How is the bomb ability of an alchemist affected when he takes levels in wizard (arcane bomber)?

Question

I'm currently trying to create a character that uses alchemist's bombs as his main source of damage, can use the Explosive Missile discovery and has a strong Will save.

After a lot of research, I only found one possible way to get a good Will save and the bomb class feature : the arcane bomber wizard archetype. The wording on its bomb ability is a bit confusing :

Bomb (Su)

At 1st level, the arcane bomber gains an ability nearly identical to the alchemist’s bomb ability. Unlike the alchemist, at 1st level, the arcane bomber chooses one type of energy from the following list: acid, cold, fire, and electricity. He can throw bombs of that type, but cannot modify them with discoveries. This ability stacks with the alchemist bomb ability to determine the level of bomb damage, but an arcane bomber that becomes an alchemist does not gain that class’s bomb ability, nor does an alchemist that becomes an arcane bomber gain this bomb ability.

This ability replaces arcane bond.

If I first take levels in alchemist then levels in arcane bomber, does my bomb damage keep progressing ? What about my daily allotment of bombs ?

Answer 1

An alchemist that later takes levels in arcane bomber wizard adds his alchemist level to his wizard level to determine how much damage his alchemist bombs deal. Unless modified by another arcane bomber wizard class feature (e.g. spellblast bomb), the alchemist/arcane bomber uses only his alchemist level for his bomb's other effects (e.g. number of bombs per day). (A 2013 thread makes a similar reading.)

Yes, the arcane bomber archetype's supernatural ability bomb could've used another run through editorial. Saying [A]n arcane bomber that becomes an alchemist does not gain that class’s bomb ability, nor does an alchemist that becomes an arcane bomber gain this bomb ability is misleading because, right before, the special ability explains what happens if a creature has both abilities, turning an attempt to clarify into confusion.