Eldritch Archer
While many archers see their craft as an art form as much as a means of battle, a small number of archers seek to perfect their skills through magic, and you are among their number. Bolstering your athletic and martial abilities with mystical talents, you achieve rare heights with the bow or crossbow—transforming arrows or bolts into eldritch ammunition, sending projectiles zig‑zagging unerringly to their targets, and manifesting arrows that can deliver spells or even instant death. The imbuing of raw magic into the point of an arrow is no easy feat. Eldritch archers are respected and feared for their prowess and make valuable members for any party of adventurers.
While having some spellcasting ability increases your flexibility and power as an eldritch archer, you might learn the secrets of these arts without being independently skilled in spellcasting, instead learning the magic of the bow for its own sake. In fact, many eldritch archers begin as archers first and spellcasters second. That is not to say that the occasional spellcaster has not picked up archery. In fact, many wizards, wise in the art of war, have studied the bow, particularly to master this art. Ultimately, what matters is a perfect combination of martial skill and magical ability; the order you go about obtaining them matters little.
Additional Feats: 8th Running Reload; 20th Impossible Volley
Eldritch Archer Dedication Feat 6
Prerequisites expert in at least one weapon from the bow or crossbow weapon group
You channel powerful magic with your archery, allowing you to deliver potent spells through the tip of an arrow rather than the more mundane flick of the wrist or whatever other gestures are usually used.
If you don't already cast spells from spell slots, you learn to cast spontaneous spells and gain the Cast a Spell activity. You gain a spell repertoire with one cantrip of your choice, from a tradition of your choice. You choose a common cantrip or other cantrip to which you have access. This cantrip must require a spell attack roll and come from your chosen tradition. You're trained in spell attack modifier and spell DC. Your key spellcasting attribute for these spells is Charisma. Regardless of whether you can already cast spells or gained the ability from this dedication, you gain the Eldritch Shot activity.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Basic Eldritch Archer Spellcasting Feat 8
You gain the Basic Spellcasting Feat benefits. Each time you gain a spell slot of a new level from this archetype, add a spell of the appropriate spell rank to your repertoire, either a common spell of your chosen tradition or another spell of that tradition you have learned or discovered.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Enchanting Shot Feat 8
With a single whisper carried on the wind, you enchant your ammunition to make a foe more vulnerable to your attacks.
Make a bow or crossbow Strike. On a hit, the target takes an additional 2d6 mental damage. On a critical hit, the target also becomes Stunned 1. The mental damage increases to 3d6 if your weapon has a greater striking rune, or to 4d6 if your weapon has a major striking rune.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Magic Ammunition Feat 8
You imbue your ammunition with raw and potent magic, transforming it to suit your needs in any situation.
When you select this feat, choose three types of common magical ammunition of 4th level or lower from GM Core or this book. Your GM might allow you to choose from other types of magical ammunition of an appropriate level, such as uncommon ammunition, or ammunition from other books. You gain the Transform Ammunition action.
Special You can select this feat multiple times. Each time you do, select three additional types of magical ammunition as described above.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Precious Ammunition Feat 8
You have learned to mimic the power that lies between magic and material. You enchant a piece of ammunition on your person with the magical essence of a precious material, allowing you to leverage certain creatures' weaknesses.
Choose cold iron or silver; if you shoot the arrow or bolt before the end of your turn, it counts as that material. At 14th level, add adamantine to the list of materials you can choose from.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Eldritch Reload Feat 10
Requirements Your last action this turn was to make an Eldritch Shot, Cast a Spell from a spell slot, or activate a piece of magical ammunition; this can't have been a free action or reaction.
You integrate your talent for magic into your use of reloading weapons. You Interact to reload a weapon you are wielding.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Expert Eldritch Archer Spellcasting Feat 12
You learn additional eldritch archer magic. You gain the Expert Spellcasting Feat benefits.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Homing Shot Feat 14
Your shots zip around corners and fly at impossible angles to reach your target.
Make a bow or crossbow Strike against a foe you can see; the ammunition travels to your target, even going around corners. You ignore the target's Concealed condition and all cover.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Incorporeal Shot Feat 16
Frequency once per day
You can concentrate an immense amount of magic to create a piece of ammunition that phases through everything but your target.
Make a bow or crossbow Strike against a foe who is Observed or Hidden to you (but not Undetected).
The ammunition travels to your target in a straight line, passing through any non-magical barriers or walls in its way, though magical barriers stop the arrow. The shot ignores all cover, the Concealed condition, the hidden condition, and circumstance bonuses to AC from shields. It has a +4 status bonus to hit creatures wearing any type of armor.
The Strike's damage can't be reduced with a Shield Block reaction using a non-magical shield.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Fatal Shot Feat 18
Frequency once per day
You modify an arrow or bolt to bring death to your target in a single potent hit. Make a bow or crossbow Strike. On a hit, you deal an additional 10d10 precision damage. On a critical hit, the target must also succeed at a Fortitude saving throw against the higher of your class DC or spell DC or be immediately slain; this save has the death and incapacitation traits.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Master Eldritch Archer Spellcasting Feat 18
You gain the Master Spellcasting Feat benefits.
Source: Pathfinder Player Core 2
Eldritch Archer Feats
| Name | Level | Rarity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldritch Archer Dedication | 6 | Common | |
| Basic Eldritch Archer Spellcasting | 8 | Common | |
| Enchanting Shot | 8 | Common | |
| Magic Ammunition | 8 | Common | |
| Precious Ammunition | 8 | Common | |
| Eldritch Reload | 10 | Common | |
| Expert Eldritch Archer Spellcasting | 12 | Common | |
| Homing Shot | 14 | Common | |
| Incorporeal Shot | 16 | Common | |
| Fatal Shot | 18 | Common | |
| Master Eldritch Archer Spellcasting | 18 | Common |