How to build a good fighter?

[Damphair]

I just started this game, went two-handed fighter and started with stats 20 str, 12 dex, 14 con, 10 int and wisdom and 11 cha. Just hit lvl 4, should I just continue pumping all attribute points in strength? Should I multiclass something? Atm I'm doing the most damage in my team, alongside that mutant monk bow guy, specializing in greatswords because of rp reasons

[Razer]

Pure fighter is very strong. No need to multiclass. Don't forget heavy armor focus and take the mythic feat to put half your STR to AC. Won't work with mithral armor though.

[Sophis]

Yes, all points to STR and you should be all set. Pure fighter is totally ok. Get some relevant feats like improved critical and weapon focus greatsword, power attack, weapon specialization later, and you'll be a death machine all game.

[pete3great]

I have two tips:

Remember, you get five attribute points to distribute throughout the game, but you only get bonuses at even levels. That is to say, if you start with a 20 strength, then dump all five points into as you level, you'll end up with 25 strength unbuffed, but will only get the benefit for 24 strength. Keep this in mind when building a character.

Tip two, as a fighter, specialize in one weapon. Find a good one you like with high crit chance (though on Core and below, finding the perfect min/maxed weapon isn't that big a deal), and spend your feats on that weapon.

Extra bonus tip, make the weapon one with a longer range like a polearm and focus on cleave line of feats, you'll make your enemies explode in a circle around you sometimes. It's very satisfying.

[IlluminaZero]

Outflank is Bae and; while it does not give a +attack penalty for ranged, will still trigger AoO of adjacent melee allies.

The core party on the surface appears to be incompetent in melee overall (and therefore mediocre in supporting outflank) but most party members can be made martial competent to some capacity.

For that reason optimal melee play can be rather nuanced. As its not just a KC thing but a party composition thing.

[Crusader993]

Originally posted by Razer:

Don't forget heavy armor focus and take the mythic feat to put half your STR to AC. Won't work with mithral armor though.

That's exactly why I don't usually choose the heavy armor focus for my fighters, but rather the medium armor focus. In order to then be able to choose the Mythic Armor Assault focus for medium with the heavy mithral armor. With the 'Life Infuser' at the latest, real medium armor is the better choice anyway. :)

[leyasu888]

Originally posted by Razer:

Pure fighter is very strong. No need to multiclass. Don't forget heavy armor focus and take the mythic feat to put half your STR to AC. Won't work with mithral armor though.

Does it work with Singing Steel?

[mbradtke]

Originally posted by Razer:

Pure fighter is very strong. No need to multiclass. Don't forget heavy armor focus and take the mythic feat to put half your STR to AC. Won't work with mithral armor though.

another reason to continue my playthrough with my TC dwarf paladin i guess lol, she has 7 DEX but with mythic armor focus - avoidance, DEX does not matter at all

[mbradtke]

Originally posted by Crusader993:

Originally posted by Razer:

Don't forget heavy armor focus and take the mythic feat to put half your STR to AC. Won't work with mithral armor though.

That's exactly why I don't usually choose the heavy armor focus for my fighters, but rather the medium armor focus. In order to then be able to choose the Mythic Armor Assault focus for medium with the heavy mithral armor. With the 'Life Infuser' at the latest, real medium armor is the better choice anyway. :)

it depends, if you dont dump DEX and if you play a fighter with Armor training (not an archetype without it), then medium armor is probably better

[Johndoe101]

For a fighter dipping in to the Hellknight prestege class is not a terrible idea . The only issue is the alignment requirment while staying on the order good side. As a hellknight using a twohanded weapon can be very effective fighting demons as a paladin . A pure fighter is very strong especially a human fighter for all of the feats you have at mid to high levels.

A dex build is another way if you want to have the feats and gear to make it possible. As it is possible to be a dex base tank while being a good damage dealer. In game i am not sure if the feats are there for using dex to hit/damage if using a elven curved blade. As for a PF1E TTRPG game i did had alot of fun playing a combat rogue who used a elven curved blade . Figther may be better for all of the feats that they can get .

[Crusader993]

Originally posted by mbradtke:

Originally posted by Crusader993:

That's exactly why I don't usually choose the heavy armor focus for my fighters, but rather the medium armor focus. In order to then be able to choose the Mythic Armor Assault focus for medium with the heavy mithral armor. With the 'Life Infuser' at the latest, real medium armor is the better choice anyway. :)

it depends, if you dont dump DEX and if you play a fighter with Armor training (not an archetype without it), then medium armor is probably better

Yeah, some DEX is rather valuable even for builds that go hard on STR because it gives AC and initiative. Also I like combat reflexes, especially on my MC with reach weapons, so some DEX makes sense. :)

In my current playtrough I play a Titan (stats STR 20, DEX 14, CON 16)... more focused on killing than tanking.

STR chars have a higher damage output, which is more important to me than AC. Due to my fighter's long reach, most enemies barely do any damage anyway. On top of that, as Azata (play it for RP reasons, a bit of a challenge as Melee, but also with some advantages ^^) I use 'Protection of Nature' later anyway, so the probability of hits decreases again. So for me there are hardly any reasons for heavy armor.

[Vae Victis]

Min maxing is how you build a fighter, since your gear will just be whatever helps you hit stuff better, with a focus on only building strength(for 2hand), you mix up your build with feats. party bonuses like outflank and personal ones like cleave will have you slaying demons the entire time, you only get stronger.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by Damphair:

I just started this game, went two-handed fighter and started with stats 20 str, 12 dex, 14 con, 10 int and wisdom and 11 cha. Just hit lvl 4, should I just continue pumping all attribute points in strength? Should I multiclass something? Atm I'm doing the most damage in my team, alongside that mutant monk bow guy, specializing in greatswords because of rp reasons

If looking for simple Str 2-hander smash character, barbarians are way easier.

Fighter requires both a good understanding of combat mechanics AND an understanding of the game's weapon availability since they are so gear dependent.

And if you have a mythic path plan, that often plays into your fighter build choices.

[Klutch]

i think you need like 13 dex for dodge. i'd probably try to get that. I think 19 str is good, because 20 takes like 7 points.

[Damphair]

Thanks for the answers, since I got 20 str and 12 dec I think I can end up with 24 str and 13 dex. I like being able to wear heavy armor, it's the only reason I chose two-handed fighter over barb. So far I just cleared the first chapter, my character is doing amazing damage and I've wiped only once so far, but then I'm playing on normal. I like this gamr so much that I'll problably replay it at core difficulty.