Griffonheart Shifter

Discover the Griffonheart Shifter archetype in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous! Learn about Ulbrig's unique abilities, forms, and how to maximize his potential.

Alright, let's dive into the Griffonheart Shifter, a really cool archetype for the DLC companion, Ulbrig. This guy's all about transforming into a griffon and bringing some unique buffs to the party. Think of him as a potent melee combatant who can also provide some solid support.

Here's a quick rundown of what he gets as he levels up:

Lvl	Feat	Special 1	Special 2
0	-	Shifter Proficiencies	-
1	Feat	Griffon Aspect	Shifter Claws
2	-	Defensive Instinct	Track
3	Feat	Woodland Grace	Shifter Claws (cold iron, magic and silver)
4	-	Griffon Form	Combat Feat
5	Feat	Griffon Aspect	-
6	-	Shifter's Fury	-
7	Feat	-	Shifter Claws (1d6)
8	-	-	-
9	Feat	-	Combat Feat
10	-	Griffon Aspect	-
11	Feat	-	Shifter Claws (1d8)
12	-	-	-
13	Feat	-	Shifter Claws (1d10)
14	-	-	Combat Feat
15	Feat	Griffon Aspect	-
16	-	-	-
17	Feat	-	Shifter Claws (+1 crit multiplier)
18	-	-	-
19	Feat	-	Shifter Claws (adamantine and universal)
20	-	Griffon Aspect	Final Aspect

Let's break down the key abilities:

Griffon Aspect

This is your bread and butter for party support. Starting at level 1, you get a +2 inherent bonus to Strength and, more importantly, your allies within 30 feet get a +2 bonus against fear effects. This aura lasts for a decent amount of time, scaling with your class level. As you hit higher levels, this aspect gets even better:

• Level 5: You become immune to ground-based effects – super handy!
• Level 10: Your Strength bonus jumps to +4, and your allies become completely immune to fear. No more running away from scary monsters!
• Level 15: Your Strength bonus increases again to +6, and you gain a +4 inherent bonus to your Will saves. You're getting tough!
• Level 20: The final upgrade gives you an +8 Strength bonus, a +6 bonus to Will saves, and immunity to movement-impairing effects. You're a walking fortress of griffon power!

Griffon Form

This is where Ulbrig really shines in combat. At level 4, he can transform into a griffon for 1 minute (which becomes permanent if you take the Master Shapeshifter mythic ability). In this form:

• Your base speed is a blazing 50'!
• You get two 1d6 claw attacks and a 1d8 bite attack.
• Your claws have the 'grabber' ability, letting you hold onto enemies.
• You're immune to ground-based effects while in this form.

It gets even better as you level up:

• Level 9: You gain the 'pounce' ability (letting you make full attacks after a charge) and improved natural attacks for your bite.
• Level 14: You gain the 'rake' ability, allowing for extra attacks against grabbed or prone foes.

Bonus Combat Feat

Don't forget these! At levels 4, 9, and 14, Ulbrig gets a free combat feat. This is huge because his shifter level counts as his fighter level for unlocking feats like Weapon Specialization. Make sure to pick feats that complement his melee prowess and griffon form!

Basically, the Griffonheart Shifter is a fantastic front-liner who brings both raw power and valuable buffs to your party. Get him into the thick of things and watch him tear enemies apart while keeping your allies safe from fear!