Kineticist 2 Attacks of Opportunity on Basic Blast


Rules Questions


Simple Blasts:
A kineticist gains a simple blast from her primary element at 1st level—some elements offer more than one option.

When a kineticist gains a new element via the expanded element class feature, she gains a simple blast from that element as well. Each simple blast is either a physical blast or an energy blast.

Physical blasts are ranged attacks that deal an amount of damage equal to 1d6+1 + the kineticist's Constitution modifier, increasing by 1d6+1 for every 2 kineticist levels beyond 1st. Spell resistance doesn't apply against physical blasts. Energy blasts are ranged touch attacks that deal an amount of damage equal to 1d6 + 1/2 the kineticist's Constitution modifier, increasing by 1d6 for every 2 kineticist levels beyond 1st.

A simple blast is a spell like ability which provokes an attack of opportunity.

Ranged Touch Spells in Combat:
Some spells allow you to make a ranged touch attack as part of the casting of the spell. These attacks are made as part of the spell and do not require a separate action. Ranged touch attacks provoke an attack of opportunity, even if the spell that causes the attacks was cast defensively. Unless otherwise noted, ranged touch attacks cannot be held until a later turn.

It emulates a ranged touch spell.
Does this mean it provokes two attacks of opportunity? One from being a SP and being cast, the other from being a ranged touch attack?


Yes, same for any kind of caster casting a spell that requires a ranged attack. Being a Kineticist doesn't explicitly state otherwise. That does make things interesting for Kinetic Blade/Whip, I don't recall anything about them making it not provoke, either, for the Spell-Like Ability...


Kinetic blade:
You can use this form infusion once as part of an attack action, a charge action, or a full-attack action in order to make melee attacks with your kinetic blade. Since it's part of another action (and isn't an action itself), using this wild talent doesn't provoke any additional attacks of opportunity.

Seems kinetic blade doesn't provoke itself.
It also says it is used as part of an attack action, so does it provoke at all?

Kinetic blade is an infusion, which means it modifies the basic blast, which means it modifies an SP, which would normally provoke, but as it can only be used as part of another action and calls out that it doesn't provoke, how does that work


Kinetic Blade wrote:
Since it’s part of another action (and isn’t an action itself), using this wild talent doesn’t provoke any additional attacks of opportunity.

So you're good there.


bigrig107 wrote:
Kinetic Blade wrote:
Since it’s part of another action (and isn’t an action itself), using this wild talent doesn’t provoke any additional attacks of opportunity.
So you're good there.

I am not so sure, because it is an infusion which specifically modifies a basic blast, an SP, so would the SP not provoke? I agree the kinetic blade infusion doesn't provoke, but does it stop the whole blast from provoking?


Kinetic Blade specifically states "Since it's part of another action (and isn't an action itself), using this wild talent doesn't provoke any additional attacks of opportunity" so it's a specific trumps general situation.

So using the blast modified as kinetic blade/whip(/or even fist) would not provoke.

For regular ranged blasts, kineticists always have the option of casting defensively if surrounded and can't move away from enemy:
15 + twice the spell level (blast spell level = 1/2 kineticist level round down; yes getting actual spell level first before multiplying by 2 for the DC matters.)
It would still provoke for the ranged blast attack itself, but at least it'll just be one trigger.


Really, dealing with enemies that are in your face is pretty much the primary reason why kinetic blade exists. It is the reason why even ranged kineticists probably want to spend the feat for weapon finesse and the infusion. It makes you a near perfect switch hitter that doesn't even have to do quickdraws and the like.

But it isn't like you 'have' to face two AoOs to do a ranged blast. Because of the simple fact that you could just use a mvoe action to stand 10 or 15 feet away when you do it. I mean... you are going to eat an AoO anyway, so why not just make it one rather than two?

That option isn't much worse than a more standard ranged character just shooting while threatened anyway. Really, you are actually better off, since you can bring actual results with a 'move+ attack' when compared to those full attack focused characters. At worst, you can't gather power and either downgrade your blast or eat the burn.

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