Pathfinder is the kind of tabletop RPG that makes you feel like a genius on Monday, a confused goblin on Tuesday,
and an undefeated tactical mastermind by Fridayassuming your group actually schedules Friday. Whether you’re here
because you love crunchy character builds, cinematic combat, or you simply want a fantasy world that isn’t afraid
to hand you a ten-foot pole and say “Yes, you should poke the suspicious statue,” this guide is built to help.
“Rankings” in tabletop games are always dangerous. Not because the dice will smite you (they will), but because your
table’s preferences are the real final boss. Still, some patterns show up again and again: what’s easiest to learn,
what runs smooth at the table, what’s most fun for character options, and what delivers the best long-term campaigns.
So let’s rank Pathfinder the way people actually play itby experience, not just by reading the rulebook like a bedtime story.
How These Rankings Work (A.K.A. “What Are We Even Measuring?”)
I’m ranking Pathfinder products and play experiences using criteria that matter when you’re actually rolling dice:
- Table Flow: How smoothly turns move, how clear actions feel, and how often rules stop the game.
- New Player Friendliness: How quickly a new player can make a character and contribute.
- Depth Over Time: Whether the game stays interesting after session 10, 30, and 100.
- GM Support: Tools for encounter building, running monsters, and avoiding prep burnout.
- Choice Without Chaos: Lots of options is greatuntil it becomes “Oops, I built a character that can’t function.”
- Content Ecosystem: Adventure paths, supplements, organized play, and community support.
Important note: these are opinions, not laws. If your group loves something I rank lower, congratulationsyou’ve unlocked
the secret achievement called “Having a Table That Knows What It Likes.”
Overall Ranking: Pathfinder Editions (The Big One)
#1 Pathfinder Second Edition (Including the Remaster): Best Overall for Most Groups
If you asked a room full of modern Pathfinder fans what makes the system sing, you’ll hear a familiar chorus:
the three-action economy, tight math, and tactical choices that feel meaningful without requiring a spreadsheet
and a minor in interpretive rules lawyering.
Pathfinder Second Edition (PF2E) shines because it’s built for clarity at the table. On your turn, you generally have
three actions and a reaction. That structure makes combat feel consistent: move, strike, raise a shield; stride twice
and cast a spell; demoralize, reposition, and set up a teammate. It’s tactical, but the “language” of the system is learnable.
The Remaster era pushes PF2E even further toward clean usability: updated core books, terminology changes,
and rules adjustments designed to keep the game coherent while reducing friction. In practice, many tables treat it as
“PF2E, polished,” not a totally different game.
Best for: groups that want tactical combat, balanced characters, strong GM tools, and a system that rewards teamwork.
Watch-outs: players who want ultra-loose rules, or groups that prefer “vibes-based” combat over tactical positioning.
#2 Pathfinder First Edition: Best for Build Nerds, Collectors, and “I Want All the Options” Tables
Pathfinder First Edition (PF1E) is legendary for one thing above all: character customization. If you love planning a build,
hunting synergies, and pulling an obscure feat from a book that smells faintly of 2011, PF1E is basically a hobby inside a hobby.
PF1E grew from the d20 ecosystem and inherited both the magic and the chaos: multiclass puzzles, hundreds of archetypes,
towering stacks of spells, and the kind of optimization range where one character is “pretty good” and another is “a physics violation.”
When it works, it’s glorious. When it doesn’t, it can feel like the system is quietly asking the GM to become a full-time referee.
Best for: experienced players, long-running home campaigns, and groups that enjoy mastery and tinkering.
Watch-outs: new players can accidentally build a character that struggles; balancing encounters can become an art project.
#3 “Pathfinder, The Brand”: Best When You Use the Right Entry Point
Here’s a spicy but useful opinion: “Pathfinder” isn’t one experience. It’s a buffet. You can play PF2E with a beginner box and
have a smooth onboarding. You can play PF1E with a library of supplements and feel like you’re operating heavy machinery.
You can run an Adventure Path that’s basically a fantasy TV series, or you can homebrew a sandbox where your players immediately
adopt a random NPC and declare them “the chosen one.”
So the smartest ranking isn’t “which is best,” but “which is best for your table’s appetite.”
Ranking Pathfinder Adventure Paths (Because Story Is a Feature)
Pathfinder’s reputation is tied to its campaigns. Adventure Paths are one of Paizo’s signature strengths: long-form adventures
designed to carry a group from low level into major story arcs. Below is a ranking that blends popularity, new-player accessibility,
and how often these campaigns get recommended by the broader community.
| Rank | Adventure | Edition | Why It Lands Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingmaker | PF2E / Legacy Roots | Sandbox kingdom-building vibe, tons of player agency, and a “make this land yours” campaign arc. |
| 2 | Abomination Vaults | PF2E | A classic dungeon-crawl feel with modern PF2E pacing; easy to pitch, easy to run, hard to stop playing. |
| 3 | Strength of Thousands | PF2E | Magic-school campaign done with heart; roleplay-forward and different from “another tavern, another skeleton.” |
| 4 | Rise of the Runelords | PF1E | One of the most iconic Pathfinder campaigns; great “classic fantasy” arc and a frequent gateway for PF1E fans. |
| 5 | Curse of the Crimson Throne | PF1E | Strong urban story energy; politics, crime, and dramatic turns that feel like a fantasy HBO season. |
| 6 | Season of Ghosts | PF2E | A newer fan-favorite with a distinct tone; great if your table wants atmosphere and mystery. |
Quick advice: pick an Adventure Path that matches your group’s energy.
