NOTE: This thread is focused on PrCs that advance casting or manifesting, not ones that have their own casting or manifesting. Also, I'm sticking to the thread title; that is,
only PrCs that grant +1 BAB and +1 caster level/manifester level on their
first prestige class level qualify. This is useful for dipping and as a way to minimize caster level or manifester level loss.
Jesus: Thank You Father!
Endarire: He maintained and updated this guide.
pyro_cat: The original author from the 339 board.
Bananaphone: He made me aware of all of the benefits of Dragonslayer1.
Demelain: He suggested the Abjurant Champion divine adaptation.
TiaC: He told me that the Hexer title was missing.
Thurb@ne: He provided the initial Hexer writeup.
Arcane Only
Abjurant Champion Complete Mage 50
-=REQUIRES=-
+5 BAB
Combat Casting (feat)
Proficiency with at least 1 martial weapon (go, go Elves, Outsiders, Kobolds, and some others)
Able to cast 1st-level arcane spells including at least 1 Abjuration spell.
-=GRANTS=-
+1 AC per Abjurant Champion level when using spells to give an Armor bonus to AC
Auto-Extend level 1 Abjuration spells you cast - spell level is 1/2 Abjurant Champion level rounded up
Bladesinger Complete Warrior 17
-=REQUIRES=-
Elf or Half-Elf (Drow and Half-Drow count)
+5 BAB
Combat Casting (feat)
Combat Expertise (feat)
Dodge (feat)
Weapon Focus: Longsword or Rapier (feat)
Balance 2 Ranks
Concentration 4 Ranks
Perform: Dance 2 Ranks
Perform: Sing 2 Ranks
Tumble 2 Ranks
Able to cast 1st-level arcane spells.
-=GRANTS=-
+4 Dodge AC when wielding a longsword or rapier one-handed
Spellsword Complete Warrior 79
-=REQUIRES=-
+4 BAB
Proficiency with all non-exotic weapons, armor, and shields
Knowledge: Arcana 6 Ranks
Must be able to cast 2nd-level arcane spells.
-=GRANTS=-
10% less arcane spell failure
-=NOTES=-
The feat
Precocious Apprentice (
Complete Arcane 181) qualifies you with only a single level in an arcane casting class, such as Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard. Not recommended, though.
Dragonslayer1 (
Draconomicon 125) is the default lead into Spellsword1 (
Complete Warrior 79). Dragonslayer1/Spellsword1 is wonderful for the typical arcane gish due to casting progression and 2 BAB.
Divine Only
Abjurant Champion ADAPTATION Complete Mage 52
-=REQUIRES=-
+5 BAB
Combat Casting (feat)
Proficiency with at least 1 martial weapon (go, go Elves, Outsiders, Kobolds, and some others)
Able to cast 1st-level divine spells including at least 1 Abjuration spell.
-=GRANTS=-
+1 AC per Abjurant Champion level when using spells to give an Armor bonus to AC
Auto-Extend level 1 Abjuration spells you cast - spell level is 1/2 Abjurant Champion level rounded up
Bright Warden of Paladine:
Dragonlance: Holy Order of Stars 32
-=REQUIRES=-
You must have successfully turned an undead creature
Extra Turning (feat)
WHAT ELSE?
-=GRANTS=-
Continued Turn Undead progression
All non-exotic proficiencies
Prestige Paladin Unearthed Arcana 71
-=REQUIRES=-
+4 BAB
Knowledge: Nobility 2 Ranks
Knowledge: Religion 2 Ranks
Ride 4 Ranks
Mounted Combat (feat)
Ability to cast
protection from evil as a divine spell
Turn Undead
Lawful Good alignment
-=GRANTS=-
Continued Turn Undead progression
Detect evil (Sp) at will
Smite Evil 1/day
Sacred Fist Complete Divine 59
-=REQUIRES=-
+4 BAB
Knowledge: Religion 8 Ranks
Combat Casting (feat)
Combat Reflexes (feat)
Improved Unarmed Strike (feat or Monk/Unarmed Swordsage ability)
Stunning Fist (feat or Monk ability)
Ability to cast level 1 divine spells
-=GRANTS=-
Unarmed Damage Progression: Stacks with Monk levels
+1 Misc AC when unencumbered, wearing no shield, and wearing light or no armor
-=NOTES=-
Normally intended for a Monk/Cleric, a Sacred Fist also can work well with a Monk/Ur-Priest. (See
Complete Divine 70 for details on the Ur-Priest PrC.)
Scourge Maiden Shining South 40
-=REQUIRES=-
+4 BAB
Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Scourge (feat)
Initiate of Lovitar (feat - See
Shining South 20 for details.)
