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Okay, so, I've recently considered a build, and I'd really like to know how 'energy damage' stacks before proceeding.
First off, I know that some spells SPECIFICALLY call out that they don't stack with each other. For example, the 'sun metal' spell specifically calls out that it does not work with the flaming weapon property.
With that in mind, pretend we have a cookie-cutter level 5 magus:
Let's say our magus enchants their sword to be a +1 shock scimitar with their level 5 class feature. This adds +1d6 electricity damage to all their sword attacks. Then they then spellstrike with shocking grasp. Does the +1d6 shock damage stack with the +5d6 shocking grasp damage? (Neither spell nor ability says that they don't stack)
If the above is 'yes.'
Question 2: Let's say our magus is doing that against a standard tiefling. Tieflings have electricity resist 5 (remember, I said standard, no special racials or traits or whatnot.) Does the resistance apply twice (once for the weapon's shock property, once for the shocking grasp?) or is the electricity damage all pooled together into one big pile of electricity before being sent to the Tiefling?
Please, PLEASE if you know the answer, and KNOW where there is a quote about if it works or not, please link. I am looking to know what RAW says, not what you think is right.
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Well, the 1st one is pretty simple. Yes, it applies both the spell damage and the weapon ability damage. The reason sun metal doesn't work with flaming is because the spell specifically calls it out. Shocking grasp does not and the description of spellstrike is quite clear that both the spell damage and weapon damage happen.
The 2nd...you said you wanted a RAW answer...well, I don't think you're going to find one. I did a quick search and it looks like the general consensus is that it applies once, but I haven't seen an official ruling for that.
In regards to the second example, here's relevant information:
If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell.
It says that the single attack deals both effects. So yes, you use one attack to receive the benefits of both. It says normal damage (from the melee attack, which means the Shock property applies), and the effects of the Spell (AKA, 5D6 from Shocking Grasp).
However, these are separate entities that are otherwise calculated separately. If this was done with, say, an Unarmed Strike instead of a Scimitar, the effects would be the same, and in that instance, a lot of GMs would rule they are treated separately.
The benefit here is that Spellstrike can apply spells to other weapons besides an Unarmed Strike or Claw, as well as use its Critical Multiplier and Threat Range over the Spell's (which is usually yucky anyway).
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.The benefit here is that Spellstrike can apply spells to other weapons besides an Unarmed Strike or Claw, as well as use its Critical Multiplier and Threat Range over the Spell's (which is usually yucky anyway).
I don't think this is correct. I believe that spellstrike uses the weapons threat range, but only allows a crit multiplier of x2. The weapon calculates its critical damage differently.
EDUT: From the PRD
This attack uses the weapon's critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
1.) Yes, they "stack". Or, more accurately, they don't interact at all. They are two separate sources of extra damage, and one doesn't affect the others' ability to function.
2.) Related to 1. They're separate things. The Energy Resistance would apply to Blade + Shocking and then Spell as separate entities, because they are.
You're not going to find a concrete RAW "This is how it is" statement in the rules, mostly because it's not any single rule, it's a conglomeration of how all the rules between weapons, weapon special properties, spells, and Spellstrike interact with each other.
.The benefit here is that Spellstrike can apply spells to other weapons besides an Unarmed Strike or Claw, as well as use its Critical Multiplier and Threat Range over the Spell's (which is usually yucky anyway).I don't think this is correct. I believe that spellstrike uses the weapons threat range, but only allows a crit multiplier of x2. The weapon calculates its critical damage differently.
EDUT: From the PRD
This attack uses the weapon's critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
Fair enough. I thought it would be interesting to see a Pick Axe Magus dealing X4 Damage on a Spell...then again, I've been hit by a X3 Lightning Bolt before (on a Critical Card from a Critical Failed saving throw), and it was not fun...
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Another question:
What happens if you have multiple touch effects going off? I know you can only have one touch spell active at a time (so you can't shocking grasp-hold the charge, and then cast another for double shocking grasp).
But what anout elemental touch? The spell is personal and gives you a touch attack. I didn't think it stacked with shocking grasp (because both are touch attacks) but someone on the boards said I could. Any thoughts?
Another question:
What happens if you have multiple touch effects going off? I know you can only have one touch spell active at a time (so you can't shocking grasp-hold the charge, and then cast another for double shocking grasp).
But what anout elemental touch? The spell is personal and gives you a touch attack. I didn't think it stacked with shocking grasp (because both are touch attacks) but someone on the boards said I could. Any thoughts?
I suggest you link the spell. A lot of people will tell you that you cannot cast that spell after you cast, say, a Shocking Grasp, or else the Shocking Grasp is lost. The opposite may also be true, if the context of the spell is similar to the likes of Shocking Grasp.
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Elemental touchI suggest you link the spell. A lot of people will tell you that you cannot cast that spell after you cast, say, a Shocking Grasp, or else the Shocking Grasp is lost. The opposite may also be true, if the context of the spell is similar to the likes of Shocking Grasp.Another question:
What happens if you have multiple touch effects going off? I know you can only have one touch spell active at a time (so you can't shocking grasp-hold the charge, and then cast another for double shocking grasp).
But what anout elemental touch? The spell is personal and gives you a touch attack. I didn't think it stacked with shocking grasp (because both are touch attacks) but someone on the boards said I could. Any thoughts?
Alright, I think I can adjudicate how this works, though the order is important:
Elemental Touch says you gain a Melee Touch Attack for the duration of the spell; this behaves similar to a spell granting you Natural Weapons. In other words, this touch attack and a Claw aren't really much different in regards to mechanics. It might be arguable that you can make multiple Touch Attacks if you have a high enough BAB, but I don't know if it behaves similar to Natural Weapons or Manufactured Weapons/Unarmed Strikes, though for the sake of argument, let's just say it doesn't.
That being said, Elemental Touch can stack with Shocking Grasp, since the effects of Shocking Grasp refer to "Your successful melee touch attack". So, you can deliver a Shocking Grasp as a Free Action, and deal the 1D6 Damage on top of the Shocking Grasp damage.
However, if you cast Shocking Grasp first, and then proceeded to cast Elemental Touch, Shocking Grasp would fade away, since it follows the "Holding the Charge" rules. So you must cast Elemental Touch first, then Shocking Grasp, otherwise they won't stack due to the rules of Holding the Charge applying to Shocking Grasp.