Starfinder takes tabletop RPG players beyond the high-fantasy setting and into the stars. A sci-fi version of Paizo's Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Pathfinder, Starfinder is set in the same universe, albeit thousands of years in the future. Technology and space travel reign supreme, and though some of the races are the same, aliens and androids are present, and the skillsets and abilities that define each class have evolved to fit the setting.
Magic still exists, but in some cases, it goes a step further, incorporating technology into the mix. Here, instead of wielding swords and lances, players will carry guns and grenades. Plus, mechanics are more than simple tinkerers; their mastery of machines allows them to create drones and AI companions to work alongside them in the field. Here's what you should know about the various Starfinder classes.
Updated on November 8, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Paizo's Starfinder Roleplaying Game contains numerous sci-fi references, from Warhammer 40k to Star Wars and everything in between. Although not as popular as its predecessor, Pathfinder, Starfinder offers a wide range of classes for players to choose from. As such, we've updated this feature with some more information about the Starfinder classes.
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Technomancers Combine Magic And Technology
Powerful Technomancers Can Combine Lower-Level Spell Slots Into Higher-Level Ones
Magic and technology may seem to have little in common, but Technomancers know the two are more alike than they appear. When combined, the effects are far more powerful than those of either discipline on its own, and Technomancers understand exactly how to use technology to draw the energy needed to harness and boost magical abilities.
These magic-wielding expert hackers carry around a spell cache, which could be anything from an implant to a pendant. Their experience grants them the ability to rewire their minds to increase their skills in magic and technology. As they grow more powerful, the knowledge they hold allows them to combine lower-level spell slots to create higher-level slots for more devastating magic.
Starfinder's Envoys Make Great Negotiators
Envoys Are Self-Preservationists Traveling From Port To Port
Starfinder's version of the classic Rogue class, Envoys are the self-preservationists traveling from port to port, always looking for opportunities to make a quick buck. Witty, charming, and silver-tongued, the Envoy often serves as the party's negotiator and tactical strategist because they know what to say and how to keep themselves as far from trouble as they can get.
With a skillset focused on Charisma, Envoys are masters of improvisation who grow more cunning as they level up. They are also manipulators, gaining expertise in abilities that allow them to roll an extra d6+1 to abilities they are proficient in, a power that improves as they gain levels.
Soldiers Hire Themselves Out As Muscle
The Constant Presence Of War Makes This Starfinder Class A Necessity
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As long as there are living beings in the universe, there will likely be war, meaning Soldiers will be a necessity. These powerful warriors are protectors, glory seekers, and avengers, perhaps even hiring themselves out to earn a living. This is one of the Starfinder classes whose skills and abilities rely on Strength and Dexterity — with a hint of Charisma for Intimidation. They are also proficient in light and heavy armor, as well as a wide array of weapons, including grenades.
Starting out as masters of one fighting style, Soldiers grow more formidable with every level, eventually gaining mastery over a second fighting style. Upon reaching level 20, the Soldier earns the Killshot ability, which allows them to force an enemy that doesn't outright die from a hit they've made to make a Fortitude save or die.
Biohackers Are Similar to Clerics
This Starfinder Class Relies On Their Expertise In Multiple Fields Of Scientific Study
Whether dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge or a hardcore experimenter, Biohackers rely on their expertise in multiple fields of scientific study to help their allies. Similar to Clerics, they use their microlab to create serums and specialized solutions containing things like nanites and chemicals that either aid their allies with ability boosts or subject their foes to debilitating effects that could, for example, lower their armor class.
Biohackers are always imagining ways to improve their experiments and serums, and they can use their sharp minds to help the party strategize. As they progress in levels, they gain additional fields of study and can create Superserums with incredible effects that could even bring someone back from the dead.
Mechanics Have Mastery Over AI And Starship Tech
Mechanics Can Augment Equipment And Perform Necessary Ship Repairs
In a universe reliant on machines like starships and Artificial Intelligence, the Mechanic's mastery over such technologies makes them a valuable asset to any squad. Their intricate knowledge gives them the ability to start the game with an AI companion, such as a Drone or Exocortex, which can help them in their endeavors to hack or infiltrate complicated systems.
One of the more critical Starfinder classes, Mechanics can augment equipment to improve its functionality or perform necessary ship repairs. After gaining a Superior Rig at level 19, they can communicate through encrypted channels and even pilot their ship from afar. At level 20, their technological mastery grants them opportunities to create technological weapons, armor, and items or improve any that already exist.
Vanguards Rely On The Supernatural To Empower Them
Stronger Vanguards Can Significantly Reduce The Damage They Receive
Change is the only constant in the universe, and Vanguards harness the power of that change to make themselves stronger and more capable, so they can stand protectively between their party and whatever they might face. Relying heavily on Constitution as their core stat, Vanguards have a supernatural ability that allows them to affect and change the flow of energy around them.
Drawing from a pool of Entropy, they can focus it into powerful strikes with the power to tear things apart at their very core. As they grow in power, Vanguards can significantly reduce the damage they receive. They can even channel their power to create immunity to the special properties of weapons that would give their attacker advantages against them, making them a bulwark between danger and whoever stands behind them.
Solarians Are Similar To Star Wars' Jedi
This Starfinder Class Draws Its Power From The Cosmic Forces Of Creation And Destruction
Solarians draw their power from the universe's forces of creation and destruction. Similar to the Jedi from Star Wars, these are enlightened warriors who can summon and manipulate the energy of stars. With a solar manifestation in mote, they form weapons or armor, drawing their power from either photons or gravitons.
