Full Build Friday - Gragas the Rabble Rouser (Patreon)

Grab a drink and raise a toast to the latest build I've put together! This is one of those builds that might not be the most effective, but one that I think should be fun to put into actual presence.

As always, this build is conceptualized entirely in a vacuum, with choices made in my best attempt to fit the character. These choices may not hold up in a campaign with different themes and should be adjusted accordingly.

Pour one out for your boy, Gragas the Rabble Rouser from League of Legends!

GRAGAS, THE RABBLE ROUSER

SOURCE League of Legends

BUILD GOALS

o    A man whose sized is only matched by his boisterous jolliness, Gragas travels the Freljord in an effort to craft a brew that will finally get him truly drunk

o    He is a melee vanguard, an offensive tank that uses his belly, fists, and the cask he carries as weapons

o    His Happy Hour passive heals him after he’s used an ability

o    He can do a Barrel Roll to lob his cask to a location that, after a short delay, detonates to damage and slow enemies in the area

o    Through his Drunken Rage, he briefly gains damage reduction and empowers his next attack with greater damage and range

o    With Belly Slam, he dashes forward to briefly knock-up, stun, and damage the foes that he impacts with

o    Finishing out his abilities is Explosive Cask. This lobs a cask to a location that explodes on impact to deal high damage to enemies and knock them all back from the epicenter

Summary of Goals: Gragas is a big bruiser of a character, but the most common trend among his abilities is explosive barrels as seen by his Barrel Roll and the self-explanatory Explosive Cask. Outside of these barrel bombs, he’s a melee combatant who can pump himself up with that Drunken Rage to enhance his durability and damage. The last big thing is keeping the stun of his Belly Slam in mind even if it is rather short-lived.

LEVEL 1

Ancestry & Heritage: Strong-Blooded Dwarf

o    Ability Boosts & Flaws: +Constitution, +Wisdom, +Strength, -Charisma

o    Ancestry Feat: Rock Runner

Background: Barkeep

o    Ability Boosts: +Constitution, +Strength

o    Skill Increase: Diplomacy (T), Alcohol Lore (T)

o    Background Feat: Hobnobber

Class & Subclass: Mutagenist Alchemist

o    Class Ability Boost: +Intelligence

o    Skill Increase: Acrobatics (T), Athletics (T), Crafting (T), Medicine (T), Nature (T), Survival (T)

o    Class Feat: Quick Bomber

Details

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Intelligence, +Charisma (Str +3, Dex +1, Con +2, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +0)

This build is going to have a tiny bit of a slow start – and that’s not only because we’re using a dwarf ancestry. Gragas is a mountain of a man, which can make dwarf seem like a bit of an odd choice. However, given his zeal for drink, his sturdiness, and his illustrious beard, I think it’s a solid both mechanically and thematically. Given his own apparent near-immunity to poisons, which alcohol is in Pathfinder, the strong-blooded heritage is a great selection. Unlike its Rock Runner, which I’m mainly taking as a prerequisite for another feat down the line. I think barkeep is the best fit for his background, there isn’t another that offers Alcohol Lore as a skill, but the ability boosts honestly aren’t great. If you find an option you prefer to increase his Strength or Intelligence, feel free to go that route instead. That just leaves his alchemist class, which is a bit more fragile than I’d like him to be but is otherwise a great fit. Between Barrel Roll and Explosive Cask, a class that grants him regular access to bombs is important. Based on the slow of the former, I’d likely consider a frost vial or goo grenade while the knock back effects of the Explosive Cask is probably best represented through the pressure bomb or perhaps a boulder seed given time. However, despite these bombs, Gragas will want to explore the mutagenist research field. The field benefit of this grants him temporary HP whenever he imbibes a mutagen, which is once again thematically and mechanically representative of his Happy Hour. Be sure to spend downtime learning formulas and adding some alchemical foods to your arsenal with the likes of iron wine and fury cocktail being a particularly potent pick.

LEVEL 2

o    Class Feat: Far Lobber

o    Skill Feat: Seasoned

o    Gear: walking cauldron

LEVEL 3

o    General Feat: Toughness

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (E)

o    Gear: +1 mace, ring of discretion, walking cauldron

LEVEL 4

o    Class Feat: Fermenting Liquors

o    Skill Feat: Additional Lore – Alcohol Lore

o    Skill Increase: Alcohol Lore (E)

o    Gear: medal of gorilla’s might, +1 mace, trusty helmet, walking cauldron

LEVEL 5

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence (Str +4, Dex +2, Con +3, Int +3, Wis +1, Cha +0)

o    Ancestry Feat: Boulder Roll

o    Skill Increase: Crafting (E), Society (T)

o    Gear: +1 striking mace, boots of quick marching, medal of gorilla’s might, trusty helmet, ring of discretion, walking cauldron

The class feats here are useful but kind of just filling gaps. Far Lobber does let him launch his bombs further while Fermenting Liquors is mostly flavorful. I do think it’s ridiculously limited with a once per day frequency, so feel free to find other options if you want. Seasoned and Additional Lore for Alcohol Lore alike are more options that wonderfully matches with his goal of crafting a view that can inhibit even him. Toughness is obviously important for a tank, especially when he’s running around with the health of an alchemist, and then there’s Boulder Roll to consider. The movement it provides is minute, but with the forced movement and, admittedly tiny, damage, it’s a decent fit for Belly Slam.

