Question about Sylph Windy Escape spell


Rules Questions

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

I have a question about this spell from the Sylph section of the Advanced Race Guide:

Quote:

Windy Escape

School transmutation [air]; Level bard 1, druid 1, magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 immediate action
Components V, S
Range personal
Target you
Duration instantaneous

You respond to an attack by briefly becoming vaporous and insubstantial, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly through you. You gain DR 10/magic against this attack and are immune to any poison, sneak attacks, or critical hit effect from that attack.

You cannot use windy escape against an attack of opportunity you provoked by casting a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using any other magical ability that provokes an attack of opportunity when used.

It says "You respond to an attack". Do you have to cast it as soon as the enemy declares their attack, or can you wait to see if they hit? I suspect it's before the attack is rolled, but I just want to find out for sure, to see just how cheesy this is. :P

Either way, this could be a great spell for any pure caster who doesn't get attacked very often. I can just picture a low level wizard, druid, or sorcerer hanging out in the back of the battle, hoping to avoid melee, when someone shoots at them, or moves in close unexpectedly. Or you could even use it after provoking an AOO from movement while getting away from the bad guys.


Depends on the GM. Though usually if they hit its already too late :)

And its not "before the attack is rolled" but "before the player knows the outcome of the attack". This is where GM rolling behind a screen is useful.

It is very useful for a caster with low AC, where every attack against them has a good chance of hitting.

Silver Crusade

I'm thinking of taking this for a PFS character, so I really need a definitive RAW answer.


My argument would be that, in the absence of wording that you must declare it before the attack roll, and coupled with the definition of an immediate action ("An immediate action is very similar to a swift action, but can be performed at any time—even if it's not your turn."), RAW would indicate you could declare it even after the attack roll was made and revealed.


Correct. By RAW, immediate action is at any time.

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