Efficient dispelling / countering

[BobVosh]

What feats/classes are particularly well suited to let low level casters dispel buffs from reasonably high level players?

I never really have done this as a player, but I feel the need to do it in the game I'm running. Far too long have thier buffs been safe from me, as I don't like running too much dispelling NPCs.

[Thurbane]

Cleric with the Inquisition Domain is a good place to start...

Also, reserves feats that boost CL for Abjuration spells - Magic Disruption, Mystic Backlash (you'll need to be about 9th level though)...

[PId6]

Abjurer 5/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 5

Take the Domain Granted Power ACF (CC) for Inquisition Domain's power, granting +4 to dispel checks. Master Specialist (CM) gives you a bonus to dispel checks equal to 1/2 class level (so +5 at Master Specialist 10), as well as +2 to CL for Abjuration spells. Archmage lets you increase your caster level by 1 each level.

Dispelling Cord (MIC) gives +2 to dispel checks, while the feat Arcane Mastery (CArc) lets you take 10 on CL checks. Elven Spell Lore (PHB2) gives +2 to dispel checks using Dispel Magic/Greater Dispel Magic, while Arcane Thesis gives +2 caster level to a spell (Greater Dispel Magic) and makes it easier for you to Chain it, letting you hit everyone in the party in one casting.

Finally, the Reaving Dispel spell (CArc) is awesome if you want your PCs to get a taste of their own medicine. It lets you go up to +25 on the caster level for dispelling, and steals the buffs if you successfully dispel them. It's quite powerful if you're looking for high level solutions. You can chain this using a Greater Metamagic Rod of Chaining (CArc).

Alternatively, a psion may make a better dispeller, particularly at lower levels. This is mostly because of how Dispel Psionics works, since by 10th level, you can augment the power to 10 PP, letting you get 1d20 + 20 on your dispel check before outside bonuses. With Psionic/Magic transparency, you can dispel all of their buffs fairly easily at lower levels. The bonus doesn't increase if your ML goes up further though, so at higher levels, wizards make better dispellers.

[Eldariel]

Abjurer 5/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 5

Take the Domain Granted Power ACF (CC) for Inquisition Domain's power, granting +4 to dispel checks. Master Specialist (CM) gives you a bonus to dispel checks equal to 1/2 class level (so +5 at Master Specialist 10), as well as +2 to CL for Abjuration spells. Archmage lets you increase your caster level by 1 each level.

Dispelling Cord (MIC) gives +2 to dispel checks, while the feat Arcane Mastery (CArc) lets you take 10 on CL checks. Elven Spell Lore (PHB2) gives +2 to dispel checks using Dispel Magic/Greater Dispel Magic, while Arcane Thesis gives +2 caster level to a spell (Greater Dispel Magic) and makes it easier for you to Chain it, letting you hit everyone in the party in one casting.

Finally, the Reaving Dispel spell (CArc) is awesome if you want your PCs to get a taste of their own medicine. It lets you go up to +25 on the caster level for dispelling, and steals the buffs if you successfully dispel them. It's quite powerful if you're looking for high level solutions. You can chain this using a Greater Metamagic Rod of Chaining (CArc).

Alternatively, a psion may make a better dispeller, particularly at lower levels. This is mostly because of how Dispel Psionics works, since by 10th level, you can augment the power to 10 PP, letting you get 1d20 + 20 on your dispel check before outside bonuses. With Psionic/Magic transparency, you can dispel all of their buffs fairly easily at lower levels. The bonus doesn't increase if your ML goes up further though, so at higher levels, wizards make better dispellers.

I'd prefer:
Cloistered Cleric 1/Abjurer 1/Master Abjurer 10/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Archmage 1 on an Illumian-shell with Krau-sigil (for full CL) and "Improved Sigil: Krau" to qualify for Master Abjurer on 2. This gets you Divine Defiance, all the Master Abjurer goodies and all the fun stuff of Initiate, most importantly Kaleidoscopic Doom. You also get two domains; there are some that give extra bonuses beyond Inquisition.

This, combined with Master Specialist and Inquisition Domain means you've got Dispels far beyond whatever level you're building him on, and thanks to entering Master Specialist on 3, you maximize the benefits from that. Indeed, you could finish Master Specialist before Initiate if you feel like it, though that's probably not optimal.


Caster level increases from Archmage shouldn't stack (same source), but it has other wonderful abilities like yeah.

[BobVosh]

Cleric with the Inquisition Domain is a good place to start...

Also, reserves feats that boost CL for Abjuration spells - Magic Disruption, Mystic Backlash (you'll need to be about 9th level though)...

