Usefulness of Mirror Strike

[Mcarvin]

There is a new spell in Ultimate Combat called Mirror Strike. It is a first level spell. I have read the description multiple times but I can't seem to find a significant use for it. If anyone can shed some light on the ways in which this spell will be useful I would appreciate it. Thanks for the input!

[Wildmonsters]

Mirror Strike
School transmutation; Level magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a shard of mirror)
Range personal
Target you
Duration see text
You briefly alter the flow of time to split a melee attack into
two attacks. Before the end of your next turn, when you make
your next melee attack roll, compare the result to the AC of
two opponents within your reach. If the selected opponents
are flanking you, you gain a +2 bonus on your attack roll (and
confirmation attack roll, see below). If you hit both enemies,
you can deal half damage to each. Hitting only one opponent
allows you to deal that opponent normal damage for your
attack. On a critical threat, you can make only one attack
roll to confirm the critical hit against both opponents. If you
confirm against both, you deal half your critical hit damage
to each. Your hit is a normal hit rather than a critical if you
confirm against only one opponent. If you fail to use the effect
before the end of your next turn, the spell ends.

Yeah seams like you'd be better off just attacking twice.

[Brambleman]

maybe with the magus, or if you have a special enhancement on you melee weapon. If nothing else, it lets you apply true strike to two attacks. Could be useful if you need to use one flaming weapon to kill two trolls right that turn.

[ProfPotts]

I guess it may mean if your melee attack is using Spellstrike then maybe the spell effect goes off against both targets? That may be worthwhile, but you'd think the spell would call that out instead of just talking damage if that were the intention of the thing.

[Kela]

If used with spellstrike, I guess damage too would be halved.

I really don't see the point of this spell - even to gain the +2 bonus on hitting opponents flanking you... You'd rather, as said higher, make several attacks than casting this spell.

If it concerns only physical damage, it would be great to indicate it.
Because it would become extremely useful to Magus.

[Ramza Wyvernjack]

I suppose it could be slightly effective with a wounding weapon.
Though, it's a standard action, you could arguably stab a person, then cast this and stab him again OR stab two guys for s@#* and giggles.

With spellcombat I mean, it lets you cast a spell and stab, doesn't it? If yes, then it'd give magus ability to change in a low lvl spell for another attack. Could be effective with the right weapon abilities, such as mentioned above, wounding, which inflicts flat amount of bleed damage, or perhaps a specific magical weapon with an on-hit effect.

Or if you multiclass/gestalt into sneak attacks.

[KrVnk]

And since it only says your next melee attack roll and you can replace some attacks with Combat Maneuvers, couldn't you trip or disarm two people in the same round?

[Arknight]

Remember, as even a 5th level Magus, you still only get 1 attack a round. This will double that if say you're facing off against a pair of 1st level Rogues. Or similar situation :)

[Bertious]

Actually the magus could just cast shocking grasp with the same spell slot and the spell combat 1 rogue and attack the other.

Or use chill touch and hit both of them with an extra d6 cold damage.

[Sereinái]

Useful if you know you'll be getting some good buffs on you the next turn?
It seems really hard to justify having prepared or even memorized

[Sarf]

Things that rely on monsters being hit would still be beneficial. You only split damage, not ability drain/damage. For example, if you were a rogue 3/magus 1 and lets say you beat these guys in initiate, you could spell combat this ability to give yourself 2 attacks.

Each attack would be dealing (1d6 weapon +2d6 sneak +str)/2 +1 str or dex damage. I know its not a great use, but sometimes lowering 2 peoples str by one could be beneficial. An even better would be if you put an enhancement on the weapon to do ability drain/damage on hit.

For all you DMS out there, ghouls with 1 level in magus could be fever giving monsters. Or wights handing out multiple negative levels to multiple people? GG party. All in all I think this is one of those spells that is alot deadlier for a DM then a player.