LEVEL 6

o    Class Feat: Monk Dedication

o    Skill Feat: Unmistakable Lore

o    Skill Increase: Intimidation (T)

o    Gear: +1 hide armor, handwraps of mighty blow (+1 striking), alchemist goggles, medal of gorilla’s might, squire’s tabard, trusty helmet

LEVEL 7

o    General Feat: Fast Recovery

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (M), Alcohol Lore (M)

o    Gear: ring of the ram, +1 hide armor, bravery baldric (fleet), handwraps of mighty blow (+1 striking), boots of quick marching, medal of gorilla’s might

LEVEL 8

o    Class Feat: Basic Kata – Qi Spells – inner upheaval

o    Skill Feat: Specialty Crafting – Alchemy

o    Gear: boots of bounding, schematic scanner, ring of the ram, +1 hide armor, handwraps of mighty blow (+1 striking), alchemist goggles

LEVEL 9

o    Ancestry Feat: Heros’ Call

o    Skill Increase: Crafting (M)

o    Gear: +1 resilient hide armor, boots of bounding, ring of sustenance, ring of the ram, bravery baldric (fleet), handwraps of mighty blow (+1 striking)

LEVEL 10

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence (Str +4.5, Dex +3, Con +4, Int +4, Wis +1, Cha +0)

o    Class Feat: Advanced Kata – Rushing Goat Stance

o    Skill Feat: Impeccable Crafting

o    Skill Increase: Performance (T)

o    Gear: armbands of athleticism, +1 resilient explorer’s clothing, greater rhinoceros mask, boots of bounding, schematic scanner, handwraps of mighty blow (+1 striking)

It’s likely that Gragas should have picked this up earlier, but he had to increase his Dexterity before he could actually take the Monk Dedication. This significantly enhances his unarmed attacks, and he can start expanding on that with both Qi Spells for inner upheaval and Rushing Goat Stance. The first of these lets him enhance an attack in the vein of Drunken Rage, and while Stumbling Stance may be more thematic, the Rushing Goat Stance will be more helpful in representing his Belly Slam. The mutagenist’s advanced vials is another way to represent the damage reduction of his Drunken Rage. Unmistakable Lore expands on his Alcohol Lore and he adds to his Crafting with Specialty Crafting for alchemy. Regrettably, this doesn’t stack with Seasoned, but that feat is fantastically flavorful (heh) while Specialty Crafting can lead into Impeccable Crafting to improve his Crafting capability. Fast Recovery fits in with his tank build as does Heroes’ Call just a bit since it gives him temporary Hit Points if he uses it when he’s at half health or lower. Its main effect is providing heroism, but it also empowers him along the lines of Drunken Rage again.

LEVEL 11

o    General Feat: Robust Health

o    Skill Increase: Survival (E)

o    Gear: handwraps of mighty blow (+2 striking), armbands of athleticism, grievous weapon rune, +1 resilient explorer’s clothing, boots of bounding, ring of sustenance

LEVEL 12

o    Class Feat: Mutant Physique

o    Skill Feat: Inventor

o    Gear: +2 resilient explorer’s clothing, handwraps of mighty blow (+2 striking), sash of prowess, armbands of athleticism, greater rhinoceros mask, frost weapon rune

LEVEL 13

o    Ancestry Feat: Mountain’s Stoutness

o    Skill Increase: Survival (M)

o    Gear: handwraps of mighty blow (+2 greater striking), +2 resilient explorer’s clothing, greater alchemist goggles, sash of prowess, armbands of athleticism, thunderblast slippers

LEVEL 14

o    Class Feat: Advanced Kata – Harmonize Self

o    Skill Feat: Crafter’s Appraisal

o    Gear: greater ring of the ram, handwraps of mighty blow (+2 greater striking), moderate alchemical chart, +2 resilient explorer’s clothing, dinosaur boots, sash of prowess

LEVEL 15

o    Ability Boosts: +Strength, +Dexterity, +Constitution, +Intelligence (Str +5, Dex +4, Con +4.5, Int +4.5, Wis +1, Cha +0)

o    General Feat: Fleet

o    Skill Increase: Athletics (L), Alcohol Lore (L)

o    Gear: +2 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, greater ring of the ram, propulsive boots, handwraps of mighty blow (+2 greater striking), mask of uncanny breath, greater alchemist goggles