Are those in complete mage? Most of the reserve feats I know are there, but I don't remember those names at all. (AFB)

Abjurer 5/Master Specialist 10/Archmage 5

Take the Domain Granted Power ACF (CC) for Inquisition Domain's power, granting +4 to dispel checks. Master Specialist (CM) gives you a bonus to dispel checks equal to 1/2 class level (so +5 at Master Specialist 10), as well as +2 to CL for Abjuration spells. Archmage lets you increase your caster level by 1 each level.

This should work quite well. Thanks.

Dispelling Cord (MIC) gives +2 to dispel checks, while the feat Arcane Mastery (CArc) lets you take 10 on CL checks. Elven Spell Lore (PHB2) gives +2 to dispel checks using Dispel Magic/Greater Dispel Magic, while Arcane Thesis gives +2 caster level to a spell (Greater Dispel Magic) and makes it easier for you to Chain it, letting you hit everyone in the party in one casting.

Finally, the Reaving Dispel spell (CArc) is awesome if you want your PCs to get a taste of their own medicine. It lets you go up to +25 on the caster level for dispelling, and steals the buffs if you successfully dispel them. It's quite powerful if you're looking for high level solutions. You can chain this using a Greater Metamagic Rod of Chaining (CArc).

Isn't chain +5? Even with arcane thesis that makes it a 10th level spell. (Or is thesis -2, or chain +4? I don't use either much)

Alternatively, a psion may make a better dispeller, particularly at lower levels. This is mostly because of how Dispel Psionics works, since by 10th level, you can augment the power to 10 PP, letting you get 1d20 + 20 on your dispel check before outside bonuses. With Psionic/Magic transparency, you can dispel all of their buffs fairly easily at lower levels. The bonus doesn't increase if your ML goes up further though, so at higher levels, wizards make better dispellers.

I probably will use the top build for the main NPC, and throw in a bunch of level 10 or so psions as back up. Assuming the 1D20+20 counts for countering spells as well.

[Watchers]

Isn't chain +5? Even with arcane thesis that makes it a 10th level spell. (Or is thesis -2, or chain +4? I don't use either much)

Note the last line, there.

[BobVosh]

Note the last line, there.

I was referering to Greater dispel magic, not reaving dispel. More over I would like to not rely on items too much, so as to not give the party too many goodies.

I'd prefer:
Cloistered Cleric 1/Abjurer 1/Master Abjurer 10/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Archmage 1 on an Illumian-shell with Krau-sigil (for full CL) and "Improved Sigil: Krau" to qualify for Master Abjurer on 2. This gets you Divine Defiance, all the Master Abjurer goodies and all the fun stuff of Initiate, most importantly Kaleidoscopic Doom. You also get two domains; there are some that give extra bonuses beyond Inquisition.

Whats divine defiance? Also is CC1 just for the domain? I guess it probably gives Divine Defience as well.

[PId6]

Isn't chain +5? Even with arcane thesis that makes it a 10th level spell. (Or is thesis -2, or chain +4? I don't use either much)

It's only +3. You'll probably want to pair it with other meta-reducers. Easy Metamagic (DR325) reduces effective spell level by 1, as does Practical Metamagic (RotD). Metamagic School Focus (CM) lets you reduce it again by 1 three times per day. With enough of these, you can get Chain down to +0 adjustment fairly easily.

[Watchers]

I was referering to Greater dispel magic, not reaving dispel.

Ah, my bad.

[PairO'Dice Lost]

Whats divine defiance? Also is CC1 just for the domain? I guess it probably gives Divine Defience as well.

Divine Defiance is a feat from Fiendish Codex 2 that lets you expend a turning attempt to counterspell with a spell of equal or higher level as an immediate action.

[Kylarra]

I wouldn't pull out all the stops on dispelling, unless the party is similarly optimized, else it comes off as somewhat fiat-y, despite being technically rules legal.

[Eldariel]

Whats divine defiance? Also is CC1 just for the domain? I guess it probably gives Divine Defience as well.

CC1 is for the Domains and Turning, yes. You need Divine Caster Level 3 for Divine Defiance so 1 level of CC and Illumian with Krau-sigil is the easiest way to achieve that, and it's by far the best way to learn immediate action counters.

CC1 is also there because you can fit it; otherwise it would simply be Abjurer 2/Master Abjurer 10/etc. but this way you effectively save a "dead" level with regards to getting Dispelling-related upgrades. CC1 also just so happens to come with (6+Int)*4 class skills for level 1 which is all kinds of tasty and a d6 HD to boot (relevant on level 1). But yeah. Point being, the build is "online" as soon as possible; you start reaping advantages with regards to Dispelling from level 1 and begin scaling them from level 3.