I have an older build involving a demon cavalier that I labeled ‘the highest damage possible.’ It may still be true, but with various bug fixes, nerfs, etc, I haven’t checked to make sure. Whether it is or not though, the demon shifter build I found might be the best melee build possible. This build is outright broken, busted, cheesy, whatever you want to call it. If built right, under demonic rage a single hit can turn into infinite free attacks that will demolish almost any enemy at once–in fact they’ll explode. Incredible synergy between the class and mythic path.
There is a catch however. To play the shifter class you need The Last Sarkorians DLC. Those familiar with the tabletop game likely think of Shifters as an underwhelming class, but in WotR they’ve become very solid. I talk more about Shifters here. I figure by now people have likely bought DLC if they love the game, and it’s just $13. There is also key equipment that comes with the DLC for Shifters in the build. Normally the base class is the best, but if you also have the Lord of Nothing DLC there is a unique archetype available to you, the Weretouched Shifter. I will integrate this option into the build for those that have access with a *, as I think it’s a fun and versatile archetype. See my main Pathfinder page if you’d like ideas for other builds.
How does it work? In short, it’s possible due of the Aspect of Kalavakus, which you do have to wait until Mythic 4 to gain. This aspect is also what makes demon kineticists so OP. Whenever you succeed at a combat maneuver during demonic rage, you get another attack as a free action. The wolf form lets us perform trip attacks for free on every bite attack, and tripping is a combat maneuver. You attack once with your bite, trip for free, get a free attack from Kalavakus (which is a bite so has a free trip built-in) and this loops until the enemy is dead because there are unlimited free actions in a round; even creatures immune to trip get looped. The only limitations are it requires you to be under demonic rage (which we can boost), and swarms are immune.
Build Progression
Level 1: I will assume Human for race but it’s not really necessary, because you don’t need a lot of feats to make the build work. If you want to tank an interesting choice is halfling, as they are Small and have the Cautious Defender feat for higher AC early. Background is Pickpocket because I want initiative.
- Stats: Str 20 Dex 14 Con 14 Int 7 Wis 14 Cha 7. This is min/maxed, but you can also reduce Str to 19 and pump Dex to 16, or increase Int or Cha if you’d prefer, but Int and Cha are useless
- Skills: Athletics, Mobility and Stealth (or Lore Nature, and you have Wisdom)
- Feats: if Human take Power Attack and Cleave, which gives you two possible attacks at level one. Remember we can’t shift forms until level 4. If not human take Weapon Focus: Bite
- Longspears can be great as Cleave works with them, and with reach you can safely attack behind party members/pets
- Shifter Aspect: either mammoth of wolf, I took wolf because I want to be tripping by level 4. Pick the other at level 5
- *This is not an option if you are Weretouched
- Deity: anything that allows demon alignments, however you must be chaotic neutral as a Shifter
Level 3: If human, Cleaving Finish which works with all forms. Otherwise pick Combat Reflexes
Level 4: Increase Strength every time, and we finally get to shift forms!
- *If weretouched, Weretiger is likely the better option for survivability
Level 5: Outflank. Remember, our goal is to have every melee party member and pet have this feat, and around level 5-7 is a great time to do it.
