pathfinder how much can strength be buffed

[jk7275]

Assuming a strength of 20 and using just core how much can it be increased with items or buffs

[inuyasha]

Assuming a strength of 20 and using just core how much can it be increased with items or buffs

Well, Strength of 20 via human/half-orc/half-elf

+5 for ability increases up to level 20
+5 inherent from wishes or tomes
+2 size from enlarge person (permanent via permanency)
+6 enhancement from Belt of Strength

If you're playing a Barbarian, you can add a +8 Morale bonus to that while raging

Instead of going Barbarian 20 with Permanent Enlarge Person, you can also be a Barbarian 11, Cleric 9 which would allow for only +6 Morale bonus when raging, but will let you cast Righteous Might for a +4 size bonus instead of the +2 from Enlarge Person. This leaves us at the same amount of Strength, but also gives you all kinds of Cleric casting, which is neat if you're into that.

20
+5 ability increases
+5 inherent
+4 size from Righteous Might
+6 from Belt of Strength
+6 from Rage
Which brings us to a total of 46 Strength
Beyond that, the only way I think you could get a bit higher is an additional +2 if the DM allows you to play an Orc from the Bestiary, which is given a player-race writeup and is core due to being in the Bestiary, just not one of the classic Core Rulebook ones. That'll bring you to 48

I don't usually do this kind of number crunching, but it was pretty fun!

[Eldariel]

You can also add Form of the Dragon III for +10 Size to Strength. So UMD that, then Rage.

[HouseRules]

If you could ask Thor's avatar that you could borrow Megingjörð, the belt of double strength then you could double your base strength score. Maybe, that is more 3.P since Thor is not in Pathfinder.

[Elricaltovilla]

You can VMC alchemist for a mutagen that will give you up to +6 STR as an alchemical bonus as well. I don't really use/like VMC though so my numbers might be off.

[Castilonium]

Find (or make a simulacrum of) a Titanoboa (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/megafauna/megafauna-titanoboa/). Cast Anthropomorphic Animal (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/a/anthropomorphic-animal/) + Permanency on it. Finally, cast Possession (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/possession/) on it.

You now have 44 strength before any other buffs.

[inuyasha]

Just want to remind everyone here that the original post specified core only.