Pathfinder 2e: Every Class, Explained (2024)

The second edition of Pathfinder effectively re-imagines classes that have been a staple in tabletop RPGs for years. Every character in Pathfinder has a single class that lasts from level one to 20, and all customization comes from the variety of backgrounds and feats they can choose. This makes each class feel unique, providing a solid canvas for character development.

Pathfinder's classes are brimming with possibilities, allowing players to craft the characters they desire while still fitting that class' structure and carving out their role in the party and the world at large. The Pathfinder Core Rulebook introduced 12 Classes, and the Advanced Player Guide added four more. With Paizo Publishing announcing playtest material for the upcoming sourcebook, War of Immortals, they've also added two brand-new classes gamers can playtest before the release: the animist and the examplar.

Updated on May 21, 2023, by Mayra Garcia: Although incompatible with the original Pathfinder, Pathfinder 2e is just as popular as its predecessor, in great part thanks to its classes. So far, Pathfinder 2e includes 23 different classes, but two more are on their way with the War of Immortals release getting closer in October 2024.

The Alchemist Pushes The Limits Of Creation

The Alchemist's Research Fields

• Bomber
• Chirurgeon
• Mutagenist
• Toxicologist

The Alchemist is one of the more flexible Pathfinder 2e classes, allowing players to be as offensive or supportive as they like. This will appeal to those who like the idea of crafting lots of items that can be saved for tricky situations or used as solutions to puzzles, as well as those who enjoy finding creative solutions to problems. While any player can take feats that allow them to brew potions and create explosives, no one does it better than an alchemist.

With their expert knowledge of alchemy, they can create reagents from items they find around them for free. They can even specialize in creating bombs, healing elixirs, or mutagenic substances that will temporarily buff whoever consumes them. This leads to a great possibility for customization when creating an alchemist character. It's also a great alternative to clerics where healing is concerned.

Kineticist Wield Elemental Power

The Kineticist's Elements

• Air
• Earth
• Fire
• Metal
• Wood
• Water

Kineticists harness power from the Elemental Plane through kinesis. This class, first introduced in Rage of Elements, allows the player to specialize in one element that will become central to their character's magic, aura, and many class features — almost like it happens in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The kineticist class shines in long-distance attacks thanks to the elemental blast and the impulse — that allows them to manipulate an element into any form. These two abilities make them formidable foes that work great for players who can't decide between a sorcerer and a monk.

The Barbarian’s Rage Is Their Secret Weapon

The Barbarian's Instincts

• Animal Instinct
• Dragon Instinct
• Fury Instinct
• Spirit Instinct
• Elemental Instinct
• Giant Instinct
• Superstition Instinct

One of the toughest Pathfinder 2e classes, barbarians are often built as brutish, front-line fighters, making them a perfect choice for players who love to get into the thick of battle. They can summon their rage as an ability to get buffs and special powers, which is a great way to add deeper characterization to a PC.

The way barbarians channel their rage varies, as each of them has an Instinct that ranges from animal to draconic and provides specific abilities. Of course, there's always the classic option of being fueled by raw fury. This class is a perfect choice for players who want to test the limits of Pathfinder's combat while still picking a martial class.

Bards Are Perfect For Charismatic Players

The Bard's Muses

• Enigma
• Maestro
• Polymath
• Warrior

Players who love the role-playing aspect of tabletop gaming naturally gravitate towards the bard, making it one of the best-suited Pathfinder 2e classes. They prioritize Charisma and can sway social situations to their advantage with spells, performances, and natural charm. They also have a knack for earning money during downtime periods. That is not to say that bards aren't useful in battle.

They're occult spellcasters who can perform composition spells. These are special limited abilities that often provide fantastic support, but some are potent offensive skills that can quickly turn the tide of battle. Bards are great for players who enjoy role-playing and playing a support role in battle. Their feats are largely geared towards making them more reliable and versatile spellcasters, so even players who build characters with combat in mind should be satisfied.

