Shapeshifters in Pathfinder, what are the options?

[Urpriest]

It's a lot easier to make a shapeshifting character in 3.5 than in Pathfinder, that much is obvious. I'm curious as to which options are actually able to compete as reasonable combatants, and which are impractical/can't keep up.


Druid: Still able to take on different shapes, still limited by type. 3/4 BAB isn't so bad, and there are some decent abilities to be picked up.
Eldritch Knight: Something like Fighter 2/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 10/Wizard +3 gets 16 BAB, 9th level spells, and eventually the level 8 school ability. That said, it does incorporate a PrC, which from what I've read in PF is usually a bad choice.
Witch: Witches can get the good shapechanging spells from the right patron choice, and Scarred Witch Doctor makes you Con-based. That said, with so many things dependent on Witch level it seems like a bad idea to PrC out, and without PrCing out you're stuck with 1/2 BAB. Can you be a meaningful gish with only 1/2 BAB?
Alchemist: Gets some shapeshifting and 3/4 BAB, not to mention making badass self-buffers. Doesn't get higher tier shapeshifting though.


So what are folks' opinions/recommendations of these various options? What works well, and what doesn't measure up?

[Gemini476]

I feel tempted to suggest Synthesist Summoner, but that's hardly "shapeshifting" in any sense of the word. Except possibly as relates to Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. Not to mention that it belongs to that weird group of Archetypes that are both seen as completely brokenly powerful or a massive self-nerf, depending on who you ask.

Aren't the shapeshifting spells way more limited in Pathfinder, as well? From what I've read they're more like "choose x abilities from this menu:" than "polymorph into a beholder, twice, permanently".

[Saidoro]

The Words (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/variant-magic-rules/words-of-power/effect-words/altered-form) of (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/variant-magic-rules/words-of-power/effect-words/bestial-form) power (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/variant-magic-rules/words-of-power/effect-words/monstrous-form) polymorph spells are worth noting, they give strength bonuses on scale with the best standard polymorphs aside from dragon shape, they let you select your abilities from a list rather than emulating something specific, they don't force you to merge your equipment(meaning you can still use normal weapons and armor and cast spells), and they don't require you to change size if you want the best bonuses so you can use them at full power indoors.

Generally the best shapeshifter will be a Beastmorph (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---alchemist-archetypes/beastmorph) alchemist, probably with Vivisectionist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/alchemist/archetypes/paizo---alchemist-archetypes/vivisectionist) taken on the side. Their unique ability to have two different polymorph type effects active simultaneously is a big draw. Druids aren't as good at shapeshifting, but they have an animal companion and are a T1 caster on the side... Barbarians have a few abilities that let them gain natural attacks while raging. Psychic warrior is psychic warrior. Magus's and paladins can both access the appropriate spells(the latter through unsanctioned knowledge) but neither really gain all that much by doing so. Witches and wizards require too much investment. For the same effort that you spent making them into a decent shapeshifter you could have made them into an awesome controller or summoner, and there's nothing they do the other classes can't. A better option would be crossblooded sorcerer(Choosing bloodlines with nice gishy benefits) into some PrC or other, though I still wouldn't recommend that.