Yes, but you can't use spellstrike to deliver them. So they use the normal 20/x2 crit range of spells, are normal touch attacks, and don't benefit from the enhancement bonus of your weapon.
Can I cast 3 scorching ray without close range magus arcana, using spell combat?
Spell Combat (Ex): "As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty)."
The Magus Spell List contains Scorching Ray.
Scorching Ray: "Casting Time 1 standard action"
So you can cast Scorching Ray with Spell Combat, because it's on the magus spell list, and it has a casting time of 1 standard action. In order to get three rays, you must be caster level 11 or higher.
What if he had the magus arcana that allows ranged touch spells to be delivered through a spellstrike? Would he get three whacks with the weapon, one to deliver each ray? Or one whack to deliver all three? Or would he lose the second and thirds rays altogether?
Close Range (Ex): "The magus can deliver ray spells that feature a ranged touch attack as melee touch spells. He can use a ranged touch attack spell that targets more than one creature (such as scorching ray), but he makes only one melee touch attack to deliver one of these ranged touch effects; additional ranged touch attacks from that spell are wasted and have no effect. These spells can be used with the spellstrike class feature."
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Scorching ray doesn't seem like a worthwhile spell for the magus. When he can cast it at level four, shocking grasp does the same amount of damage with spellstrike but is one level lower, and it will hit 5d6 one level later. Meanwhile, the nature of spellstrike will allow a melee scorching ray will max out at 4d6 damage.
What are some good rays to deliver with this arcana?
What are some good rays to deliver with this arcana?
At low level, lots of people like it with Ray of Frost, but it's questionable if the extra 1d3 damage (over Arcane Mark) is worth an arcana.
Polar Ray, any of the crippling rays, (feeble, exhaustion, sickening) pretty much any ray that doesn't have more than one beam works fine. Especially for a strength based magus.
A lot of people seem to overlook the fact that Close Range ALSO allows you to make melee touch attacks with ranged touch spells, sans Spellstrike. This is terrific if you are a strength-based magus with a could-be-better Dexterity score.
In short, you can walk right up to someone, shake their hand, and disintegrate them. No Spellstrike necessary.