Spell Combat give AoO?

[Blue Tempest]

So here's the dealio: A player who's Magus character utilized spell combat to attack an enemy A in front of her, and then turns around to cast her spell at enemy B behind her a few squares away.

The question is, does this provoke an AoO from enemy A?

[_Ozy_]

Yes, unless she casts her spell defensively or takes a 5' step to move out of the square threatened by A.

[bbangerter]

_Ozy_ wrote:

Yes, unless she casts her spell defensively or takes a 5' step to move out of the square threatened by A.

Ozy is correct.

Basically in casting a spell as part of spell combat you follow the normal rules for spell casting when it comes to provoking, defensive casting, etc.

[Ferious Thune]

Additionally, if it was a Ray or similar spell that requires a ranged attack roll, making the ranged attack would also provoke.

[Snowlilly]

You follow the normal rules for provoking AoO's while using spell combat.

[dragonhunterq]

IF your Magus hasn't done so already they can 5' step away from A, and if they are no longer in reach can cast without fear of provoking.

[The Sword]

Ferious Thune wrote:

Additionally, if it was a Ray or similar spell that requires a ranged attack roll, making the ranged attack would also provoke.

Do you mean to say casting scorching ray would provoke two separate attacks of opportunity or do you mean that using a ray provokes one aoo from two sources?

[Chess Pwn]

casting scorching ray at lv3 provokes 2 separate AoO. one for casting a spell, and once the spell is finished casting another for a ranged attack.
And as you get higher and shoot more rays, each ray provokes separately as well. So at lv7 you provoke a total of 3 separate times and could get hit by someone with combat reflexes 3 times.

[_Ozy_]

Also note, casting scorching ray defensively would prevent the first AoO from casting, but not the subsequent AoOs from making the ranged attacks.

[Talonhawke]

Chess Pwn wrote:

casting scorching ray at lv3 provokes 2 separate AoO. one for casting a spell, and once the spell is finished casting another for a ranged attack.

And as you get higher and shoot more rays, each ray provokes separately as well. So at lv7 you provoke a total of 3 separate times and could get hit by someone with combat reflexes 3 times.

Not quite the FAQ says you only provoke once if the rays are simultaneous.

Ranged Touch Attack Spells and AOOs: When you cast a spell that allows you to make a ranged touch attack (such as scorching ray), and an enemy is within reach, do you provoke two attacks of opportunity?
Yes, you provoke two attacks of opportunity: one for casting the spell and one for making a ranged attack, since these are two separate events.
Note that at spell that fires multiple simultaneous rays, such as scorching ray, only provokes one AOO for making the ranged attack instead of one AOO for each ranged attack. It still provokes for casting the spell.
This answer originally appeared in the 9/11/12 Paizo blog.

posted March 2013 | back to top

[Chess Pwn]

Oh right, forgot that they were simultaneous.

[Snowlilly]

dragonhunterq wrote:

IF your Magus hasn't done so already they can 5' step away from A, and if they are no longer in reach can cast without fear of provoking.

Yes.