If your players love exploration and building, sandbox campaigns (like Kingmaker) sing.
If they love structured progression and tactical combat, something like Abomination Vaults is extremely “plug-and-play.”
If they love roleplay arcs and personal growth, Strength of Thousands tends to hit hard (in the emotional sense… mostly).
Ranking the Best Pathfinder “Entry Points” for New Players
#1 The Beginner Box: Best “Open the Box, Start Playing” Experience
If you want the smoothest Pathfinder onboarding, the Beginner Box is the MVP. It’s designed to teach the game in layers:
basic rules first, then more options as players get comfortable. That matters because Pathfinder’s biggest barrier is not “complexity,”
it’s “too many choices at once.” The Beginner Box solves that like a good GM: it paces the learning curve.
#2 Core Rulebooks (Player Core / GM Core): Best Long-Term Foundation
For PF2E tables, the modern core books (especially in the Remaster era) provide a cleaner baseline. If your group is ready for full character creation,
broader class options, and deeper rules support, core books are where Pathfinder becomes the “forever game” people talk about.
#3 Organized Play (Pathfinder Society): Best for Finding Games and Getting Reps
Want consistent sessions, a shared campaign structure, and a way to play with different groups? Pathfinder Society can be a great fit.
Organized play shines for players who like meeting new tables, trying new characters, and playing scenarios that are designed to run in a predictable time.
It also helps newer players learn table etiquette and system basics fasterlike “announce your actions clearly” and “never trust a door.”
Ranking Pathfinder’s Core Design Features (The Stuff That Makes It Feel Like Pathfinder)
#1 Three-Action Economy: The Feature Everyone Talks About (Because It’s That Good)
PF2E’s action economy is beloved because it’s both simple and expressive. Most things cost one action; bigger moves and spells often cost two; some flexible
abilities scale based on how many actions you invest. The result: your turn feels like building a small plan, not just pushing a “basic attack” button.
#2 Degrees of Success: Crits That Are More Than “Nat 20 = Yay”
Pathfinder (especially PF2E) leans into critical success and critical failure in a way that rewards smart play. Bonuses matter. Debuffs matter. Teamwork matters.
Even outside combat, skills often have layered outcomesso a high roll can produce extra information or bigger advantages.
#3 Archetypes and Feat-Based Customization: “Build Identity” Without Breaking the Game
PF2E’s feat structure gives you consistent customization at level-ups, while archetypes let you bolt on a thememartial training, magic tricks,
social masterywithout throwing balance out the window. It’s the sweet spot between “everyone feels unique” and “the wizard accidentally becomes a helicopter.”
Ranking Pathfinder Classes by “Table Friendliness” (Hot Takes with Good Intentions)
This section is about how forgiving a class is for real play. It’s not power ranking. It’s “how likely is this class to feel good in a typical campaign
without needing an advanced degree in Buildcraft.”
Best for New Players
- Fighter (PF2E): consistent, clear, effective. Great for learning tactics without drowning in resource management.
- Rogue: teaches positioning, skills, and teamwork. You feel useful in and out of combat.
- Cleric: flexible support, good guidance for party roles, and you’ll be everybody’s hero twice per session.
- Barbarian: straightforward identity, satisfying turns, and the emotional range of “calm” or “launch the table.”
Great Once You Know the Basics
- Bard: powerful support with decisions each turn; great if you like helping others look awesome.
- Champion: defensive play and reactions shine, but you’ll want to understand positioning and party synergy.
- Wizard: rewarding if you enjoy planning and flexibility, but spell choices can overwhelm brand-new players.
- Ranger: fun tactical identity; feels best when you engage with terrain, tracking, and target selection.
Advanced (Not HardJust Demanding)
- Alchemist: very flavorful, very flexible, and very “read your tools.” Great for players who like systems and preparation.
- Summoner: amazing theme, but running two bodies well takes practice and attention.
- Oracle: dramatic mechanics and strong identity; can be tricky if you dislike managing trade-offs.
PF1E has its own “friendliness curve,” too. If you’re new to PF1E, classes with clearer baseline identity (barbarian, paladin, cleric)
are often easier than highly technical builds. PF1E is wonderfuljust remember it rewards system mastery more aggressively.
Pathfinder vs. D&D 5E (A Peace Treaty, Not a Cage Match)
D&D 5E is often praised for accessibility and vibe-first play. Pathfinder (especially PF2E) is often praised for tactical clarity and balanced encounter design.
In practice, the better question is: what does your table want session to session?
