Pathfinder 2e Witch Guide: The Witch is a spellcasting class in the Pathfinder 2e roleplaying game. This guide will provide a brief overview of the class and offer some tips for playing a powerful Witch character. The Witch class is known for its mastery of dark and mysterious magic. They draw their power from a familiar, a supernatural entity that accompanies them on their adventures. Familiars can take various forms, such as an animal or even an object imbued with magical power. Witches have access to a wide range of spells, allowing them to cast spells that manipulate the elements, curse their enemies, or heal their allies.

Cackle: What does it do?

The Cackle Hex states you Cackle as a free action. You sustain a spell.

So let me see if I'm clear on this. You spend a focus point to sustain a spell once as a free action? That's it? One round of free action sustain with no heightening for 1 focus point?

Yes. It is a free action that would normally be an action. You also gain a focus point for taking the feat, so it can be used 2 times in a combat at least once a day.

I'm not sure why you're bringing up heightening, that has nothing to do with Cackle, but otherwise you're correct.

Yeah, it's a little better if you have more focus points with which to use it. Even if you only have one though, it let's you get two summon monsters out simultaneously.

Round 1: Cast summon spell (typically 3 actions)
Round 2: Sustain summon spell (free action thanks to Cackle), cast second summon spell (3 actions).

Then you can just sustain the two spells as normal. Hell, sustain one with Cackle again so that you free up an action (leaving you with two) then cast flaming sphere. Sustain all three effects.

Or maybe something simpler, like casting and maintaining three flaming spheres.

Round 1: Cast flaming sphere (2 actions). Stride to safe location (1 action).
Round 2: Sustain flaming sphere (1 action), cast second flaming sphere (2 actions).
Round 3: Sustain both flaming spheres (1 action, free action), cast third flaming sphere (2 actions).

It's actually quite powerful! Other casters need to be around 10th-level to do something similar.

Yep. If you're sustaining a spell, it's basically a free action once per fight if you don't have any other Focus Spells you want to use right now.

That's not bad at all.

A 1-round Quickened that lets you take only one specific action?
No thanks.
Not that I wouldn't want it in an emergency, but that's a feat and hopefully I can get more effect out of my Focus Spells, even if I have to MCD to do so.

Just a one example of usage:
Level 20 (can be of an lower level for practical example)

Round 1) Level-10 Storm of Vengeance (3-action)
Round 2) Second level-10 Storm of vengeance (3-action), plus sustaining first SoV with Effortless Concentration.
Round 3) Third level-9 Storm of vengeance (3-action), sustaining first with EC and second one with Cackle
Round 4) Fourth level-9 Storm of Vengeance (3-action), sustaining first with EC, and second and third with two remaining cackles
Round 5+) Sustaining all 4 storms with EC+standard 3 action.

If you can ambush large group of enemies, with clear sight over a 1,000 feet. You can inflict 16d8 acid damage per round, with no saves. They would have move at least 360 feet to escape third and fourth storm. And more (depending on placement first two compares to second two) to escape first and second.
If enemies resistant or immune to acid, and/or you confident they are not very good with fortitude save - you can instead do 16d10 bludgeoning damage with hailstorm.
And finally if there are no more than 10 enemies, and you confident they are neither resistant/immune to lightnings, and/or good at reflex save - you can do 4 lightning storms, for 28d6 damage per round.

If i would be a GM, i really would worry about such devastating combination, and would seriously start adjusting encounters, with enemies that can resist given types of damages, or outright having very good spellcasters, with prepared dispells

So a single focus point to sustain a spell for one round that you forego to cast something like malicious shadow or needle surge. Hmmm. I'm going to have to work on this.

About the most useful use is what Ravigdork outlined. You can cast a second summon while sustaining the first. You can do this earlier than 16th level. Though I haven't found summons to be particularly useful.

That's a really cool scenario, yet too contrived to expect to see in play.

And any enemy so exposed (and somewhat incapable given the level) should be fodder for any level 20 caster who prepares the exact right spells. (Especially if they're running w/ an equal party.)

A 1-round Quickened that lets you take only one specific action?

No thanks.
Not that I wouldn't want it in an emergency, but that's a feat and hopefully I can get more effect out of my Focus Spells, even if I have to MCD to do so.

Alternative thinking: Since Witches often have sustained spells going, it can be considered as spending one focus point to get a 1-round Quickened that you can do anything with since you aren't spending that action to sustain.

Still not a terribly powerful ability.

