Full ReBuild Friday - Tasigur, the Golden Fang
- bjacobt1
- 1 hour ago
- 10 min read
I'm back from vacation with a new build for an old character. Some big changes to this one! As always, this build is conceptualized entirely in a vacuum, with choices made in my best attempt to fit the character. These choice may not hold up in a campaign with different themes and should be adjusted accordingly.
If you want to check out the video on the build or vote on the next character to be rebuilt, head on over to the YT channel! I've decided to include some of the playtest builds I did back in the day early in the line-up.
Let's get into the build for Tasigur, the Golden Fang, from Magic the Gathering!
TASIGUR, THE GOLDEN FANG
SOURCE Magic the Gathering
BUILD GOALS
o Tasigur is the human leader of the Sultai Brood, a cruel and spoiled young heir
o He is commonly accompanied and tended to by zombie servitors
o Wields a sharp-tipped whip
o Like his clan, he is mostly associated with Black mana, which embodies free will and amorality
o He is also linked to Blue mana, embodying logic and technology, and Green mana, embodying instinct and interdependence
o His sole card is a 4/5 Human Shaman with Delve, allowing the player to exile cards in the graveyard to make him cheaper, and the ability to mill cards then steal a card from an opponent’s graveyard
o He has Tasigur’s Cruelty forces all opponents to discard two cards
o Cards such as Douse in Gloom and Typhoid Rats features quotes or references from him
Summary of Goals: Tasigur is a whip-wielding, zombie-commanding brat whose association with deck-discarding effects will be best represented through mental manipulation effects. He should likely have some self-detrimental effects and the ability to steal resources from others to really capture his essence.
LEVEL 1
Ancestry & Heritage: Versatile Human
o Ability Boosts & Flaws: +Dexterity, +Charisma
o Ancestry Feat: Gloomseer
o General Feat: Toughness
Background: Royalty
o Ability Boosts: +Charisma, +Dexterity
o Skill Increase: Society (T)
o Background Feat: Courtly Graces
Class & Subclass: Oracle of the Blight Mystery
o Class Ability Boost: +Charisma
o Skill Increase: Acrobatics (T), Deception (T), Intimidation (T), Nature (T), Religion (T), Thievery (T)
o Class Feat: Whispers of Weakness
o Spell Repertoire: Cantrips - caustic blast, daze; 1st - command, noxious vapors, summon undead
Details
o Ability Boosts: +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +0, Dex +3, Con +1, Int +1, Wis +0, Cha +4)
The Sultai Brood is a diverse group, but Tasigur himself is a human and will use that ancestry alongside the versatile heritage so that he can take Toughness, based on the higher health of his card. Gloomseer as his ancestry feat runs off the idea that the Sultai tend to dwell in dark and dim swamps where low-light vision would be handy. He was a proper heir of the Sultai, influenced the use of the royalty background, but for his class, we’re looking at something completely different. I wanted to better convey the detrimental effects of his activated ability and I think that the best way to do so while still fitting the general design of the character is through the oracle class. Wielding the innate magic of this class requires advancing along the curse related to his mystery, which will be Blight based on the toxins and diseases associated with the Sultai. This will allow him to afflict others with ulcerous cankers as well as a few cantrips and ranked spells associated with a similar idea. It also grants him Whispers of Weakness, which feels as though it feels quite nicely with our sinister Sultai sovereign. In addition to the spells granted by his mystery, he’ll look into options such as daze and command for mental manipulation as well as summon undead, which he’ll signature as soon as that option becomes available to him for his undead minions.
LEVEL 2
o Class Feat: Domain Acumen - Decay
o Skill Feat: Charming Liar
o Spell Repertoire: 1st - fear
o Gear: cloak of feline rest
LEVEL 3
o General Feat: Ancestral Paragon - Unconventional Weaponry - Scorpion Whip
o Skill Increase: Deception (E)
o Spell Repertoire: 2nd - boneshaker*, carrion mire, fungal infestation, ghoulish cravings
o Gear: +1 scorpion whip, cloak of feline rest, psychopomp mask
LEVEL 4
o Class Feat: Bard Dedication - Warrior Muse
o Skill Feat: Confabulator
o Skill Increase: Occultism (T), Performance (T)
o Gear: charlatan’s gloves, +1 scorpion whip, dweomerweave robe, cloak of feline rest
LEVEL 5
o Ability Boosts: +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +0, Dex +4, Con +2, Int +1, Wis +1, Cha +4.5)
o Ancestry Feat: Darkseer
o Skill Increase: Thievery (E)
o Spell Repertoire: 3rd - bind undead*, rouse skeletons, thief of fortune
o Gear: +1 striking scorpion whip, charlatan’s gloves, ventriloquist’s ring, dweomerweave robe, cloak of feline rest, psychopomp mask
By delving into the decay domain with Domain Acumen at second level, Tasigur finally gains a spell that targets AC and can therefore benefit off of the Whispers of Weakness. With something to take advantage of that feature secured, he then takes up a Bard Dedication for the warrior muse, harkening back to our original build for him. Thanks to Ancestral Paragon, he gains two ancestry feats for the block - Darkseer simply builds out of his Gloomseer but he can also gain Unconventional Weaponry so that he has proficiency with the scorpion whip, treating it as a simple weapon that his proficiency for will increase with his class. He focuses on Deception feats for now and maybe Charming Liar is a bit of a misstep as he doesn’t really seem to care about charming others, but it will be handy for the build. Confabulator makes it easier for him to weave multiple lies around his victims, which does feel like a better fit.
