Okay, this is the first in the series of complete companion builds. At this point WotR is nearing the end of the updates and DLC. I feel safe saying there won’t be much that will affect the build or loadouts for companions from now on. If people are interested I will do more companion builds. If interested in any other builds, check out my main Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous page.
Seelah is great as a companion. I think she works perfectly as a tank build with full-plate, sword and shield as she is meant to be. You do have the option of using a scimitar if you’re not into the traditional longsword/holy avenger route. Scimitar may be more optimal for the AoO, high crit range, Outflank team I like. Thanks to the new Mythic Heavy Armor Focus feat she will even better at what she does. It’s reasonable to expect to achieve 100+ AC, enormous saving throws, and good melee potential. Since she starts with only a single Paladin level you can customize her to your heart’s content.
Build Progression
Level 2: We are taking a Witch dip. Generally you don’t want to multiclass with paladins, but this is worth it. Nothing will provide as high AC bonuses as a dip in this class. Stigmatized Witch makes her abilities based on Charisma and makes the Dragon Disciple PrC possible.
- Skills: UMD, since later we’ll want her to cast at least one spell from a scroll for more buffing as well as heal. Mobility and Athletics also of course
- Get the Lizard familiar for the bonus to AC
- The Iceplant hex for more AC–combine this with the Icy Protector ring in ch 1 and we have a +5 stacking bonus to AC
- For the curse, I prefer Plagued for the immunity to sickened
- Spells: most important is Mage Armor (cast it naked then put on your armor). Also great to buff pets. If on Unfair a reasonable spell is Cure Light Wounds to spare using potions early game
Level 3: Brace yourself: another dip, this time to Traditional Monk. This boosts saving throws more than other monks, gives more AC, and you now qualify for the Crane Style feat which reduces penalties for fighting defensively and is always turned on for Seelah. Athletics and Mobility are now class skills as well.
- Skills: 3 ranks in Mobility (helps more when fighting defensively), then Athletics and UMD
- Feat: Armor Focus Heavy, Crane Style
Level 4: Okay, let’s go back to Paladin.
- Abilities: we can increase Strength, but increasing Charisma has better synergy with her key abilities–Smite Evil and Mark of Justice
- Skills: no need to increase mobility any more. Boost Athletics, UMD and Knowledge Arcana to qualify for Dragon Disciple later
Level 5: take the Fatigued mercy, since it’s annoying to remove early otherwise
- Feat: Time to take Outflank. Remember melee party members and pets will be taking Outflank too
Level 7: Boon Companion feat to help with your Horse companion.
- We don’t want Seelah to ride the horse, Seelah’s AC is what we want enemies to target. To do this pick any feat, then grab Animal Companion, then click whatever feat you’ve selected (upper left of screen), and take BC instead
Level 8: take the Diseased mercy
Level 9: time for the Improved Critical feat. Thematically longsword is the best option for Seelah, unless you are taking a max crit range weapon like scimitar
- Skills: once you have 5 ranks into Arcana put the extra skill point wherever you want
Level 11: for Mercy either pick confused or cursed
- Feat: Improved Initiative for obvious reasons, and it allows her to give Mark of Justice sooner
Level 13: Weapon Focus into your weapon of choice
Level 14: From here onwards it’s better to multiclass, because we’ve already got the best paladin features. You have a choice here, either taking 3 Mutation Warrior levels or 4 Dragon Disciple PrC levels, then take the other one later. I’ll take DD for no reason in particular, you get great benefits either way.
- Draconic Bloodline: whatever you want, but Seelah is lawful good so probably a metallic dragon
Level 15: Dazzling Display here, working toward Shatter Defenses. Also Power Attack
Level 16: Take any witch spell that strikes your fancy
Level 17: Shatter Defenses time. Note that due to a recent patch you need to hit the enemy before they become flat-footed–it used to be if they were shaken or frightened the enemy was automatically flat-footed. That’s easy to do by having someone cast Frightful Aspect. Now it’s a little tougher, but still worth it
- Spell: False Life is a nice spell
Level 18: Fighter/Mutation Warrior or Dragon Disciple. Remember the Strength mutagen is the key
- Feat: Take whatever you want here. I took Combat Reflexes
Level 19: I took Toughness and Blind Fight here, but really it’s up to you
Mythic Progression
Level 1: Last Stand, no question, and the higher difficulty the more important it is
Level 2: Armor Focus Mythic, Heavy Armor! You want Avoidance
Level 3: Ever Ready
Level 4: You have a couple of choices. I prefer Dodge Mythic, but Improved Critical Mythic is also a viable choice
Level 5: Again, options. Abundant Smite or Master Shapeshifter, take the other one at level 9. MS may be less necessary, because at this point your caster should be able to scribe Frightful Aspect
Level 6: Improved Critical Mythic
Level 7: Archmage Armor. This is beautiful, since it combines with your Living Fortress armor or whatever you have equipped, it’s the best of both worlds
level 8: Mythic Improved Initiative, just in time for the demon lord battles
Lvl 9: Anything really, but I recommend whichever you didn’t pick at lvl 5
How to Play
This is a new section I am trying out. In early play she needs to be buffed, especially with Barkskin and Shield of Faith (spell or potion).
