Shield Slam AoO Abuse


Rules Questions


Hi. I'm just looking to make sure this Thunderstriker strategy is valid (although I think I originally discovered it as a Phalanx Fighter, but I prefer this):

Thunderstriker Fighter (can shield bash with a buckler at 7th level while weilding a two handed weapon)

Dex 17 minimum, Str hopefully higher

1 Combat Reflexes
1 Two Weapon Fighting
2 Improved Shield Bash
3 Lunge
4 Improved Bull Rush
5 Double Slice (not that necessary)
6 Shield Slam
7 Greater Bull Rush (so bull rush provokes)
8 Improved Two Weapon Fighting

Fortuitous Polearm

With twf I get an attack breakdown of with two shield slams (I think its irrelevant whether i treat them as my mainhand or offhand). Assuming both slams manage at least a 5 foot bull rush, will I be able to get off all 4 of my attack of opportunities within my full attack? Basically:

1) Shield Bash at -2 > bull rush > AoO provoked, two polearm attacks at -0 and -5
2) Polearm attack at -2
3) Shield Bash at -7 > bull rush > AoO provoked, two polearm attacks at -0 and -5
4) Polearm attack at -7


No, this will not work.

1) Greater Bull Rush does not allow you to make attacks of opportunity against the target for the resulting movement. It allows your allies to make attacks of opportunity against the target for the resulting movement.

CRB p125 wrote:
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus on checks made to bull rush a foe. This bonus stacks with the bonus granted by Improved Bull Rush. Whenever you bull rush an opponent, his movement provokes attacks of opportunity from all of your allies (but not you).

2) Fortuitous only allows you to make ONE extra AoO per round at a -5, not 2.

ACG p214 Fortuitous wrote:
This special ability can be placed only on melee weapons. A fortuitous weapon grants the wielder more attacks of opportunity. Once per round, when the wielder of a fortuitous weapon hits with an attack of opportunity, he can make a second attack of opportunity with this weapon against that foe at a –5 penalty.


Consider combining Thunderstriker with Eldritch Guardian. Get a mauler familiar. Take Paired Opportunists. You will end up losing 3 feats from your build (and bravery) but you should be able to do what you suggest as long as your familiar is adjacent.


One other thing I just realized, you cannot use a two-handed weapon while shield bashing with your buckler.

I know, it seems like the archetype should allow you to do so but during the two-handed weapon and armor spikes thread Jason Bulmahn basically said you couldn't (it is discussed by others for a few posts if you keep reading).

The Exchange Owner - D20 Hobbies

Unless you have 3 arms, you can't use a shield to shield bash and a two handed weapon in an attack sequence.

Scarab Sages

It really looks like the thunderstriker archetype intended for you to be able to TWF with a a two-handed weapon and buckler,but it doesn't have any specific rules text that allows you to.

Like Titan Mauler pre-errata, it's an archetype that doesn't do what it's supposed to do.


Imbicatus wrote:

It really looks like the thunderstriker archetype intended for you to be able to TWF with a a two-handed weapon and buckler,but it doesn't have any specific rules text that allows you to.

Like Titan Mauler pre-errata, it's an archetype that doesn't do what it's supposed to do.

I bet the original version did, but was nerfed before publishing, so now it doesn't, but still has a lot of the set-ups for it left from back when it did.

I bet that's what happened to Titan Mauler too.

Sovereign Court

How are you taking Lunge at level 3? Should that be Power Attack instead?


The thunderstriker seems to be more based around using a 1 handed weapon with 2 hands on attack, and still having the buckler for defense and TWF which is normally not available as you can't shield bash with one. It says as written, when wielding a weapon in 2 hands not wielding a 2 handed weapon. Whether that is an editing choice and not the author's intent is a good question.

Now, in response to the OP, no, you don't get AoO's provoked even with a reach weapon from your own bullrush, only allies get them, as was quoted above.


Well that's unfortunate. But anyway, thanks for the clarifications.

Ascalaphus wrote:
How are you taking Lunge at level 3? Should that be Power Attack instead?

Oh, we were using a ruleset that gave us free power attack (among other perks for martials).

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