Mounted Combat


Rules Questions


I've never done mounted combat before. If my ranger were to get on a horse (2x2 on grid) - to move the horse around that would be a move action for the mount but would it cost ME any move actions?

I believe I could do my full attack while my horse does his move action. Can he use that move action BEFORE AND/OR AFTER I shoot my bow? I'm assuming I can't shoot my arrow, have my horse do a move action then I finish my full attack after?

Being on a mount gives me a +1 to attack right? (high ground)

IF I became small via reduce person. I would get a +1 to att, +1 to AC and able to ride a small mount that would only take up a 5x5 spot (1 grid spot). But I'd lose 2 strength only?

Any other recommendations on mounted combat would be greatly appreciated.


Mounted combat is a mess with the rules. I will answer what I am sure about based on the rules.

If your mount moves more than 5 feet then you can only make a single melee attack but you can full attack with a ranged weapon regardless how far it moves incurring a -4 pentalu to attack if the mount double moves and a -8 penalty to attack if it’s running. If your mount double moves or runs then you make the ranged attack halfway through the mount’s movement. Otherwise I assume you can move and attack or attack and then move as usual and I am not sure how this interacts with a full attack. In any case I don’t think that the mount moving uses your move action.

You get the +1 to attack for high ground if your mount is larger than the enemy you are attacking.


It doesn't cost you move actions to make your mount move, no. Not even if it flat out runs (takes the run action, moving 4 times its base move in a straight line).

You can't split your full attack action over your mounts move (unless there's some helpful feat or something somewhere) but you can take it before or after your mount's move if it's ranged.

That's right about reduce person, though the action cost in casting reduce person then mounting up could be a little awkward.


While the mounted combat rules can get tricky, they are spelled out fairly well in Core (pg 201-202)

Your mount needs to be combat trained or your options will be limited.

You get the higher ground bonus to melee attacks only. Every ranged PC on a mount seems to get that wrong.

If your mount moves more than 5 feet, you get to make a single melee attack. Likewise with a charge, but you get double damage if using a lance.

You can make a ranged full attack when the mount has completed half its move. -4 attack penalty if mount double moves, -8 if it runs.

I’m not sure where the rule is (maybe in Cavalier?), but there are restrictions for mounts that are not one size larger than the rider. So, being small on a large mount might cause issues, but I’m not sure.

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