Every Arcanist build starts with Intelligence because their casting abilities depend on study and memorization.

An Arcanist's exploits, abilities that are similar to cantrips, are governed by their Charisma score.

This improves spell hit rating and Dodge ability along with a character's skill when it comes to using certain weapons.

More hits points are always better, provided there are some to spare after padding three other Ability Scores.

Only required for multiclassing options if the player is thinking about classes like Clerics or Inquisitors.

The primary Ability Score of martial classes, it's safe to say this is only important to Arcanists interested in multi-classing.

The most obvious role for any caster, the Arcanist often takes the part of man damage-dealer as well and has more options when it comes to spells than others.

More spells mean more options for party roles. Arcanists can assist other players by controlling the battlefield while melee classes do the bulk of the damage with this build.

A feature that sets Arcanists apart from other studious casters is their healing abilities. Please note that healing powers are only available to certain subclasses.

The Emberkin Heritage choice provides bonuses to both Intelligence and Charisma, making it an excellent start to any build.

The general Heritage of the Dhampir grants bonuses in Charisma and Dexterity, while the choice of Vetala-Born buffs Dexterity and Intelligence.

A penalty to Charisma makes the Dwarf less than ideal. This race only has a Consitution bonus to offer the Arcanist.

A penalty to Charisma makes the Dwarf less than ideal. This race only has a Consitution bonus to offer the Arcanist.

A Charisma and Consitution buff make the Gnome a good start. Plus, this is the only race that can take on the Phantasmal Mage Archetype.

The player can add +2 to any ability score to start this build, making the Half-elf one of the more customizable choices.

It doesn't seem like an obvious choice for a spellcasting class, but Half-orcs have a floating +2 Ability Score buff like Half-elves, plus some handy innate weapon abilities.

Bonuses to Dexterity and Charisma give the Halfing a great start. Add racial skills like Halfling Luck and Keen Senses and it's excellent for an Arcanist.

Add +2 to any Ability Score and Skill of your choice during the initial character build with one of the best customizable races in the game.

There are two Heritage choices here, and both have buffs to Dexterity. The Keen Kitsune has the Intelligence bonus.

The Gemsoul has a bonus to Charisma, which is one place to start, but there are better options with more buffs than this.

There are several choices for Tiefling Heritage, and since the race has a reputation for high Ability Scores in Dexterity, Intelligence, and Charisma, several of them include stats that are important to the Arcanist. Choose carefully, however, as some actually have a penalty to important scores as well.

Specializes in the transformative power of Arcane magic to turn themselves and others into animals. They lose their Arcanist Exploits in exchange.

Uses spontaneous casting powers and uses an ability called Font of Power as a source of magical energy but can't use Exploits.

Adds Nature Magic to their already wide array of abilities.

The School of Illusion is the specialty of this Archetype, which is connected to the Fey. That's why it's one of the few Pathfinder subclasses that's only available to Gnomes, who have an ancestral connection to this elusive magic.

Thanks to extensive research and study, this Arcanist has access to some Witch spells and a familiar.

The Archetype for a healing Arcanist build, this subclass has access to Divine healing spells along with the ability to cast them without memorization.

Both of these classes use Intelligence as their most important modifier, so if a character needs even more DPS power that's not magic-based it's a decent choice.

Another spontaneous caster that relies on Charisma, multiclassing with a Bard can be one way to get access to even more spells and proficiency with certain weapons.

Want to multiclass with a Barbarian for the Rage powers but don't have the Strength Ability? The Bloodrager uses Charisma as a modifier instead.

A Charisma-based class with martial abilities and a mount, which improves both travel speed and carrying capacity.

The default multiclass option, it's an easy way to give an Arcanist martial abilities. Just base your Fighter on Dexterity instead of Strength.

Another Intelligence-based caster, this class uses kinetic energy instead of magic to cast spells. A nice way to diversity damage-dealing options.

Very much like a Cleric, but this healer's powers are based on Charisma instead of Wisdom despite their Divine nature.

Another Charisma-based class, Paladins have a variety of martial abilities in addition to Divine spellcasting powers, as long as your character is Lawful Good.

Dexterity is the common thread here, and this is popular multiclass anyway thanks to handy Rogue skills like lockpicking and Disarm Traps.

A class unique to Pathfinder, the Slayer bases their abilities on their intelligence score, and their array of martial and combat skills make this a tempting combination.

Provided a character has a Stealth skill of five and an Evil moral alignment, they can progress into this Prestige Class.

One option for spellcasters with some martial proficiencies, an ideal choice for characters that want to be savage damage-dealers at both close and long-range.

Arcanists with the ability to use finesse weapons can hone their expertise to make their swordplay as deadly as their spellcasting.

A Prestige Class that fits with the Arcanist's studious background, it also requires the Dodge skill and Combat Expertise.

The character needs to have the Warrior Priest Feat and any Lawful alignment to join the spellcasting wing of the fearsome Hellknights.

Healing support and ranged damage.

Elf or Halfling

White Mage

Intelligence and Charisma are the most important stats for this Arcanist build. Intelligence means a better chance to memorize more, even with little rest, and Charisma means better spontaneous casting abilities.

Ranged Damage of the Arcane type.

Gnome

Eldritch Font or Phantasmal Mage

This is the most casting-dependent build, so the focus is on Intelligence with Dexterity as a close second. This Arcanist will have more DPS in their spellbook than others, with less of an emphasis on support or healing spells.

Crowd control and damage with some healing support. This is the Arcanist that draws their arcane power from natural sources and can fill a variety of roles in the adventuring party.

Kitsune, which seems to make the most sense from a lore point of view.

Brown Fur Transmuter or Nature Mage

Prioritize Dexterity along with Intelligence with this build, which obviously doesn't value Charisma as highly as others. Since this kind of Arcanist isn't usually the main healer it's not as important.