Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous Class Tier List

Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous Class Tier List

This guide will try to inform your decisions on character creation, it is not meant to tell you how to play but to show you the best options so you have a fun experience playing this lengthy game with custom characters or edited party members.

Other Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous Guides:

• Unique Items List
• Cheats (Trainer and Mod)
• Secret Ending
• Romance Guide
• All Pathfinder WotR Guides

Building a character in this game is a lot, and I want to help inform you and guide you a bit in this process. I will never suggest you MUST pick something, just inform you what is really good, if you have a character idea that goes against what is considered “correct” go for it, this is all about fantasy!

Recommendations
Have the game in Windowed mode and set the steam launch option as ‘-popupwindow’ and you will be able to alt tab at will without minimizing.

You get three free respecs from the Pathfinder Society NPC that you can get mercenaries from. You first meet him after getting to the bar after the underground tutorial section.

If you want to respec your party members, below will be a link to a very light respecing tool so you can keep the cool characters but change them to the class you want, you can fully customize them and their appearance, or just change what they start as level 1, it’s all up to you.

https://www.nexusmods.com/pathfinderwrathoftherighteous/mods/10

If you want full build guides and a true guide on picking the best of the best and breaking the game, check below.

Scoring
S Best of the best
A Great at what it does.
B Gets the job done
C Weak, needs work to get going, or gives up too much

Races

Note that each race has an unique feat that can go along with it.

Humans S

Getting a free feat is so absolutely ridiculous that in some cases it’s just hard to justify picking anything other than human as it can help you progress to other feats or get your build online much faster, and you can dump int and still have 2 good skills.

Elf S

In this game there are a ton of enemies with spell resistances, so the racial feat can save you a feat slot by itself, or make it even more likely to beat it if you take the other feats too, they are the best int caster race.

Dwarf B

Average abilities, Barrows is the best heritage because undead is a common enemy.

Gnome B

If you want to focus on illusion magic then basic is best, pyromaniac is a great pick for obvious reason, and traveler gives you 30 movement which can help if you hate the 20 movement.

Halfling A

Hasty is the best choice because having standard movement speed is great and +2 initiative is worth half a feat and helps if you always want to go first.

Half-Elf A

You can take Dual Heritage to save a feat, or you can get Kindred-Raised to get +2 to cha in addition to your choice of any stat getting +2 (so you can start with 22 cha), either are great choices for a cha caster. Basic is fine if you want to get a big bonus to one skill.

Half-Orc B

Tribal is great for +1 to saves and Human-Raised is good if you want to dump int but still want 2 good skills.

Aasimar A

Great stats, some free abilities and AC from wings, pretty great.

Tiefling A

Great stats and a great bonus, same as Aasimar, the exception is motherless because it gets a bite attack that you can scale.

Oread B

Ironsoul is best because of lead blades, but you need to make use of the awkward stats.

Dhampir B

Undead so you can heal yourself with inflict spells, has a fun feat to get a guaranteed 20 on persuasion checks.

Kitsune B

Decent, pick int one for skills or casting, cha one for persuasion or casting

Class Preface

Any class that levels straight 1-20 by itself is powerful and can do a lot, multiclassing can save you feats or give you synergies that you couldn’t get otherwise, so don’t feel obligated to do either, just do what you enjoy.

You might notice that casters are ranked higher than most martial characters, it’s as the saying goes, linear fighters and quadratic wizards, magic is so good and so useful, but with the mythic paths, everyone gets to do broken stuff and gets access to insane abilities/spells.

If a class has a special ability associated with it there will be a summary in the next section or there will be a similar section for the identical mechanic, an example would be Druid would have a section Druid Animal Companion but this will be applicable to any class that gets an animal companion.

Alchemist

Alchemist B This class is a great support, the bombs can get very powerful damage types to overcome tough resistances, the mutagen can buff you so your attacks are decent, and the ability to use spells with the range of “self” to touch is absolutely insane, you can give your two handed fighter the shield ability that gives +4 AC, cast false life on a squishy character, and so much more.Do note that the subclasses are typically better than the base class in most circumstances.

Chirurgeon B
This is an okay option than the base class, you give up your poison resistance that isn’t very useful for some healing abilities along with some ailment removal, but you can typically do better with other subclasses.

Grenadier A
Your bombs ignore allies and you get stronger options to use them, a great choice if you want a ranged support with some good aoe potential.

Incense Synthesizer A
You give up some of your bomb progression and lose your mutagens to get a very unique buff, the incense fog gives a +1 bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls, what makes this unique is that the bonus is alchemical, which is extremely rare so it will never conflict with any other effect, you get some additional buffs you can apply to it as you go along and can be a good choice if you want to go full support.

Metamorph B
You can turn into an animal and eventually a dragon, but you give up your bombs entirely for it, so you need to be ready to go into melee as your beast form once you use all your resources.

Preservationist S
You lose your useless poison resistance for some great summon spells, and you get a LEVEL 9 SPELL TO USE AT SPELL LEVEL 6, all while keeping your bombs and great support abilities, contender for best summoner in the game.

Vivisectionist S
You replace bombs for sneak attack at the same frequency as a rogue, which is insane as it is. You lose the bomb discoveries that you couldn’t use anyway and get most of the options from rogue talents, including choosing combat feats every other level, AND you keep your great support spell casting. This class is among the best classes in the entire game and a strong candidate for the best period.

Alchemist Discoveries

Infusion S
Essential to your core functions as an alchemist, your Self cast spells become touch spells and can be used on allies, even at spell level 1 you get a great use out of the Shield Spell or True Strike.

Preserve Organs A
Critical and sneak attack protection, which is good but this is required to get mummification which is amazing

Mummification S
Immunity to cold, sleep, and paralysis, amazing.

Holy bombs for demons, force bombs for anything resistant to your regular fire bombs, other ones are useful.
Acid Bomb A
Frost Bomb B
Shock Bomb B
Force Bombs S
Holy Bombs S

Utility features for you bombs, they are all okay, dispelling bombs give you the ability without sitting on a spell slot that you may or may not use.
Choking Bomb B
Tanglefoot Bombs B
Blinding Bombs B
Cursed Bomb B
Dispelling bombs A

Bombardier gets all of these except fast bombs, fast bombs is how you blow up the battlefield.
Precise Bomb A
Explosive Bombs A
Breath Weapon Bombs A
Fast Bombs S

Great for a melee alchemist or the shapeshifter subclass for alchemists.
Feral Mutagen A
Feral Wings A

You will mainly use the Int ones to boost your bomb damage and spell DCs pretty good.
Cognatogen A
Greater Cognatogen A
Grand Cognatogen A
More AC and more stats for your attacks, amazing.
Greater Mutagen S
Grand Mutagen S

Decent if you have a huge stock of potions to chug.
Enhance Potion B
Extend Potion B

You have so many more options than wasting it on either of these, and the effects are minimal anyway.
Spontaneous Healing C
Nauseating Flesh C

Arcanist

Arcanist AThe casting system for this class is great, you pick the spells you want like a wizard, but can cast them at any variation like a sorcerer. The arcane pool you use can afford you with a variety abilities for utility, defense, or offense, giving you lots of options in lieu of your less variety of a wizard, and you can use 1 point to boost DC or spell level by 1, which is a pretty good effect!

Brown-Fur Transmuter S
This class gets the ability to share their self transmutation spells with their allies, or simply boost the potency of their attribute buff spells, what’s insane is you can give super buffs that would normally turn this character into a decent fighter, and instead give the superbuff to your fighter to blow up every enemy, or just turn them into a dragon.

Eldritch Font A
Get some strong boosts to your spells at the cost of fatigue or exhaustion, so find ways to circumvent that (Paladin Mercy), but the level 20 ability is really good in that you can prepare new spells once per day and get half your arcane pool.

Nature Mage B
You use the Druid spellbook instead of the wizard, so it’s there if you need it.

Phantasmal Mage A
Some illusion spells are the best control spells in the game, so this class’ ability to modify them with metamagic abilities is a welcome addition, though you lose the ability to boost the caster level of the spell, but casting a selective phantasmal web without the feat is phenomenal. You must be a Gnome to pick this class.

Unlettered Arcanist B
You use the Witch spellbook instead of the wizard, so it’s there if you need it, and you get a familiar.

White Mage C
You give up some exploits to gain the ability to heal, but using these heals will use your arcane pool and spell slots very quickly.

Arcanist Exploits

Acid Jet B
Lingering Acid B
Okay damage that can miss or fail the roll.

Arcane Barrier B
Decent defensive ability but you want your arcanist to avoid needing this in the first place.

Armored Mask A
Save spell slots for Mage Armor or get Shield of Faith without spending a spell slot, can make you a good amount harder to hit.

Dimensional Slide A
If you are melee, use this to close the gap or to otherwise escape.

Energy Shield B
Use the Spell instead, it lasts longer, or you just want this to save slots..

Flame Arc B
Burning Flame B
Hellfire Ray A
Half of the damage becomes irresistible with hellfire ray which is okay, they still can save to avoid a good chunk of damage.

Force Strike A
Scaling magic missiles that you can spam, it’s great.

Ice Missiles B
Icy Tomb B
First effect is okay but the second feat depends on a failed save.

Lightning Lance A
Dancing Electricity A
Decent AOE damage that can cause a blind if the save is failed, pretty nice.

Potent Magic S
This is an essential one, this is what you will mainly use your arcane pool for and this makes it better.

Shadow Veil C
You don’t want to be in this position in the first place, just dimension slide out or cast an invisibility spell.

Sonic Blast A
Sonic Damage is rarely resisted so not too bad for an AOE.

Spell Resistance B
Greater Spell Resistance B
If you are preparing to use this there are other preparations to either stop the caster from casting or to reduce the effect altogether.

Swift Consume C
Only useful in a pinch when you didn’t notice you were low on resources and are super tight on actions, not that great.

Wooden Flesh A
AC is pretty nice though you should avoid needing it in the first place.

Barbarian

Barbarian BYou rage, and you smash, simple enough to get the job done, and your rage powers can go for more damage, some utility, or defense.

Armored Hulk C
You get AC against crit rolls that won’t stop you from getting hit, and lose your uncanny dodge so you will get eaten alive by sneak attacks, not that great.

Beastkin Berserker C
You lose some rage powers in return for the ability to turn into a wolf, leopard, or a bear, if you could turn into some better beast it would be stronger but it is too weak otherwise.

Instinctual Warrior A
This is a monk barbarian, your wis is added to AC when unarmored (don’t know if it stacks with the monk bonus), you get a rage and some ki powers along with some rage powers, pretty great class. You do trade some rage powers for the blind fight line of feats which are pretty useful anyway.

Invulnerable Rager A
A lot of enemies use rapid attacks and your DR- you gain reduces the damage taken from each attack, which can result in some insane damage reduction. I recommend this class over the base barbarian because you become much tankier.

Mad Dog A
You get an animal companion which is great as is, but you get some major bonuses while you both are attacking the same target, and your beast gets the trip feat for free, so make sure you and your pet both get the team feats Outflank, and Tandem Trip and you will stomp all over your enemies.