The Magus Doesn't Sacrifice Melee Attacks Or Spells

The Magus' Hybrid Studies

• Inexorable Iron
• Laughing Shadow
• Sparkling Targe
• Starlit Span
• Twisting Tree

Any player who wants to play with a physical combatant but isn't willing to sacrifice spellcasting should choose a magus. This class from Secrets of Magic combines the arcane with standard combat turning any character into a magical punching machine with a specific fighting style called a hybrid study.

Players get to choose what kind of fighting style to use as the hybrid studies vary plenty regarding magic and melee attacks. Through the Spellstrike (which allows to combine weapon hits and spells) and the diverse types of hybrid studies in the books, the Magus establishes itself as one of the most versatile Pathfinder 2e classes.

Champions Are Keen To A Cause

The Champion's Causes

• Paladin
• Redeemer
• Liberator
• Tyrant
• Desecrator
• Antipaladin

Champions are Pathfinder's answer to paladins but without the restrictive alignment requirements. They are described as emissaries for deities, and the only requirement is that their alignment be compatible with that of their deity. In combat, champions lean into a tanky role, either by protecting their allies with their handy reaction abilities or by buffing their shield with the Divine Ally class feature earned at the third level.

Alternatively, champions can pick a Divine Steed and gain a mount, which is another attractive option for personalizing a character. Pathfinder does a great job at making champions feel unique. With the huge range of deities present in the lore, there are plenty of options to fit with any character idea. It's one of the better Pathfinder 2e classes for players who like to begin with a strong character concept rooted in mechanics and work from there.

The Cleric Gets Their Power From The Gods

The Cleric's Doctrines

• Cloistered Cleric
• Warpriest

While Champions can draw magic power from their deities, clerics are the religious spellcasters of Pathfinder. They vary wildly depending on which deity they worship, and this choice affects some of the spells they can cast, whether their Divine Font is harming or healing, and what weapons they favor. In addition to a deity, players must choose between two doctrines, one that favors spellcasting and one that encourages physical combat.

Clerics are a quintessential support Pathfinder 2e class, but they are not restricted to that playstyle — they can adapt their spell list to match their situations. Overall, they are perfect for players who wish to play a devout character. However, they will have to decide if they rather be powerful magic users or physical combatants.

Druids Harness Nature's Power

The Druid's Orders

• Animal
• Flame
• Leaf
• Stone
• Storm
• Untamed
• Wave

One of the more exotic Pathfinder 2e classes, druids harness the power of nature to fight battles and defend their allies. They cast spells from the primal school of magic and are an extremely versatile class, perfect for players who like to keep their options open. Druids align themselves with a particular druidic order, each with blessings and rules to follow. One of these grants the druid an animal companion, which is great for players who love having that sort of gameplay option available to them.

Alternatively, druids of the wild order can take the Wild Shape feat and transform themselves into various animals, which is a fun ability for combat and roleplaying. Druids even get their own language that only other druids can understand, which makes this class great for any adventure where druidic encounters are likely.

The Fighter Focuses On Combat

The Fighter's Archetypes

• Bully
• Duelist
• Archer

Fighters are masters of combat who thrive on the battlefield. While fighters are generally a straightforward class, Pathfinder keeps them interesting. While they obviously focus on their martial development, there are other things that fighters can do well. For example, they are likely to be great at intimidating others in social situations and on the battlefield, and they will probably do well when it comes to manual labor.

Where fighters absolutely excel, however, is in their ability to become the best combatants they can be. Swathes of feats are available that allow players to craft the exact type of warrior they want, with options rewarding all types of weapons and even dual-wielding. Fighters are perfect for learning the basics of Pathfinder's combat system while performing reliably within it.

The Investigator Finds Weak Spots

The Investigator's Methodologies

• Alchemical Sciences
• Empiricism
• Forensic Medicine
• Interrogation

Investigators may seem like an odd choice for any adventure where mysteries aren't the focus, but they can do well in almost any situation. One of the smarter Pathfinder 2e classes, they excel at solving puzzles and understanding any foes they encounter. Investigators shine when used correctly both on the battlefield and during important social encounters. In combat, investigators can scrutinize foes to find their weak spots and aid allies in securing a quick victory. Outside of battle, they are experts at drawing out the truth from NPCs.

