Pathfinder 1e Archetype Brawler

Strangler

A strangler is trained to choke the life out of her victims with her vise-like grip.

Class
Brawler
Kind
Archetype
Granted Spells
20 levels
Replaces
6 features

A strangler is trained to choke the life out of her victims with her vise-like grip. Some stranglers are self-taught and are little more than brutish murderers, unhinged sociopaths, or opportunistic alley-bashers. Others are members of murder cults or specialized schools of assassination, trained since the cradle to kill with their bare hands. Class Skills: A strangler gains Stealth as a class skill.

Replaces

AC BonusAwesome BlowBrawler's FlurryImproved Awesome BlowKnockoutUnarmed Strike

Strangle

1 1d6
2 2d6
3 2d6
4 2d6
5 2d6
6 2d6
7 2d6
8 3d6
9 3d6
10 3d6
11 3d6
12 3d6
13 3d6
14 3d6
15 4d6
16 4d6
17 4d6
18 4d6
19 4d6
20 4d6

Sleeper Hold

Archetype Features

Strangle Level 1 E · Scaling Numeric Track

At 1st level, a strangler deals +1d6 sneak attack damage whenever she succeeds at a grapple check to damage or pin an opponent. The strangler is always considered flanking her target for the purpose of using this ability. This damage increases by +1d6 at 2nd, 8th and 15th levels. This ability replaces unarmed strike and brawler's flurry.

Practiced Strangler Level 2 F · Gated Unlock

At 2nd level, when a strangler has the grappled condition, she does not take a -4 penalty to Dexterity and does not lose her Dexterity bonus to AC. At 9th level, a grappling or grappled strangler still threatens an area and is still able to make attacks of opportunity while grappling or grappled; when pinned, she is not denied her Dexterity bonus and does not take a -4 penalty to Armor Class. This ability replaces AC bonus.

Sleeper Hold Level 4 C · Uses-Per-Day Ability

At 4th level, a strangler can instantly render a pinned opponent unconscious. This works like the knockout ability, but requires a successful grapple combat maneuver check against the pinned opponent and does not have to damage the opponent. Creatures that do not need to breathe, are immune to critical hits, or are immune to nonlethal damage are immune to this ability. At 10th level, a strangler can use this ability twice per day. At 16th level, she can use it three times per day. This alters knockout.

Neckbreaker Level 16

↪ builds on Sleeper Hold

At 16th level, a strangler can attempt to instantly kill a pinned opponent as a standard action. This works like the sleeper hold ability, but imposes a -5 penalty on her grapple combat maneuver check. If the opponent succeeds at its Fortitude save, the strangler deals damage as if she had attempted the grapple check to damage her opponent; if the opponent fails its Fortitude save, it dies. Creatures that are immune to critical hits are immune to this ability. At 20th level, the strangler can attempt this as a move action instead of a standard can. This ability replaces awesome blow and improved awesome blow.
Attribution

Rules content from Paizo Inc., reproduced by TheCrazyGM under the Open Game License v1.0a. Licensing for reproduced SRD content is covered by the site's Section 15 register.

Advanced Class Guide · OGL-1.0a

Added to the library by eco_the_exploiter on Sept. 29, 2026.

Open Game Content reproduced from Advanced Class Guide by TheCrazyGM under the OGL-1.0a. Copyright in the reproduced material is held by its original publisher, named in this site's Section 15 notice. The core designation is TheCrazyGM's assertion that the material faithfully matches its cited source; that attestation was recorded by Advanced Class Guide on 2026-09-29.

How this notice was generated

Sources Used in This Record
  • Based on class: Brawler (Class) — cites Paizo Inc.
View references and cross-links for Strangler

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OGL 1.0a Notice. Pathfinder-derived Open Game Content on this page is used under the Open Game License v1.0a and Section 15 notice.