I aimed for more necromantic-flavored sort of spells while also picking some inspired by his related cards. For example, the card art of ‘Douse in Gloom’ calls to mind the likes of carrion mire or rouse skeletons. I like boneshaker as it grants some manner of control over the victim while still keeping with the necromancy theme. Additionally, bind undead could potentially allow Tasigur to literally rob the graveyards of his enemies, bringing mindless undead under his command.
LEVEL 6
o Class Feat: Basic Bard Spellcasting
o Skill Feat: Dirty Trick
o Bard Spell Repertoire: 1st - phantom pain; 2nd - umbral extraction*
o Gear: +1 leather, +1 striking scorpion whip, mentalist’s staff, charlatan’s gloves, dweomerweave robe, necklace of knives
LEVEL 7
o General Feat: Fast Recovery
o Skill Increase: Deception (M)
o Spell Repertoire: 4th - necrotic radiation*
o Gear: wand of teeming ghosts (2nd-rank), +1 leather, wand of contagious frailty, +1 striking scorpion whip, charlatan’s gloves, ventriloquist’s ring
LEVEL 8
o Class Feat: Advanced Revelation
o Skill Feat: Slippery Secrets
o Gear: ethersight ring, ring of the ram, wand of teeming ghosts (2nd-rank), +1 leather, +1 striking scorpion whip, mentalist’s staff
LEVEL 9
o Ancestry Feat: Natural Ambition - Foretell Harm
o Skill Increase: Occultism (E)
o Spell Repertoire: 5th - shadow blast*, summon fiend, wall of flesh
o Gear: +1 resilient leather, ethersight ring, ring of sustenance, staff of control, wand of contagious frailty, +1 striking scorpion whip
LEVEL 10
o Ability Boosts: +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +0, Dex +4.5, Con +3, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +5)
o Class Feat: Debilitating Dichotomy
o Skill Feat: Schooled in Secrets
o Skill Increase: Athletics (T)
o Gear: wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), +1 resilient leather, greater mentalist’s staff, ethersight ring, wand of teeming ghosts (2nd-rank), +1 striking scorpion whip
By delving into Basic Bard Spellcasting, Tasigur can gain umbral extraction, which will allow him to more directly steal spells or summons from his foes. Advanced Revelation is handy for granting another focus point as well as another focus spell with a more restorative effect, resembling some of the more nurturing aspects of green mana. With Debilitating Dichotomy, we gain an effect that harms foes but also forces Tasigur to feel some negative effects, akin to how he forces the player to mill their own deck to gain a beneficial effect. As another class feat, Natural Ambition will let him grab Foretell Harm, granting him some additional ability to deal damage with a free action. Dirty Trick lets him take advantage of his Thievery skill and might actually be a bit better on a caster since it has the attack trait. He could use it and then toss out a spell that targets a Reflex save or something. Slippery Secrets fits nicely with just how slimy of a guy he is while Schooled in Secrets might inform him on the darker nature of the Sultai and similar sorts. I wanted to include shadow blast, comboing that with Whispers of Weakness so that he always has the damage type to take advantage of whatever weakness the foe may have. While rakshasa lack the fiend trait in Pathfinder, the many rakshasa associated with the Sultai are typed as demons, which influenced the inclusion of the summon fiend spell.
LEVEL 11
o General Feat: Incredible Investiture
o Skill Increase: Occultism (M)
o Gear: +2 striking scorpion whip, greater charlatan’s gloves, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), +1 resilient leather, ethersight ring, ring of sustenance
LEVEL 12
o Class Feat: Expert Bard Spellcasting
o Skill Feat: Disturbing Knowledge
o Bard Spell Repertoire: 4th - umbral graft*
o Gear: +2 resilient leather, +2 striking scorpion whip, greater staff of control, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank), wand of teeming ghosts (3rd-rank), decaying weapon rune
LEVEL 13
o Ancestry Feat: Shadow Pact
o Skill Increase: Thievery (M)
o Gear: +2 greater striking scorpion whip, +2 resilient leather, oracular crown, greater staff of control, greater charlatan’s gloves, wand of shardstorm (3rd-rank)
LEVEL 14
o Class Feat: Greater Revelation
o Skill Feat: Bizarre Magic
o Bard Spell Repertoire: 5th - slither
o Gear: wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking scorpion whip, major mentalist’s staff, +2 resilient leather, prognostic veil, wand of teeming ghosts (4th-rank)
LEVEL 15
o Ability Boosts: +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +0, Dex +5, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +5.5)
o General Feat: Robust Health
o Skill Increase: Deception (L)
o Gear: +2 greater resilient leather, propulsive boots, wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking scorpion whip, oracular crown, moderate boots of free running
By taking Expert Bard Spellcasting, Tasigur can slip umbral graft into his repertoire but slither isn’t a bad one given all the snakes associated with the Sultai. Greater Revelation is fun because the accelerated decomposition focus spell deals damage and inflicts three different conditions as long as the targets at least fail. Incredible Investiture ensures that he can wield the full wealth of the Sultai’s hoard and Robust Health helps him recover from injury a bit quicker. From his ancestry options, Shadow Pact allows him to take some damage to use creation, further calling to mind his ability to mill cards while calling forth effects. Bizarre Magic makes it harder for enemies to identify his mysticism, and he also uses Disturbing Knowledge as a handy debuffing effect to throw on enemies.
