Fighter Ancestries and Heritages Breakdown – PF2 (2024)

Dwarf^(PC1)

Perfect attributes, several appealing Heritages, the maximum hit pointsfrom your Ancestry, numerous excellent feats for martial characters, a freeClan Dagger. Dwarves are slower than most Ancestries, unfortunately, butUnburdened Iron will put you at the same speed as any other Ancestry inheavy armor.

Elf^(PC1)

The lowest possible hit points from your Ancestry and aConstitution Flaw. The Elf’s Ancestry Feats focus mostly on magic and onskills, neither of which are a stron point for the Fighter. There are somegems like Elf Step, but not enough to make this great. You might think “elfarcher fighter”, but there’s nothing here that makes elves better at using abow except for their Dexterity Boost.

Gnome^(PC1)

A Strength flaw will predispose you to Dexterity-based builds, but you maystill prefer to take the Alternate Ancestry Boosts rather than suffering theconstant penalty to weapon damage with melee weapons or Propulsion rangedweapons. Many of the Gnome’s Heritage options are great: Fey-Touched can getyou the Shield cantrip, Sensate Gnome gives you a way to handle hidden andinvisible foes, and Umbral Gnome gets you Darkvision. Gnome WeaponFamiliarity makes the excellent Gnome Flickmace a Martial weapon, and theFortuitous Shift feat chain provides an excellet defensive option.

Goblin^(PC1)

The Attributes are okay for a Dexterity-based build that likes to useDemoralize or Feint, but the Wisdom Flaw makes me nervous, so you might takethe Alternate Ancestry Boosts. You have several great Heritage optionsinclude Charhide Goblin, Snow Goblin, and Unbreakable Goblin. Unfortunately,there aren’t a ton of great feat options for a durable front-line characterlike the Fighter and there are none to support a ranged Fighter. TheUnbreakable Goblin feat chain is your best bet.

Halfling^(CRB)

Good Attributes, but the Strength Flaw will mean losing damage on most ofthe Fighter’s appealing weapons, and 6 Ancestry hp is rough for meleebuilds. Halfling Weapon Familiarity is fine, but there are no AdvancedHalfling weapons. Filcher’s Fork is cool, but 1d4 damage is going to hurteven with frequent crits and Deadl d6, and slings are bad. The Halfling Luckfeat chain and Cultural Adaptability are great feat options.

Human^(PC1)

Fantastic, versatile, and plenty of options that nicely complement theFighter right from level 1. General Training, Natural Ambition, andUnconventional Weaponry are all fantastic options.

Leshy^(PC1) (Uncommon)

The Attributes work very well for the Fighter, but not enough appealingfeats to get you to level 20. A Versatile Heritage is a great addition.

Orc^(APG)

Orcs are at their best as a durable front-line martial character, andthat’s perfect for the Fighter. The Battle-Ready and Hold-Scarred heritagesare easy fits. Feats like Orc Ferocity, Orc Superstituion, Orc WeaponFamiliarity, and any feats in those chains are great choices.

Aiuvarin^(PC1)

Access to Elf Ancestry Feats without the 6 hp and Constitution Flaw. Therearen’t many great Elf Ancestry Feats for the Fighter, but if your Ancestrycan fill most of your feat slots, Aiuvarin can be a good addition.

Ardande Geniekin^(RoE) (Uncommon)

Ambersoul, Planar Sidestep, and Wood Ward provide some interestingdefensive options.

Changeling^(PC1) (Uncommon)

The Changeling’s feats mostly center on the Deception skill, unarmedstrikes with claws, and Innate Spellcasting. Fighters are not especiallygood at any of those things.

Dromaar^(PC1)

The Orc’s Ancestry Feats are excellent for the Fighter, so the Dromaar isan easy addition to any Ancestry with unappealing Heritage options.

Nephilim^(PC1) (Uncommon)

Divine Wings, Grimspawn, Pitborn, Nephilim Resistance, Nimble Hooves areall good. Three of those are Lineage feats, so you can only pick 1 at 1stlevel, but this still gives you enough options to easily fit alongside anyAncestry without locking you into a specific feat chain.

Talos Geniekin^(RoE) (Uncommon)

Reflective Defense, Planar Sidestep, and Metallic Skin provide some gooddefensive options.

Anadi^(ME) (Rare)

Mediocre attributes, few good feat options for the Fighter, and noappealing Heritage options. Anadi are at their best when built aroundfighting unarmed, and the Fighter has few options which make thateffective.

