Sneak Attack once per Attack?


Rules Questions

Lantern Lodge

So, I've been trying to find where this comes from.

Consider a Magus/Ninja multiclass. Said magus has a BaB of 6, so he gets two attacks, plus another from spell strike (when he uses it).

Assuming his target is denied dexterity to AC, his attacks would look like:

Cast Chill Touch
Spellstrike = Weapon + Spell + Sneak Attack
Iterative 1 = Weapon + Spell + Sneak Attack
Iterative 2 = Weapon + Spell + Sneak Attack

When I first thought of this, I thought it was:

Cast Chill Touch:
Spellstrike = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack
Iterative 1 = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack
Iterative 2 = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack

Since spells could also be used for sneak attacks. The question I have, is why is it option 1 instead of option 2? Where is the rule stating the limit of one sneak attack per attack?

I can't think of any better way to ask that last question, so please know I'm sincerely asking, not in an attempt to game the system.


The Weapon and the Spell are part of the same attack since they use the same attack roll to hit. The Sneak Attack ability specifically refers to one attack:

Quote:
The rogue's attack deals extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC ...

Just like you wouldn't add sneak attack damage for both the slashing damage and the fire damage from a flaming sword.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
FrodoOf9Fingers wrote:
The question I have, is why is it option 1 instead of option 2? Where is the rule stating the limit of one sneak attack per attack?

If there weren't a limit of one sneak attack per attack, why aren't you asking about option 3:

Spoiler:
Spellstrike = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack

Iterative 1 = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack

Iterative 2 = Weapon + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Spell + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack + Sneak Attack

But to answer your question: "The ninja’s attacks deal extra damage anytime her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the ninja flanks her target."

So each attack deals extra damage. Three attacks means you get the extra damage three times, not six. Chill touch and sneak attack are both just adding damage to existing attacks, they are not attacks on their own.


?
Sense when can you add sneak attack damage on spells?
And if you can what is the point of being a 10th level Arcane Trickster?


NikolaiJuno wrote:

?

Sense when can you add sneak attack damage on spells?
And if you can what is the point of being a 10th level Arcane Trickster?

Since 3.0? 15 years, give or take.

Normally, you can sneak attack with any spell that requires an attack roll and does damage. A polar ray or shocking grasp can crit, as they do hit point damage and require an attack roll.

The 10th level arcane trickster ability lets you deal sneak attack damage with any spell that deals damage - an attack roll is not necessary. So you can now sneak attack with a fireball.

Quote:
Spells and Critical Hits: A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit. If a spell causes ability damage or drain (see Special Abilities), the damage or drain is doubled on a critical hit.


Oh weird.
Well AT is a lot less necessary for a sneak caster than I thought.

Scarab Sages

Just to note, do do sneak attack damage, the spell must do hit point damage. A spell that only does ability damage will not trigger sneak attack, even if it can crit.

Lantern Lodge

Say I sneak attack with a spellstrike. I deal 1d6 (scimitar) + 1d6 (shocking grasp) +3d6 sneak attack damage. What type of damage is the sneak attack damage? Normally it's the same as the source, would the source be the weapon, and thus slashing? Or would the source be the shocking grasp, and thus electric damage?

Attacker's choice?

Liberty's Edge

The source would be your weapon. You're still slashing your foe with it, even as you're using it to deliver Shocking Grasp.

(That reminds me, I should stat up that Magus/Cleric/Mystic Theurge who was able to channel Cure/Inflict Wounds through her sword for our Wrath of the Righteous reboot.)


I think most would rule it is slashing damage, as per the weapon. The electrical damage from the shocking grasp is a rider on the weapon attack, and is not the attack itself.

Scarab Sages

However, if you didn't use spellstrike, and just use the touch attack that shocking grasp allows, that would allow you to add sneak attack, and the sneak attack damage would then be electrical.


Snorb wrote:
(That reminds me, I should stat up that Magus/Cleric/Mystic Theurge who was able to channel Cure/Inflict Wounds through her sword for our Wrath of the Righteous reboot.)

(You don't have to have Mystic Theurge to throw Inflict Wounds via spellstrike - You just need to take the Broad Study Arcana.)

Scarab Sages

CraziFuzzy wrote:
Snorb wrote:
(That reminds me, I should stat up that Magus/Cleric/Mystic Theurge who was able to channel Cure/Inflict Wounds through her sword for our Wrath of the Righteous reboot.)
(You don't have to have Mystic Theurge to throw Inflict Wounds via spellstrike - You just need to take the Broad Study Arcana.)

In fact, if you did go Mystic Theurge, you would still need Broad Study to do it. Spellstrike only works on magus spells, regardless of what slots you use to cast them.

Lantern Lodge

Or play Samsaran and steal the spell you want from someone else's spell list (so long as they are also the same type of casting as you, arcane/divine. Witches have inflict, and IIRC bards have clw)


If you get a high enough level in Mystic theurge you can double cast spells though, which means double spellstrike. Kinda silly to build it around that, admittedly...

Though, if you grab Evangelist, you lose a few less BAB in the long run, compared to the straight Magus (around -3), and only 2-3 caster levels from your preferred class.

No, wait, Magus has to be 6 for spell blending. That means this build finishes at lvl 18 the soonest.

Meh.

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