[PF] Magus & ED Spell Critical

[Zubrowka74]

I'm seeing a lot of Eldritch Knight and Magus tossed around in the recent threads. I've been thinking : Magus self qualifies for ED at level 7. This is hardly optimal but spellstrike would get this fellow 1 touch spell, 1 extra attack and with a critical, an extra spell cast as a swift action. This is at level 17. Can something be done with this or is it hopelessly late ? Discuss.

[Craft (Cheese)]

Well, the magus can basically get the same thing at level 12 (Critical Strike magus arcana), but only once/day.

The main advantage is that Critical Strike is restricted to touch spells, but the EK ability can apply to basically any spell. You can do the same thing with the Quickened Magic arcana at level 9, but the EK ability doesn't reference Quicken Spell and thus doesn't have the same restrictions on casting time: You could lay down a spell with a casting time of 1 hour with just a swift action, so long as it affects the target or affects an area that includes the target, so you could use this to pop a Geas onto an enemy without having to tie them down first.

Problem is all the spells this would actually be worth using this trick with aren't on the Magus spell list. Of course there's Greater Spell Access but you can't get that because you dumped 10 levels into EK. I *think* there's a feat or something you can use to get access to wizard spells earlier, but I can't remember what it is.

[Psyren]

I *think* there's a feat or something you can use to get access to wizard spells earlier, but I can't remember what it is.

Spell Blending Arcana (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/magus/magus-arcana/paizo---magus-arcana/spell-blending-ex)

But you're better off going straight Magus. Arcana + larger Arcane Pool + Improved Spell Recall trump a few extra BAB and hitpoints from EK - and that's just with straight magus, never mind archetypes like Hex Magus or Black Blade.

Note that the spell you learn from Spell Blending actually becomes a Magus spell. This means you can regain it with Spell Recall, channel it through your weapon with Spellstrike etc.

[DarkSonic1337]

The Magus Spell Blending arcana will let you grab two Wiz/Sorc spells that are up to one level lower than you can cast (or one spell of the highest level you can cast but...nah).

edit:swordsaged

[StreamOfTheSky]

Yeah, straight Magus is much better than going EK with it. EK is better for a 9-level caster to combine with and is probably the weaker class overall.

On a semi-related note since it was brought up and I don't want to make another Magus thread...

Any suggestions for the best Sorc/Wiz spells to pick up with Spell Blending? I'd definitely not use it to gain a single spell, so any selections would be delayed to acquire for quite a while...
I know that Calcific Touch is fairly nasty, though waiting till level 13 (earliest you could get 2 4th level spells) for it is pretty rough.

[DarkSonic1337]

Calcific Touch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/c/calcific-touch) and Enervation (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/e/enervation) pretty brutal for 4th level spells

Then there's touch of idiocy and ghoul touch as second level goodies (though the save on ghoul touch makes me a little wary).

Touch of Gracelessness (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/t/touch-of-gracelessness) at level 1.


Really, for offense just look at all the spells that a Wizard would LOVE to use if the weren't range touch. Also take a look at some defensive spells like protection from X, resist energy, ect, ect.