The Primal Shifter is a martial shapeshifter and natural shifter who gains stronger animal forms through six Shifting Talent tiers. Its forms include the Wolf (brawler/vanguard), Feline (striker/assassin), Bear (guardian/tank), Turtle (defender), Raccoondog (trickster/infiltrator), and Raven (aerial scout/skirmisher). Druid Beast Shape is a separate Polymorph spell line and is not part of this class’s progression.
A Primal Shifter must have a non-lawful alignment. See Alignment.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Hit Die | d8 |
| Base attack bonus | High progression, as shown below |
| Good saves | Fortitude, Reflex |
| Poor save | Will |
| Skill ranks per level | 4 + Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) |
| Class skills | Acrobatics, Athletics, Escape Artist, Fly, Handle Animal, Lore (Nature), Perception, Ride, Stealth, Survival |
| Spellcasting | Not specified |
| Level | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +0 | Shifting; Shifting Talent (max Tier 1); Nature Sense |
| 2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +0 | - |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | Woodland Stride |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | Shifting Talent (max Tier 2); Primal Strike (magic) |
| 5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +2 | Resist Nature’s Lure |
| 6 | +6 / +1 | +5 | +5 | +2 | - |
| 7 | +7 / +2 | +5 | +5 | +3 | Primal Strike (cold iron and silver); Swift Tracker |
| 8 | +8 / +3 | +6 | +6 | +3 | Shifting Talent (max Tier 3) |
| 9 | +9 / +4 | +6 | +6 | +4 | - |
| 10 | +10 / +5 | +7 | +7 | +4 | Primal Strike (alignment-based) |
| 11 | +11 / +6 / +1 | +7 | +7 | +5 | - |
| 12 | +12 / +7 / +2 | +8 | +8 | +5 | Shifting Talent (max Tier 4); Persistent Shifting |
| 13 | +13 / +8 / +3 | +8 | +8 | +6 | Trackless Step |
| 14 | +14 / +9 / +4 | +9 | +9 | +6 | - |
| 15 | +15 / +10 / +5 | +9 | +9 | +7 | Hide in Plain Sight (Wilderness) |
| 16 | +16 / +11 / +6 / +1 | +10 | +10 | +7 | Shifting Talent (max Tier 5); Primal Strike (adamantine) |
| 17 | +17 / +12 / +7 / +2 | +10 | +10 | +8 | - |
| 18 | +18 / +13 / +8 / +3 | +11 | +11 | +8 | - |
| 19 | +19 / +14 / +9 / +4 | +11 | +11 | +9 | - |
| 20 | +20 / +15 / +10 / +5 | +12 | +12 | +9 | Shifting Talent (max Tier 6); Swift Shifting |
Fortitude and Reflex use the common d20 good-save progression; Will uses the poor-save progression.
At 1st level, a Primal Shifter gains a supernatural ability to change between their normal form and any animal form whose tier they have unlocked. Shifting into a form or returning to normal is a Standard Action and can be done at will. A shifted form lasts for 1 hour, or until the Shifter returns to normal or becomes unconscious. At 12th level, Persistent Shifting removes this duration limit; at 20th level, Swift Shifting lets the Shifter shift at will as a Free Action.
When shifted, apply the selected form’s cumulative tier features and its size and ability adjustments in addition to the size modifiers. Shifter forms do not grant speech or manual dexterity. Worn or carried items follow the natural-shifter transformation rules, including the Shifter enchantment.
Whenever the class grants a Shifting Talent, select one form and advance it by one tier, up to the maximum tier allowed by class level. Form modifiers are added to the global size and natural-weapon rules.
Spellcasting is not specified.