Haste (cast on yourself first), Vampiric Touch, Displacement.
If you want a character who feels like a fantasy novel protagonist—dodging blows while naked, identifying a foe’s weakness instantly, and ending a boss fight with a single, perfectly placed Shocking Grasp through a rapier—the Sword Saint is for you. This guide will cover attributes, race, skills, feats, Arcana, spells, equipment, and a turn-by-turn combat strategy. Before diving into builds, understand the trade-offs. pathfinder kingmaker magus sword saint guide
| Feature | Standard Magus | Sword Saint | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Light/Medium/Shields | None (Canny Defense) | | Weapon | Any | One chosen weapon (Weapon Focus) | | Spellcasting | Full Magus list | Full Magus list -1 spell per level | | Key Bonus | Spell Recall | Canny Defense (INT to AC), Perfect Strike, Iaijutsu | | Critical Hits | Normal | Massive bonuses (Critical Perfection) | Haste (cast on yourself first), Vampiric Touch, Displacement
Shocking Grasp, Shield (until you get Bracers of Armor), True Strike (use before Dimension Strike), Reduce Person (+2 Dex, +1 attack, +1 AC). Before diving into builds, understand the trade-offs
| Weapon | Crit Range | Crit Multiplier | Damage Die | Verdict | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 18-20 (x2) | x2 | 2d4 | Best overall. Finesse-able, high base damage, huge crit range. | | Rapier | 18-20 (x2) | x2 | 1d6 | Classic. Lower damage than Estoc, but more early-game options. | | Scimitar | 18-20 (x2) | x2 | 1d6 | Requires Slashing Grace ; cannot be used with Piercing feats. Still great. | | Dueling Sword | 19-20 (x2) | x2 | 1d8 | Worse crit range. Only pick for roleplay. |
