New Archetypes
“I am what you wish to be, what you can never hope to achieve, and what you will learn to fear. Understand that I will make you embrace perfection, and yield to the destiny which I have written for you.” Black Chains, master of the Onyx Link.The core of a legendary shifter is their ever changing nature. Due to this willingness to experiment, legendary shifters are far more diverse than other classes, some taking forms that other would consider impossible. Others focus solely on emulating a single type of creature to the exclusion of all others, mastering that form in a way that lesser legendary shifters could never hope to achieve.
Each archetype listed is meant to allow characters to modify their character in a variety of ways, including completely new ways of transforming. This section includes all new archetypes for the legendary shifter, including reimaginings of some classic archetypes. For more information on using and selecting archetypes, see Chapter 2 in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Player’s Guide.
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Bound Beastmaster
Shifters are known to revere nature in all its forms, but some prefer to form bonds with the physical embodiments of those concepts. Bound beastmasters are those who enjoy the company and companionship of nature in all forms.
Animal Companion A bound beastmaster gains an animal companion as though she was a druid of her shifter level.
Bound Evolution (Su) A bound beastmaster’s shifter evolution damage does not increase as she levels up, but it applies to the natural attacks of her animal companion.
This ability alters shifter evolution.
Shared Aspect (Su) A bound beastmaster’s animal companion can choose to gain the benefit of any aspect her master possesses.
This ability alters shifter’s aspect and replaces defensive instinct.
Dual Beasts (Ex) At 9th level, whenever a bound beastmaster uses her shifter shape class feature, she can choose to have it also affect her animal companion, although it consumes twice the amount of duration it normally would. Both the shifter and her animal companion must take the same of the same creature, and if the effect ends for either herself or her animal companion, it ends for both creatures. At 14th level, a bound beastmaster no longer decreases the duration of her shifter shape used while using this ability.
This ability replaces chimeric aspect and greater chimeric aspect.
Giant Shifter
The blood of giants is a strong force in this world, and for giant shifters, they are the inheritors of that great power. Filled with boundless energy, these titans among men manage to tower above their peers.
Giant-Heritage (Ex) At 1st level, a giant shifter gains the giant subtype.
Shifter’s Slam (Ex) A giant shifter gains a bite attack and a pair of slam attacks instead of claw attacks.
This ability alters shifter evolution.
Giant Shape (Su) At 1st level, a giant shifter can increase her size to Large, gaining a +2 size bonus to Constitution and Strength, a -2 size penalty to Dexterity, a +10 enhancement bonus to her base speed, and a +1 bonus to her natural armor bonus. In addition, she gains rock throwingB1 (range 60 feet, 2d6 damage) and rock catchingB1 special abilities.
The effect lasts for a number of hours equal to 1/2 her giant shifter class level + her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1), and she may split the duration of this ability however she wants. Each use of this ability uses up at least an hour of its duration, regardless of how long she stays in it. These bonuses replace the normal bonuses for increasing her size, and this is a polymorph effect.
At 8th level, a giant shifter can increase her size to Huge, gaining a +4 size bonus to Constitution and Strength, a -2 size penalty to Dexterity, a +20 enhancement bonus to her base speed, and a +2 bonus to her natural armor bonus. In addition, she gains the rend (2d6 damage) special ability while in her giant form.
At 14th level, a giant shifter can increase her size to Gargantuan, gaining a +8 size bonus to Constitution and Strength, a -4 size penalty to Dexterity, a +30 enhancement bonus to her base speed, and a +4 bonus to her natural armor bonus. In addition, she gains fast healing 5 and rend (2d8 damage) while in her giant form.
This ability replaces shifter shape.
Titan Shifter (Su) At 20th level, a giant shifter can increase her size to Colossal, gaining a +12 size bonus to Constitution and Strength, a -8 size penalty to Dexterity, a +30 enhancement bonus to her base speed, and a +6 bonus to her natural armor bonus. In addition, she
gains fast healing 10 while in her giant form.
This ability replaces master of many forms.
Lycanthropic Warrior
The curse of lycanthropy is a much-feared blight, the loss of one’s sense of self considered unthinkable by most. Lycanthropic warriors however have managed to master this curse, making its power their own.
