Shifter Question, Combat and Natural Weapons

[ZTempest]

Greetings! I decided to try out this new class, and play a vanilla Shifter to see what it is all about. I did have a question though regarding combat.

As far as I can figure, a Shifter may not need weapons if they have claws. Is that true? Aren't there weapons that enhance natural weapons, and if so, are those usable with Shifter? Also, if I go with that playstyle, where I am only using natural weapons, then is it a smart move to spec DEX and use weapons finesse, and do I need to pick up two weapon fighting at some point, or is TWF unnecessary due to using just natural weapons?

What other feats/skills would further enhance the unarmed/claws attacks?

Any info would be appreciated! Thank you!

[igor140]

Yeah... all valid questions.

Shifters want to be using claws all the time, nothing else. I don't believe there are any WEAPONS that enhance claw attacks, but there is a fair amount of gear (belts, helmets, amulets, etc) and you definitely want to use those.

Claws are a little weird. They count as weapons, meaning you cannot use claws and a weapon at the same time. (It might be possible to use a weapon and a claw as an off-hand... but even if it is, this is still not worth it as a Shifter.) That said, they don't really benefit from things that boost weapons like normal. They DO, however, benefit from things that boost unarmed combat. So almost every belt/ ring/ whatever that said it boost unarmed combat will benefit ALL natural weapons (most importantly claws, but technically bites as well).

You can build either for STR or for DEX, and both work just fine. STR is pretty straightforward. If you want to spec DEX, you will indeed need Weapon Finesse. There is a new feat added with this DLC called Shifter's Edge.

Shifter's Edge adds half your Shifter level to damage... if and only if you are using DEX for attack and STR for damage. The amazing part is that this STACKS with any damage from STR. This is what allows Shifters to do such insane damage at higher levels.

SO! This means very specifically you need to NOT take the Mythic Weapon Finesse, or it will turn off this feat.

It also means you probably shouldn't dump STR entirely. Starting with maybe 12 or 14 is fine, and just pick up belts that boost both your STR and DEX, rather than just one.

You also very specifically do NOT want the Two-Weapon Fighting feats. These don't work at all with natural attacks (or unarmed, for that matter). By default (and for the first few levels), you only get one claw attack per round.

However, shifters get a feature (I believe at level 6) that allows you to "select one weapon" (you will have the option of two claws <_<), and you can make Full Round Attacks with that "weapon" (claw) according to your BAB, just like any other weapon. In the meantime, your offhand will also make an attack (I think...).

The annoying thing is that the claws and the full round attacks with claws both toggle off when the shifter is taken out of your party... just remember to put them back in later on.

Finally, one of the best things about shifters is their defensive ability. It works very similarly to the Monk AC Boost by adding your WIS modifier to your AC... but it even adds part of it if you're wearing armor. So early game, when you've got armor that's better than your WIS, you still get the best of all worlds.

Shifters end up being really awesome. Their one achilles heal is range. Lots of other classes have similar problems, but shifters have NO ranged attacks, you probably don't want to multiclass with them.

My personal recommendations: prioritize DEX and WIS, but you can't really dump STR or CON. If you have to dump something, it should be CHA or maybe INT.

As far as aspects... read through them all, but the ones I liked best (at least early on) were Tiger and Spider. I am personally terrified of spiders, so I never transformed into one, but the AC boost from the lesser aspect is pretty phenomenal.

The only other knock I have against the Shifter class is a fairly petty one: There's a mythic feat (also very valuable for Druids) that you can get at Mythic 1 that gives you infinite shifting uses/ time, and also boosts all of your stats +4 while shifted.

That is objectively awesome... but with that feat, there's pretty much no reason to ever NOT be in animal form. To me, the whole appeal of a shifter type class is to choose human or animal form, and each has their pros and cons. With this mythic feat, there are neither any cons nor any restrictions on being in animal form.

In fact, I've never tried it, but I wonder if it wouldn't be better to go Barbarian or Ranger or something at that point: another full BAB class that has other features... hmmm... I may test that out...

[ZTempest]

igor140, Many, Many Thanks. This is the info I needed exactly, and laying it out like this is very helpful! Excellent post.

[mudakonn]

Use high Initiative Nenio or Wol to mass teleport party to enemy in surprise round or from FOW and you are ready to unleash your full attacks right away (turn based works otherwise everybody starts running in RTWP and Nenio ends up teleporting herself only)

Shifter gets insane bonuses from Master Shapeshifer Mythic ability right from the start (unlimited time shapeshift + 4 to physical stats)

Otherwise usual Power Attack, Outflank, Lunge, Cleave+Finish etc.

Wendu seems really strong as Manticore Shifter otherwise as MC it maybe feels bland that you have no weapons and most likely no armor.