The correct order in which to resolve effects


Rules Questions


Let's say, hypothetically, that I am running an Antipaladin build. He has Power Attack, Cornugon Smash, and Intimidate maxed out. He is also using a Conductive and Spell Storing Weapon (with Bestow Curse stored).

When I hit an enemy using Cornugon Smash, I get a free action Intimidate, I also can channel my Touch of Corruption, and also deliver my Curse all at the same time, but which one goes first? Whatever goes first could result in instant death, or in a bunch of null effects.


I don't think there are rules for this.


You would go in the order by which the actions execute, what options you have after each action, which ones you may or may not take and when you have met all the conditions to trigger each action. You need to read the fine print of whether something is an immediate action, a free action, or if it occurs as part of any action, and understand how all of these mechanics come together individually, and then a spart of a whole. Most of all, it also depends on how your DM wants to handle it.

So it would go like this:

Antipaladin uses Power Attack to resolve the attack.

First: If the attack hits, Cornugon Smash requires you to decide if you want to make the intimidate check at that time because it is an "immediate" check made as a free action. Operative word being "immediate."

Second: Since the attack hits, Conductive's conditions are met as the result of the "successful attack". Conductive does not require any kind of action, so it happens as part of something else (the attack). It is part of the attack since the target suffers "the effect of both the weapon attack and the special ability" at the same time (i.e. weapon damage and Conductive/Touch of Corruption). So you resolve the damage and effects of Touch of Corruption. Weapon damage always comes first unless otherwise stated.

Third: Spell Storing requires that the target "takes damage" from the weapon before its conditions for use are met. Since resolving weapon damage and Touch of corruption happened at the same time (see above) releasing the spell as a free action is the last step. If the creature was struck but did not take damage in the last step due to damage reduction or any other defenses, you cannot trigger Spell Storing.

And that's how you do it :)

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