Although at low levels there isn't much else to do with a focus point. Without taking Basic Lesson at level 2, the only focus spell that you have that costs a focus point is Phase Familiar, which only gives your familiar a minor resistance against damage for one attack.

So at low levels, sustaining with your focus points may not be the worst thing to do with them.

Though, in my opinion, Basic Lesson is a much more powerful choice than Cackle.

That's a really cool scenario, yet too contrived to expect to see in play.

And any enemy so exposed (and somewhat incapable given the level) should be fodder for any level 20 caster who prepares the exact right spells. (Especially if they're running w/ an equal party.)

Well, with lightning storm you don't even need preparing it as an ambush, as unlike acid rain and hailstorm it won't damage allies.

It can also be done both at much lower levels with combining something like 4 Lightning Storms (as of actual level-5 spell, not variation of Storm of Vengeance). Or heightening Lightning Storm similarly to level-10 and 9. For even more devastating single target damage (unless target is immune to it, or have insanely good reflex save).

There are obviously even more possibilities. Spells requited sustaining not super common, but there is still many to chose from.

It sounds banal, but I think the main use is to keep another hex sustained (witches love their sustained hexes) while casting a spell and keeping an action to move. Without it, you can get put in the situation where you really need to move (enemies closing in) but you can then only sustain a spell or cast a new one, not both.

Also, referring to it as a '1 round Quickened' may be misleading since it is not in fact related to Quickened.

It stacks with Quickened. Thats pretty big.

Also, referring to it as a '1 round Quickened' may be misleading since it is not in fact related to Quickened.

It stacks with Quickened. Thats pretty big.

well, that and most quickened (all?) don't give access to sustain atm.

It is a fine feat to take if you know why you are taking it, not great if you don't.

Like most feats :p

You can also cackle while raging if you were a multiclass barb and wanted to fight next to a flaming sphere.

I don't have complaints with Cackle as-is. I could definitely see myself using it in a clutch moment.

Letting something you're sustaining fall off because you're being pressured by baddies feels *really* bad. Having a way to keep something rolling when you absolutely must use your actions for something else is a very fine option for a feat.

You can also cackle while raging if you were a multiclass barb and wanted to fight next to a flaming sphere.

For one extra round per Focus Point?

(And likely with a mediocre save on the spell.)

You can also cackle while raging if you were a multiclass barb and wanted to fight next to a flaming sphere.

For one extra round per Focus Point?

(And likely with a mediocre save on the spell.)

It may not be the greatest thing ever but it's still something you can't do without cackle.

And flaming sphere was the first sustain spell I thought of

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

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I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

You can bet that if the the party's opponent did this they'd sit up and take notice.

"Wait, he gets how many actions?!"

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

For 1 round per combat? Over say using malicious shadow or death curse? Maybe once in a while. It's a steep cost for 1 round of sustain and situtationally useful.

Not like witches have tons to do with their actions. It might be cooler for a beastmaster witch or a witch multiclass for a character who has some nice things to do with their actions. For a druid witch, Cackle might be nice letting them send their pet attack while sustaining some cool spell or letting them use Invoke Disaster while sustaining it while casting a spell.

Hmmmmmm. I like that.

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

For 1 round per combat? Over say using malicious shadow or death curse? Maybe once in a while. It's a steep cost for 1 round of sustain and situtationally useful.

. you would use it after casting one of those spells in order to keep it up while doing something else very important that same round.

most casters get a free sustain at 16th, so the example is even more crazy that that.

most casters get a free sustain at 16th, so the example is even more crazy that that.

You can use sustain only once per turn, as it have trigger: "Your turn begins".

With Hex Master you can do as many cackles per turn as you have spare focus points.

most casters get a free sustain at 16th, so the example is even more crazy that that.

You can use sustain only once per turn, as it have trigger: "Your turn begins".

With Hex Master you can do as many cackles per turn as you have spare focus points.

Where are you seeing that?

Neither Sustain an Activation nor Sustain a Spell have any such trigger.

EDIT: Ah, you were referring to Effortless Concentration.

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

Specially when the class that has this kinda revolves around sustaining spells for a lot of what it does.

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

For 1 round per combat? Over say using malicious shadow or death curse? Maybe once in a while. It's a steep cost for 1 round of sustain and situtationally useful.

Not like witches have tons to do with their actions. It might be cooler for a beastmaster witch or a witch multiclass for a character who has some nice things to do with their actions. For a druid witch, Cackle might be nice letting them send their pet attack while sustaining some cool spell or letting them use Invoke Disaster while sustaining it while casting a spell.

