Ruling on Felling Smash


Rules Questions


Felling Smash:
Felling Smash (Combat)

You commit all your focus to a devastating blow, trying to crush your opponent to the ground.

Prerequisites: Int 13, Str 13, Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Power Attack, base attack bonus +6.

Benefit: If you use the attack action to make a single melee attack at your highest base attack bonus while using Power Attack and you hit an opponent, you can spend a swift action to attempt a trip combat maneuver against that opponent.

({[A]}) So lets say I'm a fighter with 2 attacks per round. Does felling smash mean I can only make one attack using felling smash, and if I hit while using power attack, I can trip the opponent using the swift action?

({[B]}) Or....Does it mean I can use my first, and highest base attack bonus, to attack with felling smash. Get the hit with power attack on, and then trip with the swift action....AND THEN use my second iterative, (lower BAB) for my second attack against the opponent?

Because if its (A), It doesn't help me at all. Because with 2 attacks, I could do (A) without using felling smash. I simply make the first attack with my highest BAB. Hit or miss I then trip the opponent with my second iterative. Same outcome as (A), without having to waste a feat spot.


I guess a lot depends on how you interpret the words in the Felling Smash description.

'Attack Action' Does this mean a single attack only? Or can it mean one of your attacks during a full round attack?

'Single melee attack at your highest base attack bonus' This is pretty clear, but does it mean you use this and you only get one attack your whole turn, or does it mean you can't
do any multi-attacks during this action? (two weapon fighting?)

Can you start a full attack action, pause in the middle for a swift action, and then finish your full attack action? (I think you can)


Its option A, and it helps you any time you can't make a full attack.

Walk up to mook, smash him in the face power attack style, trip him, and hopefully have greater trip to get another attack. Throw in vicious stomp for one potentially awesome standard action.


So your saying Felling Smash is 'only' useful when I can't make a full attack action? Seems like a large investment just for that.


You can stack combat reflexes, Felling smash, greater trip (and posibly Elephant stompt) so you move attack one, trip attack again (and again but unarmed).

In other news, movement is a big enemy of melee characters and the feat is not bad.


felling smash is amazing.
you cant always get full attacks, also moving into flanks and such make combats tactitcal.
move your full move - attack once, trip and get 2 free AOO while the party also get 1.
add vital strike to the combo and you are 1 hit wonder.

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