Android^(AG) (Rare)

The Attributes are an unusual mix for the Fighter, but an IntelligenceBoost certainly won’t hurt you. The Nanite Surge feat chain is excellent,and you can get good defensive options from Emotionless and InocculationSubroutine, plus healing options from Repair Module and RevivofocatonProtocol.

Automaton^(GG) (Rare)

A ton of great feat options, and the Enhancement mechanic is really good.The Heritage options aren’t fantastic, but Mage Automaton can get yousomething like Shield or Eat Fire, and Warrior Automaton is interesting ifyou like to Grapple enemies.

Azarketi^{(ACLO / AG)}(Uncommon)

Decent Attributes, but poor Ancestry Feat and Heritage options unless yourcampaign is heavily aquatic.

Catfolk^(APG) (Uncommon)

Good Attributes if you want to use Demoralize or Feint, but you might takethe Alternate Ancestry Boosts if you don’t want a Wisdom Flaw. Your Heritageoptions aren’t amazing, but Hunting Catfolk is a good choice. The CatfolkLuck feat chain is an easy go-to option, and Catfolk Weapon Familiarity getsyou access to the Claw Blade, which is great for two-weapon fighting, aswell as the Whip Claw, which is a Gnome Flickmace with Finesse and Slashingdamage.

Conrasu^(ME) (Rare)

Perfect Attributes. The Heritage options aren’t great, so consider aVersatile Heritage if possible. Ceremony of Protection and Ceremony ofFortitication provides a powerful defensive option replacing a shieldwithout the need to hold, enhance, and maintain a shield. Ceremony of Aeon’sGuidance can get you some buff spells. Ceremony of Growth gets the benefitsof Enlarge with the ability to turn it on or off at will. Conrasu WeaponFamiliarity gets you access to the Buugeng, a passable weapon for two-weaponfighting, as well as the Taw Launcher, which is a powerful weapon similar tocrossbow.

Fetchling^(AG) (Uncommon)

Very little here that appeals to the Fighter.

Fleshwarp^(AG) (Rare)

The Fleshwarp’s feats are mostly focused on using unarmed strikes andinnate spellcasting, neither of which are great options for the Fighter.There are a few good options like Gaping Flesh, but not enough.

Ghoran^(IL) (Rare)

The Thorned Rose Heritage is the high point of the entire Ancestry. Most ofthe feats involve natural weapons or innate spellcasting. The AncientMemories feat chain is decent, but not enough.

Gnoll^(ME) (Uncommon)

The Attributes are an unusual mix for the Fighter, but an IntelligenceBoost certainly won’t hurt you. The Great Gnoll Heritage is an easy choicefor melee builds, and Sensitive Nose is a fantastic feat, but there are noother feats here which work well for a typical Fighter.

Goloma^(ME) (Rare)

Essentially no appealing Ancestry Feats.

Grippli^(ME) (Uncommon)

The Grippli offers some interesting options. The Strength Flaws may be aproblem, especially since very little about the Gripply encouragesDexterity. Poisonhide Grippli is your easiest Heritage option, offering agreat countermeasure when you’re hit. Grippli Weapon Familiarity offersaccess to the Adze and Hand Adze, both of which are decent, making sometrades compared to the Greataxe and the Hatchet. Other feat options includeusing your turn to Disarm or Trip enemies, wall jumping off of enemies toShove or Trip them, and at high levels Envenomed Edge lets you inflictPersistent Damage on every weapon attack or unarmed strike.

Hobgoblin^(CG) (Uncommon)

Decent Attributes, but the Wisdom Flaw may cause you trouble, and theIntelligence Boost may not be worth that cost, so take the AlternateAncestry Boosts. Elfbane, Smokeworker, and Steelskin are all good Heritageoptions. Hobgoblin Weapon Familiarity isn’t great since the Breaching weaponproperty isn’t especially useful. Runtsage, Pride in Arms, Squad Tactics,Cantorian Restoration, and Rallying Cry are all great feat options.

Combining the Fighter’s Intimidating Strike and the Hobgoblin’s RemorselessLash is stunningly effective and incredibly easy. Keep an enemy Frightened 1for the entire fight with no save. Stop using Intimidating Strike in favorof Demoralize and Agonizing Rebuke at level 5 and you add free Mental damageevery turn which scales when you hit Master and Legendary inIntimidation.

Kashrishi^(IL) (Rare)

Good Attributes and Empathic Sense is a good imprecise sense.Unfortunately, the Ancestry Feat options are poor. There are a few gems likeEmotional Partitions, but most focus on Innate Spellcasting and fightingwith the Kashrishi’s horns.

Kitsune^(AG) (Uncommon)

Nothing here appeals to the Fighter.

