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If I have the Dervish Dance feat from the Qadira PFCom (which allows you to use your DEX modifier instead of your STR modifier for both attack and damage with a scimitar) and I wield a Flame Blade (which says that your STR modifier does not apply to the damage because the Flame Blade is immaterial), can I apply my DEX mod to the damage done by the Flame Blade ?
I am looking for an official ruling on this because I am planning on using this combo, if allowed, for my PFS character and I would not want to make him illegal through my ignorance.
Yarp; what Josh said.
Basically, when you cast flame blade, you're swapping out the physical weapon damage (which can be modified by Strength, or in the case of this feat, Dexterity) for fire damage instead. Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
Thanks a lot for the clarification, guys.
Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
Unless you are also an Elemental Bloodline Sorcerer of the Water variety. In fact, I am coming to love this idea of switching between opposite energy types.
Yarp; what Josh said.
Basically, when you cast flame blade, you're swapping out the physical weapon damage (which can be modified by Strength, or in the case of this feat, Dexterity) for fire damage instead. Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
And what about the "to hit" part? would Dervish Dance allow the DEX modifier to apply to the melee touch attack of a flame blade?
Or in a more general sense, is a flame blade treated as a wielded weapon, a scimitar, for all purposes? Feats? Critical range?
I ask because the official ruling on this would help to settle this discussion:
and this one by the way:
Yarp; what Josh said.
Basically, when you cast flame blade, you're swapping out the physical weapon damage (which can be modified by Strength, or in the case of this feat, Dexterity) for fire damage instead. Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
And what about the "to hit" part? would Dervish Dance allow the DEX modifier to apply to the melee touch attack of a flame blade?
Or in a more general sense, is a flame blade treated as a wielded weapon, a scimitar, for all purposes? Feats? Critical range?
I ask because the official ruling on this would help to settle this discussion:
and this one by the way:
Well, it would help settle the first if we can get a ruling saying that a Flame Blade follows all the rules and restrictions of a scimitar except as noted in the spell description (ie, Fire damage, cannot be Disarmed or Sundered (presumably), no STR mod to damage), even though it is an immaterial blade-like beam of fire.
Well, it would help settle the first if we can get a ruling saying that a Flame Blade follows all the rules and restrictions of a scimitar except as noted in the spell description (ie, Fire damage, cannot be Disarmed or Sundered (presumably), no STR mod to damage), even though it is an immaterial blade-like beam of fire.Yarp; what Josh said.
Basically, when you cast flame blade, you're swapping out the physical weapon damage (which can be modified by Strength, or in the case of this feat, Dexterity) for fire damage instead. Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
And what about the "to hit" part? would Dervish Dance allow the DEX modifier to apply to the melee touch attack of a flame blade?
Or in a more general sense, is a flame blade treated as a wielded weapon, a scimitar, for all purposes? Feats? Critical range?
I ask because the official ruling on this would help to settle this discussion:
and this one by the way:
Well summarized.
Tha would be the exact ruling we need, yes.
Yarp; what Josh said.
Basically, when you cast flame blade, you're swapping out the physical weapon damage (which can be modified by Strength, or in the case of this feat, Dexterity) for fire damage instead. Which is a pretty good deal if you're fighting yetis, but not so much if you're fighting fire elementals, of course...
And what about the "to hit" part? would Dervish Dance allow the DEX modifier to apply to the melee touch attack of a flame blade?
Or in a more general sense, is a flame blade treated as a wielded weapon, a scimitar, for all purposes? Feats? Critical range?
I ask because the official ruling on this would help to settle this discussion:
and this one by the way:
1. For the purpose of the "to hit" part of this discussion, you can use your Dex. Flame Blade only specifically prevents Str damage (or Dex damage in the case of Weapon Finesse or Dervish Dance) and does not prevent Dex being used to hit.
2. Flame Blade specifically says, "...as if it were a scimitar." So, yes, it's a scimitar.
I mean no disrespect, but the above answer seems insufficient to me, because it can be construed as justifying Disarming or Sundering a Flame Blade.2. Flame Blade specifically says, "...as if it were a scimitar." So, yes, it's a scimitar.
The spell description also specifically says that "you" wield the spell as a scimitar, it's a fire spell to others. No one can wield it but you, no one can interact with it but taking damage or dispelling it.
I'd say it's unsunderable and undisarmable.
The flame blade is an "immaterial" melee touch attack. Though you, the druid caster, are wielding it "as a scimitar" it's a spell.
Additionally sunder reads, "You can attempt to sunder an item held or worn by your opponent ..."
And disarm reads, "If your attack is successful, your target drops one item it is carrying ..."
Flame Blade is not an item. It's a spell.
You can't sunder or disarm a flame blade just like you can't disarm a shocking grasp or sunder mage armor.
The flame blade is an "immaterial" melee touch attack. Though you, the druid caster, are wielding it "as a scimitar" it's a spell.
Additionally sunder reads, "You can attempt to sunder an item held or worn by your opponent ..."
And disarm reads, "If your attack is successful, your target drops one item it is carrying ..."
Flame Blade is not an item. It's a spell.
You can't sunder or disarm a flame blade just like you can't disarm a shocking grasp or sunder mage armor.
Perfect answer. Thank you.
It's an immaterial touch attack delivered via spell. It functions "as a scimitar" but is not a scimitar. It is one-handed and you are considered to be casting a spell, not wielding a weapon and therefor proficiencies don't enter into it. It is not a light weapon--it is an immaterial touch attack. You cannot hold anything in the hand that is wielding a flameblade.
