Building your character in Pathfinder: Kingmaker can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. The game was inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons universe and is an independent spinoff of the original Pathfinder RPG game, but it has some distinct changes, especially where classes are concerned. It has a total of 16 classes to choose from compared to nine in D&D. You can just as easily dominate enemies with a pure class or archetype just as easily as one who dabbles in a bit of everything. The option of a Prestige Class at later levels can give your character even more useful and impressive abilities.
If you're looking to build your own character and you're a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options available to you, then here's a list of the best classes with some acknowledgment given to their archetypes. Some are powerful on their own, some are better as a multiclass, but all have a good chance of making your next playthrough much more enjoyable.
Updated January 2, 2022 by Ryan Bamsey: Kingmaker is sure to be one of those classic games that always have an audience. As a result, we've made sure this list is as great as it can be by adding more of the game's best classes and pointing you in the right direction as to how they are best used.
14 Prestige Class: Eldritch Knight
The Eldritch Knight is a powerful prestige class that gives the character a lot of flexibility and rewards them for it. You're just as capable of cutting down enemies in melee as you are pummeling them from afar with spells.
While this versatility is powerful, it requires a bit of multiclassing to obtain and as such, you'll feel a bit weak initially. Even in the later stages, your martial abilities won't hold up to pure fighters, and pure wizards will mock your spells. Still, that versatility makes up for the lack of raw power and allows you to adapt to any situation.
13 Barbarian
Barbarians are pretty great at being physical powerhouses that swing giant weapons and go into effective frenzies during the heat of battle. Developing in the Barbarian class will grant you neat Totem-related abilities and even some damage resistance, meaning you can rage for longer before you drop.
The Mad Dog archetype is particularly great as you'll get an animal companion to play alongside. These creatures are very powerful in Kingmaker, and there's no greater mental image than a Barbarian raging alongside a grizzly wolf or deadly leopard.
12 Bard
The Bard is an excellent class for players who enjoy support roles but want to be a jack of all trades skill-wise. The buffs you can give your companions are very powerful at higher levels, and the spells are nice at lower levels.
If you want an archetype, definitely go for Thundercaller, as it shines the more Charisma your character has. This class struggles a bit at harder difficulties, and bards, in general, really need strong companions to be dangerous as it's very much a party-based class, but it has a lot of power in and out of combat.
11 Monk
A pure Monk is useful but not very powerful when compared to others and probably wouldn't make it on this list. The reason it does is because of the Archetype Scaled Fist. These Charismatic monks have tapped into their draconic natures and gained access to all kinds of abilities.
These monks have a nice movement speed which cuts down on travel time, increased immunities, and resistances to things like Fear is immensely helpful in certain fights. There's also a lot to be said for the Traditional Monk which comes with great save bonuses.
10 Aldori Swordlord
As the name suggests, the Aldori Swordlord is a master of dueling and blade proficiency. They traditionally start as Fighters, but classes like Rogues, Bards, Slayers, and Swashbucklers can also follow this deadly path.
The feats required to become an Aldori Swordlord include abilities like Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Finesse, and Weapon Focus, which are ideal for melee fighters regardless of the weapon. Those looking for the ideal archetype to go along with this class build could choose Defender to go along with the Swordlord's class features like Defensive Parry and Adaptive Tactics.
9 Paladin
Paladins are a strong class and great for beginners looking to upgrade from pure Fighter. Thanks to martial prowess and tanky behavior it's a simple class to play. A pure Paladin is surprisingly effective as Smite can obliterate bosses.
Alternatively, you could go the Hospitalier route, making them one of the best healers you can have in your party. It's not as combat-oriented, and you'll be relying upon companions to do the heavy lifting, but it has its perks. A Paladin also has the subtle benefit of fitting into the role of the hero and savior of the story better than other classes.
