Magus spell combat + wand of true strike


Rules Questions

Sczarni

Ok i just want to make sure that i understand correctly what's about to be rampant (starting next game!) in my campaign.

Level 8 magus (BaB +6/+1) using a wand of true strike with spell combat.
That would end up +4 main/ +4 wand/ -1 second main?

Since spell combat forbid using the spell in between attacks it as to be before OR after that i know. In that case the off hand "attack" is actually a non-damaging spell but it does not matter as far as i understand the wording of spell combat.

In the end a full round action would be:
Attack 1) casting of true strike (wand)
Attack 2) main weapon first attack at +24
Attack 3) main weapon second attack at -1

Am i correct?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Note that he has to have the Wand Wielder arcana to be able to use a wand with Spell Combat. Normally, you have to legit-cast your spells in Spell Combat.

But yeah, true strike is an option for Spell Combat when you really want your accuracy.

Grand Lodge

As long as you have the Wand Wielder arcana, you are correct.

Edit: Ninja'd while I was looking up the name of the Wand Wielder arcana :<


Vaahama wrote:

Ok i just want to make sure that i understand correctly what's about to be rampant (starting next game!) in my campaign.

Level 8 magus (BaB +6/+1) using a wand of true strike with spell combat.
That would end up +4 main/ +4 wand/ -1 second main?

Since spell combat forbid using the spell in between attacks it as to be before OR after that i know. In that case the off hand "attack" is actually a non-damaging spell but it does not matter as far as i understand the wording of spell combat.

In the end a full round action would be:
Attack 1) casting of true strike (wand)
Attack 2) main weapon first attack at +24
Attack 3) main weapon second attack at -1

Am i correct?

It is all correct except for the +4 wand reference. Using the wand isn't a melee attack so +4 wand is meaningless.

Sczarni

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Stick a whip in there and cause disarms and trips from a distance

Sczarni

Jeff Merola wrote:

As long as you have the Wand Wielder arcana, you are correct.

Edit: Ninja'd while I was looking up the name of the Wand Wielder arcana :<

Yes of course i forgot to mention that the said Magus will get wand weilder!

Sczarni

Gisher wrote:


It is all correct except for the +4 wand reference. Using the wand isn't a melee attack so +4 wand is meaningless.

Yes of course!

I was just trying to "break down" the mechanic of the multi-attack for my own denefit.

Dark Archive

I did this with Sunder.

After level 8, though, I tapered off. Having an iterative attack, and usually being under the effects of Haste, I found that using damaging spells in a Spell Combat was more useful.

Though occasionally I just wanted one solid blow.

Sczarni

And then if i push the envelope even more could the magus had a touch spell on his first melee attack using spellstrike?

going with my previous exemple could i had shocking grasp on top of the stack ending with:

attack 1) true strike (wand weilder)
attack 2) +24 to hit/ weapon damage + 5D6 lightning
attack 3) -1 to hit/ weapon damage


You don't have time to cast shocking grasp that round. You would have to be holding the charge from a previous round to make this work.

In theory you could use your swift action to cast a quickened shocking grasp, but at 8th level you don't have 6th level spell slots, you can't get the quickened magic magus arcana yet, and your hands are full so you can't hold a rod of quickening.

Sczarni

Gisher wrote:
You don't have time to cast shocking grasp that round. You would have to be holding the charge from a previous round to make this work.

Not sure i understand i taught the touch attack was "free".

Is it because casting the shocking grasp is still a standard action BUT the touch attack is replace by a free "weapon" attack and therefor can't be added in a full round "procedure"?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Vaahama wrote:
Gisher wrote:
You don't have time to cast shocking grasp that round. You would have to be holding the charge from a previous round to make this work.

Not sure i understand i taught the touch attack was "free".

Is it because casting the shocking grasp is still a standard action BUT the touch attack is replace by a free "weapon" attack and therefor can't be added in a full round "procedure"?

Yep, you don't get the free attack until you've actuall cast the spell, which has its normal casting time.

Scarab Sages

Vaahama wrote:
Gisher wrote:
You don't have time to cast shocking grasp that round. You would have to be holding the charge from a previous round to make this work.

Not sure i understand i taught the touch attack was "free".

Is it because casting the shocking grasp is still a standard action BUT the touch attack is replace by a free "weapon" attack and therefor can't be added in a full round "procedure"?

No, it's because you are using spell combat to wand cast true strike, so you can't then cast shocking grasp as well. You do not have the available action to cast shocking grasp.