LEVEL 16
o Class Feat: Occult Breadth
o Skill Feat: Consult the Spirits - Occultism
o Bard Spell Repertoire: 6th - never mind
o Gear: greater decaying weapon rune, +2 greater resilient leather, major staff of control, wand of shardstorm (5th-rank), +2 greater striking scorpion whip, wand of teeming ghosts (5th-rank)
LEVEL 17
o Ancestry Feat: Heroic Presence
o Skill Increase: Occultism (L)
o Gear: +3 greater striking scorpion whip, greater decaying weapon rune, greater countering charm, +2 greater resilient leather, propulsive boots, wand of shardstorm (5th-rank)
LEVEL 18
o Class Feat: Master Bard Spellcasting
o Skill Feat: Reveal Machinations
o Gear: necklace of allure, +3 greater striking scorpion whip, wand of teeming ghosts (7th-rank), greater decaying weapon rune, +2 greater resilient leather, major staff of control
LEVEL 19
o General Feat: Fleet
o Skill Increase: Thievery (L)
o Gear: +3 greater resilient leather, necklace of allure, wand of shardstorm (7th-rank), +3 greater striking scorpion whip, major zombie staff, greater decaying weapon rune
LEVEL 20
o Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +1, Dex +5, Con +4, Int +3, Wis +3, Cha +6)
o Class Feat: Mystery Conduit
o Skill Feat: Doublespeak
o Skill Increase: Stealth (T)
o Gear: +3 major striking scorpion whip, +3 greater resilient leather, mask of allure, hell staff, quickstrike weapon rune, wand of teeming ghosts (7th-rank)
He gets more bard spells with Occult Breadth or Master Bard Spellcasting, which he’ll mainly use to get some higher rank umbral extractions and grafts to steal the magic of his nemeses. Without the 10th-rank spells being super alluring, I personally like Mystery Conduit as a way for him to cast spells without having to spend as many resources. Consult the Spirits feels right for a necromancer and Reveal Machinations is another good way for him to weaken adversaries. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Heroic Presence will allow him to bolster and buff his allies.
FREE ARCHETYPE SUGGESTIONS: Outside of Tasigur’s Bard Dedication, which he could expand upon by working his way up to Dirge of Doom, he could take the Corpse Tender Dedication, Reanimator Dedication, or the Undead Master Dedication. These all grant him different ways of interacting with undead though corpse tender might fit the best given the Sultai’s use of zombies and similar simplistic undead.
BUILD CONCLUSION
Tasigur the Golden Fang is a versatile human oracle of the blight mystery and the royalty background, calling to mind his role as the heir of the Sultai Brood. He fills the ranks of the Sultai with demons through summon fiend and the naga through something like slither. His use of undead is largely regulated to flavor text and art, but we can demonstrate it through spells such as summon undead or rouse skeletons. By taking the Unconventional Weaponry ancestry feat, Tasigur can wield a scorpion whip without issue to represent his favored instrument of punishment. His focus on necromantic spells resembles his association with black mana but can also pick up some manipulating and bolstering effects based on his connection to blue and green mana as well. Since he has a slightly higher Toughness, he takes the general feat of the same name and invests in his Constitution a bit. To represent some of the self-harm effects associated with the card and playstyle, such as Delve and self-mill, Tasigur looks for some ways to inflict negative effects such as his curse as an oracle as well as feats such as Debilitating Dichotomy and Shadow Pact. Focusing on mental spells, particularly those like fear and never mind, is a solid way to represent his Tasigur’s Cruelty card while his blight mystery and rot-themed spells are good for his associated cards. Notably, carrion mire looks like a fantastic fit for something like Douse in Gloom.
A sinister sovereign of the Sultai, this sorcerer sends scores of shades to spook and slaughter unsuspecting scrubs while shooting spells in swift succession until surrender is certain.
Please let me know what you think and what other builds you'd like to see!
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Have a fantastic Friday!
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