The following basic visions are used alongside the Perception skill. The Perception skill allows you to search for things while different types of vision allows Perception to be used in circumstances where it would normally automatically fail.
Vision Types
Ash Sight
You have the ability to see through non-magical ash, taking no penalties to your sight.
Astral Sight
Allows you to sense and see sources of the Astral plane. This also has a secondary effect of potentially allowing you to see the souls of creatures, and is sometimes known as Soul Sight.
Basic Vision
This is the basic sight of most living creatures. You are able to see in normal light without penalty.
Blind Sense
Using nonvisual senses, such as acute smell or hearing, you notice things you cannot see. You usually do not need to make Perception checks to pinpoint the location of a creature within range of your Blindsense ability, provided that you have Line of Effect to that creature. Any opponent that you cannot see still has Total Concealment against you, and you still has the normal Miss Chance when attacking foes that have Concealment. Visibility still affects your movement. You can still be caught Flat-Footed against creatures that you cannot see.
Blind Sight
This ability is similar to Blindsense, but is far more discerning. Using nonvisual senses, such as sensitivity to vibrations, keen smell, acute hearing, or echolocation, you maneuver and fight as well as a sighted creature. Invisibility, darkness, and most kinds of Concealment are irrelevant, though you must have Line of Effect to a creature or object to discern that creature or object. This ability’s range is specified in the descriptive text of the feature that granted you Blindsight. You usually do not need to make Perception checks to notice creatures within range of your Blindsight ability. Unless noted otherwise, Blindsight is continuous, and you instinctively use it. Some forms of Blindsight, however, must be triggered as a Free Action. If so, this is noted in the descriptive text of the feature that granted you Blindsight. If you must trigger your Blindsight ability, you gain the benefits of Blindsight only during your turn. Blindsight never allows you to distinguish color or visual contrast. You cannot read with Blindsight. Blindsight does not subject you to Gaze attacks . Blinding attacks do not penalize you when you’re using Blindsight. Deafening attacks thwart your Blindsight if it relies on hearing. Blindsight works underwater but not in a vacuum. Blindsight negates Concealment effects.
Cloud Sight
You have the ability to see through non-magical clouds and fog, taking no penalties to your sight.
Darkvision
Allows you to see in the dark at a range of 60 feet, however color and fine detail cannot be discerned.
Echolocation
You emit a high pitch sound that is only audible to a few other creatures. It grants you a sense as per Blindsight, but cannot be used in areas of silence, while you are Deafened, or in other sound muffling situations.
Electroreception
You have the ability to sense minute electrical fields in living creatures, and determine magnetic north. This sense functions as Life Sense to most creatures.
Green Sight
You have the ability to see through non-magical trees and foliage, taking no penalties to your sight.
Greater Darkvision
As darkvision, but at a range of 90-120 feet, depending on the source.
Infravision
Allows you to see heat sources with your natural vision.
Life Sense
Similar to Infravision, but only works on living sources and vaguely depicts the power/strength of that source.
Low-Light Vision
You can see twice as far as a creature with Basic Vision in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of shadowy illumination. You retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
Scent
This special sense allows you to detect approaching enemies, sniff out hidden foes, and track by sense of smell. You can identify familiar odors just as humans do familiar sights.
You can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell. If your target is upwind, the range of your Scent increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple the normal range.
When you detect a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. You can take a Basic Action to note the direction of the scent. When you are within 5 feet of the source, you pinpoints the source’s location.
You can follow tracks by smell, making a Survival check to find or follow a track. This ability otherwise follows the rules for the Survival skill. When tracking by scent, you ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.
See in Darkness
Allows you to see in darkness as if it were normal light without penalty.
Smoke Sight
You have the ability to see through non-magical smoke, taking no penalties to your sight.
Tremor Sense
You can locate other creatures by sensing vibrations in the ground. You automatically sense the location of anything that is in contact with the ground and within range. If no straight path exists through the ground from you to those that you are sensing, then the range defines the maximum distance of the shortest indirect path. You must be in contact with the ground, and the target must be moving or taking actions for this sense to work.
True Sight
You see through normal light and magical darkness, notice secret doors hidden by magic, see the exact locations of creatures or objects under magical Concealment effects, see Invisible creatures or objects normally, see through illusions, and see the true form of polymorphed, changed, or transmuted things. Further, you can focus your vision to see Ethereal creatures. The range of true seeing is usually 120 feet.
True seeing, however, does not penetrate solid objects. It in no way confers X-ray vision or its equivalent. It does not negate Concealment, including that caused by fog and the like. True seeing does not help you see through mundane disguises, spot creatures who are simply hiding, or notice secret doors hidden by mundane means.
Water Sight
You have the ability to see through non-magical water, taking no penalties to your sight.