Hmmmmmm. I like that.

How many rounds are your combats? in my games, a free sustain on a flaming sphere or something could be big if you're trying to nova.

Where are you seeing that?

Neither Sustain an Activation nor Sustain a Spell have any such trigger.

Additionally, a fair few sustain spells also only do their sustain effects once per turn. Most do, I think Spiritual Weapon and Flaming Sphere are the only two that don't say, "once per round when. "

. situtationally useful.

Everything in the game is intended to be situationally useful.

Pointing out an ability being situationally useful is effectively saying it's working as intended - it is the things which aren't situationally useful that need to be adjusted (whether because there's no situation they are useful in, or because there are too many situations they are useful in so they appear to be generally, rather that situationally, useful).

Yes, i'v should specify.

. situtationally useful.

Everything in the game is intended to be situationally useful.

Pointing out an ability being situationally useful is effectively saying it's working as intended - it is the things which aren't situationally useful that need to be adjusted (whether because there's no situation they are useful in, or because there are too many situations they are useful in so they appear to be generally, rather that situationally, useful).

This isn't true in regards to combat where we use these round by round abilities. There are numerous abilities that are useful all the time, every round, round after round. People tend to take those abilities in lieu of situationally useful abilities which are useful in a small number of situations.

So analyzing an ability according to how often you might find it useful is very important when comparing it to another ability which will be useful in far more situations, if not every single combat.

I don't get the whole "it's not that great" attitudes that I'm seeing here. Improving your action economy is one of the most powerful things you can do in 2nd Edition.

For 1 round per combat? Over say using malicious shadow or death curse? Maybe once in a while. It's a steep cost for 1 round of sustain and situtationally useful.

Not like witches have tons to do with their actions. It might be cooler for a beastmaster witch or a witch multiclass for a character who has some nice things to do with their actions. For a druid witch, Cackle might be nice letting them send their pet attack while sustaining some cool spell or letting them use Invoke Disaster while sustaining it while casting a spell.

Hmmmmmm. I like that. How many rounds are your combats? in my games, a free sustain on a flaming sphere or something could be big if you're trying to nova.

Depends on how many enemies. Anywhere from 3 to 4 to 7 to 11.

I can see a few nova caster situations where a free sustain may be useful. Worth a focus point when you can only recover 1 per 10 minute rest at low level? Not so sure. Once you obtain the ability to recover 2 focus points per 10 minute refocus, maybe more valuable.

My buddy took that bring shadow to life ability and he has 2 focus points at lvl 6. He might use his second focus point in a single battle to sustain his shadow while attacking at this level. He definitely wouldn't use Cackle over casting the Shadow ability. So it would be a 1 time a day tactic at his current level.

A lot of people often view this in a vacuum for the individual character. But in a real game the witch is not likely to be the primary hammer of a group, which won't require them going nova too often if ever. In this particularly group we have a storm druid, giant instinct barbarian, and a swashbuckler, so the damage hammer is strong. She's on the low end of that damage hammer.

Zenith Games

As guides for Pathfinder 2nd Edition get written, they will be stored here.

If you know of other guides, comment them below.

189 comments:

RPG Bot Dwarven Ancestry: Dwarven Weapon Familiarity is wrong.

DWF lowers Martial to Simple & Advanced to Martial like all the other Racial Weapon Familiarity feats. Reply Delete

I mean a lot of RPGBot guides contain mistakes. It's actually not a new trend, and it likely won't change. Perhaps a disclaimer?
Also the Tools section could benefit from a separate header, as it seems to have GM guides still listed under Character Creations. Reply Delete

A lot of guides in general contain mistakes. That's the reality of having things made by fallible humans with their own opinions on whats strong and what isn't. If there should be any disclaimer, it should be one that says to look to multiple guides and form an opinion of your own from there. Delete

That Wizard guide is nuts! 2e has been for like 2 months and someone already has a fucking novel on a single class.

No lifer but props. Reply Delete

Hello again. I remade the guide into guide on all spells of all traditions. Can you please rename it to Kicking Ass with Style and Staves: Spell Analysis Delete

crafting guide I came across
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19ZOKapZjBai8G83hTMrpsMsE7MTWZg7zEFPrKGWtUsk/mobilebasic Reply Delete

RPGBot has been updated with guides for familiars, animal companions, monks, and barbarians Reply Delete

The one about familiars is pretty bad. The section of familiars in the Principia Arcane wizard guide does a much better job. Delete

The RPGBot guides appear to have been written by someone who has never played 2E and is stuck in very much a 1E mindset.

