What possible use is "Deflect Arrows" to a Zen Archer?

[Prethen]

If the archer is using bow, a 2-handed weapon, when would the Deflect Arrow feat ever be usable? It's on the list of bonus feats for the Zen Archer. Seems like a waste.

[Brf]

A bow is held in one-hand. It is only fired with two.

[StDrake]

When you're not pulling the string you're only using one hand to handle a bow. With the other hand you can catch an arrow instead of deflecting it to notch it the next round :D

and if someone argues - it's a free action to let go of something you're holding, just remember to declare at the end of your turn that you're letting go of the bow with one hand (but not the other)

[Mystically Inclined]

Brf wrote:

A bow is held in one-hand. It is only fired with two

^This

[Prethen]

I agree with that, but I wonder if a GM would allow that. Is there an official ruling in regards to this?

[StDrake]

I think there was a ruling stating that it's a free, if not immediate, action to switch between 1 and 2-handed wielding. If a GM wants to be an a** towards you and say you cant deflect because a bow is 2-handed, you get back at him declaring at the start of each of your turns that you start wielding the bow with both hands, then at the end of it that you switch to 1-hand. He'll get bored listening to that eventually

[Prethen]

Makes sense.

[Kazaan]

Prethen wrote:

I agree with that, but I wonder if a GM would allow that.

If he doesn't, he doesn't deserve to be GM.

[Combat Monster]

Seeing as how you fire an arrow by releasing the bow string, I don't think you should even have to mention that you are only holding the bow with one hand after a shot. If the GM is caught up on that level of foolishness, my advice would be get out while you can.

[Starglim]

A bow is not a two-handed weapon. It's a ranged weapon that requires two hands to load and to fire. When you're not doing either of those things, you can hold it in one hand.

[RedDogMT]

StDrake wrote:

I think there was a ruling stating that it's a free, if not immediate, action to switch between 1 and 2-handed wielding. If a GM wants to be an a** towards you and say you cant deflect because a bow is 2-handed, you get back at him declaring at the start of each of your turns that you start wielding the bow with both hands, then at the end of it that you switch to 1-hand. He'll get bored listening to that eventually

The only free action you can use on your turn is speaking...and an immediate action is generally only used with abilities that state it.

As Starglim commented, a bow is not a two handed weapon. The user has a free hand available when it is needed.

[RDM42]

RedDogMT wrote:

StDrake wrote:

I think there was a ruling stating that it's a free, if not immediate, action to switch between 1 and 2-handed wielding. If a GM wants to be an a** towards you and say you cant deflect because a bow is 2-handed, you get back at him declaring at the start of each of your turns that you start wielding the bow with both hands, then at the end of it that you switch to 1-hand. He'll get bored listening to that eventually

The only free action you can use on your turn is speaking...and an immediate action is generally only used with abilities that state it.

As Starglim commented, a bow is not a two handed weapon. The user has a free hand available when it is needed.

From the pfsrd -

What kind of action is it to remove your hand from a two-handed weapon or re-grab it with both hands?

Both are free actions. For example, a wizard wielding a quarterstaff can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action, cast a spell as a standard action, and grasp the weapon again with that hand as a free action; this means the wizard is still able to make attacks of opportunity with the weapon (which requires using two hands).

As with any free action, the GM may decide a reasonable limit to how many times per round you can release and re-grasp the weapon (one release and re-grasp per round is fair).

[Alexandros Satorum]

So, I suppose that if you do not have both hands ready to use the bow then you can not use the snap shot feat chain.

[Nefreet]

Nowhere, on any table in the CRB, or any other book, is a bow listed as a two-handed weapon.

You can Deflect Arrows, and Snap Shoot, just fine, holding a bow in one hand, so long as your other hand is free.

[RedDogMT]

RedDogMT wrote:

StDrake wrote:

I think there was a ruling stating that it's a free, if not immediate, action to switch between 1 and 2-handed wielding. If a GM wants to be an a** towards you and say you cant deflect because a bow is 2-handed, you get back at him declaring at the start of each of your turns that you start wielding the bow with both hands, then at the end of it that you switch to 1-hand. He'll get bored listening to that eventually

The only free action you can use on your turn is speaking...and an immediate action is generally only used with abilities that state it.

I should correct myself:

The only free action you can use outside your turn is speaking...and an immediate action is generally only used with abilities that state it.

From the PRD:
In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn...all

Unless stated otherwise in an ability/feat/etc, only immediate actions, AOO, and speaking (free action) can be done outside your turn.

[Quandary]

Which doesn't matter in StDrake's case because he's talking about doing hand-switching on your turn so that everything is clear.