Does a Heartseeker weapon allow you to sneak attack a target with concealment?


Rules Questions

Dark Archive

Just as the title says - couldn't see a definitive answer on the forums anywhere.

Cheers

Richard


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber
d20pfsrd wrote:

Heartseeker: This special ability can only be placed on melee weapons.

A heartseeker weapon is drawn unerringly toward beating hearts. A heartseeker weapon ignores the miss chance for concealment against most living targets, though the attack must still target the proper square. This special ability does not apply against aberrations, oozes, plants, outsiders with the elemental subtype, or any creature specifically noted to lack a heart.

It does precisely what it says it does. You ignore the miss chance. That is all. It does not explicitly grant an exception to the general rule. Now if it said something more general like "You ignore all the effects of concealment of the target.", THEN you'd have a case.

Dark Archive

I must admit sometimes the rules astonish me.

"Heartseeker" suggests sneak attack, and the idea that you can still benefit from "concealment" even though there is no miss chance - I mean what on earth does concealment mean if there is no miss chance?

Richard


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IT looks like it can be interpreted either way. Up to the GM how they want to interpret it. I'd let Heatseeker work that way since if you have none of the benefits from concealment then you probably don't actually have concealment. That's my take on it. If your GM rules against this use of heartseeker then pick up a Headband of Ninjitsu. It specifically allows you to sneak attack foes with concealment. The feat Shadow Strike will do this for you as well.


Fighters don't care about sneak attack, so a heartseeker weapon works fine as is for them.

Not all miss chance is by concealment. See Displacement. Concealment stops sneak attack, not attack.

Add a Headband of the Ninjitsu, and you can sneak attack enemies with concealment.

Heartseeker weapons remove miss chances
Headband of the Ninjitsu unlocks sneak attack vs. concealed

Together, you're golden.

/cevah

Edit: Added fighter and spell stuff.

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