Pack Rager C
You give up some rage powers that could buff your teammates already instead for some teamwork feats that you can only share one of during your rage for most of the game, most of the time the only teamwork feat you need is outflank so this is pretty bad unless you must have the teamwork feats.

Barbarian Rage Power

Animal Fury B
If you want more natural attacks this is okay.

Beast Totem, Lesser A
Beast Totem A
Beast Totem, Greater S
Two claw attacks, +1 AC that scales as you level, pounce ability that makes the charge ability amazing.

Celestial Totem, Lesser B
Celestial Totem B
Celestial Totem, Greater A
Gain +1 hp per heal, invisibility purge that could be replaced by true sight or glitterdust, spell resistance and saving throws, it’s okay just only the final totem is worth it.

Daemon Totem, Lesser B
Daemon Totem C
Daemon Totem, Greater C
The only good thing about these abilities is that you get the death effect save bonus.

Fiend Totem, Lesser B
Fiend Totem C
Fiend Totem, Greater C
Gore attack that’s okay, the other regular effect is bad, and the greater’s effect doesn’t work versus half of the enemies in the game.

Guarded Stance B
Protect Vitals B
Reflexive Dodge B
Rolling Dodge A
Scaling AC and some other bonuses, good if you want a tankier barbarian but usually you want more damage

Lethal Stance
Deadly Accuracy
+1 Attack rolls bonus that scales, it’s decent but this can be replaced with a bard song or other effects.

Powerful Stance S
Crippling Blows B
Wrecking Blows S
Scaling flat damage bonuses, pretty awesome!

Reckless Stance S
Inspire Ferocity S
This +1 cannot be conflicted with anything so will always be active, the bonus and ac debuff both scale and can lead to insane damage, great for a barbarian with a reach weapon. One major note for the inspire ferocity is that it can backfire big time, so don’t always have it on if you don’t want to risk your AC, it’s a very risky ability but can cause so much damage.

Scent A
Blindsense is okay, but you usually want more than that.

Swift Foot B
More movement is fine if you have nothing else to get.

Renewed Vigor C
Weak amounts of healing that will quickly get used up.

Bard

Bard AAn extremely powerful support class, has a wide variety of spells to buff and disable, some free feats, an insane amount of skills, and the performances you get are absolutely insane and will assist you throughout the entire game. I suggest you do not use this class as a squishy ranged support, you can cast with a heavy shield and wear light armor, throw on a dex weapon and get up in your enemies face, but feel free to if you wish.

Archaeologist A
Instead of buffing your allies with your song, you buff yourself, except you buff pretty much every aspect of your character, so if you want a great support spellcaster that can also do some decent melee or ranged damage, this a great choice.

Beast Tamer A
You keep your great support spells, but get some summoning abilities added, can turn any of your spell into a summon just like a druid, and your main song is changed to buff your summons alongside your party members along with buffing them with the magic fang effect, a great choice if you want a support summoner.

Dirge Bard A
You can use your song to summon skeletons, a great option if you want to gum up the battlefield before buffing up your companions, but remember when the song ends the skeletons die.

Flame Dancer B
You add some fire spells to your spellist which is okay, and you lose your skill bonus song for a song that gives fire resistance. If you tend to blast your allies with fireballs this is decent but overall you could get a lot more from your class.

Thundercaller A
You lose your skill check song for an aoe blast that uses your performances, this ability does sonic damage that is rarely resisted and can potentially cause a stun.

Tranquil Whisperer A
You trade your songs for a song that gives AC, which is pretty rare actually, you need to make the call if the loss of inspire courage is worth it though, or if you get it from other sources, the point is the song can give an AC buff to your party that is very rare.

Bloodrager

Bloodrager AYou give up some of the rage powers of a barbarian for the powers of a bloodline instead, and a small pool of spells to use (most importantly mirror image). I would say this class is stronger in general than a barbarian, but both are great at their job.

Bloodrider B
You get a companion and the ability to mount them if you wish, a great side option though you lose some abilities that affect your survivability to be sure to use a reach weapon.

Greenrager B
You gain some summon spells, which is okay but you really shouldn’t be using your very important slots to summon some weak minions, yes you do buff them a bit but it isn’t that strong by the time you get them.

Mixed-Blood Rager B
You can choose a second bloodline that you can swap over each day, which can be good if you want to swap the role of your character around, but you lose your ability to cast spells which can be pretty critical to your character.

Primalist S
You can give up bloodline powers for rage powers, so if there’s a bloodline with an effect you really like but some not so useful effects, you can give those up for some rage powers, this is incredibly powerful.

Spelleater B
You gain fast healing at a very slow rate, and you can eat your spells to heal a meagre amount when in fact you should be casting them to do more useful stuff.

Steelblood B
You lose some defensive abilities in return for the ability to wear armor, which you could instead just take a feat for, not that great.

Reformed Fiend A
There are a ton of demons in this game, so your hatred against evil and must stronger DR- versus evil can bull some insane weight. You are locked to Abyssal or Infernal bloodlines, but they’re both pretty good. You must be a tiefling for this class.

Bloodranger Bloodlines

Abyssal A
Claw attacks that grow with you, you automatically enlarge when raging, and an empowered rage at the cost of AC, a great choice for big damage.

Arcane S
You get an aoe disruptive aura to enemy spellcasting, the automatic ability of one choice of blur, protection from arrows, resist energy when you rage, which upgrades to two choices of haste, displacement, protection from arrows, resist energy, which upgrades to add one of beast shape 4, form of dragon, or transformation, a great mix of defensive and damage abilities.

Celestial A
You get good weapons to beat damage resistance and bonus radiant damage against evil creatures. You get a free reroll on failed skill check or saving throw per bloodrage, free wings that come with AC bonus, and later AC and saving bonuses against evil creatures, this bloodline is great because there are a TON of demons.

Draconic (Multiple versions) S
This is S rank because you can give up the level of spell progression for 4 levels of dragon disciple and get +4 strength +2 ac and a bite attack in addition to your bloodline bonuses. Your base class levels give you claw attacks, breath ability, wings for AC, and automatic dragon form transformation, it’s great. I recommend 5 bloodrager 4 dragon disciple then finish the final 11 levels with blood rager.

Elemental (Multiple versions) B
Decent elemental abilities but the other bloodlines are just straight up better.

Fey B
Blur effect and haste effect while raging and you get an aoe confusion aura that’s okay, decent choice.

Infernal B
Fire damage bonuses, wings for AC, bonus against enchantment and fears, it’s okay.

Serpentine Bloodline A
Bite attack, natural armor, bonus 5 ft reach for your weapons which is actually really good if you are a cleave character, and a hydra form during bloodrage, it’s pretty good.

Undead B
Ghost touch so you can damage ethereal enemies easier, and an ethereal form to avoid a ton of damage thrown at you.

Cavalier

Cavalier AYou gain a horse and some bonus feats for combat, teamwork, an order to modify your abilities, a great, solid martial class.

Beast Rider A
You lose heavy armor proficiency but get access to most of the animal companion, a great trade in your favor.

Disciple of the Pike A
You lose your animal companion but get a lot of buffs to your abilities with spears and against larger enemies, decent trade.

Fearsome Leader B
You give up some teamwork feats for dazzling display and the ability to dispel fears, not a good trade as fears can be avoided with other buffs.

Gendarme A
You trade your teamwork feats for a lot more combat feats, think of this as a fighter with an animal companion.

Knight of the Wall A
You lose your teamwork feats for some bonuses to your shield, which is great if you need this character to tank for you.

Standard Bearer C
You get a weaker animal companion for a stronger banner, the problem is that the banner is replaced by the bless spell at level 1, it is not worth the trade.

Cavalier of the Paw A
You can get a dog or wolf instead of a horse, which is good because both are better than horses, and you get an ability that allows your companions to reroll any failed save three times in a day, which is a great support ability. The giant slayer ability you get can shred some bosses apart. You lose your Order ability which is okay. You must be a Halfling to choose this class.

Cavalier Orders

Order of the Cockatrice B
Damage bonus with the challenge ability, bonuses towards persuasion abilities like dazzling display and you get +2 to attack towards targets discouraged by your dazzling display, it’s decent, bonus attack against enemies your allies crit, once per day can add cha bonus to more or less all effects that character has which is pretty good to ensure you kill your target.

Order of the Lion A
AC against challenge, +1 bonus to attack rolls that last a while, can use once per day his cha bonus to attack and damage rolls to all allies which can help focus down a tough enemy, and finally give nearby allies +3 AC which is pretty great.

Order of the Shroud C
Anti Undead challenge which is fine, gets AC bonus equal to cha against attacks from challenged enemies, anti undead damage penetration, and anti undead attack of opportunities, this order is okay and there are some undead enemies but not enough to be worth picking this in my opinion.

Order of the Star B
Saving throw bonus against challenge, the ability to gain bonus equal to cha bonus to next action 4 times a day which is great, gets aoe bonus to attack rolls with cha bonus, and a weird ability to get an attack of opportunity when an enemy attacks an ally with the same favored deity, very weird final ability but is okay.

Order of the Sword A
Bonus to attacks while mounted against challenge, you get +2 to a single save of your choice by staying with the selected alignment of your choice which is pretty great, bonus damage when charging (which you want to do as a cavalier) and a mount feat, gets a sort of smite ability once per day that does cha bonus to attack and damage rolls, great for focusing tough target.

Cleric

Cleric SI’m going to be honest, clerics are ridiculous, they can solve almost any problem your party is facing through their spells, get access to channeling to mass heal or damage, and on top of that you get some great buffs and utility through domains, almost every party needs a cleric or at least a divine caster. Can be played as a variety of themes, a tanky fighter, a damage dealer, a ranged support, and a lot more.

Angelfire Apostle S
This is a cleric that can use their channel ability after casting a spell to unleash a burst of damage to all enemies that includes holy damage which is very good, a great option if you want to deal some damage in addition to your spells, and the downside of less spells per day is negated by abundant casting. You do lose your medium armor proficiencies so you can go dex based, or just go to ranged combat.

Crusader S
Normally a crusader gives up a huge amount spells per day and a domain in return for some combat feats, and normally that’d be a tough trade, but with mythic paths giving you bonus spell slots (abundant casting) you can ignore the downside and pick this for a more fighting sided cleric, great class.

Devilbane Priest A
You get heavy armor, some option feats and a skill bonus, but you lose a domain, so you gotta make the call if this is worth over a crusader who does the same but you get better options.

Ecclesitheurge S
This is the opposite of the crusader, you give up your fighting abilities along with armor proficiencies for expanded spellcasting and some good buffs you can give your party, a great choice if you want a ranged caster with some more utility.

Herald Caller S
You give up a domain for some free summoning feats, which is pretty great, turn your spells into summon spells rather than healing and give up your medium armor proficiency, a great option if you want a strong summoner.

Priest of Balance S
You lose a domain but gain both channel abilities and they get empowered when you swap using them, this will eat the horde of chaff enemies apart and heal your teammates, be sure to get Selective Channeling feat and you are ready to rock.

