Spellcasting or Melee? With the Pathfinder Magus, you won’t have to choose as you use melee strikes to cast powerful spells.
The Pathfinder Magus combines the physicality and technique of a melee class with the ability to wield magic. They fuse spells and physical strikes, and use their hours and hours of arcane research to land powerful blows on their enemies.
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The Pathfinder Magus Basics
The Magus is a class that uses a mixture of strikes and spells to drive their enemies back. They can be as physical as they are magical, and as a result they can take a boost to either their Strength or Dexterity attributes at character creation. Additionally, they start with expert-level training in their Will and Fortitude saving throws. Finally, they start out with training in Reflex, Perception, Arcana, Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Unarmed Attacks, Light Armor, Medium Armor, Unarmored Defense, Arcane Spell Attacks, and an additional, number of skills equal to their Intelligence modifier plus two.
In combat, the Magus channels spells through their weapon or body. With this technique they will strike enemies with a powerful combination of simultaneous spells and physical attacks. They will often rely on their cantrips and focus spells, reserving their most powerful magic for their hardest fights. But they know how to win a fight without magic, too.
In non-combat situations, a Pathfinder Magus is always looking for a deeper understanding of the world around them. They have the same drive for scholarly pursuits as a Wizard. This can make the Magus a deep well of information as well as a party member who’s always looking for the truth and solution to every problem.
But their flexibility and combination-style-class means that they are just as likely to be studying and reading as to be practicing and refining their combat techniques. They are equally likely to search for hints of magic, or sneak through a dungeon, ready to take out any potential foes.
Spellstrike & Arcane Cascade
The Pathfinder Magus’s Spellstrike is exactly what it sounds like. With this ability they have learned how to combine magical and physical attacks. Spellstrike must be recharged after use, but it couples prepared spells with melee strikes. It can count as two attacks.
With Arcane Cascade, Maguses can enter a special stance that makes their attacks more effective. They do this by diverting a portion of the spells power so it continues cycling through their own body. They will enter into a stance where they will utilize special forms, breathing, or footwork, and can increase their dealt melee damage by up to three points.
Hybrid Study
They have gone through both extensive physical and magical training. So the Pathfinder Magus has a unique and dangerous fighting style that is more than the sum of its parts. The Magus’s chosen Hybrid Study represents their particular combination of skills, and gives them special abilities as well as an initial conflux spell.
Inexorable Iron: This study makes the Magus into an unstoppable force with a great axe, great sword, or polearm. When they enter an Arcane Cascade stance and are wielding a two-handed melee weapon, they gain temporary hit points. Their initial conflux spell is Thunderous Strike.
Laughing Shadow: With this study, a Magus finds themselves always one step ahead of enemies and consequences alike. While in their Arcane Cascade stance they gain speed and attacking damage. Their initial conflux spell is Dimensional Assault.
Sparkling Targe: The Magus with this hybrid study has mastered defensive maneuvers as well as offensive. Their shield can block impossible things, and when they are in their Arcane Cascade stance they can even block magical and non-physical attacks as well as increasing the hardness of their shield. Their initial conflux spell is Shielding Strike.
Starlit Span: This study grants the Magus the ability to cast their spells from afar. When they use Spellstrike they can make a ranged strike as opposed to melee. Their initial conflux spell is Shooting Star.
Twisting Tree: Magus with this hybrid study wield a staff that will adjust its weight, size and damage as well as reshapes to gain the parry, reach, and trip traits. Their initial conflux spell is spinning staff.
Multiclassing a Pathfinder Magus
Do you know a melee-heavy adventurer wants to add a little magic to their repertoire? Maybe instead there is a spellcasting member of your party who would like to get a little more physical with their attacks? There are so many effective ways to multiclass as a Magus. And no matter what kind of character you start with, they will gain skills they’ve never had before that will be endlessly useful on a quest.
Characters who multiclass as a Magus will gain access to the feats Magus Dedication, Basic and Advanced Martial Magic, Hybrid Study Spell, Spellstriker, and Basic, Expert, and Master Magus Spellcasting.
How to Play a Pathfinder Magus
The Pathfinder Magus is one of the most flexible classes out there. Using a mixture of melee and magic abilities can make them extra formidable on the battlefield. And perhaps more importantly, a lot of fun to play at the table.
Players will want to remember above all else to remember their spell strikes and stances. Both will have to be juggled to effectively utilize on the bursts of damage of spellstrike and bonuses that stances provide. Though, both may not be available or charged in any given turn. So try to find a comfortable pattern of preparing charging and striking.
The Magus can also be a little squishier than some other melee classes. This may make them a target, and keeping their health high may seem like a struggle. To counteract this consider a the ranged study, armor, or making sure they are stocked on potions and elixirs. And of course, good old-fashioned teamwork, protecting your team, and healing spells.
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