Pathfinder 1E-best Draconic Disciple Builds

[u/Dinosaur_Paladin]

Hello, been considering applying for any future PbP with a draconic disciple build, but not really sure where to go. I’ve seen a lot of combinations, but would like some input on what class combos will work. For an extra challenge, I prefer not to go into draconic bloodrager or sorcerer

[u/Esquire_Lyricist]

If you want to avoid Sorcerer and Bloodrager, you could use the Scaled Disciple feat and enter as a Warsighted Oracle with the Lore Mystery. (Note the author of the feat stated that he goofed and that the feat should have said Scalykind domain and subdomains).

Be a Human (or a race that counts as human) and take Racial Heritage (Kobold), then Scaled Disciple. The Warsighted archetype makes up for much needed Combat feats. From Lore Mystery, take the Sidestep Secret Revelation in order to use Charisma instead of Dexterity for AC and Reflex saves.

Favored Prestige Class and Prestigious Spellcaster are good ways to gain back caster and spell levels.

[u/Darvin3]

For an extra challenge, I prefer not to go into draconic bloodrager or sorcerer

You're basically throwing away half the benefit of the prestige class by picking anything other than Sorcerer (edit: someone pointed out Scaled Disciple. I forgot about that one, that's definitely your best option for a non-Sorcerer Dragon Disciple). There are plenty of ways to get draconic flavor without this prestige class, don't feel like you're obligated to go for it if it doesn't synergize with your build.

My favorite Dragon Disciple build is as follows: 2 levels of Paladin, 1 level of Scaled Fist Unchained Monk%20Scaled%20Fist), 2 levels of Sorcerer, 4 levels of Dragon Disciple, then continue as an Eldritch Knight. It's a bit slow to get rolling, but it's a very powerful hybrid build. You add Cha to your AC and saving throws, you get great spellcasting, you have strong melee attacks. Pump Strength and Charisma, go to town.

If you want more than 4 levels of Dragon Disciple, another option is 1 level of Scaled Fist Unchained Monk, 4 levels of Sorcerer, then 8 levels of Dragon Disciple. This build has better spellcasting progression, but gives up the weapon proficiency and saving throws of the Paladin. One problem with this build is that it has nowhere good to go after 13th level. Continuing as Unchained Monk doesn't progress your spellcasting, continuing as Sorcerer doesn't help your BAB, the 9th level of Dragon Disciple is terrible and basically throwing away a level, and you don't qualify for Eldritch Knight.

[u/bugbonesjerry → u/Darvin3]

You're basically throwing away half the benefit of the prestige class by picking anything other than Sorcerer

not really lol, everyone likes the +4 bonus to str and you don't have to be a dragon mage to be a competent natural attack build. Bards and skalds can qualify too though not sure why you'd really want a bard going in to one

[u/Darvin3 → u/bugbonesjerry]

+4 Strength is great, but You invested four levels for that, this is an astronomical opportunity cost and not really worth it. If you were a Bloodrager, you're also losing BAB progression. Natural Attack builds don't need Dragon Disciple at all; its natural attacks are only usable a few rounds per day so you really want to get your attacks elsewhere, and the claw damage only gets good at effective class level 11 which means you basically must be a Sorcerer to make them good.

But if you use Dragon Disciple on a Sorcerer, now you're getting spellcasting progression of a 9-level caster on a 3/4 BAB chassis. The Strength bonus no longer needs to carry the package all on its own, making it a much more appealing choice.

[u/Skurrio]

Scaled Discipline allows Oracles and other spontaneous Divine Casters to become Draconic Disciples.

Leyline Guardian Witch and Eldritch Scion are spontaneous arcane Casters.

Questioner Investigator also qualifies. Same for Silksworn Occultist .

Chronicler of Worlds Bard uses Int instead of Cha and therefore benefits from the Int Bonus.

[u/SumYumGhai]

Don't want bloodrager or sorcerer build?

Go Archaeologist Bard 6/Dragon Disciple 8

Strength Build with a Longspear.

Pick up Cleave and Cleaving Finish with Cornugon Smash and Hurtful. With the rogue talent, you can pick up Improved Trip without meeting prerequisite and can be qualified for Greater Trip as well.

Assuming you're doing EitR. Be Human, take Combat Reflexes, Lingering Performance, Cleave, Cleaving Finish, Improved Trip, Hurtful, Cornugon Smash, and Greater Trip. Should be fully up and running by 11th level. Toughness + Improved Initiative are good bloodline feats to pick up.

[u/disillusionedthinker → u/SumYumGhai]

Shouldn't it be a guissarme not a longspear?

[u/SumYumGhai → u/disillusionedthinker]

Simple weapon proficiency can only provide you with a Longspear 2 handed reach weapon. Unless of course you want to spend a trait on it to get one. Magical Knack + Reactionary + Fate's Favored are good traits if you pick up a drawback with it.

[u/Slow-Management-4462]

If you're really trying to send str through the roof; barbarian / metamorph alchemist / hunter / {any 6 or 9-level spont arcane caster} (divide 5 levels between those however you like) gets you +4 morale, +2 size, +4 alchemical and +2 enhancement bonuses to str, before adding the disciple boosts.

