JakNazryth's page

So yes the casting of the spell still provokes and AoO, however why you aren't casting defensively, I have no idea.

It depends on what/who your're fighting. A magus with a pretty good AC, say... buffed to 24, would have a much better chance NOT getting hit by and AofO than making a concentration check while casting defensively. Depending on the hit dice of the person/monster, (lets say average of +10 attack bonus) they have to roll at least a 14 to hit. While the Magus (average Int mod for a Magus should be +3) and a 1st level spell = 14 DC = 13 will miss = 65% chance of failing his concentration check every time. The x2 multiplier for spell level adds up really quickly! Generally I would agree with casting defensively particularly if you are evenly matched, and you have a really high Int modifier, AND 1st or zero level spells, but there are always situations when you have to take calculated risks and go in guns blazing!!!! :)

JakNazryth wrote:

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.

Delivering a touch attack spell never provokes an attack of opportunity. Only casting the spell does.

Since a Magus casts a spell as part of a swift action as part of a spell strike, doesn’t that happen “as the sword is swinging”?

Or is spell strike a 2 part process? Does a magus have to spend 2 rounds to perform a spell strike?
1st round, cast a touch spell.
2nd round, use the spell strike?
The paragraph describing spell strike is a little vague. I can see why there is some confusion. Nowhere in the spell strike description does it state “will trigger an AofO”.
I think if Paizo decides to make a second addition, or an errata, adding a simple sentence in the spell strike paragraph would be very helpful.
It could read… “A magus must first cast a touch spell, which can trigger an AofO, before using it in a spell strike…”
Or it could read… “Since a magus can cast a touch spell as a swift action in the same round he performs a spell strike, it will not trigger an AofO.”
That would clear things up dramatically. 

This question depends on the answer above. IF a magus has to cast a touch spell as a complete separate action, is he limited to using one handed weapons for some spells?
Can he use this ability while fighting with a two-handed sword, great ax, two weapon fighting, or sword and shield? Must there ALWAYS be free hand to cast a touch spell? Or in this case is it a special magus ability that allows the touch spell casting while he’s holding his weapon / weapons?
Thank you.

I'm starting a character for a new campaign. We are starting off at 5th level. My concept is a 1/2 orc who started out in a band of outlaws as a rogue, but got captured and sold into slavery in Katapesh. He was forced to fight in the slave pits. Because he was more dexy and quick than the standard brutish 1/2 orc, he caught the attention of a Ninja Master, who bought my character. He spent the next couple of years (4 levels) training and working as a Ninja, until he "paid off" his master. Now he is 5th level (1st level rogue/4th level Ninja) and starting his life as a free adventurer.
Question: A 1st level rogue has trap finding and sneak attack 1d6,
my character's 2nd level is a 1st level Ninja. They have poison use and sneak attack 1d6. Does my sneak attack get raised to 2d6 instead, since I already have sneak attack 1d6 from a previous class?
Thank you

Darkghost316 wrote:

Hi James, I wanted to get an official ruling on this ability from the Magus class. My friend and I got in a debate about his character using his spellstrike.

*Spellstrike (Su)

At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. 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.

Q: Does a magus have to perform an concentration check when he uses spellstrike? Thanks for your time sir! :)

Only if he gets hit from the AoO, or only if he wants to cast defensively.

But you forgot the most important thing!

Since you are delivering a touch spell by channeling it through a weapon, and not via an unarmed attack, does the very act of using a spell strike trigger an AofO? Does a Magus have to chose to fight defensively or allow an AofO and hope the monster doesn't hit, in order to use a spell strike?
Thank you.