Arcane Archer (Apath)
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Those who seek to perfect the combination bow and magic pursue the path of the arcane archer. Arcane archers are masters of ranged combat, as they possess the ability to strike at targets with unerring accuracy and can imbue their arrows with powerful spells. Arrows fired by arcane archers carry spells, fly at weird and uncanny angles to strike at foes around corners, and can pass through solid objects to hit enemies that cower behind such cover. At the height of their power, arcane archers can fell even the most powerful foes with a single, deadly shot.
Class Information
This is a prestige class archetype.
Prestige Class: Arcane Archer.
Build Classes: Magus, ranger, wizard
An arcane archer is a mix of wizard, magus, and ranger, the arcane archer prestige class expressed as a single class.
Role: Arcane archers deal death from afar, winnowing down opponents while their allies rush into hand-to-hand combat. With their capacity to unleash hails of arrows on the enemy, they represent the pinnacle of ranged combat.
Alignment: Arcane archers can be of any alignment. Elf or half-elf arcane archers tend to be free-spirited and are rarely lawful. Similarly, it is uncommon for elven arcane archers to be evil, and overall the path of the arcane archer is more often pursued by good or neutral characters.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Abilities
This archetype has all normal class abilities, except as noted.
Class Skills
The arcane archer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (geography) (Int), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Knowledge (planes) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
An arcane archer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons. An arcane archer is also proficient with light armor. He can cast arcane archer spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, an arcane archer wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass arcane archer still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Spells
An arcane archer casts arcane spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. An arcane archer only ever learns to cast spells up to level 6. Sorcerer/wizard spells of level 7 or higher are not on the arcane archer's spell list. An arcane archer must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the arcane archer must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against an arcane archer's spell is 10 + the spell level + the arcane archer's Intelligence modifier.
An arcane archer can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Arcane Archer. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells).
An arcane archer may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the arcane archer decides which spells to prepare.
Spellbook: An arcane archer begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level spells on his spell list plus three 1st-level spells of his choice. The arcane archer also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to the spellbook. At each new arcane archer level, he gains two new spells of any spell level or levels that he can cast (based on his new arcane archer level) for his spellbook. At any time, an arcane archer can also add spells found in other spellbooks to his own (see Magic). An arcane archer can only add a spell to his spellbook if it is on the arcane archer spell list.
Cantrips
Arcane archers can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Arcane Archer under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Archery Pool (Su)
At 1st level the arcane archer gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his bow. This archery pool has a number of points equal to ½ his arcane archer level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the arcane archer prepares his spells.
At 1st level an arcane archer can expend 1 point from his archery pool as a swift action to grant any bow he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.
At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: anarchic, axiomatic, distance, flaming, flaming burst, frost, holy, icy burst, seeking, shock, shocking burst, unholy. The arcane archer cannot choose an ability that is the opposite of his alignment (for example a lawful good arcane archer could not choose anarchic or unholy as his weapon quality).
Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property’s base price. If the bow is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are decided when the archery pool point is spent and cannot be changed until the next time the arcane archer uses this ability. These bonuses do not function if the bow is wielded by anyone other than the arcane archer.
An arcane archer can only enhance one weapon in this way at one time. If he uses this ability again the first use immediately ends.
Archery Style Feats (Ex)
At 1st level, an arcane archer gains expertise in archery. This manifests in the form of bonus feats at 1st, 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites.
The benefits of the arcane archer's chosen style feats apply only when he wears light or no armor. He loses all benefits of his combat style feats when wearing medium or heavy armor.
An arcane archer can choose from the following list whenever he gains a combat style feat:
- Far Shot, Focused Shot, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow).
- At 6th level, he adds Improved Precise Shot, Mounted Archery, Parting Shot, Point Blank Master, Manyshot, and Weapon Specialization (longbow or shortbow) to the list.
- At 10th level, he adds Greater Weapon Focus (longbow or shortbow), Pinpoint Targeting and Shot on the Run to the list.
Spell Archery
At 1st level, an arcane archer learns to cast spells and shoot his bow at the same time. This functions much like Rapid Shot, but the extra attack is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the arcane archer must be wielding a bow. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his bow at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the arcane archer spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively and fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty.
An arcane archer can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks. It is not possible to use spell archery and Rapid Shot in the same round.
Wild Empathy (Ex)
An arcane archer can improve the initial attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person. The arcane archer rolls 1d20 and adds ½ his arcane archer level and his Charisma bonus to determine the wild empathy check result. The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly.
To use wild empathy, the arcane archer and the animal must be within 30 feet of one another under normal visibility conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute, but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.
The arcane archer can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but he takes a –4 penalty on the check.
Ranged Spellstrike (Su)
At 2nd level, whenever an arcane archer casts a spell that requires a ranged touch attack from his class, he can deliver the spell through any bow he is wielding as part of a ranged attack. Instead of the free ranged touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, an arcane archer can make one free ranged attack with his bow (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this ranged attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell.
