[PF] Best ways to get pounce (across classes)

[Elricaltovilla]

Its pretty much what the title says. What are easy ways to get pounce on a martial or gish character? Items, feats, class abilities, spells, whatever you've got for me.

[stack]

Synthesist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo---summoner-archetypes/synthesist)summoner 1, quadruped, pounce evolution. Only way to get it in 1 level.

Druid wildshape (as beast shape 2, 6th level).

Beastmorph (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---alchemist-archetypes/beastmorph)alchemist (10th, as beast shape 2, combos well with vivisectionist)

Barbarians can get it at 10th - greater beast totem (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo---rage-powers/beast-totem-greater-su).

Fighter - roughrider (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter/archetypes/paizo---fighter-archetypes/roughrider)at 7 (mount can move, make ride check to dismount and full-attack), Dervish of Dawn (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter/archetypes/paizo---fighter-archetypes/dawnflower-dervish)-11th level, move & full attack, lose your highest BAB attack.

Anyone who can cast Beast Shape 2 (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/beast-shape): alchemist 4 (so 10th level), magus 4 (so 10th level), sorcerer/wizard 4 (8 sorc, 7th wiz)

None of them are exactly cheap or easy. Synthesist overrides your physical stats, so you don't want to multiclass much or your stats fall behind, though is an awesome gish on its own. Druids are druids. Melee doesn't get nice things unless they are casters too.

[Zubrowka74]

PF doesn't have pounce, unless I'm mistaken.

[Fouredged Sword]

missed the PF tag, sorry.

[Dissonance]

The best non class specific way of gaining pounce is actually to be a kitsune.

They have a 2 feat chain that culminates in pounce when you change shape into your kitsune form. (a swift action thanks to the first feat)

While it's use is limited on martial characters. (-2 str racial sucks) Since it is a feat instead of a class feature it can be combined with ANY class in any combination.

edit: the two feats are *swift kitsune shapechanger* and *vulpine pounce*

[stack]

Knew I was missing one. Catfolk can get a feat to get pounce with their claws as well. Claw Pounce. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/claw-pounce-combat-catfolk)

ed - more spells: monstrous physique 2 (4th level spell), undead anatomy 2 (5th level spell).

[Psyren]

If psionics are allowed, there's also Psywar 7 or Soulknife 11. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/psionic-powers/p/psionic-lion-s-charge)

[CTrees]

Worth noting that the catfolk Claw Pounce feat isn't *really* a true pounce-it allows a full attack with claws only. The one potentially interesting bit is the way monks are written/errata'd. Claw Pounce says "full attack," rather than "attack with both claws." Obviously RAI would be two natural attacks. However, monks using Unarmed Strike and Flurry of Blows aren't limitted to fists; they can use "any part of their bodies." Claws are part of the body. Ergo, it's at least arguable that a catfolk monk with Claw Pounce could make full attacks on a charge via unarmed strike.

Anyway, there's also the Dimensional Savant feat line. If you've got good access to one of the enabling teleport abilities (most obviously, Dimension Door), you get an effective pounce starting with, iirc, Dimensional Dervish, as long as you're using one of the applicable teleports.

[stack]

Claw pounce might be an expensive way to get pounce on a biped eidolon for a synthesist. They're still claws, right?

[CTrees]

Hrm. It does just say "your claws," so that would seem to work. Worth remembering that this isn't a feat chain humans can co-opt via Racial Heritage (one of the pre-req feats requires a catfolk racial trait).

[stack]

Unless you are a druid or a ranger with the natural weapons style to take the aspect of the beast feat.

[Elricaltovilla]

The problem with monstrous physique is that while pounce is an available ability, there are no monstrous humanoids with pounce in Pathfinder.

[CTrees]

Unless you are a druid or a ranger with the natural weapons style to take the aspect of the beast feat.

I'm aware of Aspect of the Beast alternate pre-req. However, Claw Pounce requires the Nimble Striker feat, which itself requires the Sprinter racial trait, which is (to my knowledge) exclusive to catfolk. This is the requirement to which I was referring when I said humans couldn't sneak their way in.