Limited Aspect (Ex) A lycanthropic warrior can only select the following aspects; each aspect comes with an animal which is treated as their lycanthropic focus:
• Bear (black, brown, polar)
• Bull (auroch, bison, war bull)
• Monkey (baboon, gorilla, orangutan)
• Shark (bull, great white, shark)
• Tiger (dire tiger, tiger) Note: Despite normally being a large creature, a lycanthropic warrior may still transform into a tiger with her weretouched form ability, although she becomes a medium tiger rather than a large tiger
• Wolf (dire wolf, wolf)
In addition, a lycanthropic warrior does not gain an additional aspect at 9th or 17th level.
This ability alters shifter aspect.
Lycanthropic Resistance (Ex) At 2nd level a lycanthropic warrior gains DR/silver equal to half her shifter level, to a maximum of DR 10/silver at 20th level. Additionally, a weretouched shifter becomes immune to a lycanthrope’s curse of lycanthropy.
This ability replaces defensive instinct.
Weretouched Form (Ex) At 1st level, a lycanthropic warrior can choose to assume a hybrid of her base type and alternate form instead of her usual alternate form during her shifter shape. If she does, the animal’s forelimbs (or pectoral fins for the shark) remain hands able to manipulate objects and wield weapons as well as human hands do, she can walk on two legs (the shark’s tail fins remain legs), and she can talk. Despite being a polymorph effect, a lycanthropic warrior’s gear does not meld into this form.
This ability alters shifter shape.
Mimickin
The art of transformation is a mystery to some, but few can grasp the level of control of their bodies that a mimickin possesses. Able to take nearly any inanimate form, mimickin are masters of disguise.
Skills A mimickin gains Disguise as a class skill.
Mimic Aspect (Ex) At 1st level, a mimickin gains darkvision 60 feet and a +1 bonus to Disguise checks. For every four levels the mimickin possesses, her bonus to Disguise checks increases by +1.
At 5th level, as a swift action while in mimic shape, a mimickin can secrete a powerful adhesive. Any weapon that strikes an adhesive-coated mimickin is stuck fast unless the wielder succeeds on a Reflex save (DC = 10+ 1/2 the mimickin’s level + her Wisdom modifier). A successful Strength check (DC 10 + the mimickin’s level) is needed to pry off a stuck weapon. Strong alcohol or universal solvent dissolves the adhesive. A mimic can dissolve its adhesive at will, and the substance breaks down 5 rounds after the mimickin dies.
At 9th level, a mimickin can change her form while in mimic shape at will as a move action, changing to a different kind of object.
At 13th level, as a full-round action while in mimic shape, a mimickin can make a single bite attack that deals double base damage and functions as if she had the grab and swallow whole special attacks, allowing her to grab and swallow a creature of her size or smaller. Her stomach doesn’t deal damage to swallowed creatures, but a living creature she swallows must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + 1/2 her mimickin level + Wisdom modifier) at the beginning of each of its turns or become nauseated for 1 round.
While she has a creature swallowed, a mimickin is treated as if she were carrying a heavy load if the creature is the same size and a medium load if it’s one size smaller; regardless, she can swallow only one such creature at a time. She can regurgitate a swallowed
creature of her choice as a move action, leaving it prone in an adjacent open square. If she is struck with a confirmed critical hit while she has a creature swallowed, the swallowed creatures each take half as much damage as the mimickin does (this doesn’t reduce
the damage the mimickin takes). If a mimickin leaves mimic form, she must regurgitate any creature she has swallowed with this ability.
At 17th level, a mimickin gains blindsight 30 feet.
This ability replaces shifter aspect, chimeric aspect, and greater chimeric aspect.
Mimic Shape (Su) At 1st level, a mimickin can assume the general shape of any Small or Medium object, such as a massive chest, a stout bed, or a door. A mimickin’s body is hard and has a rough texture, no matter what appearance it might present. A mimickin gains a +20 racial bonus on Disguise checks when imitating an object in this manner. Multiple mimickin can join together to form larger objects, although they each occupy their own space. While taking the shape of an object, a mimickin’s speed is reduced to 5 feet. As a swift action while disguised as an object, a mimickin can manifest or hide a pair of clawed hands and a mouth; doing so causes her to lose her racial bonus on Disguise checks, although her speed is no longer reduced by her form. Mimic shape is treated as wild shape for the purpose of feats which would affect it.