Kobold^(APG) (Uncommon)

6 Ancestry hit points and a Constitution Flaw, so definitely take theAlternate Ancestry Boosts. Dragonscaled, Spellscale, and Venomtail are allgood Heritage options. There are a ton of great feat options. Cringe isgreat defensively. Kobold Breath is great for crowds. Winglets will get youthe ability to fly, but it does take 3 feats before it’s real flight. AvoidKobold Weapon Familiarity; it’s not helpful for the Fighter.

Lizardfolk^(CG) (Uncommon)

Perfect Attributes, but not a ton of great feat options. You can get bothClimb and Swim speeds, plus a few oddbal options like Lighnting Tongue andTerrain Advantage.

Nagaji^(IL) (Uncommon)

Great Attributes, but since Nagaji only get two Boosts you can take theAlternate Ancestry Boosts without losing anything. Venomshield Nagaji getsyou poison resistance. You can get a Swim speed, Scent, Serpentcoil Slam toground flying enemies, and Disruptive Stare to weaken enemy spellcasters.

Poppet^(GB) (Rare)

Low hp from your Ancestry and Vulnerability to fire. None of the Heritageoptions appeal to the Fighter, so if you can get a Versatile Heritage whichprovides Resistance to fire, you’ll be in good shape. For feats, look atWash Out, Histrionic Injury, Sealed Popper, Swimming Poppet, Scaling Poppet,Reanimating Spark, and Soaring Poppet.

Ratfolk^(APG) (Uncommon)

A Strength flaw will predispose you to Dexterity-based builds, but you maystill prefer to take the Alternate Ancestry Boosts rather than suffering theconstant penalty to weapon damage with melee weapons or Propulsion rangedweapons. Longsnout Rat and Snow Rat are good Heritage options.Unfortunately, Cornered Fury is the only feat which appeals to the Fighter,and one feat definitely isn’t enough.

Shisk^(ME) (Rare)

Poor Attributes for the Fighter, so take the Alternate Ancestry Boosts.Quillcoat Shisk provides a great retaliatory option which you can buff withRenewing Quills, and Spellkeeper Shisk can get you cantrips like Eat Fireand Shield. Unfortunately, the feat options aren’t great. Inured to the Heatprovides some fire resistance, though it doesn’t scale. Delver can get you aburrow speed, which is incredibly rare for PCs. Fountain of Secrets would bea great feat on a character more dependent on Intelligence.

Shoony^{PF #153} (Rare)

6 hp from your Ancestry and a Constitution Flaw are a hard start, sodefinitely take the Alternate Ancestry Boosts. Shoony get very feat feats,especially at high levels, so a Versatile Heritages are a great addition. Ifyou don’t go that route, Bloodhound Shoony and Thickcoat Shoony are greatHeritage choices. Among the Shoony’s feats you can get a Swim speed, aBurrow speed, and the ability to Aid an ally’s Will save as a Reaction.

Skeleton^(BotD) (Rare)

Great attributes for a Dexterity-based build planning to use Demoralize,and the Alternate Ancestry Boosts work great if you want a Strength-basedbuild. Sturdy Skeleton is your best Heritage option. There are several greatfeat options including As in Life, So in Death, Collapse, and SkeletalResistance.

Sprite^(AG) (Rare)

Being tiny is a juge problem for melee builds, which means that you’reeither building an archer or taking the Pixie Heritage. Even then, you have6 hp from your Ancestry and almost no appealing feat options. You can getflight, but it takes 3 feats and you can’t fly permanently until level17.

Strix^(AG) (Rare)

None of the Heritage options are especially good. Strix Vengeance will beconstantly useful, and the Fledgling Flight feat chain can get you permanentflight, though it takes 3 feats to get there. Unfortunately, that’s all thatthe Strix has to offer.

Tengu^(APG) (Uncommon)

Tengu Weapon Familiarity can make any Common Advanced sword into a Simpleweapon for you. Currently that only covers the Falcata. The Eat Fortune andSoaring Flight feat chains are the only great feat options here, which meansthat the only Heritage worth consideration is Winged Tengu.

Vanara^(IL) (Uncommon)

No appealing options for the Fighter.

Vishkanya^(IL) (Rare)

The only appealing thing about the Vishkanya is their Envenom Action, andyou can only use it once per day. There doesn’t appear to be a way to getmore daily uses.

Beastkin^(AG) (Rare)

Many of the Beastkin’s options are incredibly powerful. Greater AnimalSenses for echolocation. Pack Tactics to make enemies Off Guard withoutneeding to flank. Quick Shape+Dire Form to Enlarge yourself as a free actionwhen you roll initiative. Animal Swiftness for permanently flight with only1 feat when most Ancestries and Versatile Heritages need 2 or 3.