By the time Solarians advance to level 20, they are kin to the stars themselves, raising and lowering the level of light surrounding them as they move. They can also use their attunement points to switch between photon or graviton modes, depending on what the situation requires. As such, Solarians are often included among the better Starfinder classes.
Witchwarpers Reach Through The Fabric Of Existence
This Starfinder Class Knows That Everything Is Manipulatable And Malleable
The Witchwarper knows that everything is manipulatable and malleable, and they reach through the thinly veiled fabric of existence to shape reality to alter time and outcomes. Drawing from Charisma to enhance their spellcasting abilities, they have access to a unique list of spells that alter the nature of reality.
Their ability to see through time and all possible outcomes and realities allows them to alter potential outcomes and unfold the nature of existence, forcing reality itself to stutter. This allows Witchwarpers to use their Resolve points to alter reality, which could come in handy if the party finds themselves in a sticky situation and need to quickly take control of it.
Mystics Are Conduits For Universal Energies
Mystics Can Exploit The Unseen Arcane Bonds In The Environment
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Mystics know that the forces others consider magical are simply the connection between all things in the universe. As they tap into that power, Mystics understand that, no matter the source, they are just a conduit for that energy. Even those who study the arcane arts know it is as unpredictable and dangerous as powerful and beneficial. Mystics know how to manipulate and exploit the unseen bonds around them, either to aid allies in combat or debilitate the opponent.
Not only do they have access to a collection of Mystic-specific spells, but they can also use their power to heal their allies and create mindlinks with creatures to communicate telepathically. As they advance in their craft, they eventually become so powerful that they transcend and achieve enlightenment, which causes them to stop aging and grants them immunity to death through old age.
Operatives Make Excellent Bounty Hunters
This Starfinder Class Relies Largely On Stealth And Subterfuge
One of the Starfinder classes whose core tactics are stealth and subterfuge, Operatives make their livings as assassins, bounty hunters, scouts, and smugglers. With Dexterity as their core stat, they rely on their ability to move undetected and get the job done. Not only are they incredibly agile, they can employ exploitative tricks.
Using trickery and cunning to provoke enemies to drop their guard, Operatives gain trick attacks that take foes by surprise. As they advance in levels, they gain the ability to make up to four melee attacks on their turn and can swap out their tactics to suit a situation, giving up abilities reliant on the previously employed tactic for the duration. While that may sound risky, Operatives know what they're doing and why it's necessary.
Drones Are Starfinder's Companion To Mechanics
Drones Can Eventually Act Of Their Own Volition
While not a player class, Mechanics begin the game with an AI of their own design. One option for this is the Drone, which players will need to build, choosing everything from its chassis to its stats. Drones will also level alongside the Mechanic, making them similar to sidekicks. Over time, Drones can be improved with new mods and skill sets.
At level 10, Drones get an upgrade to their power cores, which function as the first step towards acting without the Mechanic's control. Eventually, a Drone becomes an Expert, then a True AI, able to act of its own volition on the Mechanic's turns. Some of the feats available for this class include Great Cleave, Lightning Reflexes, Shot on the Run, Spring Attack, Iron Will, and Weapon Focus.
Nanocytes Take Advantage Of Their Bodily Nanites
Only One Of Three Nanite Arrays Can Be Used At Any Given Time
Introduced with the Tech Revolution, the Nanocyte's body is host to tiny machines known as nanites that grant them a certain amount of heartiness. These nanites can also be used to create tools, or even march off and attack enemies. That said, the nanites continue to gain power as time goes on, eventually converting organic matter into tech.
With Constitution as their core stat, the higher the Nanoctye's CON, the more nanites build their swarm. As this class levels up, their objective is to become more machine than mortal, as nanites empower them to achieve seemingly insurmountable tasks. There are three nanite arrays available, but a single one can be used at any given time.
Evolutionists Genetically Mutate Their Bodies
This Starfinder Class Does Nothing More Than Make Themselves Stronger
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Choosing the Evolutionist class opens up a whole new world of augmentations, as they strive to improve their bodies with forced evolution through science. Whether altering their genetic makeup or relying on Mysticism, Evolutionists strive to do nothing more than make themselves more powerful.
With Strength and Dexterity as their driving ability score, they are designed to not only attack and dole damage but also adapt to surrounding circ*mstances to ensure they come out on top. Using a Mutation Points system, Evolutionists can deploy these points to alter their mind or body to meet whatever they come up against. Bearing that in mind, there are definite dangers involved with such experimentation.
Starfinder's Precogs See And Alter The Strands Of Time
Precogs Can Harness Temporal Paradoxes To See The Future
Thanks to some bizarre cosmic event, Precogs have an innate ability to see the strands of time flowing around them. This allows them to manipulate time itself, slowing it down, speeding it up, or altering the outcome of events to suit their purpose. Whether harnessing temporal paradoxes to see the future or using what they've seen to manipulate outcomes in their favor, this magic-based class relies on Intelligence for spellcasting and Dexterity to determine the number of time-altering paradoxes they can perform.
Some of the class skills available to the Precog include Diplomacy, Profession, Acrobatics, Perception, Stealth, and Culture. The Chronomatic Defense is particularly interesting, as it allows the player to evade any immediate attacks. In other words, the Precogs are one of the best Starfinder classes available.
