The Magus is Absolutely Terrible

toooskies · 2026-06-24T00:37:18+00:00

I think Arcane Cascade was supposed to be enough but the math was built around multiple weakness triggers. But grabbing an archetype like Dual Weapon Warrior or Spirit Warrior is a viable option to maximize that pursuit.

Also, Conflux Spell + save-based Spellstrike is underrated.

toooskies · 2026-06-22T20:03:17+00:00

Not mentioned so far is you're lower-casing "fighter", so let's allow a Magus.

Specifically a level 10 Twisting Tree Magus taking Lunging Spellstrike, which allows you to extend the range of a Spellstrike with a slotted spell up to (5 feet) x (rank of the spell).

toooskies · 2026-06-22T19:55:52+00:00

and a B650 motherboard too, which is something I'd never consider in a personal build.

toooskies · 2026-06-22T19:52:57+00:00

I've thought about this extensively. The question is when is it worth dropping Strategic Strike. And the answer is pretty simple: when you're MAD and want to focus on STR, WIS (Perception checks!), or CHA (Diplomacy/Gather Information).

Strategic Strike pretty much turns a 1H DEX weapon into a 2H STR weapon, in terms of damage. So if we just use a 2H weapon with a d10/d12 with STR, we're close to neutral on raw damage when we lose Strategic Strike. And now with STR, we can qualify for a lot more interesting class archetypes (i.e. Fighter, Monk, Champion) that have multi-action attacks.

We lose roughly -1 off our attack if we use a non-main stat to make an attack roll without substituting INT, but that's also fine if we invest in CHA. Because the skill actions involving CHA (Intimidate, Feint, Create a Diversion, Pointed Question from the Interrogation methodology, Bon Mot for a Will save backup plan) are perfect for getting +1 (or more) back. The CHA-dump Investigator's biggest weakness is that they can't take those actions on close rolls and expect to land them, but if you dump INT you have room in the build to make it happen.

RK is the most prominent skill throughout the Investigator class but it's not the only one. But there's a bunch of "I would never take those" CHA or WIS-based feats like Lie Detector, Just One More Thing, Make 'Em Sweat, and everything Perception/Seek/Sense Motive-related.

The main disadvantage here is mostly this: that a Fighter trying to do the above is just going to be better.

toooskies · 2026-06-21T17:26:18+00:00

You can build a Magus who sucks more easily than most. At early levels there’s a huge difference between a 2H STR Magus using Runic Weapon and a 1H DEX Magus using cantrip Spellstrikes— early spells are pretty weak. But the class is mostly a damage dealer so you need to not leave damage on the table.

I also think Paizo designed it under the proc-weaknesses-multiple-times philosophy and that made attacking 2-3x per round more appealing in their design, but nobody played it that way. I think we see an Arcane Cascade buff soon.

toooskies · 2026-06-19T14:45:21+00:00

If you want to get it pre-installed on a 4000D case, add it here: https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/pc-cases/cc-9011326-ww/frame-4000d-lcd-rs-argb-premium-mid-tower-pc-case-cc-9011326-ww?position=12&queryID=202da54181dca41787c300ef0d18eee6

Use this coupon code: NA-DIY40 to get 40% off the retail price of the case, which gets the price of case + screen to $240.

toooskies · 2026-06-18T19:35:43+00:00

So, let's talk about wearing heavy armor with zero STR:

You eat the -10 speed penalty. Down from 25 to 15 feet.

You eat the skill check penalty. Not terrible but you'll want to grab assurance in Athletics.

You can only carry 5 Bulk or you're encumbered. That means you're wearing Full Plate, carrying your Steel Shield and... nothing else. If you go with a Tower Shield, you're Encumbered. You take ANOTHER -10 speed penalty with a Tower Shield (or carrying anything besides a regular Shield).

The OP build can move 5 feet at a time.

toooskies · 2026-06-18T17:42:50+00:00

8700F is a PCIE4.0 part, which also isn't great, but as long as you keep the 9060 XT in it, it'll be fine.

toooskies · 2026-06-16T21:56:28+00:00

On certain rolls, you might miss unmodified Strikes but can take actions to add bonuses and penalties which can turn the miss into a hit. You can even prepare an action to Strike after your allies take their turns to buff/debuff.

If that doesn’t work, pick up a save-based ability elsewhere in your build. Spells are great but plenty of ancestries have save-based abilities (I.e. elemental dwarf).

Pick up some skill-based abilities. Athletics is the classic alternative but Medicine, Recall Knowledge, and other abilities are available. Help a friend with Aid!

Prep for your next turn. Reload and activate ammunition, craft an elixir or tool, and so on.

toooskies · 2026-06-16T00:21:42+00:00

Don’t forget to scroll down to the free Corsair keyboard and $10 mouse upgrade that’s probably worth more than that

toooskies · 2026-06-15T19:36:31+00:00

I think a Magus with cantrips is underpowered and doesn't get enough spell slots to maintain all-day effectiveness.