- If you want tactical combat that rewards teamwork: PF2E is usually a stronger fit.
- If you want a looser rules framework and faster improvisation: 5E can feel lighter for many groups.
- If you want extreme customization and build experimentation: PF1E is still a champion of that style.
The secret: you can tell great stories in any of them. But Pathfinder is at its best when your group enjoys engaging with the rules as a creative tool,
not a speed bump.
How to Build Your Own Pathfinder Rankings (The Only Ranking That Truly Matters)
- Decide your table’s “fun engine”: combat tactics, story drama, exploration, puzzles, or character optimization.
- Choose the right entry product: Beginner Box for onboarding; core books for long campaigns; an Adventure Path for structured storytelling.
- Match player skill to class complexity: give new players forgiving classes; save the advanced toys for when the basics feel natural.
- Talk about expectations early: tone, difficulty, and how crunchy the table wants to be.
- Re-rank after 5 sessions: your group will tell you what it enjoyslisten to that data.
Conclusion: The “Best” Pathfinder Is the One Your Group Will Actually Play
If you want one clean recommendation: Pathfinder Second Edition (Remaster era) is the best all-around choice for most modern groups because it’s
tactical, fair, and supported by excellent onboarding and campaign content. If your table loves deep customization and build exploration, Pathfinder First Edition
remains a legendary sandbox of options. And if your group wants story momentum, Pathfinder’s Adventure Paths are a standout feature that many RPG lines
still struggle to match.
Ultimately, Pathfinder isn’t just “a ruleset.” It’s a hobby ecosystem: campaigns, character builds, community play, and the special joy of watching a plan come together
when the dice cooperate (and the equally special joy of pretending that disaster was “part of the plan”).
Extra Experiences at the Table (Because Rankings Are Fun, But Stories Are Why We Show Up)
The most universal Pathfinder experienceacross editionsis the moment your group realizes the game is quietly teaching you how to play better together.
In PF2E, that often happens when someone stops thinking “What’s my best attack?” and starts thinking “What sets up the party?” A fighter steps to the right spot,
not for damage, but to force a monster into a bad choice. A bard spends a turn making everyone else better and suddenly the whole table notices the math shift.
A rogue doesn’t just stab; they coordinate. And when the plan works, it feels less like “I rolled high” and more like “We did a cool thing on purpose.”
Another classic moment: the first time a player truly understands the three-action economy. It usually starts small. Someone says, “Wait… I can move, strike, and then move again?”
The GM nods. The player looks at the battlefield like it’s a chessboard that just started speaking their language. A couple sessions later, the same player is doing the
Pathfinder version of parkour: stride into flanking, feint, strike, then retreat behind the champion who is absolutely thrilled to be a wall with emotions.
It’s not that PF2E “makes you tactical.” It’s that it makes tactics visible, which is a huge difference for learning.
PF1E has its own signature table experiences, and they’re just as realjust different. PF1E is where you’ll see players show up with a build plan like it’s a
blueprint for a spaceship. You’ll hear phrases like “This comes online at level 7,” and everyone nods solemnly, as if the character is a slow-cooking stew.
When a PF1E build hits its stride, it’s satisfying in a “I planned this, and now it’s happening” way that few systems replicate. The flip side is also educational:
sometimes someone builds a character that looks cool on paper, but in play feels awkward. That’s not failureit’s part of why PF1E players get so good at learning from
experience and adjusting. It’s a system that rewards curiosity, iteration, and a healthy relationship with the words “house rule.”
Adventure Paths generate the most shared “Pathfinder memories,” because they create a common language across tables. Even without spoiling anything,
many groups report the same emotional beats: the early sessions where characters feel fragile and improvisation saves the day; the mid-campaign stretch where the party
starts acting like a professional team; and the late-campaign chapters where players look back and realize their characters have actually changed.
The best Adventure Paths don’t just hand you fightsthey hand you turning points. Your party debates what’s right, what’s smart, and what’s worth risking.
Then someone rolls a die and the universe laughs, because tabletop games are never fully under human control.
One more experience worth ranking highly: the “Pathfinder community effect.” People often discover that Pathfinder tables tend to share practical advicehow to run combat faster,
how to teach new players, how to choose a first campaign, how to avoid analysis paralysis, and how to build characters that feel fun without dominating the spotlight.
In PF2E especially, players often swap small habits that improve play immediately: announce actions in order, track conditions clearly, coordinate buffs and debuffs,
and treat positioning as a team resource. It’s the kind of culture that makes a crunchy game feel welcoming.
And honestly? The most relatable Pathfinder experience might be the simplest: the session where everything goes off the rails, the party adopts an NPC, and the GM quietly
rewrites three chapters of notes while smiling like “Yes, this was always the plan.” Pathfinder has enough structure to support bold decisions, and enough fantasy weirdness
to make those decisions memorable. Rankings are helpful, surebut the reason people stick with Pathfinder is that it reliably produces stories you’ll still be joking about
a year later. Usually right when someone says, “Remember the time we trusted the door?”
