Wildspell (Pathfinder Second Edition Mythic Destiny Archetype)
(art by DiegooCunha on DeviantArt)
Across the fantasy genre, there are plenty of spellcasters. Some live in worlds where magic is so rare that so-called “wizards” are actually demigods masquerading as mortals, and in others being a mage is as simple as enrolling in a course.
However, there are some mages out there that have the potential to overwhelm and change the very expectations of what is possible in the setting. These are the spellcasters that leave other mages in awe of their mighty works.
Unlike the archmage and hierophant mythic paths of the previous edition, being a wildspell isn’t just “has mythic power and channels most of it through spellcasting”, but rather, they are mythic because of their relationship to magic.
In short, wildspells have a special connection to magic, a direct line to the underpinning concept of the mystical forces that define magic, and when needed, they can open that gate a bit further and let some of it out. Because of this, even when at rest, minor spontaneous acts of wild magic tend to just crop up around them from the raw magical power oozing off of them.
Maybe they were blessed directly by a god or patron, maybe a mystical accident infused them with the power, maybe their research led to secrets beyond what other mages are capable of… or maybe they were just born with greater potential than most others would even dream of. Truly the path of the wildspell transcends all traditions and spellcasting classes.
So let’s see what they’re all about!
The base dedication of this archetype allows the wildspell to unleash some of their magical potential into the open air, creating an aura that can enhance the spells of allies and themselves or hinder the magic of foes depending on what aspect they focus on. They can provide resistance to the mind or area effects, or use it to overwhelm enemy defenses or stabilize allied casting.
Igniting the magic of foes, these mages can punish enemy spellcasters in their aura by causing the spells they cast to unleash dangerous feedback onto them. They can even spend mythic power to shape the way the feedback manifests.
While normally close-range, many of these archmages learn to project the field of their aura further to better support allies and catch foes in the effects.
Whether it be an ablative ward or a surge of vitality, these mystics can learn to keep another ally in their field standing, or multiple of they spend mythic power.
By pouring mythic power directly into a spell as they cast it, these mages can unleash the strongest version of the spell they possibly could (even if they don’t know that version) with such overwhelming power that only a rare few can resist)
By suffusing themselves and their allies with the spellsurge aura, some learn that any ally can be a conduit for magic, both their own and that of allies, allowing all casters to cast their magic from any nearby ally.
Rather than cast the spell themselves, some of these mystics have learned how to infuse an almost-cast spell into an ally for them to use at their own discretion later, almost like a scroll or other consumable magic item.
With a gesture, some wildspells alter the magic of their spellsurge to express as flashes of light and glittering points, concealing those within from those outside, though they themselves are never hindered by this magical smokescreen.
Battle is an ever-evolving thing, and so it’s not uncommon for these mages to learn how to switch the mode of their currently active spellsurge to match the situation.
While these mages are truly legendary in their ability, they are not all-knowing and all powerful, so sometimes it becomes necessary for them to transfer energy to others, renewing their own spellcasting energy with such an exchange.
Channeling raw power into a spell while their power surges, these mages can learn to unleash their spells with a peal of destructive thunder.
Powerful wildspells can use their mythic power to fuel a spellcasting, effectively not losing a spell slot or prepared spell to unleash such magic.
The physical form is merely a vessel for especially powerful mystics, and in an emergency, some learn to violently shed it, exploding in a flare of raw force, their bodies becoming a brilliant ball of mobile magic until they revert to a form that can cast and fight again.
Some learn to channel their mythic power into their counterspells, brushing aside the magic of their foes like windblown leaves.
At the zenith of their power, some wildspells truly become beings of magic, sustained by it’s flow. While in their spellsurge, they cannot die at all, their bodies repairing from lethal wounds and ignoring others. What’s more, when they die, their soul lingers as a locus of magic that latches onto another being, able to unleash spellsurges but not much else. The other being, however, learns a ritual capable to reconstituting the mage’s physical form.
Other master, meanwhile learn the coveted secret that eludes most counterspelling experts, allowing them to not only counteract incoming hostile magic, but also break down and consume it, recharging their own reserves of power, even their highest magics if they spend mythic power.
While not all of the feats revolve around it, this archetype is all about setting up the spellsurge in important combats and using that to protect or buff themselves and allies, both with the default effects and with later feats, creating a defensible zone for the party to hang out in while punishing foes that dare to approach. The feats not tied to that gimmick are fun too, such as being able to get extra castings of spells or heightening a spell to max level. With that in mind though, you’ll probably be taking at least a few defensive and battlefield control spells to slow and hinder the approach of enemies so you and your allies can stay cozy in your spellsurge for as long as possible. Don’t forget to diversify though!
I can see some players loving this archetype and others hating it. For some, it’s a tempting power fantasy of a character that is expressly better at magic than others, what with the fire hose of raw mana at their fingertips. Others, however, particularly those that have been burned out on egregious power fantasy stories, might dislike it for those vibes even if it doesn’t break the game in the way that such characters tend to do in their own stories.
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