that draw their power directly from a deity. Channel Energy gives you a pool of addition Heal or Harm slots which can stretch your limited number of spell slots, and you can get Focus Spells from your domain, providing a variety of ways for the Cleric to function. Clerics get to choose between the casting-focused Cloistered Cleric or the armed and armored Warpriest, then further customize by picking a deity and domains offered by that deity.

  • Cleric Handbook (Legacy)
  • Domains Breakdown (Legacy)
  • Cleric Deities Breakdown (Legacy)

Druid

The iconic Primal spellcaster, druids can focus on spellcasting, on having a powerful animal companion, or on using Wild Shape to turn into various combat form.

  • Druid Handbook (Legacy)
  • Practical Guide to Wild Shape (Legacy)

Fighter

The iconic martial character, the Fighter is deeply customizable and capable of maximizing the benefits of nearly any weapon. They notably gain proficiency with Advanced weapons without jumping through massive hoops and also have the beast weapon proficiency progression in the game, meaning that they crit frequently and have higher damage output than you might expect.

  • Remastered
    • Fighter Handbook
    • Fighter Ancestries and Heritages Breakdown
    • Fighter Feats Breakdown
  • Fighter Handbook (Legacy)

Gunslinger

Master of firearms and crossbows, gunslingers can feel somewhat similar to a fighter, but their ability to use firearms and crossbows to great effect makes them unique and exciting.

  • Gunslinger Handbook (Legacy)

Inventor

Take PF2’s complex item mechanics and make them even more engaging. The Inventory builds around on piece of equipment (or a pet robot) and gradually improves it as they gain levels.

  • Inventor Handbook (Legacy)
  • Inventor Innovations Breakdown (Legacy)

Investigator

Outside of combat, the Investigator pursues one or more ongoing cases, and gets clues and bonuses when working toward solving them. They also get more skill increases than most classes, allowing them to fill a variety of skill-based rolls. In combat, the Investigator’s Devise a Stratagem feature allows them to apply their intellect in combat.

  • Investigator Handbook (Legacy)

Kineticist

Masters of the elements, the Kineticist channels elemental power in a variety of ways. Depending on your choices of elements and Impulses, Kineticists can play very differently, ranging from durable Defender builds to high-damage Blaster builds. While their capabilities often feel like spells, they have neither spell slots nor Focus Points to worry about, allowing them to use their abilities freely without rest.

  • Kineticist Handbook
  • Kineticist Ancestries and Heritages Breakdown
  • Kineticist Class Feats Breakdown

Magus

Live your fantasy of hitting someone with a lightning bolt a sword at the same time. The Magus blends arcane spellcasting and martial prowess in one class and can deliver spells through their weapon attacks using the Spellstrike feature.

  • Magus Handbook (Legacy)
  • Hybrid Study Breakdown (Legacy)

Monk

Inspired by real-world martials arts traditions, the Monk is adept at fighting unarmored. Their system of stances allows you to adopt different play styles, making each monk feel exciting and distinct. Among other options, high-level monks can essentially go Super Saiyan, so anime references are not unfounded.

  • Monk Handbook (Legacy)

Oracle

Divine spellcasters who also bear a powerful curse which increases in severity as you use your Focus Spells. Managing the curse is a significant part of the Oracle’s gameplay, but it creates an exciting resource loop that makes the Oracle feel very unique alongside other spellcasters.

  • Oracle Handbook (Legacy)
  • Mysteries Breakdown (Legacy)

Psychic

Occult spellcasters mostly focused on using Focus Points to “Amp” their cantrips. They feel very different from other spellcasters and have fewer spell slots, but they’re not less exciting.

  • Psychic Handbook (Legacy)
  • Conscious Minds Breakdown (Legacy)
  • Psychic Subconscious Minds Breakdown (Legacy)

Ranger

Skilled explorers and monster hunters, rangers are diverse and capable. They can be built around Snares (single-use disposable traps), around supporting their party, or around making a huge number of attacks.

  • Ranger Handbook (Legacy)

Rogue

The iconic sneak, scoundrel, assassin, and thief. Rogues get more skills than any other class except the Investigator, and their Sneak Attack features allows them to deal extra damage by capitalizing on enemies being Off-Guard (Flat-footed pre-Remaster) in combat.

  • Rogue Handbook (Legacy)

Sorcerer

Sorcerers draw their magic from a magical bloodline which determines both your spellcasting tradition and some additional available spells and Focus Spells. Among other exciting things, the Sorcerer gets more spell slots than other spellcasters.

  • Sorcerer Handbook (Legacy)
  • Sorcerer Bloodlines Breakdown (Legacy)

Summoner

The ultimate pet class, the Summoner bonds you to a magical creature called an Eidolon which you customize as you gain levels. It’s like build-a-bear if build-a-bear let you build a dragon.

  • Summoner Handbook (Legacy)
  • Summoner Eidolons Breakdown (Legacy)

Swashbuckler

Exciting martial characters who care as much about style as they do about substance. They’re more capable with social skills than many martial characters, and in combat their Panache mechanic supports exciting combos ended with Finishers for big, exciting effects.

  • Swashbuckler Handbook (Legacy)

Thaumaturge

Martial characters who study and hunt monsters, thaumaturges use special implements to gain various ability and can use their class features to impose temporary damage vulnerabilities on enemies.

