Eidolon Rake

[Wind Chime]

I originally thought that the rake evolution was pretty rubbish because didn't work on every pounce like it did in the bestiary.

But looking at it now when combined with grab it is pretty lethal, because there is no limit to just raking once a turn I think it means with combat reflexes and a good strength you can get multiple AoE which each do three attacks(one attack to grab, the other two to rake).

Also is there anything to stop you on full attack releasing the grapple after every hit as a free action to get multiple rakes?

[Eridan]

[Houserule]
I had a similiar question on my table and we decided to use the rake rules from the Bestiary. There are two rules for one abilities. That dont make sense in my opinion. We started a voting and the Bestiary rule is the result on my table. I think it is the RAI way.

[Devilkiller]

AoE is usually Area of Effect. I think you mean AoO, which is Attack of Opportunity? The free attacks from Rake aren't AoOs though. They're just free. You won't need Combat Reflexes but Greater Grapple.

The eidolon's Pounce ability is certainly worded differently than the one in the Bestiary. I think many DMs are glad about this since it prevents the eidolon from adding two free rake attacks to its already complained about pounce. I too have noticed that the wording would seem to allow an eidolon with Greater Grapple to get 4 rake attacks per round. I'm not sure if that is intended although eidolons with Constrict can clearly Constrict more than once per round if they're willing to pay the IUS, Improved Grapple, Greater Grapple feat tax.

The rake attacks from the Bestiary technically don't work on a charge either if you try to use the rules as written since the rules say that you can only rake an opponent you started the round grappling. How could you charge such an opponent? I suspect that most groups just house rule the Bestiary Rake ability to work in a way that makes sense (ie - you can Rake on a Pounce and can also Rake when you maintain an established grapple)

If an eidolon is supposed to be able to Rake on a Pounce that would be pretty interesting to know. If it is allowed perhaps there should be a higher level limit on the Rake evolution. Even the Druid's big cat companion has to wait until 7th level to get Rake.

[Wind Chime]

Grab allows Eidolons to make a grapple attempt on every attack (as long as its a claw) if the grapple roll succeeds on each attack it could nearly triple the number of attacks you make.

[Grick]

Wind Chime wrote:

Grab allows Eidolons to make a grapple attempt on every attack (as long as its a claw) if the grapple roll succeeds on each attack it could nearly triple the number of attacks you make.

A sneaky GM could get around this by deciding that the free combat maneuver check granted by Grab is not a grapple check. (Even though it results in the grappled condition)

Since it's not specifically a grapple check, but a generic combat maneuver check, rake wouldn't trigger when you use grab, only when you successfully maintain the grapple (or initiate one regularly without grab).

Grab (Ex): "Whenever the eidolon makes a successful attack of the selected type, it can attempt a free combat maneuver check. If successful, the eidolon grapples the target."

Rake (Ex): "The eidolon receives these additional attacks each time it succeeds on a grapple check against the target."

[Artanthos]

The GM could also decide elves did not have hands since they are not explicitly listed racial features.

Combat Maneuver is a general classification, not a specific action. Common sense (a property frequently lacking in forum discussions) would dictate asking what kind of maneuver check is applicable.