Dhampir^(APG) (Uncommon)

The best benefit that the Fighter gains from the Dhampir is Void Healing(Negative Healing prior to the remaster), which is helpful in a campaignwhere your party includes undead and undead-adjacent characters.

A Dhampir Hobgoblin Fighter can combine the Hobgoblin’s Agonizing Rebukeand the Dhampir’s Feen on Pain to repeatedly generate Temporary Hit Points,which is a powerful combination providing easy damage, a great debuff, andextra durability with no resource restrictions beyond the action economy.

Duskwalker^(APG) (Uncommon)

Few appealing feat options. Spirit Strikes can be helpful triggeringweaknesses to Vitality Damage (Positive Damage prior to the Remaster) and toVoid Damage (Negative Damage prior to the Remaster). Resist Ruin providesrare resistance to Void Damage. Olethros’s Decree and Yamaraj’s Grandeur areexiting offensive options, but they only work once per day, which may not beenough to justify.

Ganzi^(AG) (Uncommon)

A damage resistance by defalt from the Versatile Heritage, but randomizingit can make it difficult to build the rest of your character if you’relooking to collect multiple resistances. Alter Resistance significantlyimproves this, but not until level 13. Glory and Valor! and Arise, yeWorthy! are both great, too.

Ifrit Geniekin^(AG) (Uncommon)

Fire resistance is great. If you’re looking at a Heritage which providesfire resistance, this is an upgrade. Cindersoul can help protect from commonsources of Persistent Damage. Heatwave offers an easy way to give yourselfConcealment, especially if an ally can splash you with a little bit of firedamage, such as from an alchemical bomb. Noble Resolve helps compensate forrelatively low Will saves. Planar Sidestep provides a powerful defensiveoption. Radiant Brust and Blazing Aura provide powerful offensive effectsonce per day.

Oread Geniekin^(AG) (Uncommon)

Fortify Shield is cool, but once per day isn’t enough to make it good.Treacherous Earth is a great way to create difficult terrain, especially ifyou take Steady on Stone so that you can ignore it. Earthsense gets youTremorsense, which is great. One with Earth can get you a Burrow speed.Planar Sidestep is a great defensive option.

Reflection^(DA) (Rare)

This is an easy addition to any Ancestry. Mirror-Risen is a good way tomitigate a big hit. Warped Reflection is an incredibly powerful debuffeasily replacing Demoralize, though the once per minute cooldown doesprevent you from targeting multiple creatures. Mistaken Idendity is amassively powerful defensive option to make up for your relatively poor Willsaves. Warp Likeness provides another great debuff.

Suli GeniekinGeniekin^(AG) (Uncommon)

Elemental Bulwark is excellent, providing broad protection from severaltypes of energy damage at the cost of your Reaction, and you can upgrade itwith Improved Elemental Bulwark. Unfortunately, those are the only greatfeat options here. If you just need a couple more Ancestry Feats, this couldbe a good option on an Ancestry that has few good feat options.

Sylph Geniekin^(AG) (Uncommon)

Fumesoul can get you poison resistance, which is an easy upgrade if youwere considering a Heritage which provides the same benefit likeStrong-blood Dwarf. Stormsoul can get you lightning resistance, though Iwould go for Fumesoul first, given the choice between the two. Several featsgrant skill feats related to jumping, which is neat, but not essential. Moreuseful: Wings of Air and Eternal Wings let you fly. As with other Geniekin,Planar Sidestep is a great defensive option.

Smokesoul combined with the smoke effect from Eat Fire is a tempting way todefend yourself in combat. However, typically you want to draw attacks awayfrom your allies, and Smokesoul doesn’t let you see through your own smokecloud. Cloud Gazer lets you see through fog, mist, and clouds, but unlikeSmokesoul it omits smoke from the list. You’ll want to use Airy Step if yougo this route, but Eat Fire will mostly suffice until you reach level 13.

Undine Geniekin^(AG) (Uncommon)

A swim speed and Amhibious by default, which is great in an aquaticcampaign, but otherwise might be useless. Brinesoul is an excellentcounterattack. Rimesoul can get you resistance to cold damage. At highlevels Planar Sideste pand Tidal Shield provide some useful defensiveoptions. Overall this isn’t a terrible choice, but you do lose some of thepower budget to the amphibious stuff.

Mistsoul combined with the smoke effect from Eat Fire is a tempting way todefend yourself in combat. However, you typically want to draw attacks awayfrom your allies, and Mistsoul doesn’t let you see through your own smokecloud. The same combo is easier for the Sylph, but they do face similarchallenges.