The main draw of the investigator class is their ability to Pursue a Lead. This action opens an investigation and grants a bonus to Perception checks when examining an object or location of interest. This can be supplemented by an investigator's methodology, which is a specialization that the investigator chooses, such as forensic medicine or alchemical sciences. These provide more ways for investigators to role-play and help the party solve mysteries.

Monks' Main Weapon Is Their Body

The Monk's Archetypes

• Ki Monk
• Crane Monk

Monks in Pathfinder use hand-to-hand combat to defeat their enemies with alacrity and style. Very similar to Dungeons and Dragons, this Pathfinder 2e class is based on treating the body as a temple and excelling in combat with just their fists. It offers a multitude of feats that allow the Monk to use various combat stances to bolster their offense and ki spells that use energy from within the body to effect spell-like abilities.

As they gain experience, monks even learn how to treat unarmed attacks like magical attacks and metal attacks, making them effective against diverse enemies. Players may want to try this class if they want to experiment with a different type of martial combat that doesn't rely on weapons and armor. Monks are a graceful, stylish alternative to Fighters and are more durable than Rogues.

Summoners Have Companions From Other Planes

Eidolon Types

• Angel Eidolon
• Anger Phantom Eidolon
• Beast Eidolon
• Construct Eidolon
• Demon Eidolon
• Devotion Phantom Eidolon
• Dragon Eidolon
• Fey Eidolon
• Plant Eidolon
• Psychopomp Eidolon

Among the many spellcasting classes in Pathfinder 2e, summoners stand out because they use their magic particularly to bring beings from other planes into their aid. Particularly, each summoner is connected to a particular entity, a sort of familiar from a different plane, known as an eidolon.

This creature has a special relationship to its summoner, and they level up together, with the eidolon dictating the kind of spells a summoner will be able to cast. Eidolons always take the shape of dragons, fey, or even demons, so players who enjoy the idea of a master-pet dynamic with a powerful creature should consider them.

Gunslingers Are Great For Combat

The Gunslinger's Ways

• Way of the Drifter
• Way of the Pistolero
• Way of the Sniper
• Way of the Spellshot
• Way of the Triggerbrand
• Way of the Vanguard

Gunslingers are unrivaled weapon experts. A class introduced in Guns & Gears, the gunslinger can use firearms or crossbows, and they can position at close range or at a distance depending on the path they choose. Regardless, their main thing is that they always hit their target.

Since Pathfinder 2e has a fantasy setting, gunslingers are quite unique, especially those who use guns. Depending on the chosen archetype, they can serve as the first line of defense or as cover strikes. The only thing for certain is gunslingers are perfect for offensive strategies in combat.

The Oracle Is A Unique Class In TTRPGs

The Oracle's Mysteries

• Ancestors
• Battle
• Bones
• Cosmos
• Flames
• Life
• Lore
• Tempest
• Time

One of the Pathfinder 2e classes with an interesting background is the oracle. These magicians get their magical power from understanding the grand mysteries of the universe, concepts, and ideals that gain the attention of multiple deities. Every oracle must choose a mystery upon character creation which will dictate not only the spells they can cast but also a curse that they suffer — which can be leveraged as a double-edged sword in emergencies.

For example, an Oracle of Flames is granted the ability to produce flames at will, but if they overuse their most powerful spells, they will be cursed by visions of smoke that hinder their sight. Oracles make for unique characters whose risk-reward gameplay might appeal greatly to players who value that sort of character personalization.

Rangers' Attacks Includes Plenty Of Bonuses

The Rangers' Hunter's Edges

• Flurry
• Outwit
• Precision

Rangers are experts when it comes to traversing the wilderness and dealing with both wild animals and monsters. In combat, they are great at singling out a target and taking it down with stacking bonuses. They have a lot of feats that favor ranged weaponry, but they are by no means limited to them. As they level up, rangers get better at using their Hunt Prey action, gaining bonuses when attacking their target.

