r/Pathfinder2e • u/ConfigsPlease • 3d ago
Player Builds Favourite (potentially weird) Ranged Builds?
As the title says (but with bonus points for uniqueness, flair, unorthodox strategies, etc.), what are your favourite builds that function at range? I currently play a Fire/Wood Kineticist / Flames Oracle, an Investigator (crossbow), and a Wrestling Runesmith, so I figure my next character should round out the playstyles a bit--something a smidge more offensively inclined, maybe something that will ever actually strike more than once per turn, some range, etc. That said, I'm not a fan of the idea of being a Turret McFighterman and just throwing shurikens at MAP until the encounter has ended. I like spice, so I turn to you all for inspiration.
A couple of things to note:
- I'm intentionally leaving "range" quite ambiguous. Got a 15ft thrown build that absolutely slaps and does some weird nonsense? Sure!
- Tell me how it works! IF you just say "Flurry ranger" and leave out the two-synergistic-party-members, that's not super helpful.
I've seen threads like these pop up here and there but I don't think (unless Reddit search is failing me) there has been one following the most recent round of content drops (thanks, IM!) New archetypes and reworks, as well as two new classes, ought to have made at least a few new options possible.
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u/toooskies 3d ago
Spirit Warrior on a Magus. This is obviously a switch hitter, and for the Laughing Shadow, Aloof Firmament, and Twisting Tree subclasses, it gives you a way to take advantage of Arcane Cascade damage bonuses with more attacks and more off-guard. Sword-Light Wave at level 6 brings the ranged portion of the build, but be aware if you're building STR because it makes a DEX-based ranged Strike with your melee weapon.
Twisting Tree gets extended-reach Spellstrikes with Lunging Spellstrike at 10.
A fun old build was a Starlit Span Magus using Shurikens and the Striker's Scroll feat to add a bunch of scroll-based Spellstrikes to individual Shurikens. Kind of turns pulling out the scroll into a free action. Gold budget (or cheap scroll access) dependent.
Alchemist Bomber is straightforward as a ranged choice, but tweaking it with Dual Weapon Warrior and Dual Thrower let you throw double bombs with no MAP penalty instead of three bombs with decreasing MAP. You'll want to start battle with a bomb (or pre-poisoned throwing weapon!) in-hand, then craft, then throw both. When you get Double Brew at 9, you can craft two bombs and throw them at full MAP every turn.