EDIT: Elricaltovilla - the lamia harridan and weretiger are both monstrous humanoids with pounce. The former is from Rise of the Runelords, but it's still a first party source. Not sure if they "fit" in the limits of the spell, but they're there.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Just recently listed the methods I knew of on a paizo thread. Many have been mentioned, some have not. And it appears I missed a bunch.

Ways to get the pounce ability specifically:

- Druid: Via wildshape
- Any caster: Via Beast Shape 2+. Be a Samsaran if it's not on your list, or pick the right domain/patron/mystery/etc...
- Barbarian: Greater Beast Totem, level 10
- Alchemist: Beastmorph archetype, level 10
- Summoner: Eidolon gets it at level 1; you do instead if a Synthesist
- Monk of the 4 Winds: At a high level and 1/hour, though. Poor monks.

Options that aren't literally pounce, but are effectively the same:

- Magus: Bladed Dash w/ Spell Combat is "like pounce, plus an extra attack, oh and you can use it to hit and withdraw as well"
- Any mounted PC: With Mounted Skirmisher feat (available to Ranger 10, Sohei Monk 1, or anyone else 14) can move and full attack.
- Oracle: Battle mystery has a revelation to move and full attack a few times/day

[Elricaltovilla]

Just recently listed the methods I knew of on a paizo thread. Many have been mentioned, some have not. And it appears I missed a bunch.

Ways to get the pounce ability specifically:

- Druid: Via wildshape
- Any caster: Via Beast Shape 2+. Be a Samsaran if it's not on your list, or pick the right domain/patron/mystery/etc...
- Barbarian: Greater Beast Totem, level 10
- Alchemist: Beastmorph archetype, level 10
- Summoner: Eidolon gets it at level 1; you do instead if a Synthesist
- Monk of the 4 Winds: At a high level and 1/hour, though. Poor monks.

Options that aren't literally pounce, but are effectively the same:

- Magus: Bladed Dash w/ Spell Combat is "like pounce, plus an extra attack, oh and you can use it to hit and withdraw as well"
- Any mounted PC: With Mounted Skirmisher feat (available to Ranger 10, Sohei Monk 1, or anyone else 14) can move and full attack.
- Oracle: Battle mystery has a revelation to move and full attack a few times/day

My reading of Bladed Dash seems to indicate that you can only make 1 attack, because casting the spell is a standard action. I suppose if you used Quicken Spell to make it a swift action you could then make a full attack with the extra attack from the spell, but then it becomes a 5th level spell, not a 2nd level spell.

[WhatBigTeeth]

My reading of Bladed Dash seems to indicate that you can only make 1 attack, because casting the spell is a standard action. I suppose if you used Quicken Spell to make it a swift action you could then make a full attack with the extra attack from the spell, but then it becomes a 5th level spell, not a 2nd level spell.
Read the spell combat ability.

[Elricaltovilla]

Read the spell combat ability.

Oh, ok that makes sense now. Thanks for the clarification.

[avr]

There's an item (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/r-z/shirt-quick-runners) which lets you trade your swift action for a move action 1/day. It's cheap and not heavy, so pack a few extras and it's effectively 1/combat.

[Slipperychicken]

There's an item (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/r-z/shirt-quick-runners) which lets you trade your swift action for a move action 1/day. It's cheap and not heavy, so pack a few extras and it's effectively 1/combat.

It is eating your Chest slot though, which really hurts in terms of AC and armor-enchantments. Maybe you could use the custom item rules to put the effect onto some real armor several times per day, or make it slotless.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Shirt is torso slot, it's not the same as armor (which shares its slot with robes). AFAIK, there really isn't much awesomeness in the torso slot for choices, so switching shirts between each fight probably wouldn't be so bad.

EDIT: My bad; looks like in PF you can wear chest/torso, "body" (robes/wraps), *and* armor.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items#TOC-Magic-Items-Slots

Armor: This slot is used for suits of armor that are worn.

Body: This slot consists of body wraps, cassocks, corsets, dusters, harnesses, robes, vestments and any other article of clothing that can be worn on the body.

Chest: This slot consists of jackets, mantels, shirts, vests and other items that can be worn around the torso or chest.