They back this up with a tendency to be great at physical combat in general, so they're handy allies to have in a pinch. Although one of the Pathfinder 2e classes with no natural spellcasting ability, rangers do have easy access to an animal companion from the first level without restrictions. This is a great choice both thematically and mechanically, as a ranger's animal companion will gain the benefits of their Hunt Prey action too. This should appeal to players who like the idea of adventuring with a useful pet.

Inventors Can Focus On Attacking Or Defending

The Inventor's Innovations

• Armor Innovation
• Construct Innovation
• Weapon Innovation

As its name states, the inventor is a class for those who create things out of the blue. While anyone can follow instructions on a diagram, inventors combine science and technology to perfect something entirely new. For the inventor, the most important thing in the world is their creations and any way they can better them.

When creating an inventor, players must decide what kind of work their character will prioritize over others: their innovation. These inventions will be the core of their game. Since the inventor can focus on armor, weapons, or constructs, their role in the party isn't always the same. This class is versatile enough for the player to decide if they want to be offensive, defensive, or support.

The Psychic Believes In The Power Of The Mind

The Psychic's Power Sources

• The Conscious Mind
• The Subconscious Mind

The Psychic knows that the boundaries between mind and reality are weaker than anyone thinks, so they harness the power of their brains to cast powerful magic. Between non-verbal spellcasting and heightened cantrips, this class is a treat in combat as well as a useful support character.

Psychics are a perfect choice for players who enjoy magic but want something with a different flavor than the wizard and their scrolls or the sorcerer and their pacts. Psychics are a bit like monks in the sense that they see their mind as a garden to be nurtured with meditation, but they don't involve melee attacks, so players who don't like that will also feel comfortable with this class.

The Rogue Thrives On And Off The Battlefield

The Rogue's Rackets

• Eldritch Trickster
• Mastermind
• Ruffian
• Scoundrel
• Thief

Pathfinder's Rogues are skilled warriors with a range of character customization options that make them extremely versatile. A big draw is the huge number of skills that rogues can train in, making them very useful in several situations. They can also perform sneak attacks against enemies when caught off guard, which can be a huge source of damage. Rogues come in all forms, and this can be expressed through their racket.

This is a choice between different rackets, all of which help round out the individual character and even give them different choices for their main stat. As one of the Pathfinder 2e classes that thrive both on and off the battlefield, the Rogue is a fantastic choice for beginners and veterans alike. There are very few situations in which a rogue will find themselves feeling useless.

The Sorcerer Has Great Potential For Backstories

The Sorcerer's Bloodlines

• Aberrant
• Angelic
• Demonic
• Diabolic
• Draconic
• Elemental
• Fey
• Genie
• Hag
• Harrow
• Imperial
• Nymph
• Phoenix
• Psychopomp
• Shadow
• Undead
• Wyrmblessed

While Wizards gain their magic ability through study and dedication, Sorcerers are simply born with it in their blood. Each Pathfinder sorcerer chooses the exact source of their power during character creation, whether it be demonic, draconic, or otherwise. These choices can play a role in the character's backstory or simply be a means to an end, as each grants their own skill specialties and spell lists.

This Pathfinder 2e class will appeal to players who desire a spellcaster who doesn't need to prepare a carefully curated spell list every single day, and those who want to take advantage of a sorcerer's generally high charisma in social situations. Those who are invested in the idea of a magic bloodline will love the sorcerer feat list, as they get many feats that develop this aspect of their character. It's a powerful class ripe with interesting quest hooks and backstory fuel.

Thaumaturges Tinker With The Occult

The Thaumaturge's Implements

• Amulet
• Bell
• Chalice
• Lantern
• Mirror
• Regalia
• Tome
• Wand
• Weapon

Thaumaturges stand out from other spellcasting classes because they focus their craft on ancient traditions. For their main schtick, they tap into the occult and the divine in different civilizations, using this magic for their benefit. This ability makes them very useful in combat assistance, especially when exploiting their enemies' weak points.

As part of their craft, thaumaturges have a special connection to an item that represents their magic. This object, known as the implement, is only an example of the many trinkets they collect as tools for their folk magic. Additionally, for players, it's a nice excuse for a cool backstory.