Artio

I don't do this for every build, but I will go out of my way to make a reminder here: these builds are about capturing a character, not min-maxing the game.

This build made me a bit existential about Pathfinder 2e and how it allows for party roles. This is a highly flavorful build that toes the line between supportive druid and mauling bear. That is a hard line to walk. It wouldn't be possible in a lot of games.

Fortunately, Pathfinder 2e gives us a lot of leeway for making fun builds. The difference between a highly optimized build and a mid-optimized build is not that large. It is difficult to make a truly unviable build. This may be close, but lord will it be fun.

On the tabletop, Artio wants to support allies as best as possible – sometimes through spells and sometimes through being a big bear body in between enemies and friends. We'll try to lean more into the "Tank" aspect, because being a bear is a little more fun than not being a bear. To do this, we will take a Wild Order Druid, then stuff it full of Fighter Dedication feats.

But this is not a classic shield and heavy armor Tank. Wild Shape makes it impossible to raise AC to the highest Champion and Monk levels, or even hold a shield. But is that required in Pf2e? Can Artio fill the "Tank" party role just by being a big grappling bear, investing in higher hit points and sustain? At Pop Culture Pathfinder we say: let's find out.

Luckily, like many spellcasters, Druid's class feats are kind of sparse and boring to make up for the incredible breadth of spells. That gives us a lot of chances to take fighter feats like Attack of Opportunity, Sudden Charge or Sweep to make being a bear funner than just making vanilla melee strikes.

Here's the caveat: in order to take the Fighter Dedication as soon as possible to hit the ground running with the bear build, Artio does not take 18 in her Druid key ability score, wisdom. But since she is often not using those spells to break through enemy Saves, it shouldn't be too detrimental, right? 

Instead, we take a controversial and downright odd 14 Str, 16 Con, 16 Wis, 14 Dex 10 Int 8 Cha stat array that makes Artio wise enough and adequately healthy, while still being just strong and dextrous enough to take a level 2 fighter dedication. Let mauling commence.

Outside of battle, Artio's legendary nature skills can be helpful for exploring, healing and other herb-based activities. Plus Druids have an immense selection of primal spells that can be used to shape the terrain and a million more things. You just have to convince her to leave bear form.

Oathkeeper Dwarf

The Dwarf ancestry is our best hope of increasing the tankiness of Artio early on, while hitting some of the stats we need for the Fighter Dedication.

And the choice pays dividends early, with Unburdered Iron eliminating the speed penalties associated with wearing armor – something that a front line character is going to want to do before shifting to bed form.

Another shining spot in the feat lineup for a dwarf is Mountain's Stoutness at level 8, which adds extra hitpoints per level and stacks with both Toughness and Fighter Resiliency. The three of these, coupled with a focus on Constitution, add up to a nice padding of hit points for a face-tanking werebear.

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Farmsteader

The Farmsteader background gives some abundance vibes. That crop-holding, spring-loving image of Artio has some overlap with the farming and homestead raising spects of the background.

Plus, it features either a Constitution or Wisdom bonus (cha-ching) and a nice Foraging feat that Artio would eventually take anyway.

Druid: Wild Order

The question that haunts this build is this: is it better to give a Fighter a Druid dedication, or give a Druid a Fighter dedication.

The answer, as always, is: it depends on what flavor is trying to be realized by the build.

For that reason, I didn't think too hard about it. Artio is a Druid who can turn into a bear, full stop. Yes, going the Fighter route would make early levels easier as a frontline character, but that's for a different build.

Plus, as said above, the Druid Class feats – especially if you only care about changing into one animal – are sparse enough that we can fill them up with Fighter feats and not miss out on any Druid functionality. The same wouldn't be as true the other way, where we would have to spend a lot of Class feats on dedications that just get the build to Master Druid Spellcasting.

After a few Fighter Feats, a Rogue Dedication is also grabbed down the line for the extra 2 AC from Nimble Dodge, invaluable for this build.

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Athletics (for grappling) and Intimidation (for frightening) are the most important skills for Artio, who wants to be disruptive as much of the time as possible.

Plus, being a druid, Nature is also a heavily trained skill.

Legendary: Athletics, Intimidation, Nature

Master: -

Expert: -

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