Does Magic Missile count as an Attack?

[Covert Operator]

I'd like to combine Magic Missile with Kirin Strike. is that permissible?

[Valantrix1]

No, because you are not making an attack roll.

[Saffron Marvelous]

Casting a spell isn't explicitly an attack, but if I'm not mistaken, you should be able to use it with rays and touch spells, since they use an attack action.

[Seems]

I would say no, based on the following:

"The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat, so long as it has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can’t be singled out."

To me, since Kirin Strike is based on knowing (and therefore targeting) your enemies' weak spots, it doesn't help Magic Missile, which can't target specific spots on a creature. I think of it as a self-guided missile, it locks on the caster's target as opposed to being aimed/guided by the caster.

[TriOmegaZero]

Magic Missile is a spell and not a ranged attack by the rules, even though it is considered an attack. So I would say this does not work.

[Covert Operator]

Are there any abilities that do add damage to magic missile?

I can think of:

• metamagic.
  
• sorcerer - orc bloodline.
  
• the trait that adds 1 force damage to all damaging spells.
  

I want to use a Quarterstaff of Entwined Serpents

[Gisher]

Covert Operator wrote:

Are there any abilities that do add damage to magic missile?

I can think of:

• metamagic.
  
• sorcerer - orc bloodline.
  
• the trait that adds 1 force damage to all damaging spells.
  

I want to use a Quarterstaff of Entwined Serpents

None of those things would apply to a spell from a magic item. You would have to cast Magic Missile yourself to benefit from them.

[DJEternalDarkness]

Yeah magic items are kind of immune to all the spell boosts. It can shoot 2 missiles that do 1d4+1 damage each. Granted it's at will, so as long as you want to throw 2 missiles instead of a flurry, go for it.