Cleric Domains

I will not be going over the spells with these domains, if you like the spells it gives, great, these should fill in spells that you would need 1 of anyway or give you ones you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise, this is mainly judgement over the abilities of the domain.

Air B
Simple ranged attack and some resistances, it’s simple but okay.

Animal SS
Animal companion at level 4, be sure to get boon companion so it’s as if you always had it, this is a broken domain purely because of this.

Artifice B
DR aura that can help your protection, but that’s about it.

Chaos B
Gives an enemy the ability that they must roll twice and take the worst result for their next roll, this can be used to make sure your disabling spell has a higher chance of succeeding and is deceptively powerful. Anarchic weapon effect isn’t that good because most enemies will be some form of neutral or chaotic but it can happen where it helps out.

Charm C
Neither ability is that great and tons of enemies are immune to these effects.

Community S
Minor heal ability that can remove fatigued that is okay, the level 8 ability is what makes this domain do work, your allies in the bubble you create gain a bonus to saving throws and attack rolls equal to your wisdom bonus, so most of the time this is a oh crap button against tough fights, the area is pretty big and lasts a long while.

Darkness B
Decent blind ability that can mess with enemies with lots of attacks, okay magic attack that can dazzle the target for a bit.

Death B
Weak touch ability, you instead heal from channel negative energy, which is a common tactic for enemy priests in this game so can help you out a decent amount, if you are already undead you instead do not take damage from positive energy.

Destruction A
Bonus damage to your attacks, which is great, makes an aura that effects everyone including yourself, your allies, and your enemies all gain that same damage to bonus, and all crit rolls are automatically confirmed, this is a risky aura effect for when you need to go all out to quickly end the fight.

Earth B
Simple ranged attack and some resistances, it’s simple but okay.

Evil C
Bad touch ability, and Evil weapon effect which is bad in this game since over half of your enemies won’t be affected by it.

Fire B
Simple ranged attack and some resistances, it’s simple but okay.

Glory S
Gives bonus to next persuasion check which is okay for doing before cutscenes or to use dazzling display, the Aura of heroism can give your whole party heroism effect which saves you 6 spell slots which is great.

Good S
Give an ally a bonus to their next roll so great to confirm effects and rolls, Holy weapon effect is incredible in this game since over half of enemies are evil.

Healing S
Bad healing ability when your allies are at 0 or negative hp, what you get this for is the next ability where your healing spells are 50% stronger always without using metamagic.

Knowledge S
You get a critical immune form that gives you AC which is great when you are in a tough fight, and you get an AOE buff that allows your allies to roll twice for everything, great ability for tough fights.

Law A
You can guarantee the next roll of your ability will roll and 11, if that’s what you need to meet a DC for a check, or to hit an attack, this is a great way to guarantee an effect. Axiomatic weapon effect is pretty good in this game with the huge amount of chaotic demons and cultists in this game.

Luck S
Next roll is rolled twice to get a better result for an ally, and then you can buff yourself to roll twice and take the better roll for the next few rounds for every d20 roll you do, incredible.

Madness B
Decent touch ability, get an aura of madness to confuse enemies, decent for big fights.

Magic B
Ranged attack with your melee weapon and use wis instead of dex for the roll, it’s okay while you close the gap to hit them and can’t charge, free dispel effect that can save a slot.

Nobility S
+2 to most effects is pretty great, and you get an AOE +2 insight bonus to AC, Attack rolls, and skill checks, it’s pretty great

Plant B
Enlarge yourself at will which is good, and give yourself thorns, not that great.

Protection A
You get innate resistance bonuses to your saving throws that scales, that means you can replace your cloak that gives saves bonus for a more useful effect, or you can share it to an ally, your aura of protection is a great ability for tough fights with AC and elemental resists.

Repose A
Decent disabling touch attack, you get an AOE ward against death which will save you 6 spell slots since you will want this buff always on your allies in late game fights.

Rune C
Weak rune ability, and defensive stunning run on the round, it’s not that good.

Strength C
Attack roll buff that’s decent, gain bonus to your athletics skill checks, not good, only get for the spells.

Sun B
Add anti undead channel damage, blinding aoe against fortitude save, it’s decent.

Travel S
Increased base speed is awesome, ignoring tough terrain is great, and you get a teleport ability that no other domain can get, it’s very good to close the gap or escape to safety.

Trickery B
You get an extra of yourself like the spell mirror image but only one, so enemies will have a 50% chance to hit you if they get a hit, decent ability, you get an invisibility aura which is okay.

War B
Melee bonus damage and a combat feat, simple but good.

Water B
Simple ranged attack and some resistances, it’s simple but okay.

Weather B
Some weak lightning then a call lightning ability its okay.

Druid

Druid SFull caster with an animal companion with the ability to use any spell as a summon spell instead, pretty great, gives you another option in the divine spell list if you don’t want a cleric, a great class. You can transform into animals if you want to get up close and personal after using your spells.

Blight Druid A
Give up your animal companion for a domain and a few bonus abilities that are mediocre, it’s an okay choice but you still have a great spell list to use.

Defender of the True World B
You go all in on anti fey effects, the problem is that there aren’t a lot of fey in the game.

Drovier A
You get some abilities to buff your party, and the buffs can give some really powerful bonuses to your archers, and some combat maneuvers for your frontline, so this can save you some feats and give you a lot more utility.

Elemental Rampager A
Druid barbarian, so you lose your companion for a claw attack and a rage, with some buff associated with it, pretty good option for a more fighty druid.

Feyspeaker S
Enchantment and Illusion spells are the best disabling spells in the game, so you get to add the best of them to your great spell list, and your animal forms are delayed but you still keep the best ones. Great pick for a controlling caster.

Primal Druid S
You get less options for your animal companion, but they are all really good options (including dinosaurs). Instead of getting summoning spells you get enlarge person to use as any spell, which can be a great buff option, and the use of it on yourself is stronger than normal so you can do some serious damage in melee with a weapon or your animal form.

Druid Animal Companions

If you get your animal companion at any point other than level 1 you will want the boon companion feat to bring them up as if you had.

All of the choices are good but here are the exceptionally good ones.

Boar and Mastodon
Very tanky with its AC and decent damage.

Dog and Wolf
Both get built in trip abilities and can do some serious damage.

Elk
Lots of attacks.

Leopard
High AC from size and armor and get pounce later to do full attacks with charge.

Smilodon
5 attacks, read that again. 5 ATTACKS, the ultimate dps companion and also gains pounce which is full attack when charging.

Fighter

Fighter AFeats, feats, and more feats, this class is a absolutely incredible attacking enemies with whatever you choose, just make sure to put your feats to good use to become even better, this is called the main dipping class because the bonus feats and weapon specialization feat a level 4 are really useful for any character focused on weapons or just all the proficiencies you get from level 1 in addition to a combat feat is great too.

Aldori Defender A
You go all in on dueling swords, which there are a decent amount of good ones of, you get a bunch of defensive abilities that can make you next to impossible to hit, be sure to focus on dex with this class.

Armiger A
This is the in lore class you take before becoming a Hellknight, you gain some bonuses from your order and get a better version of bravery for disabling spells, which is welcome, it’s an okay class. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS TO BECOME A HELLKNIGHT.

Drangonheir Scion B
You give up some feats for some okay abilities, but get a dragon bloodline instead for some minor bonuses to AC and damage increases, this is an okay option if you want to use dragon discipline but want a bunch of armor and weapon feats.

Mutation Warrior S
This is the premiere 4 level dip for the fighter class, you get a great mutagen ability for your primary attacking stat, a bunch of feats, and a bunch of attack bonus, if you want to go all in on this, go right ahead because the discoveries you get can improve your mutagens and you don’t really lose much going this class other than armor training.

Tower Shield Specialist B
If you want a tank with a good attacking ability, this is your pick, but you can get super high AC other ways without being so restricted, still a good option.

Two Handed Fighter A
You get free maneuvers, a huge increase to your damage, a boost to your maneuvers, a great choice for a big damage two handed fighter.

Hunter

Hunter AGreat damage dealer with a good number of buffs for their animal companion and yourself, be sure to make use of those teamwork feats you and your companion get. Your spell list is actually pretty useful for buffs and defensive options for your companions.

Colluding Scoundrel A
You force a target to attack your animal companion or companion or else they have much less accurate attack, and you get bonuses for attack them in turn, a pretty decent option though you lose some of your pet buffs.

Divine Hound S
You are forced to choose a dog or wolf, which are among the best choices for an animal companion, and you gain judgements instead of animal focuses, which are much better in my opinion, a great option to deal tons of damage.

Divine Hunter S
You lose your teamwork feats for a domain of a cleric and your pet gets a smite good or smite evil ability, make sure your pet has good cha or else the smite won’t do extra damage, an amazing damage dealer option considering the amount of evil enemies in the game.

Forester B
You lose your animal companion for some bonus combat feats, the ability to share you teamwork feats to your allies, and favored terrain. It’s okay but you give up a lot when there aren’t that many really good teamwork feats.

Urban Hunter A
You must pick a dog or a horse, and you both get a free combat maneuver to use instead of teamwork feats, a great option for a damage dealer with some battlefield control, be sure to get the teamwork feat for whichever maneuver you decide to use to better odds.

Wandering Marksman A
Give up your teamwork feats for some attack and damage bonuses while you and your animal companion are far away but attacking the same target, a great option if you want to go for ranged combat.

Inquisitor

Inquisitor BThe base class is fine, lots of teamwork stuff to buff your team, judgements to buff yourself, and domains for even more utility, and the spellcasting gives you a lot of options, but you can typically do better by choosing a subclass. You get the solo tactics ability that allows you to benefit from teamwork feats by yourself so you can get great bonuses, and you get a weapon buff too!
This class also gets a high amount of skills so you have a very wide set of abilities to use from the class to build from.

Faith Hunter A
You give up your domain for a smite against the type of you choosing, the best type is evil for obvious reasons, the best part about the smite is that it gives +4 to attack and the bonus to damage is half your level in this class rather than depending on your cha, so your stats are under less burden.

Judge A
You give up your bane and teamwork feats for the ability to share your judgements with your party, which is pretty great, and you get a smite like ability that can be used on anyone, the damage bonus is 1 + Judge level / 3, so if you go far in this class you can give your entire party +7 damage per hit against an enemy which is a insane boost in damage.

Monster Tactician A
This gives you an ability to summon monsters without spending any spell slots, and it goes up to the 9th level summon spell, which is amazing, in addition your summons act as though they have your teamwork feats which can get some pretty crazy bonuses, a great choice for a versatile summoner.

Sacred Huntmaster A
You get an animal companion who gets all your teamwork feats, but you lose your judgements, which is a good trade in your favor, you also get favored enemy which is a great bonus to get as well.

Sanctified Slayer A
You give up your judgements for sneak attack, studied target, and slayer bonus feats, that is worth it for dealing lots of damage! One note that you can take the first level of this to get the study target ability and the bonus for it stacks with other study target abilities.

Tactical Leader B
You can share your teamwork feats, and give buffs using your judgements, its okay but as said before, there are only a few really good teamwork feats.

