Braum

Building a tank in Pathfinder based on characters from popular culture often runs into one central problem: most "pop culture" characters don't use shields, and the best tanking in Pathfinder features shields.

So whenever there is an opportunity for a character that has a heavy shield focus, a lot of those tanking elements fall right into place. For Braum, shields are front and center in his character fantasy. He uses a giant, enchanted door as a shield – and a big part of his gameplay loop involves blocking on behalf of allies.

Alongside his defensive abilities, Braum also channels cold magic through his shield, which allies can draft off of to stun and damage enemies who are chilled.

A magic shield that is used as a conduit for cold magic? We can look to the Sparkling Targe hybrid study of the Magus to do a lot of the heavy lifting (pun intended) for this build. Add in some fighter feats for extra shield functionality and another dedication for heavy armor, and we have a hulking cold tank.

On the battlefield, Braum is in the front line, always positioning himself between the enemy and his allies, ready to block everything from sword swings to arrows to magical projectiles. He is always ready to adopt a defensive stance, raising his shield in reaction to danger.

But he isn't just a defensive dynamo. Braum uses his magical fist attacks and his shield to make spellstrikes, channeling cold magic that damages and slows enemies with spells like Ray of Frost and Cone of Cold.

Outside of combat, Braum uses his incredible survival expertise to guide his allies across the frozen fields of the north. Plus, we can't forget his uncanny ability to tame and train poros and other small boreal creatures. He's poro daddy, after all.

Wintertouched Human

Braum needs to be wintertouched in order to withstand those freezing temperatures with his choice of (or lack of) clothes. But more importantly, the Human ancestry gives access to two feats we need to fill out the build: Natural Ambition and Multitalented.

Alongside his base human ancestry, Braum takes on the Dwarf Adopted Ancestry and makes good use of it. It is especially useful for adding some extra health for bonus tanking prowess.

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Nomad

Braum is a wandering hero, moving across the tundra in search of Freljordians in need. The nomad background captures this perfectly, adding a Constitution bonus that is great for tanking, as well as the Assurance skill in Survival.

As an added feature, Braum gains training in Tundra Lore, for extra knowledge of all things snow.

Sparkling Targe Magus

The sparkling targe hybrid study allows a Magus to channel their magic through a shield. It adds a lot of defensive functionality to the class, giving Shield Block at level one, and allowing Braum to use his shield to defend against spell attacks while in Arcane Cascade mode.

Sparkling targe also grants the shielded strike focus spell, which allows Braum to make a melee attack and raise his shield with one action. That's a great action economy, but it also doubles as a spellstrike recharge, making it one of his most potent combos.

Speaking of spellstrike, Braum uses Ray of Frost as his cantrip spellstrike spell, which requires a spell attack roll and has the added effect of slowing an enemy's movement speed. After picking up expansive spellstrike, Braum can use some of the more potent ice spells along the build – including powerful AOEs like Cone of Cold and Chilling Spray.

Alongside Braum's Magus base, he adds a Fighter Dedication through Multitalented. This is primarily grabbed to add some shield-focused feats and actions, such as Aggressive Block and Shield Warden. These add to Braum's overall ability to be a vanguard, pushing back foes while protecting allies.

Finally, Braum also takes a single feat in the Sentinel Dedication line, to go from Medium Armor to Heavy. This positions Braum's AC firmly into tank territory, making him a fun, active solo tank for a party.

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Being as big and buff as Braum means having a legendary athletics score, and having a free hand available to punch with means being able to grab, push and otherwise athletic-check enemies often.

Alongside that, Braum is also extremely well-versed in Nature and Survival, necessary skills for a Freljord wanderer.

Legendary: Athletics, Nature, Survival

Master: -

Expert: -

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