Good shield bash pure fighter build out there?

[|Nick]

I like the typical sword and shield fighter in games so I want to play that, but with shield bash.
However, I only find shield bash builds for other classes, because they seem to be better suited for shield bash builds.
I want to play boring fighter though.
Are there any good guides for a pure fighter sword and shield bash build? And whats with the "new" fighter subclass

[Clangeddin.86]

It works well on legend path, especially if combined with barbarian/instinctual warrior, even with medium armor focus (avoidance), just remember to invest in DEX and not in STR (even if it seems counter intuitive).
Heck, my fighter/barbarian dwarf was a dex build on unfair, imagine that...
Lots of dex also means lots of attacks of opportunity with Combat Reflexes and the new Rage power that counter with an Attack of opportunity every time you are attacked.
AC is pretty high as well.
Of course Mutation warrior is pretty much the best fighter out there.

[Janthis]

Shield bash in PF is a bit tricky, since to make it effective you basically need to build a dual-wielding fighter, so you need 15 dex minimum and all the two weapon fighting feats. I found Slayer works very well with it because of the sneak attack bonuses and the free feats, but pure fighter can be effective as well. You just need to build him as a dual wielder, have high enough dex and the necessary feats, and there's even some good shields in the game specifically for bashing as well.

[wei270]

Originally posted by Johnny_B_80:

Shield bash in PF is a bit tricky, since to make it effective you basically need to build a dual-wielding fighter, so you need 15 dex minimum and all the two weapon fighting feats. I found Slayer works very well with it because of the sneak attack bonuses and the free feats, but pure fighter can be effective as well. You just need to build him as a dual wielder, have high enough dex and the necessary feats, and there's even some good shields in the game specifically for bashing as well.

very tricky if you are not legend fighter, very easy if you are.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by |Nick:

I like the typical sword and shield fighter in games so I want to play that, but with shield bash.
However, I only find shield bash builds for other classes, because they seem to be better suited for shield bash builds.
I want to play boring fighter though.
Are there any good guides for a pure fighter sword and shield bash build? And whats with the "new" fighter subclass

First tricky obstacle is that a +1 shield doesn't add +1 to hit in melee....it doesn't count as a +1 weapon either. Certain special magic items have shield spikes or otherwise count their shield bonus as a weapon bonus, but it's uncommon and that's an obstacle by itself.

Fighter shield bash build could go a couple of directions.

For starters, could get shield bash and just have bashing your shield as your only weapon. Heavy shields being one handed means you can wield them in two hands for 1.5x str and that's an option, with basically any fighter.

The shield bashing like paired with weapon attacks falls under the two weapon fighting path. That's certainly an option, but the fighter has to carefully balance high dex required for feats with str needed for their heavy armor's weight. Tightrope to walk, but it can be done. Just look for two weapon fighting. But the fighter class is awesome, and you'll be quite fearsome by 20th level.

The big fighter downside is not being able to dual wield shields in pathfinder. So like your fighter capstone only applies to one of your paired weapons.

The Ranger, by comparison to the fighter, can take "ranger fighting style" feats without meeting the attribute requirements, which gives them a huge edge over the fighter when it comes to high attribute requirement feats (like two weapon fighting).

[leyasu888]

Human Trickster pure fighter can be a viable shield bash build. you have enough bonus feats as a fighter to make it work.

Shield focus, Shield Master, two weapon fighting 1-3, shield bash, bashing finish, tripping bash, improved crit 1-4.

With a high crit range weapon like a scimitar you should be able to crit very regularly to trigger the free shield bash.

The level 7 trickster spell which gives you a roll of 20 on every roll for 3 rounds will also give you an infinite loop with crits and shield bash until the target dies for tough encounters.

[Draken]

Originally posted by Chronocide:

Originally posted by |Nick:

I like the typical sword and shield fighter in games so I want to play that, but with shield bash.
However, I only find shield bash builds for other classes, because they seem to be better suited for shield bash builds.
I want to play boring fighter though.
Are there any good guides for a pure fighter sword and shield bash build? And whats with the "new" fighter subclass

First tricky obstacle is that a +1 shield doesn't add +1 to hit in melee....it doesn't count as a +1 weapon either. Certain special magic items have shield spikes or otherwise count their shield bonus as a weapon bonus, but it's uncommon and that's an obstacle by itself.

There is the Shield Master feat that actually gives the shield enhancement to both attack and damage rolls.

You need Shield Bash, Two Weapon Fighting and a BaB of 11 for it.

[Yannir]

It's very feat-heavy, for sure.
Weapon Focus + Greater Weapon Focus for both weapons. 4 feats. Mythic Weapon Focus.
Two-Weapon Fighting. Improved. Greater. 3 feats. Mythic Two-Weapon Fighting.
Shield Bash. Shield Master. 2 feats.
Double Slice, Power Attack. 2 more feats.
That's 11 feats + 2 mythic feats just to hit stuff decently hard.

You'd probably still want some crit feats, teamwork feats, Bashing Finish and (Great)Shield/Armor Focus. If you go for Weapon Specializations for both weapons, that's 4 more feats + Mythic. You just run out of feats even with 21-22 of them. You'll have to be a little picky. Out of these, I'd forget the Weapon Specializations. They're kinda low impact for what you spend on them.

[Draken]

I quickly made a Trickster Defender of the Heart.

Works pretty well. Though yeah, you definitely have to decide how to choose your feats.

And exactly what type of Shield Bash character you want to build.

A few possibilities:

- Strength based, using Trickster to get the Improved and Greater Two-Weapon Fighting.
- Dex based with Mythic Finess
- The Improved Improved crit line on you main weapon and just using Bashing Finish without Shield Bash.
- Final Feint with Two-Weapon Fighting to make opponents flat-footed, add Stumbling Bash for an additional -2 AC.
- Go full into the Power Attack and Smash line.

Lot's of options depending which path you want to take.
Though you are not getting everything. Not unless you take a Legend + Fighter

For "just a boring fighter" I choose the Defender of the Heart with Trickster.
1. Defender of the Heart is a nice defensive sword and board class.
2. Trickster has some good Mythic Tricks for a pure melee class. Athletics 1,2 and 3 provide protection and BaB, Knowledge World 3 lets you skip requirements, Stealth 2,3 for spell resistance 30 and greater invisiblity in combat and Perceptions see invisiblity is nice as well.

[mk11]

Titan Fighter gets the Ranger two-weapon feats so should be able to build it without needing high DEX.