Arcanist Exploits

By bending and sometimes even breaking the rules of magic, the arcanist learns to exploit gaps and exceptions in the laws of magic. Some of these exploits allow her to break down various forms of magic, adding their essence to her arcane reservoir. At 1st level and every 2 levels thereafter, the arcanist learns a new arcane exploit selected from the following list. An arcanist exploit cannot be selected more than once. Once an arcanist exploit has been selected, it cannot be changed. Most arcanist exploits require the arcanist to expend points from her arcane reservoir to function. Unless otherwise noted, the saving throw DC for an arcanist exploit is equal to 10 + 1/2 the arcanist’s level + the arcanist’s Charisma modifier.

Table: Arcanist Exploits
Arcanist Exploit Prerequisites Description Source
Acid Jet (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to fire a jet of acid that damages and sickens the target PZO1129
Altered Shifting (Su) Shift Caster arcanist exploit Spend one arcane reservoir point to change shape while under the effects of a polymorph spell PZO9451
Arcane Barrier (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to gain temporary hit points PZO1129
Arcane Discovery   You learn an arcane discovery. PZO9465E
Arcane Weapon (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to enhance your weapon PZO1129
Armored Mask (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to gain an illusion of armor and the effect of mage armor PZO9488
Aspect of Innocence (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as an immediate action to gain the effects of innocence PZO9488
Bloodline Development   You gain the 1st-level powers of a sorcerer bloodline PZO1129
Charmer (Su) Aspect of Innocence arcanist exploit Spend one arcane reservoir point as a standard action to gain the effects of glibness PZO9488
Consume Magic Items (Su)   You can consume potions, scrolls, staves, and wands to refill your arcane reservoir PZO1129
Counterspell (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as an immediate action to counter a spell PZO1129
Dimensional Slide (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as part of a move or withdraw action to teleport a short distance PZO1129
Energy Shield (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as a standard action to gain resistance to one energy type PZO1129
Face Thief (Su)   Spend arcane reservoir points to assume an illusory disguise as disguise self PZO9451
Familiar (Su)   You gain a familiar, as the wizard arcane bond class feature PZO1129
Feral Shifting (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as a swift action to gain either a bite attack or two claw attacks PZO9494
Flame Arc (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to produce an line of fire that damages targets PZO1129
Flame Control (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to move or extinguish flames PZO9494
Focused Summoning (Su)   When on a plane other than the Material Plane, spend one arcane reservoir point while casting a spell that summons an outsider native to that plane to allow its attacks to bypass any DR it possesses PZO9492
Force Strike (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to fire a magic missile PZO1129
Holy Water Jet (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to fire a line of holy water PZO9492
Ice Missile (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to fire an ice missile that damages and staggers the target PZO1129
Illusion Catcher (Su) Face Thief arcanist exploit You gain a +2 bonus against illusions, and you can dispel or take control of illusions that you disbelieve PZO9451
Invoke Primal Magic (Su)   When a nearby event could create a primal magic event, spend one arcane reservoir point to ensure it occurs PZO9495
Item Crafting   You gain one item creation feat as a bonus feat PZO1129
Lightning Lance (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to fire a bolt of electricity that damages the target and impairs their vision PZO1129
Mending Flesh (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to stop a creature bleeding and grant it temporary hit points PZO9488
Metamagic Knowledge   You gain one metamagic feat as a bonus feat PZO1129
Metamixing (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to apply a metamagic feat you know to a spell without increasing its casting time, even if the spell was prepared with another metamagic feat PZO1129
Obfuscated Spellcasting (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point when casting a spell to make it appear to be another spell you know PZO9472
Orderly Casting (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to deal average damage with all your spells PZO9492
Philanthropic Magic (Su)   When you target one or more allies (excluding yourself ) with a spell, you can expend 1 arcane point from your arcane reservoir in order to grant those allies a number of temporary hit points equal to the spell’s level. PZO9465E
Primal Magic (Sp)   You can expend 1 or more points from your arcane reservoir to create an uncontrolled primal effect. PZO9465E
Potent Magic (Su)   Whenever you spend an arcane reservoir point to increase the caster level or DC of a spell, increase it by 2 instead of 1 PZO1129
Quick Study (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point as a full-round action to replace a prepared spell with another of the same level from your spellbook PZO1129
Redirect Primal Magic (Su)   When you trigger a primal magic event, spend one arcane reservoir point to move it nearby PZO9495
Resist Primal Magic (Su)   When you attempt to cast a spell in an area infused with primal magic, spend one arcane reservoir point to gain a bonus to resist triggering a primal magic effect PZO9495
School Understanding   You gain the 1st-level powers of a wizard arcane school PZO1129
See Magic (Su)   Spend an arcane reservoir point to see magical auras (as detect magic) and identify magic items (as identify) PZO1129
Shadow Veil (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to gain concealment and a bonus on Stealth checks PZO9451
Shift Caster (Su)   Spend an arcane reservoir point to cast a spell while under the effects of a polymorph spell PZO1129
Sonic Blast (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to unleash a blast of sonic energy that damages and deafens the target PZO9451
Spell Disruption (Su)   Spend an arcane reservoir point temporarily suppress a spell effect, as dispel magic PZO1129
Spell Resistance (Su)   Spend an arcane reservoir point to give yourself temporary spell resistance PZO1129
Spell Tinkerer (Su)   Spend an arcane reservoir point to increase or decrease the duration of a spell effect PZO1129
Swift Consume (Ex)   You can use the consume spells class feature or consume magic items exploit as a swift actions PZO1129
Third Eye (Su) Eldritch Eye feat You can use your arcane reservoir to open your third eye more times per day PZO9451
Weather Sage (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to accurately predict the weather, and grant yourself and your allies a bonus to Fortitude checks against severe weather PZO9494
Wild Stride (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to gain the druid’s woodland stride ability and the effects of greensight PZO9494
Wooden Flesh (Su)   Spend one arcane reservoir point to gain a natural armor bonus and DR/slashing, and count as a plant creature PZO9494