An important aspect of Gragas’s Drunken Rage can be represented through Mutant Physique as it allows him to gain resistance to all physical damage after drinking a juggernaut mutagen, representing his damage reduction. For some further defensive options, Gragas uses Harmonize Self as another way to reference the healing of his Happy Hour. It also just provides him with another Focus Point that can be used to provide a focus point for his inner upheaval. Since Gragas does want to brew his own alcohol to finally get himself drunk, Inventor should help him do so. I also thought it would be fun to represent him being a bit of a connoisseur with Crafter’s Appraisal, which is partially inspired by his Esquire skin. While it doesn’t actually increase his HP, Robust Health is still a great get for enhancing Gragas’s survivability, and then Fleet will speed him up mainly because dwarves are a little lacking when it comes to speed. Fortunately, they’re not lacking on sturdiness as he takes Mountain’s Stoutness, which will add to his HP and improve his recovery check DC.

LEVEL 16

o    Class Feat: Advanced Kata – Momentous Charge

o    Skill Feat: Magical Crafting

o    Gear: greater frost weapon rune, +2 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, box of unspoiling (type IV), greater ring of the ram, handwraps of mighty blow (+2 greater striking), moderate alchemical chart

LEVEL 17

o    Ancestry Feat: Telluric Power

o    Skill Increase: Crafting (L)

o    Gear: handwraps of mighty blow (+3 greater striking), greater frost weapon rune, sand racer, +2 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, greater ring of the ram, propulsive boots

LEVEL 18

o    Class Feat: Monk Resiliency

o    Skill Feat: Craft Anything

o    Gear: avalanche boots, handwraps of mighty blow (+3 greater striking), greater dinosaur boots, greater frost weapon rune, +2 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, box of unspoiling (type IV)

LEVEL 19

o    General Feat: Diehard

o    Skill Increase: Survival (L)

o    Gear: +3 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, avalanche boots, major alchemist goggles, handwraps of mighty blow (+3 greater striking), greater frost weapon rune, sand racer

LEVEL 20

o    Ability Boosts: +Constitution, +Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma (Str +5, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +5, Wis +2, Cha +1)

o    Class Feat: Combine Elixirs

o    Skill Feat: Legendary Professional

o    Gear: handwraps of mighty blow (+3 major striking), +3 greater resilient explorer’s clothing, sandals of the stag, major alchemist goggles, greater dinosaur boots, quickstrike weapon rune

Following the addition of Rushing Goat Stance to his arsenal, Gragas can further include Momentous Charge, which is an excellent way to cover his Belly Slam as he Strides, Strikes, and knock back the foe with a potential stun. Monk Resiliency is important for increasing Gragas’s tankiness, and then he adds Combine Elixirs to his toolkit. This can allow him to mix up his draughts to create a more potent drink and gain the effects of two mutagens at once. He has a few more Crafting feats to finish off his skill feats as well as Legendary Professional so that he can make the most out of his Alcohol Lore. Diehard closes out his general feats to make it even harder to put him down.

FREE ARCHETYPE SUGGESTIONS: In addition to the monk archetype, which would mainly allow Gragas to take some more alchemist feats, he could also get some use out of the wandering chef archetype so that he can make more drinks and draughts. You could also consider a barbarian archetype to better fulfill his Drunken Rage – and because Quick Alchemy doesn’t actually have the concentrate trait, meaning that he can make his elixirs even while raging.

BUILD CONCLUSION

Gragas the Rabble Rouser is portrayed as a strong-blooded dwarf alchemist who studies a mutagenist research field and has a background as a barkeep simply to earn him some alcohol lore. His limited background means that we don’t have to dwell on it too much and can get right into feats such as Toughness, the dwarf’s Mountain Stoutness, and Monk Resiliency to make him a tough tank. Given his tendency towards unarmed combat, he’ll use the monk’s powerful fist before he can get into a Rushing Goat Stance. For his Happy Hour, he can restore himself with harmonize self or the temporary Hit Points from the mutagenist field benefit. For his Barrel Roll, he’ll use the bombs he can make as an alchemist to deliver slowing effects, likely deploying goo grenades or frost vials to do so. His Drunken Rage is going to be a little less ragey and more just buffing effects. The mutagenist has advanced vials to provide some damage reduction as does Mutagenist Physique. For the empowered Strike he delivers following his guzzling, inner upheaval is probably the best fit. The original intent was to have Boulder Roll serve as his Belly Slam, but through exploration of the monk archetype, he can find Momentous Charge, which comes with the Stride, Strike, and knock back that this ability is looking for. To demonstrate his Explosive Cask, he can use pressure bomb to knock enemies around though the higher-leveled boulder seed could work out well for this.

Drawn to the drink in a desperate desire to get dizzy on the draught, this durable dipsomaniac dives into drunken dust-ups with dazing drubbing and detonating draughts.

Have a fantastic Friday!