Kineticist

Kineticist SThis class is a damage dealing king with lots of abilities to adapt and change your attacks, when you get to a certain level, you can completely control entire areas of the battlefield, your resource burn can make you very fragile as you go along without rest. This has an S because it’s very simple and does tons of damage, it’s the full package and the other subclasses are just as good.

Blood Kineticist B
You give up some infusions for some mediocre abilities that are for disabling, but the effects they try to inflict are pretty average, you can do a lot better.

Dark Elementalist A
Use your int instead of your con for the burn mechanic, and you can use dead bodies to offload your burn and gain more damage, it’s quite potent and gets stronger the more souls you use, so while most classes get weaker as they use their resources, this one gets stronger with more damage.

Elemental Engine A
You get huge damage bonuses when you are at maximum burn, but you will be extremely fragile because your con bonus will be so low, so you need to be aware of the risks, you do get some great defensive bonuses from this class while at max burn. Once you are at max burn you get the ability to reduce burn cost of certain abilities with your gather power ability.

Kinetic Knight A
You lose some of your infusion abilities but gain an elemental sword to deal huge amounts of single target damage while able to rock heavy armor and a shield, this is a great class for a solid frontliner rather than the squishy fragile Kineticist.

Overwhelming Soul B
You are restricted from getting burn, which is a bit more consistent, but you lose a lot of flexibility, but on the other hand you do get a damage boost to your kinetic blast, you use cha instead of con for your kinetic blasts so you aren’t as fragile.

Psychokineticist A
You use wis instead of con, but instead of taking nonlethal damage you get penalties to you wisdom save, so you need to be protected from those effects because you will fail every one when you are at max burn.

Kineticist Elements and Infusions

Each element are great and when you get your second and third you get combination blasts that are stronger than the standard ones and get greater options.

Blizzard Air+Cold
Half Piercing, Half Cold

Blue Flame Fire+Fire
Fire

Charged Water Electric+Water
Half Bludgeoning, Half Electric

Ice Water+Cold
Half Piercing, Half Cold

Magma Earth+Fire
Half Bludgeoning, Half Fire

Metal Earth+Earth
Bludgeoning, Piercing,Slashing

Mud Earth+Water
Bludgeoning

Plasma Air+Fire
Half Bludgeoning, Half Fire

Sandstorm Air+Earth
Piercing, Slashing

Steam Fire+Water
Half Bludgeoning, Half Fire

Thunderstorm Air+Electric
Half Bludgeoning, Half Electric

Infusions
Some infusions are exclusive to certain elemental combinations so make sure to plan ahead of time what elements you choose to get these special infusions.

Blade Whirlwind S
AOE attack that can wipe out crowds.

Bowling A
Trip attack, from a range, it’s great!

Burning B
1d6 damage for 1 burn is not that great unless it’s applied through an aoe.

Chilling B
Not that great unless it’s applied through an aoe

Cloud A
Great static aoe ability to constantly damage enemies.

Cyclone B
Decent aoe ability to start with.

Dazzling B
Okay if you take advantage of being dazzled.

Deadly Earth S
This aoe ability can single handedly end fights with one use. It’s that good.

Detonation A
Great aoe ability.

Entangling B
It’s okay if you need it to lock an enemy down.

Eruption A
Good aoe ability with huge range, better if pure energy damage.

Extended Range A
Simple longer range.

Fan of Flames B
It’s a decent aoe ability to start with.

Flash B
Blind effect, it’s okay with an aoe.

Foxfire B
Faerie fire effect, it’s okay if you don’t have the spell available.

Fragmentation A
Great single target attack with half aoe around the target.

Grappling A
Works with aoe abilities which are great to lock down areas.

Kinetic Blade S
Huge amounts of damage, mainstay for melee and pillar for kinetic knight.

Magnetic B
Bonus to follow up attacks against the target hit by this, it’s okay.

Pure-Flame S
You ignore fire resistances, absolutely essential for fire infusions.

Pushing A
Bull rush effect, it’s pretty good for controlling positions and negating enemy turns because they need to move back to fight.

Rare-Metal S
Metallic blast will pierce immunity, it’s essential.

Spindle B
Hits enemies along the line it’s okay.

Spray A
Larger ranged cones, it’s great.

Synaptic B
It’s okay for aoe.

Torrent A
Another line based infusions, it’s fine.

Unraveling B
Dispel effect, okay if you need it but it’s a lot of burn.

Wall S
Amazing battlefield to control, incredible.

Magus

Magus AYou are a great damage dealer and buffer, you get great defensive tools in spells and armor, though you only get medium then heavy armor later, you can boost your weapon with a variety of unique buffs, and can attack and use spells together (only touch spells), a great option for a caster fighter hybrid.

Arcane Rider B
You lose your ability to wear medium and heavy armor in turn for a horse, it’s an okay trade but you need to be aware that you are very squishy because you can’t wear a shield and only wear light armor, so it might be worth it to use a reach weapon and forgo the spell attack options but still use your buffs and arcana.

Armored Battlemage A
You start being able to wear medium armor and quickie enough get the ability to wear heavy armor, you lose your spell combat ability, but this is a great choice for a tanky heavy armor wearing guy with a shield or a two handed weapon with lots of self buffs and weapon buffs.

Eldritch Archer B
You do the same as a regular magus but can use a bow instead, it’s a great option but it might be worth to go only two levels into this for the spell cast via bow and go for something to get you a better spell list or boost your archery abilities, but is still great pure class.

Eldritch Scion S
You learn and cast spells like a sorcerer, get some metamagic bonus feats with your arcana, and you get a bloodline with the powers associated with it, this is one of the best classes for a dragon disciple but can benefit from all the bloodlines, a great choice regardless.

Hexcrafter B
You add in some hexes for your arcana, this could be okay but those arcana are really important for your power regardless, maybe take one or two hexes max.

Sword Saint S
You pick a weapon of your choice and become a master of it, you lose your armor abilities other than light, and your int score can be added to your AC, with this class you become this greatest damage dealer in the game with weapons, you are able to make your attacks roll max damage, add addition critical effects, and much more, this class is a glass cannon.

Spell Dancer B
You lose your medium and heavy armor proficiencies, your arcane weapon ability for a spell dance ability that gives you movement and AC bonus against Attack of Opportunity, it’s okay and you eventually get some more AC bonuses, and you specialize in dodging Attack of Opportunity, it’s an okay class, you must be an Elf to pick this class.

Magus Arcana

Magus Arcana

Arcane Accuracy S
Ensures your attacks hit, very cheap for your arcane pool.

Extended Magic B
Decent though there is a mythic ability that makes it obsolete.

Reach Magic C
You are melee based so you shouldn’t really need this.

Wand Mastery B
Boosts wand powers which is great.

Wand Wielder B
Okay if you have a sick wand ready.

Bane Blade A
Adds +2 and 2d6 to your attacks, for 1 point it’s great.

Devoted Blade S
Adding Holy weapon effect to your weapon whenever you enchant your weapon, makes using your arcane pool even more powerful.

Dimension Strike S
Touch AC is very low for a large majority of enemies, usually if they have high base AC they should have lower touch AC and this can allow you to shred a normally tanky enemy.

Empowered Magic A
Great for improved damage for your spells.

Enduring Blade S
Once you get higher levels this makes your weapon enchantment last a long time.

Ghost Blade S
Damage incorporeal enemies easier and ignore an enemies AC from armor or shields, these are expensive for your arcane pool but you will be thankful you have them against extremely tough enemies.

Hasted Assault A
It’s okay but why wouldn’t you use the haste spell?

Maximized Magic S
Blow up enemies with maxed out damage rolls for your spells, great to combine with empowered spells.

Precinct Attack B
Okay versus high dex bonus enemies.

Quickened Magic A
Okay if you want to burst your enemies down fast.

Monk

Monk AYou are a great melee character with wis to AC, lots of powers through KI, combat maneuvers, a bunch of bonus feats, and a lot more, this class is phenomenal damage dealer and can tank pretty well with buffs, be sure to get a necklace amulet of agile fists so you can use your dex for damage instead of strength.

Quarterstaff Master A
Furry of bows for quarterstaffs, upgrades damage dice of your quarterstaff weapon, you get three combat maneuvers, pretty great class since there are some powerful quarter staffs.

Scaled Fist A
You get to use your cha instead of wis for AC, which makes this have a great dip for 2 paladin so you can get your cha to saves as well, it isn’t required but is optional. This class gets a dragon bloodline to choose, so makes a good candidate to dip for dragon disciple, the feats and abilities you get are more focused on damage but still phenomenal.

Sensei B
You become more support oriented by dropping your bonus feats for two good bard songs, and the ability to use your ki powers on your allies, it’s a decent melee support.

Sohei A
You get a horse animal companion, can use flurry of blows with a polearm, can use your ki powers with your melee weapon, and a lot of feats for your mount, it’s a great alternative take on the monk as a powerful mounted damage dealer.

Traditional Monk B
You do not get any choices for ki powers, and the ones you get are okay, so if it fits what you want, go for it.

Zen Archer A
You get flurry of blows for your bow, get ki powers for you bow, and can use wis instead of dex for your bow attack rolls, and get a ton of archer feats to use, phenomenal class and great 3 level dip if you are going to want an archer for a wisdom based caster.

Student of Stone B
You get some DR, some damage, and some other defensive abilities, its okay but not great either. You must be an Oread for this class.

Oracle

Oracle AYou cast divine spells like a sorcerer, the curses and revelation give some great bonuses to your character and can have a huge amount of spells per day, phenomenal caster, the only reason it’s not a S like a cleric is that you aren’t able to have every option available to solve every problem like the cleric can.

Divine Herbalist B
You get a scaling healing ability, and a way to remove conditions with a DC check, but you pay by losing 2 discoveries, both of which are very important to your progression, and you get plenty of healing abilities anyway.

Enlightened Philosopher B
You gain 1 int per 3 levels starting at level 7, for a cha casting class, not that great for losing a revelation.

Lone Strider B
You get a teleport which is very rare for a divine caster, and some concealment abilities, pretty nice if you want some protection versus archers.

Possessed B
Staggered for the first round of combat, is a big price to pay for some defensive buffs to save and AC, kinda okay.

Seeker A
You get a big boost to trickery to disarm traps, which is welcome, and you get three spellcasting feats at the cost of one revelation, which is pretty good.

Wind Whisperer A
You get a free haste aura, and a free freedom of movement aura, both are phenomenal, you are forced to take the wind mystery which is pretty good.

Purifier A
You give up your healing abilities for the ability for your channel energy to do damage to outsiders, which happen to be the most common enemy type, and you get heavy armor proficiencies which is pretty great, in addition to an ability to remove a curse or enchantment effect on an ally with a charisma check.

Oracle Curses Mysteries and Revelations

Oracle’s Curse

Blackened A
You get a bunch of fire base spells which are pretty great, your curse makes it so you shouldn’t be using weapons, focus on spells to do damage.

Demonic C
Persuasion penalty which might hurt, but you can use another character for persuasion so it won’t be hampered, some okay defensive abilities.

