Magus Spellstrike. Does the spell damage or weapon damage happen first?

[BigDTBone]

When using spellstrike does the weapon damage or the spell damage happen first?

Why is this important?

I am designing an NPC Magus/Cleric/Mystic Theurge. With broad study the NPC will be able to use harm in his spellstrike. If the weapon damage occurs first then the most that could happen to the victim would be reduced to 1 HP with the harm spell. If the spell happens first the victim would be reduced to 1 with the harm, and then further weapon damage applied.

I can't find anything on this topic. Any ideas?

[Jeon]

I think this might help:

This is a portion of the text for spell strike

Core Rulebook wrote:

..a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell..

So the weapon attack is part of casting of the spell. I would argue that the spell effect always comes after the character has finished casting the spell and therefore the harm spell would apply after the weapon damage.

However, I would like to hear what someone else has to say about the matter.

[Grick]

BigDTBone wrote:

When using spellstrike does the weapon damage or the spell damage happen first?

Presumably the same way delivering a touch spell with an unarmed strike or natural attack does.

Holding the Charge: "If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges."

This pretty closely matches the wording for Spellstrike (Su): "If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell."

I'm pretty sure the order wasn't thought of when they wrote that, but I would have the weapon damage get applied and then apply the effect of the spell.

This would also make it work similar to a Spell Storing weapon, which casts the spell after the creature takes damage from the weapon.

Harm makes it a real corner case, though, so GM discretion would be more important. (IE: Does it help the story or make things more fun?)

[Starglim]

They happen as part of the same action. The action of casting harm can't reduce the target below 1 hit point. The spell has worked that way since 1st edition, so since there is ambiguity, we shouldn't invalidate the intent of the spell by a questionable wrinkle introduced by a new class ability.

I also agree with previous posters that the attack hits/is successful, then as a result, the spell effect discharges.