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Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous: Primary Ability Scores for Each Class and Archetype

It’s not obvious immediately looking at the class descriptions which ability scores you’ll want for each class. This quickly outlines that, including cases where some archetypes want different primary ability scores.

Other Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous Guides:

Primary Ability Scores for Each Class and Archetype

This guide only talks about the ability scores that directly relate to a class’ abilities or combat focus. All characters are still going to want Dexterity for Reflex saves and AC, Constitution for Fortitude saves and hit points, and Wisdom for Will saves, among other considerations, but this should help make it easier to decide the balance you want for those.
 
 
Also, unlike in tabletop Pathfinder, you’ll have an easy way to get Dexterity to damage with any finesse weapon by taking Mythic Weapon Finesse. Because of that, this doesn’t list sources of damage separately except for a few special cases (like Alchemist adding your Intelligence bonus as damage to bombs).

Classes – Alchemist

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (bombs, ranged weapons)*
IntelligenceIntelligence
GrenadierDexterity (bombs, ranged weapons)*IntelligenceIntelligence
Incense SynthesizerDexterity (bombs, ranged weapons)*IntelligenceIntelligence
MetamorphStrength (natural weapons)IntelligenceIntelligence
VivisectionistStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
IntelligenceIntelligence


* Bomb damage has the Alchemist’s Intelligence bonus added to it, but doesn’t add Strength or Dexterity.

Classes – Arcanist

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyDexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)Charisma*Intelligence

 
* Some arcanist exploits scale off Charisma, while others (such as Potent Magic) don’t scale off an ability score at all. If you’re careful with your build, you can leave out use of Charisma entirely.

Classes – Barbarian

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial Abilities
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)
Instinctual WarriorStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)
Wisdom

Classes – Bard

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
CharismaCharisma

Classes – Bloodrager

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
CharismaCharisma

Classes – Cavalier

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)
Charisma
Cavalier of the PawStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)

Classes – Cleric

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
Charisma*, WisdomWisdom

 
* The only Cleric special ability that uses Charisma is the Channel Energy ability, and only then to set the save DC for an enemy. You only need Charisma at all if you want to use this ability offensively or if you want to use Mythic Channeling to gain a bonus to the amount healed/harmed.

Classes – Druid

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons, natural weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, natural weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
WisdomWisdom
FeyspeakerDexterity (ray and touch spells)WisdomCharisma

Classes – Fighter

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
Dragonheir ScionStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
Charisma

Classes – Hunter

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
Wisdom
Divine HunterStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
WisdomWisdom

Classes – Inquisitor

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells)
WisdomWisdom

Classes – Kineticist

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Dexterity (kinetic blast)Constitution
Dark ElementalistDexterity (kinetic blast)Intelligence
Kinetic BladeStrength (kinetic blade) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (kinetic blade, kinetic blast)
Constitution
Overwhelming SoulDexterity (kinetic blast)Charisma
PsychokineticistDexterity (kinetic blast)Wisdom

 
Because of how Kineticist’s burn ability works in regard to hit points, any Kineticist except for Psychokineticist is going to want a high Constitution, even if their abilities are based off a different ability score.

Classes – Magus

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
IntelligenceIntelligence
Eldritch ArcherDexterity (ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)IntelligenceIntelligence
Eldritch ScionStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
CharismaCharisma

Classes – Monk

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)
Wisdom
Scaled FistStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons)
Charisma
Zen ArcherWisdom (bows)Wisdom

Classes – Oracle

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
CharismaCharisma

Classes – Paladin

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons, lay on hands) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, lay on hands with Weapon Finesse)
CharismaCharisma
Divine HunterDexterity (ranged weapons, lay on hands with Weapon Finesse)CharismaCharisma
Warrior of the Holy LightStrength (melee weapons, lay on hands) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, lay on hands with Weapon Finesse)
Charisma

Classes – Ranger

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
WisdomWisdom
Espionage ExpertStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
CharismaCharisma
NomadDexterity (ranged weapons)WisdomWisdom
StormwalkerDexterity (ranged weapons)WisdomWisdom

Classes – Rogue

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
Eldritch ScoundrelDexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)Intelligence
RowdyStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
Sylvan TricksterDexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)Intelligence
Underground ChemistDexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, splash weapons)*

 
* Damage from splash weapons has the Underground Chemist’s Intelligence bonus added to it, but doesn’t add Strength as with normal thrown weapons. Unlike Alchemist, there’s no free source of splash weapons.

Classes – Shaman

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
WisdomWisdom

Classes – Skald

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
AnyStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells)
CharismaCharisma

Classes – Slayer

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons)
Intelligence
Arcane EnforcerStrength (melee weapons) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray exploits)
Intelligence, Charisma*

 
* Charisma is used by the chosen arcanist exploits, but other Slayer class abilities are still based on Intelligence. Some arcanist exploits don’t scale on an ability score at all, so you might be able to avoid needing Charisma by picking only those.

Classes – Sorcerer

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Dexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)CharismaCharisma
Empyreal SorcererDexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)WisdomWisdom
Sage SorcererDexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)IntelligenceIntelligence

Classes – Warpriest

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Strength (melee weapons. touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (finesse weapons, ranged weapons, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
WisdomWisdom
Feral ChampionStrength (melee weapons, natural weapons, touch spells)WisdomWisdom
ShieldbearerStrength (spiked shields, touch spells) or
 
 
 
Dexterity (spiked shields, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)
WisdomWisdom

Classes – Witch

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Dexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)IntelligenceIntelligence
Stigmatized WitchDexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)CharismaCharisma

Classes – Wizard

ArchetypeAttacksSpecial AbilitiesSpells
Any, except…Dexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)IntelligenceIntelligence
Arcane BomberDexterity (bombs, ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)*IntelligenceIntelligence
Exploiter WizardDexterity (ray spells, touch spells with Weapon Finesse)Charisma**Intelligence

 
* Bomb damage has the Arcane Bomber’s Intelligence bonus added to it, but doesn’t add Strength as with normal thrown weapons.
 
** Charisma is used by the chosen arcanist exploits, but some arcanist exploits don’t scale on an ability score at all, so you might be able to avoid needing Charisma by picking only those.

Written by Roadie

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