Hellbound A
Persuasion penalty which might hurt, but you can use another character for persuasion so it won’t be hampered, charm effects are a greater bonus to be protected from, immunity to fire is great since you are fighting lots of burning demons, and getting the lawful weapon effect is great since lots of enemies are chaotic.

Lame C
Immune to fatigue and exhaustion eventually, not that great.

Plagued C
Disease effects aren’t that great in general and there are lots of enemies that are immune to them.

Powerless Prophecy A
You can only move or use an action during the first turn of combat, but you get significant bonuses during that first round and get both uncanny and improved uncanny dodge for the whole duration of combat, so if you are spending your first turn moving or casting a single action spell, you come out positive. the end of things.

Pranked A
-4 to initiative can suck but if you get a feat, traits, or high dex you can negate it altogether, get a few good defensive and control abilities, one of the only ways to get mirror image as an oracle.

Wasting C
Disease and nausea effects aren’t that common and not that big a deal when you are dealing with them anyway.

Wolf-Scarred Face A
Bite attack for melee that scales, you don’t get any penalty to this curse.

Oracle’s Mystery and Revelations
I am not grading the spells added to your spellist. If you like what they add to your character, great, but I am grading the abilities from each Mystery. The touch abilities are generally bad.

Ancestor

Blood of Heroes A
Bonus to attack, damage, and will save that scales as you level, pretty great.

Sacred Council B
+2 to your next d20 roll, it’s okay for a universal bonus.

Spirit Shield A
Great added defensive bonuses, the armor bonus might get negated but the 1 hour long displacement versus attack is pretty good.

Storm of Souls B
Aoe attack that’s okay.

Spirit of the Warrior A
+4 to str, dex, con, AC, get keen weapon effect, decent effect though you only get 5 uses and a max of 10 so you can run out quickly.

Battle

Battlecry B
Bonus to your attack rolls, skill checks and saving throws, it’s okay.

Battlefield Clarity B
Reroll saving throws for most effects once per day. Okay.

Maneuver Mastery A
Two combat maneuvers including the upgraded one at level 11, great if you want it.

Skill at Arms S
Martial Weapon and Heavy armor, amazing for level 1 start.

War Sight A
Roll twice for initiative and get uncanny dodge, triple roll initiative at level 11, pretty good.

Weapon Mastery S
Weapon Focus, Improved Critical, Greater Weapon Focus, absolutely incredible.

Combat Healer C
Two spell slots for a quickened heal, and you can only use it a few times per day, it’s bad.

Iron Skin A
Stoneskin multiple times a day can tank you up big time.

Bones

Armor of Bones B
+4 armor bonus that can get replaced with your own armor but scales as you level, but only lasts an hour.

Near Death A
Good save bonus toward some deadly effects.

Resist Life C
Mediocre damage reduction for channels, not that great.

Soul Siphon C
Negative level effect that is good except only being able to use it a few times kills it’s uses.

Spirit Walk B
Incorporeal and invisibility effect, pretty good for defensive purposes.

Flame

Fire Breath A
Decent aoe ability.

Burning Magic B
Bonus fire damage, it’s okay.

Cinder Dance B
Bonus movement and ignore difficult terrain, not bad.

Heat Aura B
Aoe damage and concealment, not bad.

Molten Skin
Eventual fire immunity which rocks against all the demons you fight.

Form of Flame B
Fire elemental form, decent.

Firestorm S
Huge stationary fire aoe, great for locking down and blasting an area.

Life

Channel S
Lots of channels to heal your team and blast undead, great!

Enhanced Cures S
There is a mythic feat that does the same effect so you can ignore that, great!

Life Link A
You share 5 damage per hit to a party member, this is pretty great actually in that you spread out damage done to your party and can make a tank even harder to knock out or make a squishy character last longer in an emergency.

Safe Curing A
No attacks of opportunities when healing, decent when healing in a pinch.

Spirit Boost B
Gives buffer if you overheal, if more hp could be stacked it would be better.

Lifesense B
Blind sense which is okay for detection.

Nature

Animal Companion S
Amazing addition to your party for damage or tanking.

Friend to Animals S
Get all summoning spells, incredible.

Nature’s Whispers S
Use your cha instead of your dex for AC, absolutely incredible so you can ignore dex and pump strength and charisma up.

Spirit of Nature B
When you are at negative hp you start healing, it’s okay.

Life Leech A
Get a huge buffer of life every day, make sure you use it on a low fortitude save enemy.

Stone

Acid Skin
Acid immunity is rare but a welcome addition.

Clobbering Strike B
Trip on a spell crit, rare but okay ability.

Mighty Pebble B
Aoe attack, decent.

Shard Explosion B
Aoe attack, decent.

Stone Stability A
Free trip, great!

Waves

Blizzard A
Great aoe to sit and wreck your enemies.

Punitive transformation B
Baleful polymorph is a decent spell to get for free to use.

Fluid Nature A
Free dodge and some other goodies, great!

Freezing Spells B
Slow effect if it fails any cold spell DC, decent.

Ice Armor B
Hour long armor spell, decent.

Icy Skin B
Cold immunity is okay but a rare element for the most part.

Wind

Air Barrier B
Hour long armor spell, decent.

Lightning Breath A
Long line aoe effect, great.

Spark Skin B
Lightning immunity is okay but a rare element for the most part.

Vortex Spells B
Spell crits stagger enemies.

Thunderburst A
Good lighting damage ability.

Paladin

Paladin AYou mess up evil enemies, and this game is full of them. There are some weapons that give bonus abilities to paladins which are great, smite evil and destroy them while getting a ton of buffs and spells, you can get a weapon buff or a horse at level 6. Great frontliner and or damage dealer.

Divine Guardian A
You get to choose an ally as a target of your protection and can take attacks in place of them or give them AC, so you can guard your squishy melee glass cannon or your wizard and be just fine, you do give up spellcasting but get some extra defensive feats, so it’s okay.

Divine Hunter B
You get some abilities to boost your archery abilities which is pretty good to smite and destroy enemies from afar.

Divine Scion A
You trade your smite for study target and sneak attack, which is pretty good because you can get sneak attack feats and those never run out unlike smites! One note that you can take the first level of this to get the study target ability and the bonus for it stacks with other study target abilities.

Hospitaler B
You give up smite for channel energy, it’s okay but not worth it because smite is how the paladin keeps up in the damage department.

Martyr A
You give up your smite for inspire courage, which is a great and welcome bonus along with some other good songs, the thing is that you use 1 hp per round to use this song, which is no big deal for anything after the first 2 levels, so it’s a great choice for a more supporting type.

Warrior of the Holy Light B
You give up your spellcasting and aura of faith for an aoe that gives buffs to you and your party when they stand in it, the problem is that the buffs can be replaced by a few spells from a divine caster that you should have in your party anyway, the only unique thing about this aoe buff is that it protects your party from crits which is decent.

Stonelord A
You give up your smite for a simple bonus damage ability, but mainly you get AC and DR- and get the defensive stand from stalwart defender prestige class along with some defensive powers along the way, great choice for a beefy tank. You must be a dwarf to pick, this class.

Ranger

Ranger AGreat damage dealing class with animal companion, be sure to get the boon companion feat to make it have +3 levels. Your combat style feats let you get some stuff without meeting the requirements so go crazy on what you use, and be sure to use your buff spells. Great damage class.

Demonslayer S
Lots of demons in this game so this is just better than the base ranger in most cases.

Espionage Expert A
No animal companion but you can share your favored enemy bonus with your party which can be pretty great as long as you choose demons and outsiders.

Flame Warden C
You lose your animal companion for some fire spells and feats, the problem is that you get them so late that they are irrelevant.

Freebooter A
Flanking in this game is extremely easy, so you can get a +2 bonus to your entire party very easily along with marking a target for you allies to attack, a great choice.

Nomad A
Archery based ranger with a horse, a great choice with all your free feats for archery.

Stormwalker C
You lose your animal companion for some buffs to your bow that only work with crits, the feats are nice but the Nomad is better if you want an archer.

Rogue

Rogue AGreat damage class, great skills, and a lot of options on builds with your mountain of feats.

Eldritch Scoundrel A
You give up some feats and sneak attack for spellcasting, which is a great trade, this class can do some serious work with your magical utility and defenses.

Knife Master A
While using a knife your sneak attack damage dice is increased to d8 instead of d6, which is a lot if you intend to max out your sneak attack, this is a great choice if you want a dual wielding rogue to blow up enemies.

Rowdy A
You focus on vital strikes, which means you want a weapon with big damage dice, so pick up a polearm or greataxe with reach and blow people up.

Sylvan Trickster B
You get some hexes in your rogue talent list which can give you some damage, utility, defense, or more, it’s a great choice to have more options for you actions ingame.

Thug B
Focuses on debuffing enemies with effects, though some of them aren’t very useful against a lot of enemies.

Underground Chemist B
You get a throw anything feat and a single discovery, not that great sadly.

Master of All B
You give up some sneak attack dice for a skill boost feat, it’s okay if you want to be really good in particular skills, good choice for a tricker who uses their skills in unique ways.

Shaman

Shaman AA very versatile full caster, the spirit you choose can greatly change your purpose for your team, same goes with your hexes, you can go full support, or melee damage based buffer, a great pick for your team.

Possessed Shaman B
You get some will save protection and get a bonus to particular skills, it’s okay if you need to be really good at a few particular skills.

Shadow Shaman A
You give up one hex and the wandering hex ability in return for some decent sneak attack progression which is a great boost to damage.

Spirit Hunter A
You get Object Bond to regain a spell per day, and you get weapon buff abilities like a magus, another great option for a damage dealer shaman.

Spirit Warden B
You get some undead related spells and effects the ability to channel energy only to damage undead, too bad there aren’t a whole ton of undead compared to demons.

Unsworn Shaman B
You can swap around what hexes you have, but can’t have major or grand hex so you lose a lot.

Wildland Shaman A
You get an animal companion, are forced to take a battle spirit, and lose your wandering spirit ability, it’s a great trade for you if you want to be a combat focused shaman. You must be a half orc to pick this class.

Witch Doctor B
You lose some hexes to get channel energy and can turn any of your spells into dispel magic or remove curse, a cool idea but is lacking at the end of it.

Shaman Spirits

The rating for these spirits are not for the added spells, if you need those spells, great, this is rating of the abilities given by the spirit.

Battle

Battle Master S
Extra attack of opportunity per turn, weapon specialization, greater weapon focus, amazing combat feats!

Battle Ward B
AC bonus that reduces after each attack, decent for a squishy character that shouldn’t be attacked often.

Hampering Hex A
AOE AC reduction, pretty great.

Bones

Shard Soul B
Magic damage DR, aoe attack, decent ability.

Shedding Form A
Incorporeal and ghost touch weapon ability, great defensive tool.

Bone Lock B
Staggered effect for enemy.

Bone Ward B
AC bonuses for an hour, great!

Fearful Gaze B
Shaken or frightened, okay effect.

Flame

Fiery Soul B
Decent aoe fire effect.

Elemental Form B
Elemental 4 form, great.

Fire Nimbus B
Aura to remove stealth and concealment like true sight and give bonus towards fire spell saves.