Only one ranged touch attack per round can be used with ranged spellstrike. If the spell normally allows several ranged touch attacks, they can be combined into one attack with ranged spellstrike, with the combined damage of all the allowed ranged touch attacks. If the ranged touch attacks from a particular spell can be spread over several rounds, the arcane archer can use ranged spellstrike over several rounds, making one ranged spellstrike attack each round.
If the arcane archer makes this attack in concert with spell archery, this ranged attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell archery. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
This otherwise functions as a magus' spellstrike ability, see FAQ/Errata for that ability for more information.
Endurance
An arcane archer gains Endurance as a bonus feat at 3rd level.
Spell Recall (Su)
At 4th level, the arcane archer learns to use his archery pool to recall spells he has already cast. With a swift action he can recall any single arcane archer spell that he has already prepared and cast that day by expending a number of points from his archer pool equal to the spell’s level (minimum 1). The spell is prepared again, just as if it had not been cast.
Knowledge Pool (Su)
At 7th level, when an arcane archer prepares his arcane archer spells, he can decide to expend 1 or more points from his archery pool, up to his Intelligence bonus. For each point he expends, he can treat any one spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list as if it were in his spellbook and can prepare that spell as normal that day. If he does not cast spells prepared in this way before the next time he prepares spells, he loses those spells. He can also cast spells added in this way using his spell recall ability, but only until he prepares spells again.
Imbue Arrow (Su)
At 9th level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell's area is centered where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow's range rather than the spell's range. A spell cast in this way uses its standard casting time and the arcane archer can fire the arrow as part of the casting. The arrow must be fired during the round that the casting is completed or the spell is wasted. If the arrow misses, the spell is wasted. Imbue arrow cannot be combined with seeker arrow or phase arrow.
Seeker Arrow (Su)
At 11th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow at a target known to him within range, and the arrow travels to the target, even around corners. Only an unavoidable obstacle or the limit of the arrow's range prevents the arrow's flight. This ability negates cover and concealment modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally. Activating this ability is a swift action that costs one point from the archery pool, and it lasts until the end of the arcane archer's turn.
Improved Spell Recall (Su)
At 12th level, the arcane archer’s ability to recall spells using his archer pool becomes more efficient. Whenever he recalls a spell with spell recall, he expends a number of points from his archer pool equal to ½ the spell’s level (minimum 1). Furthermore, instead of recalling a used spell, as a swift action the arcane archer can prepare a spell of the same level that he has in his spellbook. He does so by expending a number of points from his archer pool equal to the spell’s level (minimum 1). The arcane archer cannot apply metamagic feats to a spell prepared in this way. The arcane archer does not need to reference his spellbook to prepare a spell in this way.
Phase Arrow (Su)
At 13th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow at a target known to him within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any barrier or wall in its way. This ability negates cover, concealment, armor, and shield modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally. It does full damage to incorporeal or ethereal creatures. It is stopped normally by ghost touch armor, force armor, or barriers made of force effects, which makes it similar to an incorporeal touch attack.
Using this ability costs one point from the archery pool and is a standard action (shooting the arrow is part of the action).
Hail of Arrows (Su)
As a full-round action at a cost of one point from his archery pool, an arcane archer of 15th level or higher can fire an arrow at each and every target within range, to a maximum of one target for every arcane archer level she has earned. Each attack uses the archer's primary attack bonus, and each enemy may only be targeted by a single arrow.
Woodland Stride (Ex)
Starting at 17th level, an arcane archer may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at his normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that are enchanted or magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect him.
Arrow of Death (Su)
At 20th level, an arcane archer can create a special type of slaying arrow that forces the target, if damaged by the arrow's attack, to make a Fortitude save or be slain immediately. The DC of this save is equal to 20 + the arcane archer's Intelligence modifier. It takes 1 day to make a slaying arrow, and the arrow only functions for the arcane archer who created it. The slaying arrow lasts no longer than 1 year, and the archer can only have one such arrow in existence at a time.
Table: Arcane Archer
| Class Level |
Base Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Special | Spells per Day | ||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Archery pool, archery style feat, spell archery, wild empathy | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +3 | +0 | Archery style feat, ranged spellstrike | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Endurance | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Spell recall | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Archery pool (weapon properties) | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Archery style feat | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +5 | +2 | Knowledge pool | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +6/+1 | +6 | +6 | +2 | Imbue arrow | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +6/+1 | +6 | +6 | +3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | |
| 10th | +7/+2 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Archery style feat | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 11th | +8/+3 | +7 | +7 | +3 | Seeker arrow | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
| 12th | +9/+4 | +8 | +8 | +4 | Improved spell recall | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +9/+4 | +8 | +8 | +4 | Phase arrow | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14th | +10/+5 | +9 | +9 | +4 | Archery style feat | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +9 | +9 | +5 | Hail of arrows | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +5 | Woodland stride | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +11 | +11 | +6 | Archery style feat | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +12 | +12 | +6 | Arrow of death | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Summary of Lost Class Abilities
These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:
- Arcane Bond
- Arcane School
- Bonus Feats