In party formation, check the last one that looks like a T. Put her ahead of everyone else, also leaving pets back because they have higher movement speed. Always leave Fighting Defensively on for the boost to AC, the same for Crane Style. If playing on Unfair difficulty it’s essential to have the Protective Luck hex precast, either from Camellia or Ember.
Also, before combat unequip her armor and shield so she can cast Mage Armor on pets and allies, and later Archmage Armor on herself. Then re-equip yourself and lay down some smack.
Gear
Amulet: Heartstone of the Night Hag Queen (if you have Dance of Masks DLC). You may also pick the Voracious Spirit amulet for the stacking AC (Camellia’s last quest). Earlier in the game pick Amulet of Combat Awareness (Midnight Isles DLC) or others that increase initiative.
Armor: Living Fortress from Dance of Masks. Earlier try the Flowing Half-Plate you can get in ch 4 (market). Don’t take Mithral Full Plate since they count as medium armor
Shirts/Robes: Doesn’t matter much, but maybe the Cloth of Heavy Fortification
Belts: Anything increasing Strength early on. When you get to ch 4, the Lizard Tail belt, buy after completing Grudges fo Settle quest
Gloves: Embroidered Gloves ultimately, before that anything you like
Boots: Ronneck’s Sacrifice are beautiful for any tank
Helmet: Shy Lily’s helmet is what you want. Before this pick up Helmet of Comradery, hidden in Areelu’s Lab
Glasses/Masks: Broken Trickster is great from ch 3 on (Midnight Isles DLC)
Cloaks: Cloaks of Resistances of course, but ultimately the new Grand Festival Cloak or Cape of Morta (Visitors from Morta DLC) if your main character wants it
Rings: Icy Protector from as early as ch 1 (tavern), and the Righteous Crusader ring. Later on, esp after Abundant Smite can swap it out for Ring of Triumphant Advance, but that ring would probably go on the main character
Bracers: Doesn’t really matter, but Bracers of Rough Landing (crusader’s camp in ch2) for something unique
Weapons: Radiance. I mean c’mon, it’s a holy avenger. Also of note, Iron Prayer in ch3 (Midnight Isles DLC). Hang on to Holy Devotee’s Wrath from ch 4, which lets you smite neutral enemies as well (perfect for Inevitable Excess DLC). Of note is Seelah’s Hammer of Masterpiece. Don’t attack with it just cast its special buff, and it’s amazing on pets. For scimitars, the short list is Abrupt Force (ch 1: Kenabres, burning house), Scimitar of Wind (ch 2: Dresden, NW corner), Rupturing Storm (ch 3: Balor drop), Faith Bearer (ch 4: rotating platform puzzle), ending with the awesome Dawnflower’s Kiss (ch 5: ineluctable prison, find then take to Cessily to consecrate it)
Shield: The best is the Assertion of Dominance heavy shield (from ineluctable prison). Tower shields actually drop your AC because of how it is coded in the game, all I can think is that it’s a bug. In ch 3 go for the Guardian’s Shield, in ch 4 grab the Undying Love of Hopebringer (but you can have that on another character)
Quickslots: The most important is Aroden’s Wrath. Old Grimoire is nice for spells, esp. Divine Favor and later Bestow Grace, and Lesser extend rod helps that. Covenant of the Inheritor works on any character but I put it on Seelah. Finally the Duality of Conjuration of Summoning from lost chapel area.
Okay, I hope this is helpful. If folks like it I plan on continuing it for every companion. We’ll see!