Flame Curse A
Removes fire immunity temporarily, pretty good as lots of fire resistance enemies.

Ward of Flames B
Fire thorns, mediocre.

Frost

Ice Splinter B
Decent ranged attack.

Frigid Blast B
Okay aoe burst attack.

Guardian of the North
Elemental 4 form, decent ability.

Hypothermia C
Aoe fatigue, not that great.

Life

Channel S
More aoe heals, simple and great.

Healer’s Touch B
Skill boost and bad heal.

Quick Healing
Channel and cast cure spells as swift actions, useful.

Nature

Storm Burst B
20% miss for one target, it’s okay against multi attackers.

Spirit of Nature C
Heal when negative hp, not that useful.

Animal Companion A
Level 16 is kinda late to get one, but sure we’ll take it.

Entangling Curse B
Decent ability.

Stone

Body of Earth B
Scaling DR and thorns effect, decent.

Elemental Form B
Elemental 4 spell, it’s useful.

Metal Curse B
Minus AC hex that can help hitting a target.

Stone Stability A
Trip feats, it’s great!

Waves

Wave Strike B
Bull rush effect in an ability, pretty nice.

Fluid Mastery A
AOE cone spell, great!

Elemental Form B
Elemental 4 spell, it’s useful.

Beckoning Chill
Stacking debuffs with cold damage, it’s okay.

Skald

Skald AThis is a support barbarian more or less, you are a decent caster but what makes this class great is your song gives the rage powers you choose to your allies, so you can supercharge your allies with rage powers across the board doing things that a bard can’t dream of. Throw on medium armor and a shield and go join your allies in smashing the enemies face in.

Battle Scion A
You get a choice of some teamwork feats for your rage powers that are much better than the typical tactician ability, so you can do some rage power and some teamwork feats, a great choice.

Battle Singer B
Lose some rage powers for a cone sonic attack, it’s okay but not great.

Court Poet A
Instead of buffing attack rolls and damage, you buff Int or Cha so your casters get better DCs for their spells, it’s quite a unique buff that is very rare so if you have more casters that use either of those stats its a great choice.

Demon Dancer A
Your song gives your allies claw attacks, pretty great if you have lots of melee characters that can make use of it.

Herald of the Horn B
Object bond gives you a free cast per day, sonic spell dc buffs, it’s okay.

Hunt Caller C
You get blindsense and lose some stuff, that’s about it.

Slayer

Slayer AYou get a ton of free feats, and can ignore stat requirements like a ranger with combat style feats, get sneak attacks, has the study target ability that helps a lot, an amazing damage dealing class.

Arcane Enforcer A
You get a bunch of arcane exploits like the arcanist at the cost of a few slayer feats, and you can use them for defense, damage, utility, or support, at the bare minimum be sure to get dimensional slide to teleport into your target’s face to tear them apart, phenomenal class with a lot of utility.

Deliverer S
You gain +2 will save throw and diehard against enemies who are two alignment steps from you, and deal 2d6 divine damage to enemies two alignment steps from you, if you want these abilities to constantly work choose Lawful Good, Neutral Good, or Lawful Neutral and they will work for almost every enemy in the game. Divine damage is among the best types of damage in the game.

Executioner B
This class is focused against humanoid targets, there are a decent amount but the bonuses aren’t that amazing anyway.

Spawn Slayer A
You gain bonuses against creatures greater sizes than you, and most bosses in this game are size Large and up, so you will deal more damage to them with this class, all you lose is studied target (swift) but that gets applied when you deal sneak attack damage which is negligible, I would say this is a better option than the base slayer class class.

Stygian Slayer B
You get an invisibility ability and an eventual ability to turn into incorporeal mass of mist, its okay if you want to charge head into the enemies and escape out, be warned that a large number of enemies have true sight and will see through your invisibility effect.

Vanguard B
You can share a single teamwork feat of your choosing (Outflank) and you can share half your studied target bonus, it’s okay.

Imitator B
You can change martial class styles a number of times a day, but you lose so many feats, sneak attack dice, and studied targets the trade might not be worth it, its versatility versus specialization. You must be a human to pick this class.

Sorcerer

Sorcerer SAmazing flexibility and can conquer any threat, this and the wizard break the game and it’s par for the course for DND games where arcane casters are OP. Your bloodline gives great bonuses and spells, the subclasses for this are all incredible, but the base class is just universally powerful.

Crossblooded A
Give up some spell slots for some spells of a second bloodline, its great.

Empyreal Sorcerer A
It’s a wisdom based sorcerer, if you want to use this for another wisdom based divine caster and go Mystic Theurge this is a decent choice, but fine as your main class as well.

Overwhelming Mage A
You get +4 spell pen bonus as you level up, with lots of spell resistance enemies this might be worth it.

Sage Sorcerer S
Int based sorcerer, you get some absolutely insane bonuses to your spells and metamagic.

Seeker A
Better at finding traps and you get some more specialized bonus feats.

Sylvan Sorcerer S
You get an animal companion but you are forced to take a sylvan bloodline, and you get some decent bloodline spells, incredible class.

Nine Tailed Heir B
You get some minor abilities that quickly get outdated, it’s okay but you give up a lot. You must be a kitsune to pick this class.

Sorcerer Bloodlines

This is judgement of the abilities given by the bloodline, spells are a big bonus too but not the main contender.

Abyssal B
You get a claw attack and +4 strength as you level up, it’s okay though the good centered abilities aren’t good because over half the enemies are evil.

Arcane A
You gain a lot more spells to add to your spellbook and Bond Spell, pretty great for more versatility in addition to bonus dc to your metamagic skills.

Celestial A
Wings and some anti-evil abilities, decent.

Draconic S
You get at level 1 +1 damage per die rolled of the relevant element chosen, absolutely insane for your elemental damage spells, claw attack too for melee, it’s great!

Elemental B
Variety of elemental based abilities it’s okay.

Fey B
Some decent bonuses and defensive abilities and bonus to compulsion effect DCs.

Infernal C
Anti-Good Abilities, but most enemies are evil.

Serpentine B
Additional attack and AC decent abilities.

Undead A
Your mind control spells work on undead, and you get an incorporeal form to avoid lots of damage, it’s okay.

Warpriest

Warpriest A
You get full martial feats like a paladin or fighter, but you are more cleric sided, you get buffs to your weapons and armor, and can choose blessings for buffs, utilities, and damage, lots of bonus feats for greater combat choices, think this as a more cleric version of a paladin, great class.

Champion of the Faith B
You lose your weapon buff for a smite, but the big note is that to make your smite good you need lots of cha so this will stretch your stats thin.

Cult Leader A
You give up your channel energy and a bunch of you combat feats for some sneak attack dice, this is a great boost to your damage but you do lose both your heavy and medium armor proficiencies along with your martial weapon proficiencies besides some light weapons. Go dex and shred your enemy to pieces.

Disenchanter B
Give up your combat feats for some defensive feats and a dispel ability, needing to dispel in this game is rare because you have to beat spell resistance as well as the dispel roll, it’s okay.

Feral Champion C
Lose a blessing and can shapeshift, the problem is you lose you armor buffs so you are squishy, and don’t make great use of your sacred weapon feats unless you choose the weapons of your animal form which makes it so you don’t benefit from it always so it’s a lose lose.

Proclaimer B
Every turn you can do an aoe burst to damage evil outsiders, its 2d6 once per turn which is okay but you lose your armor bonuses, channeling, and fervor abilities

Shieldbearer B
Lots of bonuses to your shield, and the shield bash ability, problem is that getting additional bashes require a lot of dex that might not be worth it, still pretty good.

Witch

Witch ALots of options to build this class just like the shaman, your patron adds spells to your lists, and you have a ton of hexes for whatever you want to focus on, a great caster class with lots of versatility.

Elemental Witch A
You give up a lot of hexes for a scaling elemental ray ability, which is decent, you are trading hex spamming for ray spamming, it’s your call if it’s worth it.

Hagbound A
You gain a claw attack and some scaling strength bonuses, okay if you want a strength melee witch.

Hex Channeler A
Give up one hex for channel energy which is a pretty good but simple trade.

Leyline Guardian S
Spontaneous spell caster, you can boost the caster level of your spells at the cost of being staggered if you fail a fortitude save, which is a negligible penalty if your spells succeed and win the fight for you because of the boosted power, you are a caster class and this makes you spells stronger, incredibly powerful.

Stigmatized Witch A
Functions like an Oracle with a curse but no revelations, it gains and cast spells like one too and is pretty good.

Witch of the Veil A
Stealth and invisible based witch, it’s okay until you run into the part of the game where lots of enemies have true sight.

Witch Hexes

Ameliorating B
Gives a buffer when a certain effect is given to the character, it’s not that great unless you use it to negate the drawback of an ability, such as negate fatigue from a barbarian or an Eldritch Font Arcanist.

Aura of Purity C
Area that removes gas effects, rarely needed.

Cackle S
With a move action you can extend the effect of a good hex on an enemy, phenomenal for action economy.

Evil Eye S
You can spam this whenever, no limit on how often, great filler ability regardless if they save and can target a variety of stats but you’ll typically lower their AC. Can be extended by Cackle.

Fortune B
Great for an important attack or skill check, but the once per day limits it a bit unless you commit to keeping it up with Cackle.

Healing C
A once per day heal for each ally, not that great.

Iceplant S
+2 AC, great for any melee character or to make your character harder to hit.

Misfortune A
Much better because there are so many more enemies that one effect will help out a lot, hit them with this then attempt a saving throw for best results. Put this on a boss and keep it up with a cackle to make them much weaker.

Nails A
Natural attack for a melee character.

Protective Luck A
Forces your enemies to reroll attacks, which can be extended with Cackle to make your tank unhittable.

Slumber S
This is what you want sleep spells to be, if this spell is successful, you can instantly kill the victim with the Coup De Grace ability while they are sleeping, incredible.

Vulnerability Curse S
Removes resistances or immunities for any energy type for at minimum one round, and you can use this as many times as you want, no 24 hour restriction so you can blast away.

Ward A
+2 AC until the target is hit, it’s great to keep on your tank.

Agony B
Nauseated is okay, but once again once per day.

Animal Servant B
Attempt to turn an enemy into an animal, decent.

Animal Skin B
Leopard is an okay form to turn into good back up ability.

Beast’s Gift A
Extra natural attacks are great for you melee characters.

Death Curse B
Enemy has to fail two saves to really work, but exhaustion is a pretty strong debuff to work okay.

Delicious Fright C
Negligible bonus for a major hex.

Hoarfrost C
Killing most enemies makes you wait 10-12 minutes which is insane.

Lay of Rest C
Okay but not a whole ton of undead unlike demons.

Life giver A
If a character dies a lot, great, if not, a big waste.

Major Ameliorating B
Okay if you want to double up on protections

Major Healing B
Major hex for a heal spell, just use a spell slot unless you expect to heal each party member everytime.

Regenerative Sinew B
Regen plus attribute damage healing, decent but not that great.

Restless Slumber C
Slumber but they take 1d10 damage per turn, and add a confusion when they wake, if you sleep them just Coup De Grace to instantly kill them instead of sitting there waiting for a weak dot.