Outer Rift Exploits

Source: Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Horror Realms (PZO9297)

Arcanists experiment with ancient knowledge and mystic lore, manipulating their own natural abilities to unlock powerful arcane secrets. Despite extensive effort, not all arcanists achieve the power they seek. Some discover that their blood lacks the innate power of a sorcerer’s, or that deciphering mysteries in ancient tomes requires a degree of scholarly discipline they do not have. Undeterred, such individuals continue their quest by turning to the powerful mysteries of the Outer Rifts, be they blasphemous secrets found in lost ruins, tricks of magic etched into fiendish runestones, or any other dangerous form of sinister exploitation from these horrific realms. Not all arcanists who choose this route are necessarily evil—they justify these exploits by claiming to be in control of their actions and to use the tools of their enemies against them. Nevertheless, those who bend magic using exploits from the Outer Rifts should be wary of attracting the wrong attention or enabling a greater evil than that which they seek to defeat.

All of the following exploits can be learned by arcanists of any alignment, but these exploits come with a risk. If you use an Outer Rift exploit and in doing so reduce your arcane reservoir to 0, you immediately gain the stain of one manifestation from the accursed, demonic, hellbound, or possessed corruption. The GM chooses which corruption, manifestation, and stain you receive; this stain persists for 24 hours. Reducing your arcane reservoir to 0 in this way multiple times within a 24-hour period results in a new stain for each such instance, and each time you do so you reset the timer for all stains gained in this manner to 24 hours. At the GM’s option, multiple instances of abusing exploits in this manner could result in a permanent corruption, but otherwise these corruptions are temporary and do not progress. You can never gain a gift from a corruption in this way.

Table: Outer Rift Arcanist Exploits
Arcanist Exploit Description
Blood Tears (Su) Spend one arcane reservoir point as an move action to weep tears of blood that counts as averting your eyes against gaze attacks and can be splattered on creatures to stagger them
Damnation Susurrus (Su) Spend one arcanist reservoir point to cause a creature to harm itself
Fiendish Proboscis (Su) Spend one arcanist reservoir point to grow a proboscis that can attack creatures and deliver touch attacks
Rift Fog (Su) Spend one arcanist reservoir point to create a mobile vortex of chilling fog that damages and slows creatures
Shadows Out of Light (Su) Spend one arcanist reservoir point to surround yourself with shadows that give an armor class bonus and can make attacks of opportunity
Soulrider (Su) Spend one arcanist reservoir point while casting a spell on a creature to infect it with a soulrider, allowing you to track them.
Tentacles (Su) Spend two arcanist reservoir points to grow tentacles that can attack creatures and deliver touch spells

3rd Party Arcanist Exploits

Table: 3rd Party Arcanist Exploits
Arcanist Exploit Description
Jon Brazer Enterprises
Armored Caster (Ex) You can cast arcanist spells without incurring arcane spell failure chance while wearing armor
School Defense (Ex) You gain a bonus to dispel checks and saving throws against spells from one school of magic
Spell Improvisation (Su) Spend two arcane reservoir points as a swift action when casting a prepared spell to instead cast a spell of the same level from your spellbook
Theurge (Su) You gain the 1st-level powers of a cleric domain
Unfettered (Su) Add one spell from a spell list other than the sorcerer/wizard list to your spellbook and spell list at one higher spell level
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide © 2014, Paizo Inc.; Authors: Dennis Baker, Ross Byers, Jesse Benner, Savannah Broadway, Jason Bulmahn, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, Jonathan H. Keith, Will McCardell, Dale C. McCoy, Jr., Tom Phillips, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Thomas M. Reid, Sean K Reynolds, Tork Shaw, Owen K.C. Stephens, and Russ Taylor.

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