Kensai magus and Iaijutsu shenanigans


Rules Questions


I have a 12th lvl Kensai Magus focusing on whipping and tripping. He has the requisite whip feats and improved and greater trip.

With the Iaijutsu class feature I can draw my weapon as a free action in order to make an attack of opportunity.

Let me know if you think this scenario would work...

I'm in a situation where multiple opponents are within 15', or can be with a 5' step and my becoming large. I am unarmed but am holding a rod of toppling.

I cast monstrous physique 2 as a part of spell combat, becoming a large 4 armed gargoyle.

I then cast a quickened magic missile, being sure to hit all the enemies within 15', utilizing the toppling rod. The creatures are damaged and I get a trip attempt against each with a +23 CMB. Some go down. With greater trip they provoke.

I use Iaijutsu to draw my whip as a free action and attack the provokers. With combat and superior reflexes I get lots of AoOs.

I then get my normal spell combat attacks attacks with the whip.


Not sure about that. Maybe. Some parsings of the rules seam to indicate you can't have a hand occupied with anything other than a weapon during spell combat. Not sure how most GMs would rule on it.

But you can just skip the Iaijutsu shenanigans and use the Spellsword spell to put the Toppling Rod into your whip.


You must be holding your weapon, with your other hand empty, to initiate spell combat.

Your off-hand must remain empty for the duration of the spell combat action.

Spell Combat wrote:
To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand.

Kifaru suggested the appropriate means to accomplish this.


Don't forget the Long Arm spell.


Volkard Abendroth wrote:

You must be holding your weapon, with your other hand empty, to initiate spell combat.

Your off-hand must remain empty for the duration of the spell combat action.

Spell Combat wrote:
To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand.
Kifaru suggested the appropriate means to accomplish this.

I have an empty off hand for the duration of the round. I start off holding just the rod, and the fist spell I cast makes me a 4 armed gargoyle even when wielding the whip and holding the rod I have two empty off hands. My only issue is the rod is not a weapon.

Spellsword is a pretty bad spell. For a 3rd lvl spell with its limited use it should be hours per lvl. Even at its shorter duration, it should be dismissable. What if you want to separate them or embed a different rod. If someone decides to sunder my leather whip, I lose the weapon and the rod.

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