8 Inquisitor
Similar to a Monk, a straightforward Inquisitor isn't all that powerful, but when tapping into Monster Tactician or Sacred Huntmaster this class becomes a lot more deadly on the battlefield. At the moment, pets are incredibly powerful, and these two class subtypes exploit this well.
Monster Tacticians need the animal domain and get a lot of mileage the more levels you put into it. The Sacred Huntmaster multiclasses a little better, and thanks to the Favored Enemy feature, can thrive in niche roles your companions can't cover. In the end, your main strength comes from pets and summons.
7 Prestige Class: Dragon Disciple
Dragon Disciple is probably the strongest prestige class in the game. The benefits of multiclassing a few levels with this prestige are incredible. Eldritch Scions that focus on melee and strength get some durability benefits and strength bonuses from a few levels, and any fighter that uses two-handed weapons will like the perks that come with this class.
Honestly, this was built for sorcerers that want to tap into their draconic nature and get a bit of durability with some raw damage potential. Not a lot of levels are needed, but you'd be a fool to not at least consider this class as a Sorcerer.
6 Alchemist
Alchemists are brutes, seemingly no matter how you use them. A pure Alchemist has the powerful Mutagen ability that can stack with almost everything and infusions that let you buff allies. But if you really like chucking bombs at your enemies, then Grenadier is where your focus should be as it gets a ton of bonuses to bombs.
The Vivisectionist is very capable, but fans often use it as a one-off level to get access to the helpful damage and mutagen boosts before doing other things. You definitely want a companion to provide you with defense, but your bombs will obliterate everything in sight pretty quickly.
5 Magus
You do not want the Magus class to be a pure Magus class; you want it for the specializations. Eldritch Scion can be great to multiclass with thanks to the damage bonus via Charisma and Draconic Bloodline is too powerful to ignore.
Sword Saints sacrifice spells a bit to be more dangerous in melee and does very well at it. If ranged is more your thing, then the Eldritch Archer is probably one of the best archers in the game. These three side classes are awesome on their own and bring a lot to the table for multiclass characters.
4 Mystic Theurge
The Mystic Theurge is a magic-user who has nearly unlimited Divine and Arcane power. They traditionally start as a spellcasting class, as the prerequisites include at least two levels in arcane and divine casting, are usually of Neutral moral alignment, and can take on the roles of defense, attack, or healing.
Combined Spells is one of the most useful abilities available to the Mystic Theurge, allowing the caster to use spells slots from one spellcasting class for another class. This is why this class is so powerful if you're leveling a multiclass character who already studies more than one school of magic.
3 Ranger
This is one of the few entries on this list where the base class is stronger than the archetypes. Granted, Freebooters aren't bad by any means and are great for multiclassing, but they take away from the power that comes with leveling as a Ranger.
It's a ranged damage dealer that also has a pet. Your pet can wreck and distract enemies in close range while you pepper with arrows from afar. It's simple and straightforward, and multiclassing is often a detriment rather than a benefit.
2 Cleric
Clerics are good. Clerics are always good. Well, they can be evil too, but they're always good in a fight. The sheer versatility afforded to Clerics by their huge and flexible spell list is one of the greatest boons you can have in the game - it's why Harrim and Tristian make for fantastic companions to keep around.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Clerics can only be healer characters decked out in robes - Clerics can quite easily be effective frontline tanks with their ability to wear heavy armor, cast incredible buff spells, and control the field with their domain abilities. Add in the Crusader archetype and its various combat feats, and you have a character that can do it all.
1 Sorcerer
According to fans, Sorcerers are arguably the best class in the game right now. Pure sorcerers are a thing of legend either from afar as spellcasters or up close and personal as they tap into their Draconic Bloodline, though a few levels in Dragon Disciple certainly doesn't hurt.
Where the real potential comes from are Sage Sorcerers who can really bring the pain as damage dealers or Sylvan Sorcerers who can burn through enemies and take quite a beating thanks to their tank-like abilities.