Sczarni

Imbicatus wrote:
Vaahama wrote:
Gisher wrote:
You don't have time to cast shocking grasp that round. You would have to be holding the charge from a previous round to make this work.

Not sure i understand i taught the touch attack was "free".

Is it because casting the shocking grasp is still a standard action BUT the touch attack is replace by a free "weapon" attack and therefor can't be added in a full round "procedure"?
No, it's because you are using spell combat to wand cast true strike, so you can't then cast shocking grasp as well. You do not have the available action to cast shocking grasp.

Got it thanks!

Then would the following be possible?
(still with a level 8 magus using spell combat)

Attack 1) casting of shocking grasp at +4 to hit (touching with hand)
Attack 2) main weapon first attack at +4
Attack 3) second main attack at -1

Scarab Sages

Yes, although you could also cast shocking grasp at +4 to hit normal AC attacking with your weapon, using spellstrike.

In either case, you would have a +3 to hit if your target was wearing metal armor.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32

Doesn't casting another spell when you're holding a charge discharge the held spell?

So you'd have to do this over two rounds:
round one: true strike, possibly as your last action after Spell Combat
round 2:shocking grasp, possibly with Spellstrike and/or Spell Combat


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Using a spell-trigger item like a wand is not casting a spell, so it doesn't discharge the shocking grasp spell.

Sczarni

Imbicatus wrote:

Yes, although you could also cast shocking grasp at +4 to hit normal AC attacking with your weapon, using spellstrike.

In either case, you would have a +3 to hit if your target was wearing metal armor.

Allright then, sounds like i got it clear enough.

thank you all for the help.

P.S. it's not because i like it, in fact i hate all that number crunshing and stacking of this with that on top of what not!
I'm just a DM trying to brace for the impact!


It does, but true strike doesn't count as holding a charge. So if you cast true strike first, then shocking grasp, you can gain the benefit of both spells.


I think that the magus is difficult to work with at first, because of its unusual action economy. I found this guide to be very helpful when I first started making a magus.


Gisher wrote:
Using a spell-trigger item like a wand is not casting a spell, so it doesn't discharge the shocking grasp spell.

Touching the wand, though, would discharge it.

Scarab Sages

MeanMutton wrote:
Gisher wrote:
Using a spell-trigger item like a wand is not casting a spell, so it doesn't discharge the shocking grasp spell.
Touching the wand, though, would discharge it.

Not if you used your other hand. Holding a charge only takes one hand (or your weapon via spellstrike).


MeanMutton wrote:
Gisher wrote:
Using a spell-trigger item like a wand is not casting a spell, so it doesn't discharge the shocking grasp spell.
Touching the wand, though, would discharge it.

If he was already holding the wand in his "off hand" when he cast shocking grasp, then continuing to hold the wand wouldn't discharge the spell.

Sczarni

Spellstrike through your improvised stick weapon!

Dark Archive

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I made liberal use of the Weaponwand spell when planning on wanding during Spell Combat, too.


Nefreet wrote:
Spellstrike through your improvised stick weapon!

That image made me laugh! But I was actually thinking of using the other hand for the spell. Honestly, Paladin of Baha-who?'s suggestion to just switch the order of the actions is just much simpler than what I had in mind.

Scarab Sages

MeanMutton wrote:
Gisher wrote:
Using a spell-trigger item like a wand is not casting a spell, so it doesn't discharge the shocking grasp spell.
Touching the wand, though, would discharge it.

Does casting Shocking Grasp from a wand destroy the wand used to cast the spell?

Sovereign Court

weaponwand looks great! does it actually add to the power of a magus or just provide non-magus with magus-like casting through the weapon?

(i.e. in terms of movement economy or bonuses to hit, what's the benefit of this spell for a magus? -- other than wielding a wand and weapon in the same hand of course...)


Paladin of Baha-who? wrote:
It does, but true strike doesn't count as holding a charge. So if you cast true strike first, then shocking grasp, you can gain the benefit of both spells.

Switching the order as you suggested is a much better solution.

BTW the reason that activating a wand doesn't discharge a touch spell is because activating magic items and casting spells are two distinct actions. Wand wielder specifically let's you replace one with the other.

Ultimate Magic wrote:

Wand Wielder (Su)

Benefit: The magus can activate a wand or staff in place of casting a spell when using spell combat.

I use this a lot with my Staff Magus. I can full-attack using held charges of Frostbite or Chill Touch, while using spell-combat to hit my opponents with another spell from my staff.

Scarab Sages

I actually don't like weaponwand that much. It doesn't give you much benefit over using a spring loaded wrist sheath or quick draw to access a wand, and it has a long cast time/short duration.

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