Mythic Arcane Strike + Bane + Ray of Frost?


Rules Questions


The mythic version of Arcane strike says "If you expend one use of mythic power when using Arcane Strike, you can also add any one magic weapon special ability with a base price modifier of +1 to your weapons. This base price modifier increases to +2 at 4th tier, +3 at 7th tier, and +4 at 10th tier."

Previously on the forums, it was clarified that rays, ranged touch attacks, melee touch attacks and bombs are all considered weapons for Arcane Strike, as well as other effects. Does that mean that a mythic level 6 Evoker can use Mythic Arcane Strike to give all of his weapons for 1 minute, say, the bane ability and shoot Ray of Frost for 1d3 + 2 (Arcane Strike + 2 (Intense Spells class ability) + 2 (enhancement) + 2d6 with a +2 to attack? A level 6 DPS of 16 isn't really crazy, but it's free. Thoughts?


Yup. It's pretty weak for a mythic feat, really. (Compare mythic vital strike or mythic weapon finesse for more martial characters.)

Edit: Actually, this probably wouldn't work. Nothing in the language allows you to use enhancements that don't apply to the weapon in question. So, just as you couldn't add disruption to a sword this way, you couldn't add anything to a ray because there are no valid enhancements for a ray.

I'd allow it anyway, but this is consistent with prior rulings on magi and other similar abilities.

Edit 2: Also, it isn't free--it costs a use of mythic power. That's looking less and less attractive.


It says you can add any one magic weapon special ability, but doesn't exempt that ability from needing to be compatible from the weapon. For instance, you couldn't use MAS to add Keen to a Bludgeoning weapon. That having been said, you can add any magic weapon special ability that can normally be added to a Ray weapon.


Yes.

How about vicious, bane, holy...

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
TheDailyLunatic wrote:

The mythic version of Arcane strike says "If you expend one use of mythic power when using Arcane Strike, you can also add any one magic weapon special ability with a base price modifier of +1 to your weapons. This base price modifier increases to +2 at 4th tier, +3 at 7th tier, and +4 at 10th tier."

Previously on the forums, it was clarified that rays, ranged touch attacks, melee touch attacks and bombs are all considered weapons for Arcane Strike, as well as other effects. Does that mean that a mythic level 6 Evoker can use Mythic Arcane Strike to give all of his weapons for 1 minute, say, the bane ability and shoot Ray of Frost for 1d3 + 2 (Arcane Strike + 2 (Intense Spells class ability) + 2 (enhancement) + 2d6 with a +2 to attack? A level 6 DPS of 16 isn't really crazy, but it's free. Thoughts?

The problem is when you're invoking Arcane Strike which is a separate action than using Ray of Frost, the "weapon" doesn't exist for you to invoke it.

"previously on the forums" counts for squat if there isn't FAQ or errata to support it unless you can link an authoritative quote.


If a ray is a legal target for arcane strike does it matter when the ability is invoked? The spell is in his spellbook, it's a legal target, why wouldn't it work?

How does anyone use arcane strike on a ray if casting the spell is a separate action to swift action that activates arcane strike?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
stuart haffenden wrote:

If a ray is a legal target for arcane strike does it matter when the ability is invoked? The spell is in his spellbook, it's a legal target, why wouldn't it work?

How does anyone use arcane strike on a ray if casting the spell is a separate action to swift action that activates arcane strike?

It isn't, and they don't.


Arcane strike is activated by a swift action and applies to all weapons for 1 round. Rays count as weapons. Whether or not they existed at the time doesn't matter. If you use Mythic Arcane Strike to imbue your weapons with Bane (which lasts for a minute) and pick up a rock 5 rounds later, that rock will be a Bane rock if you use it as a weapon.

There is plenty of dev support for rays counting as weapons for spells and effects:

FAQ wrote:

Ray: Do rays count as weapons for the purpose of spells and effects that affect weapons?

Yes. (See also this FAQ item for a similar question about rays and weapon feats.)

For example, a bard's inspire courage says it affects "weapon damage rolls," which is worded that way so don't try to add the bonus to a spell like fireball. However, rays are treated as weapons, whether they're from spells, a monster ability, a class ability, or some other source, so the inspire courage bonus applies to ray attack rolls and ray damage rolls.

The same rule applies to weapon-like spells such as flame blade, mage's sword, and spiritual weapon--effects that affect weapons work on these spells.

There's nothing in the Bane description that says it can't be applied to rays. Just like there's nothing that says it can't be applied to unarmed strikes (an AOMF can grant Bane to unarmed strikes even though fists can't be enchanted).

As for it costing a mythic power... sure it does: for a full minute of Bane. Like I said, it's not crazy overpowered but it's not stupid either. I'm just wondering if it works. The difference is whether it makes sense for a level 6 gish to arcane strike his composite longbow or his ray of frost.


ray uses Touch ac ... bow uses normal ac..

and i wonder myself . using an AOMF and arcane strike mythic . that could add bane + holy , would still be nice , for natural weapons

for the bard assistance get flag bearer feat and banner of the ancient kings for some nice added to hit/ damage .

lastly .. the feat arcane blast comes to mind ..making any spell yer dont need , a ray .

A magic missle for 5d4 or a ray of 2d6+1d6 + arcane strike mythic effect ,, legal ?

Makes it very usefull to make a buff support caster and still deal semi decent damage

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