14 DAY TRIAL // I confess, I have a soft spot for RPGs and Pathfinder, along with Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale, are among my favorite series. However, unlike the much older cRPG franchises, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is a huge game that requires hundreds of hours to discover everything it has to offer.
Not to mention that due to the replayability factor, since you can play with dozens of classes, the time a fan of the genre can spend in Wrath of the Righteous can become worrisome if they want to play other games too. If that wasn’t enough, developer Owlcat Games continues to add new content in the form of DLC.
We already got a Season Pass with three DLC included, all bringing new campaign and a roguelike mode that’s partially integrated into the main campaign. Season Pass 2 has been recently announced and the first DLC that’s part of it is called The Last Sarkorians.
It’s the first DLC that actually adds story bits to the main campaign and sheds some light on the country where it all started, Sarkoris. The so-called Worldwound appeared in Sarkoris for the first time, basically destroying the country and replacing it with a demon infested wasteland.
Coming from Sarkoris, traveling through time almost 100 years, is Ulbrig Olesk, one of the Sarkorians tribal chiefs who lived in the region before the Worldwound took over. The new companion has been deeply integrated into the main campaign and can be recruited in different acts, although I strongly suggest those who want to play with him in the party to start a new playthrough.
Ulbrig can be found in the Blackwing Library, the location of a pretty important quest at the beginning of the game. The shifter has been turned into stone by unknown forces and for some reason wakes up exactly when you visit the library. He won’t join you immediately, but you’ll get a glimpse of his mighty griffon form before he disappears.
It’s important to add that although the DLC adds the shifter class with no less than six archetype variations, Ulbrig has a unique archetype called Griffonheart Shifter. He’s the only companion in the game that can progress into a unique class, one that’s even more powerful than most of the shifter archetypes available to all other companions.
After getting Ulbrig to level 20, I can safely say that he’s one of the most powerful companions in the game and the most fun to play with. His first advantage is that, just like Seelah, he can be recruited relatively early, so you can build his class as you see fit. More importantly, his starting feats, the ones that you can’t change, are actually pretty good.
The earliest you can recruit Ulbrig is level 4 and I would strongly recommend not multiclassing him. Thanks to the Griffon Aspect he gains at level 1, Ulbrig gets bonuses to strength which increase at certain levels. Also, he can provide his allies with immunity to fear thanks to special aura, and will eventually become resistant to movement-impairing effects, just like the freedom of movement spell.
However, the best trait of the Griffonheart Shifter class in comparison with the other shifter archetype variations (except one) is that it allows you to pick up bonus combat feats at certain levels. This makes Ulbrig a very powerful companion that can use minor and major aspects to butcher hordes of enemies.
One of Ulbrig’s abilities that I pretty much enjoyed the entire game, Death from Above, allows him to charge even if there’s no free path between him and the target. Obviously, this can only be done while in griffon shape.
With Ulbrig in the party, you’ll get to visit a previously unavailable area and learn some of the secrets of Sarkoris. He’s fully romanceable in case you’re wondering.
Now, as far as the new shifter class goes, it comes with six archetype variations that will allow your companion to turn into different animals. For what it lacks in spellcasting power, the shifter class makes up in physical stats, which are absolutely monstruous. Since all shifter archetypes have stacking bonuses that kick in at different levels, they can achieve some amazing stats at level 20 or 40 (for legendary characters).
Shifters start with a limited use of their animal aspect, but they can use Shifter Claws indefinitely. As a swift action, a shifter can grow claws that can be used as a primary natural attack. As the shifter gains levels, the claws’ damage increases and they can even bypass damage reduction requirements like cold iron, magic, silver and, ultimately, adamantine. While in wild shape, the shifter automatically gains all the benefits of the shifter claws ability.
The most important abilities that all shifter archetypes have in common are the aspects. There are minor and major aspects that provide different bonuses and even abilities, depending on the animal you choose. The minor form offers bonuses to your character regardless of whether or not they’re in wild shape, while the major form is the most important one since it turns your character into an animal.
Your shifter can use the minor form for a limited time, while the major form ability lasts for one hour per day. What’s great about the shifter class is that taking the Master Shapeshifter mythic ability at level six will make the duration of major form permanent, so you can shape into whatever animal you chose how many times you want without looking at the time.
Just as important is the fact that when a shifter hits level 20, it can use all minor and major forms they picked at will, something that’s not possible earlier. Each shifter archetype is so different that you’ll find that some even work with ranged abilities, while others get an astonishing number of attacks at very low levels.
Conclusion
Even if you’re not interested in playing the new class, the new companion is interesting enough to warrant another complete playthrough. If you love Owlcat massive RPG, this is definitely a no brainer.
Review key was provided by the publisher.