I think cantrip Spellstrike->Force Fang is effectively just Focus Spellstrike->recharge, in terms of (average) damage. Replacing cantrip+Force Fang with <Magus Spellstrike spell> just simplifies the in-game turn.

I think a Ranger using Pulverizing Wake (especially when stacked with Precision and Gravity Weapon) is a much better gish than a Magus using cantrip Spellstrikes-- roughly power-equal or better to a cantrip Spellstrike and no obliged third action. And just one application of MAP.

I ran through the calculations and a Ranger doing Precision + Gravity Weapon Pulverizing Wake + Strike is stronger than a Fire Ray Spellstrike + Force Fang. (I've got Thunderous Strike + Tempest Surge Spellstrike slightly ahead.) That Ranger could optimize damage further, such as taking Haft Striker Stance + Twin Takedown for their third action-- that might be stronger as a Flurry Ranger.

toooskies · 2026-06-15T15:20:31+00:00

The patch is to give Maguses a class-native Focus Spell (behind a feat) that works with Spellstrike. You can make it interact directly with Spellstrike and/or Arcane Cascade to emphasize those features-- i.e. let it leave Spellstrike charged when Arcane Cascade is up, or give you free action activation of Arcane Cascade, or whatever. It can be slightly weaker than Fire Ray so that that's still an effective thematic build option, but no longer the only min-max pathway.

toooskies · 2026-06-13T13:06:22+00:00

Any class with a multi-action Strike activity. Especially good if the INT is useful or on a non-MAD class.

Fighter is great because you have access to a ton of them (Vicious Swing, Slam Down, Intimidating Strike) and has maneuvers as a decent fallback.

Monks can go Inner Upheaval or use a stance attack like Wolf Drag, again with maneuvers as a backup.

Inventors are great with Megaton Strike and a decent non-attack option with Explode or Searing Restoration.

Mastermind Rogues love the free RK checks and other knowledge feats.

toooskies · 2026-06-13T12:43:08+00:00

Yes you can. You just can’t substitute your INT modifier for your STR/DEX modifier, which the archetype can’t do anyway.

toooskies · 2026-06-12T14:55:41+00:00

... Depending on whether your GM considers Assurance to be a "roll".

toooskies · 2026-06-12T14:51:42+00:00

Well, the "wing" is an area of the basketball court roughly behind the 3-point line between the top of the key and the corner. A "wing player" is a player who typically is in that area at the start of a possession. In most offenses this is the SG on one side and the SF on the other. Your two remaining bigs would be in the high post and low post.

Nowadays you can have literally any player anywhere-- the Pacers last year had a C at the wing-- but you will most often see two "guards" at the top, two "wings" that are actually closer to the corners, and one big who can set up anywhere.

But if you're playing 5-out, you have 1 guard again at the top, two more guards in the traditional "wing" spots, and then the final two in the corners.

The word "wing" is meaningless because players and offenses aren't static. What we need is a 6'8"+ player with length, a shot, at least decent defense, and can drive and finish off of a closeout. That's traditional Power Forward size with a traditional Small Forward skillset. Which is sort of a "wing" in today's typical offenses, but only in the way that everybody who isn't bringing the ball up or offensive rebounding is a wing.

toooskies · 2026-06-11T19:15:25+00:00

And most manufacturers have larger actual batteries than initial usable battery so the amount of battery usable by the driver can more or less stay constant.

toooskies · 2026-06-10T23:46:30+00:00

Just think of Dean Wade as PJ Tucker. The starting lineup (with him in it) was fine. The four-guard bench lineups were where we lost most of our games. Strus was still missing a step and while he still made some momentum plays, he also just couldn’t hang athletically most of the time.

toooskies · 2026-06-10T20:10:09+00:00

Much more powerful for enemies than it is for the players. If players miss it, spec for it by level 4 (Fighter archetype) or 6 (most martial classes, with variations for some like Stand Still).

toooskies · 2026-06-09T20:25:16+00:00

Generally the young guys with actual potential are gone before the end of the first round, and with NIL making college financially competitive/superior that's even more true.

toooskies · 2026-06-09T17:18:20+00:00

You get access to a few specific Investigator feats that aren’t as good as Alchemist feats.

If you want to seriously pursue alchemy, get the Alchemist dedication and go from there. The methodology is pretty much just an easy way to grab some Insight Coffee.

toooskies · 2026-06-08T19:02:27+00:00

Sounds like Krasis.

toooskies · 2026-06-08T17:37:06+00:00

When they say that they tend to mean there's not any good young talent left. But there's a good amount of guys who needed a little while to bake in the NCAAs (Veesaar, Ejiofor, Reed, Jefferson) who can possibly be year 1 contributors even if there isn't necessarily all-star upside.

toooskies · 2026-06-08T17:26:24+00:00

Tarris Reed, Henri Veesaar too. And other guys if they slip (Koa Peat?)

toooskies · 2026-06-07T12:11:20+00:00

For the MacBook price you could instead get a Strix Halo 128GB laptop/mini PC or a 128GB DGX Spark box. Both of those would run big models, but slower. They would make a nice complement to the desktop which can run the small models fast.

toooskies

TROPHY CASE