Cyclops
Scott Summers – the X-men leader known as Cyclops – is a ubiquitous and polarizing member of the mutant group.
Cyclops was one of the first of Professor Xavier’s students, a tortured soul even then. In those early days as one of the first class, Scott's "boy scout" reputation began, as he quickly became the field leader on behalf of the professor. Another thing that started right from those early days was his relationship with one of the other members of the first class, Jean Grey.
This relationship is one of comics longstanding love stories. Like many of those that have endured, it has been a complicated, on again and off again affair – but that's to be expected after 60 years. It's also to be expected because Cyclops can be a bit of a pill
Much of his brooding comes from his mutation, which has required him to wear ruby quartz lenses that keep his force beams from firing wildly. The mutation has left him frustrated, feeling unable to live normally.
Honestly, he is my second favorite of the X-men, behind only his long-time love, Jean. I’ve always liked his relationships with other members of the team – some of the best love stories with Jean and Emma, the father-son dynamic with Professor X, the rivalry with Logan – all among the best.
There are "boy scouts" in many of the franchises and universes we talk about here. Superman and Captain America are prime examples. Of these, Cyclops is my favorite.
But can we make him fun to play in Pathfinder?
Keys to the Character
Rose-colored Glasses
Cyclops’ namesake is his custom ruby-quartz visor that keeps his eye beams from firing whenever he opens his eyes. He also has them in a cool two-lens look for casual times.
A Portal To Punches
You might think that the beams are lasers. Nope, they are punches. In 1983 the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe said that his eyes open portals to the “Punch Dimension”. This was later altered, but still… hilarious.
Field Leader of the X-Men
Professor X might be the guy in the chair, but on the field Cyclops is running the show. At times this can be a burden, an he may rub his fellow X-men the wrong way – but who could do it better?
A Few Too Many Branches
Jean Grey, Madelyne Pryor, Cable, Havoc, Vulcan, Corsair, Nate Grey, Rachel, Hope. The Summers / Grey family tree is one of the most intertwined and complex in comic history – spanning multiple time periods simultaneously!
A successful Cyclops build needs two things: leadership and lasers. [Ed Note: I know they aren’t lasers].
When Pathfinder 2e first was published, the best Cyclops character build used the Sorcerer class, focused around extremely liberal use of Magic Missiles. Thankfully, as of the Guns & Gears rulebook, there is a much better option.
To bring Scott Summer’s force beams to the tabletop, the best combination is an Automaton Monk. Let me explain: Scott is a human, but the Automaton ancestry can stand in for his mutation, and the Energy Beam Ancestry Feat can stand in for his force beams. Plus, as a leader he is kind of robotic, right? It works.
This combination grants him a 20 ft. energy beam unarmed attack shot from his eye. Sound familiar? Once he has access to that, it’s all about buffing unarmed attacks and adding more blasts with the Monk Class and Handwraps.
On the battlefield, with this build, Cyclops is a mid-range shooter. Which is right where he wants to be, fighting alongside his allies in the X-men. His Monk ki spells are all ways of changing the way his optic blasts work – something we have seen a lot before. Flurry is the pew pew pew. Ki Strike is the bigger pew pew. Ki blast is the wide PEW. You know what I mean.
From mid range, Scott is also in the perfect position to have his allies benefit from an aura granted by the Marshall Dedication, which represents his field leadership qualities.
Outside of battle, Cyclop's legendary diplomacy can be the difference in the party's successful negotiations. He is often the best option as a spokesperson for the group, making his experience as a leader invaluable.
Build OVERVIEW
- Fast blasts, hard blasts, wide blasts
- Helpful orders barked at allies
- Dope glasses
- Some Monk feats don't match the Cyclops fantasy
- Always whining about Jean
- Teacher's pet
Ancestry
Automaton – Sharpshooter
Without this ancestry, Cyclops’ Energy Beams aren't available. That’s the whole build!
The Sharpshooter heritage gives an option for Scott to focus for a longer range Eye Beam, which is a nice range boost, as he doesn't have a ton of movement shenanigans. Stand and deliver – that's Cyclops.
Finally, depending on how you want to flavor it, there is potential to pick up Core Cannon at 17. Though the description is about an Automaton transforming into a cannon, you could easily imagine it as Cyclops bracing himself and focusing fully into delivering a devastating blast – so focused on it that he is completely unable to interact with anything else.
Background
Sheriff
The Sheriff background is the closest thing to Scott’s job as field leader of the X-men. Plus, it gives either a Dex or Wis boost – perfect for Cyclops’ needs as a Monk.
Class
Monk
Obviously Monk doesn’t seem like the first choice when you think about Cyclops. After all, he isn’t a gi-wearing martial artist at all. This is true, but Monk is the perfect class for two reasons: access to many improvements to unarmed attacks, and access to Ki Blasts.
The improvements to unarmed attacks work with Energy Beam, which is the lynchpin of the build. Flurry of Blows, Stunning Fist, Deadly Strikes – all of the Monk feats that mention unarmed strikes or attacks will improve Cyclops and his ability to fire optic blasts around the battlefield.
Flurry of Blows works especially well with the build, considering the Marshall Dedication gives options like Steel Yourself!, which Cyclops wants to use to help his team. Flurry brings in two attacks with one action, meaning Scott can often spend his turn moving, aiding and shooting twice.
The Ki Spells is a great bonus addition. Ki Strike requires a Focus Point, but it works with Flurry and hits a lot harder than his standard optic blast. And Ki Blast is perfect for those times when he really unleashes, turning his optic blast into a devastating cone AOE.
Skills & General Feats
As the leader of the X-Men, Cyclops to be a legendary diplomat. Just imagine trying to wrangle Wolverine. This diplomacy also comes in handy for his Marshall Dedication, which uses the skill for DC rolls.
Beyond that, Cyclops is pretty good at Athletics, after all that training in the Danger Room. He also has focused on some Medicine, Occultism (mutant stuff) and more.
Legendary: Diplomacy
Master: Athletics
Expert: Medicine, Occultism, Society
Attribute Increases
Equipment
Suggested Starting Equipment
Handwraps of Mighty Blows – Despite being called Handwraps, these are used to allow Property Runes on all types of unarmed attacks. This is what Cyclops will need to add weapon dice and effects to his optic blasts.
Key Spells
Changelog
2022-08-12
- Removed Armor Proficiency, Knockback Strike
- Added Ki Rush, Toughness
Related Builds
