Is my feat chain for TWF Slayer Tank optimized?

Question

I am about to bring a Shield and Sword Slayer to a PFS game. Assume I can use anything on PFSRD since if I need the book, I will just buy it. I am starting form level 1 with 150g, as is PFS standard. I just want to have my level progression set before I start.

Human Swashbuckler 1 / Slayer X

Str 14, Dex 19 (17 +2 human), Con 14, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 8.

Feats: Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Shield Bash, Swashbuckler Finesse (not quite a feat, but close enough)

Gear: Chain Shirt (100g), Gladius (15g), Buckler (5g), Morningstar (8g), Dungeoneer's Kit (15g)

Traits: Shield Trained, Reactionary

Goal: Use a Heavy Spiked Shield and a Rapier on a high dex build to skyrocket my AC while not sacrificing too much damage.

• Level 3: Weapon Focus (Rapier) via Rogue Talent (RT), Fencing Grace
• Level 5: Shield Focus via Ranger Combat Style (RCS), Power Attack
• Level 7: Shield Master via RCS, Improved TWF via RT, Improved Initiative
• Level 9: Improved Critical (Rapier), Blood Reading?
• Level 11: Bashing Finish via RCS, Greater TWF

I am unsure on Improved Init and Blood Reading (which comes off my favored class bonus). Is there a better growth for this build? I asked at the Paizo forums and I was recommended lots of other builds, but no suggestions on this one.

Answer 1

Are you going to be in a party, particularly with a rogue or ninja type? You may want to consider upping your Int, taking Combat Expertise and Two Weapon Feint/Improve Two Weapon Feint. You can then sacrifice one 'swing' in your full attack to flat-foot your opponent until your next turn (including for allies and attack of op). CE also gives you significant bonus AC at a low cost on your to-hit.

You might also want to look into Swashbuckler Opportune Parry and Riposte. It allows you to ready attacks to make opposed rolls instead of letting them just hit your AC and can be better than fighting defensively.

Answer 2

The short answer is "No".

For a start, Improved Critical is a waste of a feat, unless your DM has house-ruled that it stacks with Keen. Yes, you might get a few extra crits with your shield and save some gold, but generally the rapier is the only place the added threat range will make a significant difference, and that feat could go to a number of other options. For instance, if you were to work in the prerequisites, Break Guard can allow you to deal damage while at the same time improving long-term survivability. If another player is willing to work with you, Precise Strike has a significantly lower investment and can add up quickly with TWF, and stacks with any other precision damage you can do as well.

As an alternative to Blood Reader, Studied Ally can work well thematically (and helping your ally will encourage them to want to tag-team with you) and has better mechanical benefits. Slowing Strike can be useful in a number of situations, but is probably best for totally wrecking flyers. Then there's Foil Scrutiny. A bonus on Bluff means a bonus to Feint (useful if you need a small edge to hit a difficult target), but more than that gives you a bonus to will versus mind-reading, which can save you from a screw depending on the DM. All of these can be better than Blood Reader, which, to be honest, is really only useful to players wanting to take targets alive or using consumable resources you don't want to waste to deal damage. It won't change your combat tactics much otherwise.

In other words, take another look at what each feat does for you. Consider if there's another way to get the benefit. Then consider how often you'll use it, and whether there's any drawbacks. Once you've done that, go back and think about what you want to be doing most of the time (For instance, is that penalty to hit from Power Attack really going to work well with making lots of attacks at the cost of an already-lowered attack roll?) and see if there's something else you could be taking that would have a greater effect at the same purpose, let you do your signature tactic more or better, or just has good synergy with something you'll be doing anyway.