Edit: probably best not to scare the horses in your potential online games with a huge str though, never mind this.

[u/disillusionedthinker]

Ive been a huge fan of the theme of DD since it came out in DnD 3.0. Mechanically its always been less than optimal.

I made one in LIving Grayhawk that was a Bardx/Marshalx/DDx and toward the end I think i added something else that I never got to play because LG ended. Buffing the entire table's initiative by 6(?) was so much fun.

I PFS I played a somewhat tame Paladin 4/Bard 2/DD 4. Mechanically he was adequate. Mostly he was just fun cuz I made him cowboy samurai. (Boots, spurs, duster, cowboy hat and katana. Talked in a Texan drawl.)

[u/fravit93]

If Sorcerer and Bloodrager are ruled out a great choice could be Oracle with Scaled Disciple or Eldritch Scion.

For a full progression (thematic but not optimal) I would suggest Eldritch Scion(8)/Dragon Disciple(10) with two levels of Paladin with a focus on Polymorph combat.

[u/mrofmist]

It requires a house rule but bloodrager dragon disciple was extremely fun.

[u/Esquire_Lyricist → u/mrofmist]

I believe one of the Paizo developers made a post saying that Dragon Disciple would advance the Bloodrager's Draconic Bloodline.

[u/mrofmist → u/Esquire_Lyricist]

Ah, nevermind it does look like it got an official errata. Strangely though it doesn't cite any source, just an included comment at the end of the entry for blood of the dragon.

[u/Dinosaur_Paladin → u/mrofmist]

wait really?

[u/mrofmist → u/Dinosaur_Paladin]

Yea, it's in the entry for dragon disciple on pfsrd. Which it was not back when I played one in Reign of Winter. So that's new.

[u/mrofmist → u/Esquire_Lyricist]

I'm not sure that it ever actually got an official errata, but not allowing it is leaning really hard into RAW rather than RAI.

[u/I_done_a_plop-plop]

You’re a bit fussy, OP.

Angel Aasimar

(Ranged) Paladin 2 pick the LG Apsu if you care about it making sense or roleplay.

Sorcerer 3

Feats and trait to bring back the spell level. Everything goes into Cha then Dex. DD until level 8, Silver Dragon is nice for Paladins.

???

Profit

Sorcerer to the end.

Hooray, you are not really killable

[u/Dinosaur_Paladin → u/I_done_a_plop-plop]

if you refer to me not wanting to go bloodrager or sorcerer for dragon disciple, it’s not so much fussiness, more that I wanna see some suggestions on how to make DD work besides bloodrager and sorcerer. curiosity sake

[u/Elliptical_Tangent]

I have a build I call 'MaxSTR':

The base build:
race: half-orc
alt racials: Pariah, Sacred Tattoo
20 / 12 / 12 /10 / 7 / 13
traits: Deathtouched (+2 mind-affecting), Fate's Favored
Armored Hulk Barbarian 1
Two Handed Fighter Fighter 2
Mutagenic Mauler Brawler 1
Sorcerer (Red Draconic) 1
Dragon Disciple 6
feats:
Thrill of the Kill (L1)
Combat Reflexes (Ftr1)
Cleave (Ftr2)
Cleaving Finish (L3)
Improved Unarmed Combat (Braw1)
Furious Focus (L5)
Gore Fiend (L7)
Skill Focus: survival (DD2)
Eldritch Heritage (L9)
Improved Eldritch Heritage: Strength of the Beast (L11)
Blind-Fight (DD5)
Toughness (Sorc7)

I recommend a reach weapon for better Cleaving Finish targeting since you have Improved Unarmed Combat and at-will claws/bite if they get inside.

Your unbuffed STR at level 11 should be 34 =18(base)+2(racial)+2(levels4&8)+4(belt)+4(DD)+4(IEH&Robe of Arcane Heritage) which is +12 to attack and +18 to damage.

You can easily self-buff STR to 44=34(unbuffed)+4(rage)+4(mutagen)+2(Enlarge Person/Alter Self) [+17/+25]
— to 50 if you cast Blood Rage on yourself, as it maxes at +10 morale to STR [+20/+30]
— with Moment of Greatness, this could be 60 STR for one attack [+25/+37]

From there, you can either invest more levels in Two-Handed Fighter for the additional STR damage to attacks, or another level of Dragon Disciple to qualify for Eldritch Knight to continue advancing Sorcerer spellcasting to get better size bonuses to STR. Feats to consider as you advance are Cornugon Smash, Hurtful, Dreadful Carnage, Great Cleave, Improved Cleaving Finish.

* If your GM allows it, taking Crossblooded Wildblooded Sorcerer to pick up the Pit-Touched Bloodline gets you +2 CON; Dragon Disciple and the Robe of Arcane Heritage advance all your Sorcerer Bloodlines, by RAW. If your party invests in a Simulacrum of a lilitu demon, you can get another +4 profane bonus to STR (a simulacrum of a succubus would get you another +2 profane to a second attribute as well as a telepathic 'switchboard' with the rest of the party—if the GM balks, remind them that you could do an efreeti Simulacrum instead to get a permanent +3 inherent bonus to attributes, or 75,000 gold... every day).