  • Thaumaturge Handbook (Legacy)
  • Thaumaturge Implements Breakdown (Legacy)

Witch

Witches are spellcasters who obtain their magic from a patron, who sends a familiar to teach the witch to cast spells. Your choice of patron determines both your spellcasting tradition and some additional spells available to you.

  • Remastered
    • Witch Handbook
    • Witch Ancestries and Heritages Breakdown
    • Witch Feats Breakdown
    • Witch Hexes Breakdown
    • Witch Patrons Breakdown
  • Witch Handbook (Legacy)

Wizard

The iconic arcane spellcaster, wizards prepare their spells from a spellbook, allowing them to hoard spells like a magical magpie and change their spell optios daily. Wizards can specialize in a variety of things including familiars or magic items, and can choose either a specific school of magic to specialize in or to be a generalist.

  • Remastered
    • Wizard Handbook
    • Wizard Ancestries and Heritages Breakdown
    • Wizard Arcane Schools Breakdown
    • Wizard Arcane Thesis Breakdown
    • Wizard Feats Breakdown
  • Wizard Handbook (Legacy)
PF2 Classes: Optimization Handbooks for Pathfinder 2e – RPGBOT (2024)

FAQs

How many classes are in PF2E? ›

In #Pathfinder2e, our 22 classes (and growing), with many class options and archetypes, are elegantly designed.

How complex is Pathfinder 2e compared to 5E? ›

While D&D 5E is easier to pick up and play, Pathfinder 2E is much more front-loaded but easier to run longer campaigns with, since higher-level play tends to feel more balanced and feasible with better scaling options.

What is the best character class in Pathfinder 2e? ›

Monks are a powerful class in Pathfinder 2e, while also being easy to grasp. They focus on making numerous unarmed strikes. However, they introduce more variety than it sounds. A good monk for a starting player takes the Crane Stance feat at first level.

Is pf2e complicated? ›

The core resolution mechanics are simple enough, and each individual element is easy enough to grasp, but remembering how it all fits together can be a lot to manage.

What is the most versatile class in Pathfinder 2e? ›

Druids Harness Nature's Power

One of the more exotic Pathfinder 2e classes, druids harness the power of nature to fight battles and defend their allies. They cast spells from the primal school of magic and are an extremely versatile class, perfect for players who like to keep their options open.

Can eidolons use shields in PF2E? ›

Your eidolon can't wear or use magic items, except for items with the eidolon trait.

What is the best race for summoners in Pathfinder 2e? ›

Some of the best Ancestries for Summoners are Human, Kobold, and Gnome, although other options like Halfling and Tengu are viable depending on Heritage and Feats.

Do summoner and eidolon share HP? ›

Lastly, the connection between you and your eidolon means you both share a single pool of Hit Points. Damage taken by either you or the eidolon reduces your Hit Points, while healing either of you recovers your Hit Points.

What is the D&D beyond equivalent for Pathfinder 2e? ›

Another character management option is Nexus by Demiplane, which is being built up as the D&D Beyond–equivalent for Pathfinder 2e. It is even being led by Adam Bradford, the founder of D&D Beyond.

Is Pathfinder 2e simpler? ›

Pathfinder 2e can be easy to learn compared to DnD, even if it has its own learning curve. However, DnD 5e players interested in rules that support more dynamic complexity should be able to handle it.

How old are dwarves in Pathfinder 2e? ›

Dwarves typically reach physical adulthood around the age of 25, though their traditionalist culture places more value on completing coming of age ceremonies unique to each clan than reaching a certain age. A typical dwarf can live to around 350 years old.

What is the most broken class in Pathfinder 2e? ›

While a wizard has some weaknesses, like the inability to memorize spells without their spellbook, the tremendous power and versatility of the class and its vast arsenal of spells makes it clearly the most powerful class in Pathfinder 2E.

What are the benefits of dual wielding Pathfinder 2e? ›

The Dual Weapon Warrior Archetype give you Double Slice AND gives a lot of VERY powerful support for any dual wielders. Flensing slice is pretty incredible, and you can even throw thrown weapons with this archetype (dual weapon thrower iirc).

Is Fighter the best class in Pathfinder 2e? ›

There are plenty of classes that excel in physical combat in Pathfinder, but none are as versatile as the Fighter. While you'll probably seek to specialize your character in either ranged or melee combat, they'll have little trouble switching between the two if needed.

Will Pathfinder 2e get more classes? ›

Two new playable classes are coming to Pathfinder: Second Edition in upcoming expansion book. Pathfinder 2E is a tabletop roleplaying game set in the world of Golarion and enables players to create their own characters and embark on various questlines.

How long is a round in pf2e? ›

During an individual round, all creatures have a chance to take a turn to act, in order of Initiative. A round represents 6 seconds in the game world.

How many actions are there in pf2e? ›

At the start of each turn you take in an encounter, you regain 3 Actions and 1 reaction to spend that round. You can spend your Actions in many different ways. There are four types of actions: single Actions, Activities, reactions, and free Actions.

What are the core classes in Pathfinder 2nd edition? ›

Twelve character classes, including the alchemist, barbarian, bard, champion, cleric, druid, fighter, monk, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, and wizard! Hundreds and hundreds of spells, class feats, and other exciting abilities to help you customize your character to become the hero YOU envision her to be!

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