Pathfinder Traits, Sorted

Note that “trait bonuses” don’t stack with each other, and you can’t take two of the same type of trait (e.g. Bloodline Trait, Social Trait, Faith Trait).

Class-Skill Traits

These traits give you a skill as a class skill, and often give a +1 bonus to that skill:

  • Appraise: Merchant (S)
  • Bluff: Fast Talker, Fiend Blood, Unpredictable (S)
  • Diplomacy: Calistrian Prostitute (Calistria), Destined Diplomat (outsiders), Ease of Faith (F), Friend in Every Town, Influence (S), Trustworthy (S)
  • Disable Device: Criminal, Vagabond Child (R)’
  • Escape Artist: Vagabond Child (R)
  • Handle Animal: Beast Bond, Savanna Child (R)
  • Heal: Caretaker
  • Intimidate: Bruising Intellect (see below), Criminal, Fiend Blood, Omen (F), Unnatural Revenge (S)
  • Linguistics: Self-Taught Scholar, Weathered Emissary (S)
  • Knowledge – Arcana: Mathematical Prodigy (M), Reluctant Apprentice (M)
  • Knowledge – Dungeoneering: Scholar of Ruins (Ra*)
  • Knowledge – Engineering: Guardian of the Forge (Torag), Mathematical Prodigy(M)
  • Knowledge – Geography: Devotee of the Green, Scholar of Ruins (Ra*)
  • Knowledge – History: Guardian of the Forge (Torag), Scholar of the Great Beyond (F), Style Sage (S)
  • Knowledge – Local: Civilized, Friend in Every Town, Style Sage (S), Truth’s Agent (S)
  • Knowledge – Nature: Child of Nature (Gozreh), Devotee of the Green, Savage (S), Savanna Child (R)
  • Knowledge – Nobility: Child of the Temple, Civilized
  • Knowledge – Planes: Fiend Blood, Scholar of the Great Beyond (F)
  • Knowledge – Religion: Child of the Temple
  • Perception: Eyes and Ears of the City (Abadar), Seeker (S)
  • Perform: Talented (S)
  • Ride: Beast Bond, Militia Veteran, Savanna Child (R)
  • Sense Motive: Bastard (S), Calistrian Prostitute (Calistria), Outcast’s Intuition (M), Suspicious (S)
  • Sleight of Hand: Child of the Streets, Criminal, Vagabond Child (R)
  • Spellcraft: Classically Schooled
  • Stealth: Highlander
  • Survival: Child of Nature (Gozreh), Militia Veteran (R), Orphaned (S), Poverty-Stricken (S)
  • Swim: River Rat

(C) – Combat Trait

(Ca) – Campaign Trait (ask your GM)

(F) – Faith Trait

(M) – Magical Trait

(R) – Regional Trait

(Ra) – Racial Trait

(S) – Social Trait

/* Human only

Traits That Boost Skills Without Class Skill

  • Bluff: Partial Protege
  • Craft (any): Artisan, Simple Disciple
  • Craft – Alchemy: Alchemical Adept (M), Perfectionist’s Brew (M)
  • Diplomacy: Patient Optimist (Erastil – Religion), Prophesied
  • Intimidate: Prophesied
  • Knowledge (all): Possessed (+2, untrained, 1/day)
  • Knowledge – Planes: Schooled Inquisitor
  • Knowledge – Religion: Schooled Inquisitor
  • Perception: Spriti Sense (+2 vs Surprise)
  • Profession (any): Simple Disciple
  • Stealth: Ordinary (+4 in crowd) (S)
  • Survival: Starchild (Desna)
  • Use Magic Device: Partial Protege

Good General Traits

These traits give a bonus that is generally useful, and can compensate for low stats, low initiative, or a missing racial trait.

  • Blood of Dragons: low-light vision, +1 perception, or +2 save vs Sleep/Paralysis
  • Reactionary: +2 initiative (C)
  • Rich Parents: Start with 900 gp (S)
  • Tireless Logic: 1/day re-roll Int-based skill
  • Worldly: Roll twice on any skil (1/day) (S)

Traits that Change How A Skill Works

These traits allow you to use a skill in a different way, or do something you normally can’t.

  • Bruising Intellect: Use Int instead of Cha for Intimidate (also gives Intimidate as class skill)
  • Wisdom in the Flesh (Irori): Dex-based skill uses Wis, class skill.
  • Harvester: collect poison without poisoning yourself
  • Heal: Precise Treatment (Use Int instead of Wis for this skill only – M)
  • Inspired: 1/day, roll twice on skill and take better result
  • Acrobatics: Acrobat (less penalties)
  • Craft – Alchemy: Add Cha bonus 1/day
  • Kn: Planes: Planar Savant (Use Cha instead of Int for this skill only (F))
  • Swim: Sea-Souled (+1, take 10)
  • Use Magic Device: Pragmatic advisor (Int instead of Cha)(M)

Traits that Boost Saves:

  • Fortitude: Life of Toil (S)
  • Reflex: Deft Dodger (C), Quick Reactor (R), Cliff Jumper (R), Youthful Mischief (Ra – Elf)
  • Will: Indominable Faith, Purirty of Faith (Ca)
  • Charm / Compulsion: Oathbound (re-roll – F), Principled (F), Veiled Disciple (S)
  • Fear: Dragon-Hunted (S – vs. Dragons only)
  • Fear/Death: Reincarnated (F)
  • Illusions: Skeptic (M)

Damage-Boosting Traits:

  • Undead Slayer (Pharasma): +1 dmg vs undead
  • Zealous Striker: +1 vs. divine casters