The effect lasts for a number of hours equal to 1/2 her mimickin class level + her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1), and she may split the duration of this ability however she wants. Each use of this ability uses up at least an hour of its duration, regardless of how long she stays in it. These bonuses replace the normal bonuses for increasing her size, and this is a polymorph effect.
In addition, a mimickin can change her form while in mimic shape as a standard action a number of times per day equal to 1/2 her character level + her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1); doing so does not consume any duration of her mimic shape ability.
While taking the form of a Small object, a mimickin gains a +2 size bonus to her Dexterity and a +1 bonus to her natural armor. While taking the form of a Medium object, a mimickin gains a +2 size bonus to her Strength and a +2 bonus to her natural armor.
At 8th level, a mimickin can take the form of a Large or Tiny object. While taking the form of a Tiny object, a mimickin gains a +4 size bonus to her Dexterity and a +2 bonus to her natural armor. While taking the form of a Large object, a mimickin gains a +4 size bonus to her Strength and a +3 bonus to her natural armor.
At 14th level, a mimickin can take the form of a Diminutive or Gargantuan object. While taking the form of a Diminutive object, a mimickin gains a +8 size bonus to her Dexterity and a +4 bonus to her natural armor. While taking the form of a Gargantuan object, a mimickin gains a +8 size bonus to her Strength and a +5 bonus to her natural armor.
This ability replaces shifter shape.
Silent Stalk (Ex) At 5th level, while a mimickin is in mimic shape without manifesting her claws or bite, whenever she moves 5 feet or less while being observed, she can make a Stealth check opposed by all observer’s Perception checks. If her Stealth check is higher, those observing her do not notice that she has moved.
This ability replaces trackless step.
Polymaster (Ex) At 20th level, a mimickin can use her mimic shape at will and can transform into Colossal objects, gaining a +12 size bonus to Strength and a +7 bonus to her natural armor bonus.
This ability replaces master of many forms.
Mystically Trained
The abilities of most shifters are innate to who they are, but a mystically trained gains even more power from the natural world in exchange for their connection to certain animals.
Spellcasting (Sp) At 4th level, a mystic animal can cast divine spells as a ranger.
This ability replaces bonus feats and trackless step.
Protean Mutant
For the majority of shifters, the forms they take are relatively stable, composed of those found in nature. Protean mutants however take forms far more esoteric, becoming entirely new creations of their own designs.
Alternate Form (Ex) At 1st level, a protean mutant gains an evolution point as though she was an unchained eidolon. She may use this evolution point however she sees fit, treating herself as an unchained summoner of her shifter level to determine which evolutions she may select, and she is treated as though she had all subtypes when determining if she can select an evolution. She is also treated as an unchained eidolon when determining how many natural attacks she may possess, and those gained by shifter evolution count against this limit.
Once every 24 hours, she may choose to change the designation of her evolutions granted to her by this ability. At 5th level and every four levels afterwards, she gains an additional evolution point.
This ability replaces shifter aspect.
Mutant Evolution (Ex) A protean mutant’s shifter evolution damage does not increase as she levels up, but it applies to all natural attacks she gains from evolution points.
This ability alters shifter evolution.
Mutant Shape (Ex) At 1st level, a protean mutant can choose to take another shape, allowing her to take any base form available to an unchained eidolon (although her ability scores do not change). When she uses this ability, she also gains a number of additional evolution points equal to 1/2 her class level as well as allowing her to change the designation of her evolution points she has gained through her alternate form class feature (the changes to her evolution points are permanent until changed again). The effect lasts for a number of hours equal to 1/2 her protean mutant class level + her Wisdom modifier (minimum 1), and she may split the duration of this ability however she wants. Each use of this ability uses up at least an hour of its duration, regardless of how long she stays in it, and this is a polymorph effect.
This ability replaces shifter shape.
Mercurial Shift (Ex) At 9th level, as a full-round action a protean mutant can change the designation of all of her evolution points a number of times per day equal to her Wisdom modifier. At 14th level, she can use this ability as a swift action as well as changing her base form.
This ability replaces chimeric aspect and great chimeric aspect.
Infinite Variety (Ex) At 20th level, a protean mutant may use mutant shape at will and gains the shapechanger subtype, becoming immune to any transmutation effect unless she is willing to accept it. In addition, she permanently gains 5 evolution points.
This ability replaces master of many forms.