- Aspect: whichever you didn’t pick at level 1. My build has the wolf major form, mammoth minor
- *Again, not an option for Weretouched
Level 7: Lunge here. This is perfect for Cleave, looping attacks, and extra reach
Level 8: *If Weretouched, werewolf form is starting to be more attractive, but lower defenses, thus more reach is important
Level 9: Improved Critical–Bite. Bite is our main attack, and all the attacks for the infinite loop will be bites also. *Weretouched have extra effects on a bite
Level 10: For the third aspect there are a few choices. Bear and wolverine give more HP’s, spider for higher AC, etc. I chose horse because it will be the second major form, for the time when you are out of demonic rage. It’s not really necessary because wolf is already great, it’s really up to you
- *Does not apply for Weretouched
Level 11: Combat Reflexes can be good here if human, at this point it will be great when you are not raging. Taking Energized Wild Shape can be cool if you have 19 wisdom. If not Improved Critical–hoof for the horse. If you have the Bane of Spirit ring you can convert the elemental damage into irresistable force damage
Level 13: I start moving toward shatter defenses here, so Weapon Focus–Bite if human. If you’ve already picked it, then take Dazzling Display. I don’t take Shifter’s Multiattack because it’s useless for the wolf–at mythic 7 the Deadly Natural Weapons ability lets all your natural attacks count as primary
- UPDATE: Since the recent patch, Shatter Defenses does not automatically proc. A possibly more useful route than DD would be Improved Initiative
Level 15: Dazzling Display or Shatter Defenses, but if you’re not going that way Extended Aspects is good
- Wolverine Aspect – Powerful Stance and Wrecking Blows, the extra HP’s are huge. Wolverines also give rage powers. If you want to focus on powers take it at lvl 10, and start working through the Beast Totem line of feats for pounce via Extra Rage power, but a skald mercenary can do all of that. I recommend a skald in every party anyway. I have a guide to that here
Level 17: We’ve gotten all we need from the class at this point, the capstone isn’t great. Fighter: Mutation Warrior is what I switch to here for the mutagen. Feats can honestly be whatever you want. Weapon Focus: Bite, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, etc. Staying with Shifter can net you some gains, but I don’t think they’re great
Level 18: Blind Fight or whatever else you want
Level 19: Whatever feat you’d like
Level 20: You can stay Fighter for weapon specialization–bite to qualify for Mythic WS, or switch to the Demonslayer Ranger. If base Shifter I chose Bear for even more HP’s + Con
Mythic Progression
Level 1: Close to the Abyss, and they work with your forms; Master Shapeshifter to make your shape shift permanent and get cool bonuses. If playing on Unfair, Last Stand is a life saver
Level 2: Mythic Power Attack, (or Master Shapeshifter if on Unfair and you didn’t take it)
Level 3: Ever Ready
Level 4: Mythic Improved Critical–Bite. Demonic Aspect: Kalavakus. This is what makes the build work
Level 5: I like Mythic Charge, which is again doubled by the Horse’s special feature. Minor Aspect: Succubus which helps with offense and defense
- Major Aspects: Balor and Vavakia
Level 6: Extra Mythic Ability. You’ve got choices here. If you want more AC, Archmage Armor; if you don’t want to miss on a 1, Always a Chance; otherwise Mythic Improved Initiative, which is my pick
- Aspect: Schir
Level 7: You’ve got options here, I took Always a Chance
- Aspect: minor is Incubus, major is Shadow Demon. Incubus, Kalavus, Schir and Incubus are our trio
Level 8: Mythic Weapon Focus or Weapon Spec. Pick any aspect you want
Level 9: Last Stand if not playing on Unfair,
- Demon Lord Aspect: Nocticula to share your awesome demon raging abilities, so now two of you have looping attacks. Just bonkers
Level 10: Whichever you didn’t pick at mythic 8, or Archmage Armor if you like. Aspect Pazuzu
Equipment/Gear
Neck: Amulet of Mighty Fists early game (or magic fang spell if you have the means), eventually Vallexia’s Magnifying Amulet
Armor: completely useless
Shirts: Bestial Rags; keep Robe of the Seven Sins when casting demon buffs, esp. Abyssal Skin
Belts: belts of Str, later Lizard Tail
Gloves: Fencer’s Gift, later
Boots: Boots of Stampede are good, but Cat’s Boots combine great with Owl’s Cowl
Head: Headbands of Wisdom early on, later Owl’s Cowl
Eyes: Mask of the Rapid Bites, a must-have and you get it in ch 2
Cloak: cloaks of resistance for quite a while, but the Bound of Possibility is the ultimate
Rings: Ring of Triumphant Advance (especially if you have a skald merc in the party), Ring of Evasion, but if you can get the Seven Virtues of a True Ruler it grants 5 more uses of demonic rage! Unreal. To get this, simply give the Storyteller the Shard of the Shield of Aroden
Bracers: Lucky Bracers, then Bracers of Armor, then Bracers of Slaughter
Weapons: Longspears can help until you are level 4.
Quick Slots: Jharsygax, Lucky Dice, Extend MM Rod to extend the Abyssal Skin and Lifebane spells, Signet of House Vespertilio, Triceratops Statuette for a nice pet, and whatever else you like
Alright that’s it. I don’t think a melee attacker can do any better than infinite attacks.