CMB-Am I reading this right?

[Westbrook87]

According to the Combat page on PFSRD, when making a combat maneuver in place of a melee attack, you replace your normal attack bonus with your CMB.

In other words, you can give up your weakest attack with a much more effective combat maneuver. Am I missing something?

[Nefreet]

Plenty of characters are built around that very concept. Just be sure you have the appropriate feats or else you'll be incurring attacks of opportunity.

[BuzzardB]

Since your CMB is made up of your BAB, wouldn't it use the BAB of your current iterative attack?

[Nefreet]

Say you're a 1st level Fighter with a 16 Strength wielding a masterwork sickle, and you have the feat Improved Trip.

Your options when attacking are:

Strike with your sickle for damage.
BaB +1, Str +3, Mwk +1 = +5 to hit vs. their AC, dealing 1d6+3 damage.

Or...

Trip with your sickle.
BaB +1, Str +3, Mwk +1, Feat +2 = +7 to hit vs. their CMD, tripping them if you succeed.

In some situations, tripping might be the better option, while in others, straight damage might be your best bet.

[Westbrook87]

BuzzardB wrote:

Since your CMB is made up of your BAB, wouldn't it use the BAB of your current iterative attack?

That's exactly what I'm wondering.

[Nefreet]

If you get multiple attacks due to having a high enough base attack bonus, your iterative attacks are going to suffer the same cumulative -5 penalty regardless of whether you're using a weapon or a maneuver.

[Chemlak]

This appears to be unclear. Hmmm.

So, if you want to FAQ it, here's the question:

When replacing an 'iterative' attack with a combat manoeuvre, does your CMB use the iterative attack's reduced Base Attack Bonus?

[Pupsocket]

Here's the thing: There's no such thing as a +6/+1 Base Attack Bonus. There's only a +6 BAB and an iterative attack suffering a -5 penalty. I looked it up in some unsexy part of the rules not too long ago (having had the exact same idea), and found that it was completely unambiguos.

[RainyDayNinja]

CMB checks are attack rolls, so they receive any bonuses or penalties that would apply to any other attack roll.

[blackbloodtroll]

Any time you could make an attack, you can make a Disarm, Sunder, or Trip attack.

Iterative attacks, AoOs, etc.

[Claxon]

If you perform a combat manuever you absolutely use the iterative BAB (which means including the penalty). The only mention using your CMB because you might have bonuses that apply to attack rolls but not combat manuevers (which I can't think of any) or have bonus that apply to your CMB but not attack rolls (such as the Dueling enchant from the Pathfinder Society Guide).

Either your attack roll or CMB includes using your BAB, which means your current BAB (which includes penalties from cumaltive attacks).

Edit: Also include penalties and bonus for weapons. If you could somehow bullrush as a melee attack rather than standard action then you wouldn't use your weapon enhancement bonus on the roll because Bull Rush does not use a weapon as part of it.