Medusa's Wrath Question


Rules Questions


Quote

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/medusa-s-wrath-combat---final wrote:

Medusa's Wrath

You can take advantage of your opponent's confusion, delivering multiple blows.

Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Gorgon's Fist, Scorpion Style, base attack bonus +11.

Benefit: Whenever you use the full-attack action and make at least one unarmed strike, you can make two additional unarmed strikes at your highest base attack bonus. These bonus attacks must be made against a dazed, flat-footed, paralyzed, staggered, stunned, or unconscious foe.

I did not find an answer to this specific question in the archives, although I am sure someone has already answered this:

Does Medusa's Wrath still trigger if I do not hit with the unarmed strike?

I am not asking if stunning and triggering Medusa's Wrath in one full-attack action is possible or not. For answering this question, please assume that in my world it is possible by RAW.

Example: Level 16 Human Wanderer makes a full attack (flurry of blows) with an enhanced blade of the sword saint (+5 ki intensifying katana, monk weapon through magic) with Power Attack and hasted (BoS) at +25/+25/+25/+20/+20/+15/+15/+10, damage d8+29. On his first attack he declares to use stunning fist and succeeds (Fort DC in this case: 25).

The opponent is now stunned. For his last attack (+10 with the sword)the Wanderer switches to his unarmed strike (in his case kicking cause he uses the katana two-handed for increased PA-damage): with Power Attack a meager +6. The attack does not hit his opponent. Would Medusa's Wrath trigger regardless? If it did, the Wanderer would get two unarmed attacks at +20/+20 with 2d10+22, not too shabby.


I would say that your analysis is correct. It doesn't specify that you must hit with the unarmed strike, just that you attempt it.

Furthermore, the way I read Stunning Fist, it can count as your ' at least one unarmed strike': "Stunning Fist forces a foe damaged by your unarmed attack to make a Fortitude saving throw..."

You can also stunning fist target A, use the rest of the strikes on target B, then take your two free strikes against A.


Thanks MurphysParadox.

Just to clarify: in my example the wanderer uses the ki intensifying property of his weapon on his first attack to get his stunning fist in (not only but also because of a slightly higher Save DC than with Unarmed Strike)


Ah, yes, then you've found a great use for the relatively pointless last attack.

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