Wizard

Wizard SThe most versatile and powerful caster, can break the game in typical fashion, absolutely incredible.

Arcane Bomber A
You get scaling bombs like an alchemist but get 4 opposition schools to choose, think of this as a caster focused alchemist, great at what it does.

Elemental Specialist S
At level 1 you can transform the energy type of any spell you cast into the type you chose, this allows you to go all in for feats of one type of element and get the benefit for every damage spell you have, absolutely insane and is among the best damage caster subclasses.

Exploiter Wizard A
You gain an arcane reservoir like an arcanist, but slower progression of exploits, good to boost your DC or spell level and a few utility options.

Scroll Savant S
You can use any scroll with your int to cast them and use your own spell level when you cast them, buy or craft a ton of spell level scaling scrolls and have infinite casting of spells more or less as long as you can afford it.

Spell Master A
You get a lot more uses of Arcane Bond so you can adapt to any need throughout the day.

Thassilonian Specialist A
You give up two spell classes entirely for two bonus slots of one spell class, if you want to super specialize this is for you, Gluttony is a great pick if you want to go for Mystic Theurge.

Cruoromancer S
Necromancy specialist, can spend your hp to boost the DC of your necro spells, it’s a little weak early game until you get summon skeleton, which are buffed by this class, a great match for the lich mythic path. You must be a Dhampir to choose this class.

Wizard Schools

Remember that each specialist school gets a special ability and a spell slot per spell level for the chosen specialist school. Some subclasses come with a school chosen as a requirement.

Abjuration B
You get energy resistance ,an AOE buff to AC, and the ability to absorb energy damage equal to 3 x your wizard level as if you were immune to that much of the damage, a decent set of defensive abilities.

Conjuration B
Increased duration of your summon spells which can help out, a decent ranged attack, a teleport, not a lot but it is decent.

Divination B
Bonus to initiative that turns into a nat 20 at level 20, give a huge insight bonus to an ally for their next action, and you get an aura that either gives +2 to allies or -2 to enemies for more or less all rolls they do, pretty good set of abilities.

Enchantment B
Persuasion check bonus, mediocre touch effect, and an aura that gives -2 to all rolls for enemies, pretty good!

Evocation A
Adds up to +10 damage to your spells, pretty great though remember it only occurs once per spell, you get a mini magic missile to use that’s okay, you get an elemental wall that is quite effective at damage, pretty good abilities.

Illusion A
Blinding ray that uses touch attack that is pretty useful actually against tough enemies, invisibility field that is useful for emergencies.

Necromancy B
Turn undead which is okay when you fight undead every once in a while, mediocre melee touch spell, blindsense that is okay.

Transmutation B
Gain scaling enchantment bonus to one of str, dex or con that’s okay, a mediocre touch attack, and a free shapeshift ability, it’s okay.

Universalist A
Ranged attack with your melee weapon that uses int thats okay, you get a huge number of free uses of metamagic that is quite useful.

Prestige Classes

Most of the prerequisites to access these classes are pretty simple but need to be planned for before hand.

Arcane Trickster S
Get ray spells and use your sneak attack for each ray, ranged trap disarming, one of the most powerful single target classes in the game and will blow up bosses.

Assassin C
You have to do a lot of work to get the death attack ability to even start, but even after all the work you do sneaking up and passing perception checks (that can scale to insane levels) they still might just pass the DC and survive, and once you do you are in the middle of your enemies most likely as a squishy character, in addition to this the enemies you do want to assassinate are bosses that typically detect you for cutscene purposes, so it might not even work on the enemies you really want to assassinate.

Stalwart Defender B
You get +1 AC and defensive stance that gives +2 AC, pretty good for 1 level, the further you go along the harder it is to get hit, amazing tank.

Eldritch Knight A
Progress your arcane spellcasting while getting combat feats, great way to get your full arcane caster into some heavy armor and still keep progressing spells.

Dragon Disciple S
If you want to go full dragon disciple for dragon form and various abilities, go for it, but what this class gives you is the trade of 1 level of spellcasting progression in exchange for +2 AC, +4 strength, a bite attack, and a breath weapon and you go back to your original class, 4 levels is the bulk of the major bonuses from this but if you want dragon form go for it.

Hellknight A
A lawful version of a paladin with a smite of its own, various abilities, and lots of defensive bonuses, a great class against all these demons if you are lawful but don’t want to be a paladin.

Mystic Theurge S
You progress your divine and arcane spellcaster classes together as this one, this gives you the full list of buffs and control spells, what makes this so good is that if you go lich or angel you can get arcane or divine lists by adding your mythic class level to your spellcasting level and cheat the system so you get a full 20/20 arcane/divine caster and totally break the game.

Duelist B
You add your duelist level to damage and Int bonus to AC (this stacks with sword saint), you get some bonus abilities for damage and defenses but it’s okay in the end.

Aldori Swordlord B
Lots of bonuses towards persuasion of enemies, defensive parries and critical nullifications, but is it worth it going for more fighter feats? Your call.

Student of War B
Lots of skill bonuses and a versatile bonus ability against enemies, but it’s a lot of work for not a big payout, the only major note is that you can replace your dex with int for your AC which is pretty unique.

Hellknight Signifer A
Become a master of armored spellcasting with some decent bonuses, free true seeing, a great class to tank up your caster.

Loremaster S
You break feat or spell progression with this, though probably only worth 3-5 levels in because you can only select each feat once, but when you pick one of the 9 secrets, you can pick any wizard spell and add it to your spellbook, and repeat the same for the other casters, another good use is to use the combat feat and get Improved critical or any other super powerful combat feats for your favorite weapon, absolutely insane and can break the game if you are a caster.

Winter Witch A
You get really good with cold spells, for damage and DCs, lots of great choices and if you picked a shaman or witch subclass with less hexes and your class bonuses early, you can cheat the system and get a lot of extra hexes.

Items of Note

One major choice you have to make early (as if there aren’t already) is the type of weapon you will use for the majority of your adventure, as you need to spend time and money respecing if you find a weapon you really want to use, the items listed below are some good weapon you will find within Act 1 or 2 that will be usable for quite a while and/or upgraded later, but if there is a specific weapon you want don’t worry, the game has plenty for sale and found so you can always find something good, and if you can’t there’s also the talking weapon you get in act 1 at the Ancientries and Wonders Shop (Woljif’s questline) that can turn into anything, and is upgradable down the line.

Strength Weapons

Jinx (Falchion) Crusader’s Camp bought from Wilcer Garms immediate start of Act 2

Radiance (Longsword) End of the Shield Maze at the very start of the game, from completing the button puzzle. This weapon is upgradable through sidequests that can be eventually be corrupted to a +6 evil weapon or bless to a +6 good weapon. This is the only +6 weapon in the game.

Wide Sweep (Scythe) Crusader’s Camp bought from Wilcer Garms immediate start of Act 2

Dexterity Weapons

Wicket Longbow (Longbow) Market Square Act 1

There aren’t a lot of unique dex weapons early but you will get plenty of +1 versions, or you can use your talking weapon to become the one you wanted.

Backgrounds

Preface: Most of these are fine for whatever purpose you want, if you don’t really know just pick one for a skill that you will use. I will list ones that are unique or more powerful than the others. Weapon upgrades from backgrounds are Enchantment upgrades and will not stack if you get a magic weapon so skill bonuses or proficiencies are preferable.

Oblate:Acolyte
This allows you to use your wis instead of cha for persuasion, which can give you a bigger bonus if you are a wis focused class.

Oblate:Martial Disciple
This gives you the Improved Unarmed Strike feat, which can allow you to get Crane Style without paying a feat tax so you aren’t as penalized using defensive fighting.

Scholar:Arcane
You get the ability to craft scrolls when you rest, which can save you some money and give you some extra firepower, this ability is usually locked behind a feat or choosing a specific class

School:Divine
You get the ability to craft potions when you rest, which can save you some money and give you some extra utility, this ability is usually locked behind a feat or choosing a specific class

Street Urchin:Pickpocket
This gives you +2 to initiative, which is half of a feat, and can be focused if you really want to go first in combat.

Skills

You will want points in every skill for their use, but I will list them by priority starting from 1 to 11
In general you will want to put all your points into a few of them rather than spread them out,

IF YOU ARE MELEE YOU SHOULD PUT 3 POINTS IN MOBILITY!

If you are fighting defensively which you should be doing for your tank when fighting tough enemies, 3 points of mobility will give you an extra AC that can mean the difference between life or death.

1. Persuasion
2. Perception
3. Trickery
4. Mobility
5. Athletics
6. Knowledge (Arcana)
7. Lore (Religion)
8. Lore (Nature)
9. Knowledge (World)
10. Stealth
11. Use Magic Devices (You only really need 1 person good at this)

Feats

These are outlines of feats for typical character archetypes, some classes get them faster than others or get them without requirements.
Generally the game will recommend decent ones I just want you to be aware of ones that go well together, look at the categories and follow along with the progression.

Some of the feats you can’t be unless you get a certain levels of fighter or through other methods.

Melee Dual Wield
Two-Weapon Fighting
Double Slice (if strength based)
Weapon Finesse (if dexterity based)
Weapon Focus
Fencing or Slashing Grace (dexterity based, rogues can ignore this one)
Outflank
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Piranha Strike
Improved Critical

Melee Two Hander
Weapon Focus
Power Attack
Cleave (or Vital Strike)
Outflank
Cleaving Finish
Greater Cleave (or Improved Vital Strike)
Improved Cleaving Finish
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Focus
Improved Critical

Melee Combat Maneuver (trip is used as an example but can be any combat maneuver)
Weapon Focus
Combat Expertise
Trip
Fury’s Fall (if strength based)
Outflank
Greater Trip
Tandem Trip (if you have someone who trips as well)
Greater Weapon Focus

Melee Dexterity Based
Weapon Focus
Weapon Finesse
Fencing or Slashing Grace
Outflank
Piranha Strike
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Focus
Improved Critical

Melee Sword and Shield Basher
Two-Weapon Fighter
Shield Bash
Double Slice
Outflank
Weapon Focus (Main Hand)
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Weapon Focus (Shield)
Shield Focus
Shield Master

Archer
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Weapon Focus
Rapid Shot
Deadly Aim
Clustered Shot
Weapon Specialization
Greater Weapon Focus
Improved Critical

Caster
Lingering Performance (if you have a bard song)
Spell Focus
Greater Spell Focus
Augment Summoning (if you are a summoner)
Superior Summoning (if you are a summoner)
Spell Penetration
Metamagic

Ranged Attack Caster
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Weapon Focus (ray if you are using ray spells)
Spell Focus
Greater Spell Focus
Spell Penetration
Metamagic

Elemental Attack Caster
Spell Focus (Evocation)
Greater Spell Focus (Evocation)
Elemental Focus
Greater Elemental Focus
Spell Penetration
Metamagic

Feats that are always good
Dodge
Toughness
Outflank (melee teamwork feat)
Armor Focus
Crane Style (for tanking with defensive fighting)
Combat Reflexes (if you use attacks of opportunities a lot)
Blind Fight (or can be replaced with true sight or other spells that nullify concealment)

Metamagic
There are mythic feats that can reduce the level increase of metamagic categories by 1 level so some are free upgrades for your spells.

