Best pre-buff spells?

[Broseph]

Newish to pathfinder, but have played a lot of baldur's gate. The pre-fight buff spells I'd use there would be things like blur/mirror image on fighters, protection from evil 10', haste and prayer mostly. I'm not an expert on the ins and outs of magic, and while I love RTWP, it does lend itself better to martials I think, as it's just easier to watch your guys chunk the other guys without pausing and clicking on a spell/target.

Pathfinder though, I want to learn the rules so I'm going to be mostly playing on turn-based I think. As far as pre-buff spells go, I see prayer in the mix and don't have haste yet but know it exists. Are things like enlarge person good? The stat boosting things like bull's strength?

tl;dr: what spells do you buff your party with prefight?

[Viper]

Bless for sure,,,

[Balekai]

Yep the first best one is Bless (AoE), followed by Aid and heroism (single targets). These all buff your attack bonuses, AC etc. Also there's the protection from alignment vs. chaos and/or evil buffs that will further give you some stat boosts vs. demons.

Then the concealment lines come into play spell level 2. The usual like Blur, Blink, or cast on self only Mirror Image (makes copies that can take one hit each like other DnD games you've played. Great on tanks if they can cast it or use scrolls or something). These all give concealment bonuses which is a second layer of defence, Later on Greater Invisibility is your better Blur.

Then you want Resist Energy (for AoE bombs or spells like fireballs). or Delay Poison for some situations fights (makes it so poison clouds or attacks can't put conditions on you, basically immuned).

Protection from Arrows absorbs some initial ranged spike attacks from ranged weapons and Protection from Energy combined with Resist Energy will kill incoming elemental damage DPS.

Around level 4-5 spell level you want communal versions of the above (save fore Protection from Alignment - Communal, because it only lasts a minute.. Pick up Freedom of Movement to freely go over CC and difficult terrain. Death Ward to prevent negative energy damage and level drains etc. (death version of Delay Poison).

There's some other buffs you want to pick up like Barkskin for natural armour buff.

That's the basic low-mid level buff setup of 1 minute per level + spells. I didn't include the 1 round per level ones, which you use more right before a boss or a hard fight. The go to is just to cast a bless at first when you step into a dungeon. Just to test the waters and see wjat enemies you're facing before fully buffing.

[Jaevwyn]

As the very last prebuff due to its short duration, Haste is the big game changer for me currently :)

[Balekai]

Originally posted by Jaevwyn:

As the very last prebuff due to its short duration, Haste is the big game changer for me currently :)

Yep definitely a must have in any party.

- +1 Attack, AC bonus and reflex bonus.
- One extra attack per round.
- Speed of course, which helps melee move fast and furious in a battle from foe to foe. Also great for saving durations non buffs by moving through areas quickly.

[Edstyles]

Not a fan of all the prebuffing tbh as it makes regular none caster tanks less usefull . But since its in the game i like shield + 4 to ac , stacks with mage armor as long as you dont use a shield . Meaning you can use a fat 2 hander instead and still be tanky .

In poe 2 you cant prebuff . 1 of the things i like about it. But enjoying the game (pathfinder) overall so far.