Heal 4 Ranks
Intimidate 8 Ranks
Use Rope 4 Ranks
Femininity (class is for females only)
Lawful Neutral, Lawful Evil, or Neutral Evil alignment
-=GRANTS=-
Weapon Focus: Scourge
Windwalker Faiths & Pantheons 212
-=REQUIRES=-
Human, Half-Elf, or Air Genasi (Half-Drow count)
+5 BAB
Hide 5 Ranks
Move Silently 5 Ranks
*Survival 5 Ranks (technically Intuit Direction 5 Ranks and Wilderness Lore 3 Ranks)
Lighting Reflexes (feat)
Track (feat)
Weapon Focus: Greatsword (feat)
Ability to cast divine spells. Cleric Windwalkers must have the Air or Travel domain
Must worship Shaundakul as your patron deity
Must have visited at least 3 geographical regions
Must have flown for at least 1 hour, such as by wings, the
fly spell, or a flying mount
-=GRANTS=-
Add Air and Travel domain spells to your divine spell lists.
Continual
feather fall-=NOTES=-
This class is meant for Rangers, considering the skill requirements.
Complete Divine 20 says that if you apply these domains (Air and Travel) to a prepared casting class, you can prepare
one domain spell per spell level per day. If you add these domains to a spontaneous casting class, like Favored Soul, you can choose these spells as spells known, but can't exceed your limit for spells known.
Arcane or Divine
Dragonslayer Draconomicon 125
-=REQUIRES=-
+5 BAB
Dodge (feat)
Iron Will (feat)
Tumble 2 Ranks
-=GRANTS=-
Aura of Courage (Immunity to fear for you and, for all allies within 10' of you, a +4 morale bonus vs. fear effects)
+1 weapon damage against dragons
Proficiency with all nonexotic weapons, armor, and shields
-=NOTES=-
Dragonslayer1 (
Draconomicon 125) is the default lead into Spellsword1 (
Complete Warrior 79). Dragonslayer1/Spellsword1 is wonderful for the typical arcane gish due to casting progression and 2 BAB.
If you have or can easily gain the prerequisites, Dragonslayer is a
fantastic dip for pretty much any caster!
Hexer Masters of the Wild 63
-=REQUIRES=-
Knowledge: Arcana 10 Ranks
Spellcraft 8 Ranks
Survival 10 Ranks (technically, Wilderness Lore 10 Ranks)
Must be able to cast
lightning bolt as a divine spell
Must be a Monstrous Humanoid, Giant, Goblinoid or other primitive Humanoid, such as an Orc, a Half-Orc, or a Gnoll
Any non-Good alignment
-=GRANTS=-
Hex: 1/day, 30' gaze, save of 10 + Hexer level + WIS modifier; causes -4 penlaty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks and skill checks
-=NOTES=-
The NPC Adept class (
Dungeon Master's Guide 107) is the intended entry for this class. A more optimal entry is usually Archivist (
Heroes of Horror 82), using the notion of 'all arcane spells exist also as divine spells,' meaning an Archivist can learn it.
The feat
Alternative Source Spell ("Dragon" 325) is a rules-legal ways that any arcane spell can be a divine spell, or vice versa. The Geomancer class (
Complete DIvine 41) implicitly allows this too, under the Spell Versatility class feature: "When he casts [his spells], however, he can mix or match spellcasting parameters from any of his classes to gain the maximum possible advantage for any spell with a spell level equal to or less than his spell versatility score."
Thrall of Demogorgon Book of Vile Darkness 67
-=REQUIRES=-
BAB +4
Willing Deformity (feat)
Thrall to Demon (feat)
Knowledge: Arcana 2 Ranks
Knowledge: Religion 2 Ranks
Knowledge: Any Other 2 Ranks
Must be able to cast 1st-level spells or make sneak attacks
Chaotic Evil alignment
-=GRANTS=-
+1 Enhancement Natural Armor (like
barkskin)
30' gaze of
hypnotism: Save of 10 + Thrall of Demogorgon level + CHA modifier
Thrall of Orcus Book of Vile Darkness 71
-=REQUIRES=-
BAB +4
Lichloved (feat)
Thrall to Demon (feat)
Knowledge: Arcana 2 Ranks
Knowledge: Religion 2 Ranks
Must be able to cast a spell of the Necromancy school
Evil alignment
-=GRANTS=-
Carrion Stench: Living creatures within 10' must save or get -2 on d20 rolls and weapon damage for 1 turn
Immunity to your Carrion Stench
Arcane and Divine
Fochlucan Lyrist Complete Adventurer 47
-=REQUIRES=-
Decipher Script 7 Ranks
Diplomacy 7 Ranks
Gather Informaiton 7 Ranks
Knowledge: Nature 7 Ranks
Perform: Stringed Instruments 13 Ranks
Sleight of Hand 7 Ranks
Speak Language: Druidic
Ability to cast level 1 arcane spells and level 1 divine spells
Bardic Knowledge ability
Evasion ability
Neutral Good, True Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, or Neutral Evil alignment
-=GRANTS=-
Can safely cast Druid spells in metal armor
No multiclass XP penalty
Psionic Only
Defender of Sardior (Progresses PSYCHIC WARRIOR manifestation ONLY!)-=REQUIRES=-
Knowledge: Religion 2 Ranks
Ability to manifest at least 1 level 2 power
Neutral Good, Neutral Evil, Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, or Chaotic Neutral alignment
Must be a worshiper of Sardior. Must also have performed a special service for the church of Sardior. Ask your DM.
-=GRANTS=-
So long as you have at least 1 power point to spend, you get +1 damage with crystal weapons