Bolster S
2 more damage per die rolled so if you cast spells that roll lots of dice, it’s great for damage.

Empower S
Any number is increased by 50% including bonuses to that roll so great for flat damage spells or combined with Bolster.

Extend B
There are mythic feats that make this obsolete but okay until you get them.

Heighten A
Increase caster spell level by the number of levels you increase it by.

Maximize S
All numeric effects roll the max possible, great with empowered.

Persistent S
Great for disabling spells so that the enemy rolls the save again if they beat the first DC.

Quicken A
Cast more spell per turn is always broken.

Reach B
It’s okay for some spells but not that amazing, you can usually solve this with proper positioning of your party.

Selective S
Use AOE disables spells or use your massive fireballs without a care of your party members, absolutely amazing.

Mythic Abilities

You get one every odd mythic level. Ratings of SS are not a mistake, the ability is that good.

Abundant Casting SS
Improved Abundant Casting SS
Greater Abundant Casting SS
If you cast spell levels that any of these apply for, get them because these will help you out more than anything else in this game as a caster with 4 more spells per level.

Always a Chance B
Making it so rolling a 1 will not automatically miss but still weigh your attack rolls versus AC, it’s okay if you attack a lot but a lot of times your roll will be a one still and will probably be low enough to miss anyway.

Archmage Armor S
If you cast Mage Armor on yourself by cast, scroll, or potion you get this bonus and it breaks the game with how much AC you get, a must for any unarmored characters and gets some light armored characters to drop their armor for this anyway.

Ascendant Element S
Makes your chosen element unable to be reduced by resistances or immunities, absolutely essential if you are doing damage mainly with one element.

Ascendant Summons A
Boosts your summons stats considerably and makes it so their attacks can be reduced by DR, which can help a ton, great for a pure summoner.

Battle Meditation C
You are defenseless and lose your turn for a mediocre buff, it’s bad.

Best Jokes A
If you get your DC high enough you can chain disable the entire fight you are in, it’s great.

Boundless Healing S
Massively increase the potency of your healing, great for any healer you choose.

Brutality Incarnate A
If you have a lot of natural attacks from abilities or shapeshifting this is a good choice but not great otherwise.

Cleaving Shot S
Your killing and critical shots will AUTOMATICALLY HIT surrounding enemies which is absolutely insane for your damage archer slaughtering a horde of enemies.

Dimensional Retribution B
It’s good in theory the problem is most spells that enemy casters will use are AOE and even if you have the ability it’s still random if they pick you or another party member.

Distracting Shots C
The duration is short and the debuff effect isn’t that great anyway.

Domain Zealot A
Some great abilities that are now swift action, pretty great change of action economy, it’s great.

Elemental Barrage A
If you have a variety of elemental spells this is a good choice, usually 3 different elemental spells will do the trick, works for weapons too.

Emergency Help Help C
You have to plan to get your allies to 30% HP which you try to avoid in the first place, and the reward is a decently buffed healing spell, it’s just not enough.

Enduring Spells S
There are a few good spells that last an hour, now they will last you a full day! The reason you take this is to get the better version of this.

Greater Enduring Spells SS
Your spells that give buffs per minute per level are now 24 hour spells if you get them past 5 minutes, absolutely incredible, you can buff once and go to town with more spells to use since they aren’t tied up with buff spells.

This effect gets even better, it can make not only spells but most abilities get the extended period of 24 hours if you meet the threshold, so it’s even more ridiculous.

If you do the right boosting of spell level, you can get haste to last for 24 hours.

Enforced Vigor B
If you do lots of AOE friendly fire you can buff up your team pretty well, otherwise it’s not worth it.

Ever Ready A
If you make lots of Attacks of Opportunities it’s absolutely amazing, but otherwise not that great.

Expose Vulnerability B
You jump through hoops to get a decent damage bonus, when there are easier options to take.

Inspirational Leader B
Lots of bonuses but not that great.

Last Stand S
This lasts for 60 seconds, so you can have a character tank literally infinite damage and just stand there, you can heal them above 0 before it ends. Incredible.

Leading Strike A
If you have a lot of attackers this is great because you can chain this off of each other and get tons of extra damage.

Limitless Rage B
You typically have a lot of rage as it is unless you are multiclassing, if you are often running out of rage, just get this.

Magic Nullification C
Usually when you want to activate this you are stunned or unable to use the ability from being disabled and this purges your debuffs too, usually not worth it.

Master Shapeshifter B
If you shapeshift a lot, this will help out a lot, otherwise not that great.

Mythic Charge A
You will charge a lot in combat, at least during the first new turns anyway and this can be a huge damage boost to you, or if you are a class like cavalier that wants to charge, this can be great. If you have the pounce trait, this is absolutely incredible.

Mythical Beast A
Boosts your animal companion which can be great if you have one!

Powerful Shadows B
Shadow spells are finicky but this is okay if you like to use them.

Ranging Shots A
It’s effectiveness will vary, useless for regular fights, incredible for boss fights.

Rupture Restraints B
Most of these can be resisted or nullified with proper buffing but this is okay if you want to automate it.

The Bigger They Are B
Lots of feats for damage that works a lot of the time, this works rarely, but this does work against a lot of bosses so that could be a big plus towards it

Thundering Blows A
Sonic damage is rarely resisted, and if this doesn’t work, then that means all your attacks hit which is great, and if this works, that’s great too.

Unrelenting Assault S
If you have multiple attacks and will be doing nothing but that this is absolutely incredible.

Unstoppable B
Can negate some disables but you might just never see that disable hit you but your party members instead.

Abundant Class Resource A
This is for each of the abilities like “Extra Smite” for each class, if you really want to get more of this resource, it’s great but if you don’t seem to run out, then it’s okay to pass this up.

Beneficial Curse B
If you want the benefits a certain curse gives but hate the debuff it gives, this is pretty great.

Bloodline Ascendance A
If you aren’t going to be going to level 20 as your bloodline class, this is a great pick if you want the level 20 skill from the bloodline.

Defensive Study B
If you want more AC for your character and can consistently get study one, this is decent though remember it’s only against this one enemy that is studied.

Everlasting Judgement S
Judgements are pretty great and restricted by a low number of uses, this gives you infinite uses and is pretty amazing.

Favorite Metamagic S
Metamagic is an incredible feature and this makes it even better for casters, you can get more out of the ridiculously powerful ones than ever before. Get Selective.

Impossible Domain S
You get a free domain and all the abilities and spells associated with it, can help patch up a hole in your spellbook or get you a great ability to use.

Kinetic Overcharge A
You can be much greedier with your infusion uses and makes your kinetic blasts, your basic ability that you will be using the whole game, much more powerful.

Over Infused Blasts B
Add more oomph to your kinetics blasts that can save you in a pinch.

Second Bloodline S
If you are a sorcerer, you get more spells and abilities, if you are a bloodrager, you get more offensive abilities, phenomenal choices if you have strong bloodline powers.

Second Mystery S
Same deal as bloodline, you get spells and abilities that you normally wouldn’t otherwise, so you have greater options in your spellbook and abilities.

Second Spirit S
Same deal as bloodline, you get spells and abilities that you normally wouldn’t otherwise, so you have greater options in your spellbook and abilities.

Mythic Feats

You get one every even mythic level. Ratings of SS are not a mistake, the feat is that good.

Destructive Shockwave B
The damage is pretty low and can’t be boosted, if you have 4+ attacks it’s okay but you’d want them to hit anyway.

Emergency Potion B
Ensures you always have options in battle, but can eat up your resources pretty quickly.

Expanded Arsenal A
You can double up on feats from one spell school and apply them to another.

Extra Feat C
Do not waste your mythic feat for this, just wait a level, it seriously can’t be worth it can it? Only if you really need it for the moment to respec out of later.

Extra Mythic Ability S
If you need an extra mythic ability, this is the only way in the game to get it, essential if you need it.

Flawless Attacks C
It starts by providing nothing to your first attack, then +1 to your second attack, +2 to your third attack, and +3 to your fourth attack, by the time this takes effect the bonuses from this are negligible.

Mythic Brew Potions C
Buy the upgraded potion kit instead of wasting a mythic feat.

Mythic Resolves C
A weaker version of toughness and +1 to saves, you can do much better.

School Mastery B
+1 spell level can be useful depending on the spell.

Mythic Skill Check B
If you want to ensure you always succeed at a skill check this is the way to go, good for tricksters who use skills in very unique ways.

Sorcerous Reflex B
This scales very well into the higher levels where you can swift action cast a level 7 spell if you have level 9 spells.

Toughness Mythic C
More HP but the DR is only when you are at negative health which isn’t that useful.

Weapon Focus Mythic B
Can give you +2 if you have both weapon focus and greater weapon focus, it may seem minor but it is always working which is different from some other feats, its decent

Combat Maneuvers Mythic A
This is for Trip, Sunder Armor, Disarm, and all the other maneuvers, if you build around using one of them, get this feat.

Deadly Aim / Power Attack / Piranha Strike Mythic A
More damage as you level up, it’s great!

Destiny Beyond Birth C
If stats mean everything to you, but most of the time you only gain +2 to a racial stat.

Dodge Mythic B
+1 AC that is always working is great.

Saves Mythic A
Roll twice and take the better roll for the save, it’s great if you hate getting disabled by one of the three save categories.

Improved Critical Mythic S
Weapons with higher damage dice usually have lower critical multipliers, this breaks that balance so you blow up enemies when you crit.

Improved Unarmed Strike Mythic B
Do you punch? Pick this, simple.

Mythic Channeling B
It’s okay, at the most it’ll give +10 to your channeling which is okay but not amazing either, might be worth it for a class that focuses on channeling.

Mythic Sneak Attack C
Get the regular feat or put a level in Rogue or Vivisectionist.

Mythic Rapid Shot S
You ignore the major penalty of rapid shot, amazing.

Shield Focus Mythic S
Touch AC is very hard to boost, and some of the most powerful abilities target through touch AC, so getting this for your tank is incredible.

Spell Focus Mythic S
Ensuring spells that require DCs will succeed, essential.

Spell Penetration Mythic S
Saves you 1-2 feats and there are a ton of spell resistance enemies in this game so it will do major work for your casters.

Two-Weapon Fighting Mythic S
Removes the penalty from two weapon fighting, so you get +4 total to your two attacks even if you only have 1 main hand attack, and 1 off hand attack, and this will scale when you get additional attacks, absolutely essential for a dual wielder.

Vital Strike Mythic SS
Vital Strike is balanced by only counting weapon damage dice in it’s multiplication, this feat breaks the ability so you can do over a thousand damage with each vital strike.

Weapon Finesse Mythic A
You should attempt to use slashing or piercing grace instead of this, but it works for Two Weapon Fighting finesse weapons and can work for some other weapons like gnome hook hammer, it’s very niche but is useful when it does.

Weapon Specialization Mythic S
Scaling bonus damage that is always active and scales with multiple attacks or dual wielding, amazing!