https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0T4EY-QU3U https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=1333

The gist of the free archetype rule:

Other Notes:

Some Rules Considerations:

Remove the "two other feat" requirement from the player's first dedication. Some dedications, like the Talisman Dabbler Dedication have dead spots in them where there are literally no choices a player can make. Other dedications have rather weak options at certain levels and it feels pretty bad when a player needs to take one of those only so they can get out of the dedication early. If you want to stay true to the original rule, you could always back load the requirement and say that by level 20, the character must satisfy the dedication requirements (meaning the character's level 18 and 20 free archetype feats must be from the first dedication).

If the group all has the same archetype or draws from a limited list, you might want to ignore the free archetype’s normal restriction of selecting a certain number of feats before taking a new archetype. That way a character can still pursue another archetype that also fits their character.

Restrict the number of feats that scale based on the character's number of archetype feats (mainly multiclass Resiliency feats)

However, due to the characters’ increased access to archetype feats, you should place a limit on the number of feats that scale based on a character’s number of archetype feats (mainly multiclass Resiliency feats). Allowing a character to benefit from a number of these feats equal to half their level is appropriate, as this is the maximum number of feats you could use to take archetype feats without this variant.

What classes benefit the most from Free Archetypes?

Random Notes:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/rw6mf3/which_classes_do_you_think_benefit_the_most_from/

Good combinations:

My theorycrafting:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/rw6mf3/comment/hrb46pp/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

I'd say it's mostly martials:

    They generally have strong class feats they don't want to miss out on, as opposed to casters who usually take an archetype anyway because there's plenty of levels with nothing too appealing

    Can gain a lot from both martial and caster archetypes: Martial archetypes generally come with good feats like knockdown on Mauler and work with your already good proficiency. Caster archetypes give quite a lot of casting and you don't really care about bad proficiency since you don't need it for buffs or utility.

    The opposite is true for casters, their proficiency with weapons is still going to be bad no matter what they take, and they can't use their casting proficiency for other traditions (the only ones that would open up anything new as opposed to a few more low level slots a day)

Some less general stuff:

    Bard likes free archetype since unlike other casters there's way more good feats than you can ever take. Swashbuckler is awesome to get One for all and become the shining god of support.

    Rogue getting bard for free means dirge of doom+dread striker for reliable and constant sneak attack.

    Wizard archetype on magus gives you almost as many spells as a real caster, without giving up class feats, save your real slots for spellstrike and enjoy having the utility you wish was part of the class by default.

It's pretty much a power multiplier, so the most powerful classes get the most benefit from it. For instance Fighter Archer can take Cleric or Sorcerer for Divine access, which will allow them to cast spells like Shield Other and Life Connection to use their beast HP pool on the back lines, then use Heals on themselves or others as needed to bolster the lines. Fighter Archer is already one of the most powerful classes in the game, and with those kinds of additions it just gets nuts. Conversely low power classes will benefit less from the free archetype, though this varies wildly.

IMO the best Class + Free Archetype combos are:

    Fighter with Eldritch Archer and Cleric (fire Domain)

    Barbarian (giant) with Wrestler (using Gill Hook)

    Rogue (ruffian) with Mauler (using Longspear)

    Cleric (warpriest) with Bastion (using Shield and focusing on Buffs and Heals with Blocking)

    Cleric (cloistered) with Oracle and Sorcerer (triple Divine)

    Rogue (ruffian) with Cavalier and Sentinel (using Gang Up)

    Investigator (Forensic Medicine) with Medic and Rogue (Skill Mastery on top of Investigator skill increases)

    Wizard with Loremaster. Seems basic but Hypercognition on a character with max Int and Wis only a bit behind it means you'll have mad info on enemies.

I'll add more if I remember any.

Don't forget Spell Blending Quadcaster (Wizard + Witch (for more spells at max key-stat/proficiency) + 2 other casters such as Sorcerer/Bard (to cannibalize with spell blending for Wizard slots, and maybe get feat access)).

It's a similar idea to tricasters like the triple Divine you mentioned, but the key difference is that Wizard's Spell Blending thesis lets you get more high level slots at peak DC/spell-attack.

[Full breakdown here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/oc47vx/comment/h3schq7/)

Rouges can have a lot of fun synergies with Free Archetype. Going Acrobat Rouge as an Elf means that you can decide to go full blender and constantly get Sneak Attacks right in someones face with an Elven Curve Blade. For a slow burn, going Talisman Rouge means you got a bunch of free "spells" per day which you can augment yourself by either selecting stuff you want to build into or questing for unique stuff in-game as you play

Best Multiclass options for every class... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hZR7OCePVY

The best archetypes are probably spellcaster dedications for all classes (martials getting access to spells is good, getting more spells for casters is also good)

Wisdom might be the most useless skill in the game (outside of Medicine checks)

Fighter might be one of the lease useful multiclasses

(more for fun/entertainment than optimal)

Archetypes that grant Expert skill feats at level 2:

Staff Acrobat is incredibly front loaded.

FAQ

Are Spellcasting Dedications Underwhelming?

While spell slot progression for Spellcasting Dedications is slow, the big selling point is access to the "Cast a Spell" action and how it interacts with spells of the caster's spell list. The base dedication feat gives any character the ability to use staves and scrolls without using Trick Magic Item. Admittedly underwhelming, they also get access to the downtime activity to scribing scrolls.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/dvhcjl/low_level_caster_dedications_totally_underwhelming/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder2e/comments/mhtp3p/spell_slot_chart_for_archetypes/

What dedications give you Expert?

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/129380/is-it-possible-to-be-an-expert-in-a-skill-at-level-2 https://paizo.com/threads/rzs42vzg?How-can-I-get-a-skill-to-expert-by-level-2

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