Pathfinder: Battlecry! is one of those releases that immediately captures the attention of groups looking for fresh, martial gameplay. At its heart, Battlecry! layers in new mechanics, flavor, and possibilities that encourage both creative, freeform playstyles, while still maintaining that satisfying crunch we all want from a Pathfinder title.
I should say first that I'm not necessarily the target audience for Battlecry! because I tend to be a spellcaster in almost every game I play. It's few and far between that I play a martial character, but even with that in mind, the book has me excited for the possibilities that are inside.
Disclaimer: Paizo provided Geek to Geek with a review copy of this title. This has in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
New Ancestry: Jotunborn
Almost every Pathfinder major supplement brings in some new player options, and the Jotunborn are the newest ancestry for the PF2e system, delivering mythic brawn with some cool roleplay hooks. As a long-time fan of big, blue martial characters in games (I love my Dranei Paladins in World of Warcraft), I think the Jotunborn are heckin' cool.
The ancestry isn’t just another big and burly type, either. It is carefully woven into the wartime theme, making the Jotunborn feel like they’re actually born of conflict. They blend into the setting and have lore that makes them interesting and not just another ancestry added into pad the numbers.
The book peppers in backgrounds, martial archetypes, and flavor galore, so there’s fuel for campaign and character writers alike. The Jotunborn ancestry is exactly what I look for in new player options: big, weird, and dripping with flavor. If you want characters to feel like part of somewhere extraordinary, Battlecry! gives you the tools.
The Commander Class
The Commander class is the undisputed headliner. This isn’t a typical support class, either, that stays away from the front lines. Commanders are right there in the trenches, barking orders, boosting allies, and shifting the tide of battle.
For actual table play, it’s game-changing: being able to drive teamwork mechanically means big moments aren’t just in the fiction, but baked right into the action economy. New Commander feats and tactics make every choice matter, and the option to really own and control the flow of combat turns even ordinary skirmishes into memorable set pieces.
It scratches the itch for players who want to be the glue that holds the group together, letting them play the battlefield general without sidelining anyone else's fun.
The Guardian Class
Battlecry!‘s other new class understands that not every defender wants to shout holy incantations or channel celestial power. The Guardian is for the player who dreams of planting their shield and resolutely saying “Nope!”
Sure, some deeper variety in offensive options might help the class stand out more, but in actual play, the Guardian makes group survival real and offers a true anchor for party tactics. Watching a Guardian soak up damage, force movement, or shut down boss monsters is a delight, and their build variety means there’s depth beyond just being the meat shield.
If I ever get a chance to be a player and not a GM, there's a high likelihood I'll be a Jotunborn Guardian.
GM Support and Campaign Options
For those behind the screen, Pathfinder: Battlecry! Is solid. The rules for skirmish warfare do what many previous mass combat rules failed to do: they keep sessions fun and manageable, avoid bogging down in minutiae, and let major battles flow.
There’s practical advice for scaling conflicts, creating flashpoints, and tossing PCs into legendary military stories. Whether it’s siege scenarios, unit tactics, or warband maneuvering, the book has ready-to-run ideas and tools, giving every campaign a bigger canvas to paint those big story moments players will recount for years.
I'm not generally a fan of skirmish warfare rules, but these are good ones. I'm not intimidated to incorporate these into sessions like I am with some others that feel far less TTRPG and more wargame.
Minor Quibbles
No TTRPG sourcebook is perfect, and a few areas can always use reinforcement. Additional feats and adversaries would help GMs run war campaigns with even more variety; expanding non-troop adversaries, for example, would make every battlefield encounter fresh.
The Guardian could use a little mechanical love on threat management, and there’s potential for expanding caster support within the Commander’s tactics outside of just martial. But again, it's a martial-centric book, so that's definitely a quibble, not a detriment.
Final Thoughts: Why Battlecry! Stands Out
At the end of the day, Battlecry! is the book tables will reach for whenever martial play needs a booster shot. Its tactical systems don’t just add complexity; they create moments. New classes make character-driven teamwork fun and impactful, while ancestry and archetype options tie everything to immersive, wartime narratives. For GMs, it’s a toolbox that's relatively easy to learn to tackle campaigns that have a different feel and style.
Pathfinder: Battlecry! is a love letter to players and GMs burnt out on magic and casting, but who are hungry for stakes, strategy, and raw martial flavor. Drop it on your table, rally the troops, and prepare for sessions where tactics matter, teamwork shines, and every fight feels epic, if not legendary.
As I said above, I'm not quite the target audience for this one because I am a caster type, but there is so much good stuff in here, it's got me excited to strap on my armor and keep a party safe as a big blueberry boy.
Geek to Geek Rating: 4 out of 5
You can pick up your own copy of Pathfinder: Battlecry! at your FLPL or at this link. And don't miss our review of the Pathfinder NPC Core, which has very much become my go-to bestiary for both PF and Starfinder.