SU subject to AoO?


Rules Questions


Regarding SU, my GM believes that a Warlock's powers should provoke AoO. However, there's no clear answer that we can find. "SU don't usually provoke AoO," we don't understand which circumstances would provoke. When does a SU provoke an AoO? And would a Warlock provoke?

Thank you for any help provided.


Keagun Redcrow wrote:

Regarding SU, my GM believes that a Warlock's powers should provoke AoO. However, there's no clear answer that we can find. "SU don't usually provoke AoO," we don't understand which circumstances would provoke. When does a SU provoke an AoO? And would a Warlock provoke?

Thank you for any help provided.

Warlocks aren't Pathfinder, so to a small degree it's what your DM rules.

However, since Pathfinder is 90% compatible with 3.5, just reading the rules should give you what you're looking for.

Either that, or just drop the Warlock levels and exchange them for Kineticist levels and call it a day.

Silver Crusade Contributor

Keagun Redcrow wrote:

Regarding SU, my GM believes that a Warlock's powers should provoke AoO. However, there's no clear answer that we can find. "SU don't usually provoke AoO," we don't understand which circumstances would provoke. When does a SU provoke an AoO? And would a Warlock provoke?

Thank you for any help provided.

Supernatural abilities do not themselves provoke. However, ranged attacks do. So don't use Eldritch Blast in melee.

Does this make sense? :)


It's a 3PP build on d20pfsrd.com, which my GM allows anything on the site. The main question is, when does a SU provoke an AoO? The Warlock was an example.

Silver Crusade Contributor

Keagun Redcrow wrote:
It's a 3PP build on d20pfsrd.com, which my GM allows anything on the site. The main question is, when does a SU provoke an AoO? The Warlock was an example.

Basically, only when something else would cause them to. So, in my example, being a (Su) ability doesn't inherently provoke an AoO. But it doesn't prevent the ranged attack portion from provoking one, as ranged attacks do.

Does that make more sense? :)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Keagun Redcrow wrote:

Regarding SU, my GM believes that a Warlock's powers should provoke AoO. However, there's no clear answer that we can find. "SU don't usually provoke AoO," we don't understand which circumstances would provoke. When does a SU provoke an AoO? And would a Warlock provoke?

Thank you for any help provided.

The power itself won't provoke. Making a Ranged Attack roll, however will, no matter what the source. That is probably what your GM is operating on.


Kalindlara answered it.

Here is some context:
Spells and Spell-like abilities provoke regardless of what the Spell or Spell-like ability actually does. However, they may also provoke a second time if they do something, such as a ranged attack, that provokes.

Supernatural abilities do not provoke unless it does something that also provokes, such as a ranged attack.

So, if you cast a ranged attack spell (such as Scorching Ray) you provoke twice. Once for casting and once for the ranged attack.
If you use a supernatural ability that is similar to Scorching Ray (such as Eldritch Blast) you provoke once, for the ranged attack only.

Additionally, there may be special wording in some supernatural abilities that states they provoke. This would be an exception to the normal rule that supernatural abilities do not provoke.

Shadow Lodge

Kalindlara and Gauss are correct. The rules quote is here: Supernatural Abilities.

Magic, Special Abilities wrote:

Supernatural Abilities (Su)

These can't be disrupted in combat and generally don't provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren't subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don't function in antimagic areas.

Silver Crusade Contributor

Weirdo wrote:

Kalindlara and Gauss are correct. The rules quote is here: Supernatural Abilities.

Magic, Special Abilities wrote:

Supernatural Abilities (Su)

These can't be disrupted in combat and generally don't provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren't subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don't function in antimagic areas.

I believe he was looking for clarification about the bolded portion, e.g., what "generally" meant in this context. :)


Cool, this is VERY helpful and my GM had just came to the same conclusion, before seeing your posts. So your very helpful posts have helped in confirming all conclusions. Thak you very very much.

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