They display significant lack of understanding of the new action system and the new character creations system. For example they are filled with recommendations to "dump" stats. That is pretty much not a thing anymore. You have to really go out of your way to have a stat below 10 and it is nearly always Ancestry dependent.

This is not 1E when "dumping" was better for min maxers because it gained you points back to spend on other stats. Delete

Note that if you're playing with a GM who allows taking voluntary flaws, you can take two penalties to net one extra boost, so the min-maxers of the world *can* get points back to spend on other stats. Delete

Here is another Alchemist Guide I have come across.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lrI1-mzDG_beKwCxxmT5bjsMMtMwVixuZmiVUwhALsg/edit

It does not really have a discussion thread but it does have this reddit thread from where the author first showed off his guide.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/ehy5t0/my_guide_to_the_alchemist_for_pathfinder_2e/ Reply Delete

Another mini guide for Animal Companions
https://fedoraferret.wordpress.com/2020/01/26/tooth-and-fang-fedoraferrets-guide-to-animal-companions/ Reply Delete

Here is a guide to the Pathfinder 2e sorcerer by TheGentlemanDM.

The Gentleman's Guide to Blood Magic: The PF2 Sorcerer
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/escrb5/the_gentlemans_guide_to_blood_magic_the_pf2/

TheGentlemanDM has also made a series of character builds called “Not Good, Still Awesome” that could be worth adding to the “Builds” section.

Ursula the Sea Witch

A terrifying witch who makes unbreakable deals with poor unfortunate souls as she seeks to rule the sea.

Witches have access to a wide range of spells, allowing them to cast spells that manipulate the elements, curse their enemies, or heal their allies. They are also proficient in hexes, which are curses or blessings that they can bestow upon others. Hexes can provide a variety of effects, such as causing damage over time or debuffing enemies.

Who Is Ursula the Sea Witch?

When creating a Witch character, it is important to consider their ability scores. Intelligence is the primary ability score for Witches, as it determines the number of spells they can cast and their spell DC. Charisma is another important ability score, as it affects the Witch's familiar and some of their hexes. In terms of feats and abilities, there are several options for Witches to consider. For example, the Cackle Hex allows the Witch to extend the duration of their hexes, making them even more effective. The Patron's Sacrifice feat allows the Witch to sacrifice their own health to boost their spells, providing a powerful burst of damage or healing. When it comes to spell selection, Witches have access to a variety of spells from different spell lists. It is important to choose a mix of offensive, defensive, and utility spells to ensure versatility in different situations. Witches can also enhance their spells with metamagic feats, allowing them to modify spell effects or cast spells more quickly. Finally, Witches can specialize in different areas of magic by choosing a witch patron. Each patron offers unique spells and abilities that can greatly enhance a Witch's power. It is important to choose a patron that synergizes well with your playstyle and desired character concept. In conclusion, the Witch class in Pathfinder 2e is a versatile spellcaster with a focus on dark and mysterious magic. By carefully selecting feats, abilities, and spells, a Witch character can become a powerful and formidable force on the battlefield. Whether you choose to curse your enemies, heal your allies, or manipulate the elements, the Witch offers many options for creative and strategic play..

Reviews for "Embracing the Darkness: Tips for Being an Evil Witch in Pathfinder 2e"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Pathfinder 2e witch guide". First of all, the information provided was not well-organized and it was difficult to find what I was looking for. The guide lacked clear explanations and examples, which made it hard for a beginner like me to understand how to play the witch class effectively. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on this guide and would not recommend it to others.

2. Emily - 3 stars - While the "Pathfinder 2e witch guide" had some useful information, I found it to be quite lacking in terms of depth and strategy. It felt like the guide barely scratched the surface of what the witch class is capable of, and as a result, I didn't feel like I got my money's worth. Additionally, there were several instances where the guide contradicted itself or provided unclear instructions, which was frustrating. I think there are better resources out there for those looking to play a witch in Pathfinder 2e.

3. Michael - 2 stars - I was really hoping that the "Pathfinder 2e witch guide" would provide me with new and exciting options for playing a witch in the game, but I was sorely disappointed. The guide mostly regurgitated information that can be found in the core rulebook, with very little added value. It also did not provide any useful tactics or strategies for playing a witch in combat or role-playing scenarios. Overall, I felt like the guide was a missed opportunity and I would not recommend it to others.

Sacred Vs. Profane Magic: Understanding the Witch's Alignment in Pathfinder 2e