Arrowsong Mistrel Spellstrike + Rapid / Many Shot

[Minigiant]

How does the Arrowsong Mistrel's Spellstrike work with Rapid/Many Shot?

Is it 1 enhanced shot?

1 enhanced shot + 2 regular shots

or 1 enhanced shot, and 3 regular shots?

Our group is getting very confused

[Meirril]

If you want to use Spellstrike you get a single shot that contains a ranged touch spell. This is a standard action where you cast a spell and make a single attack with your bow to hit. If you hit the target takes damage from a single arrow plus the effects of your touch spell.

You do not get spell combat so you can't mix Spellstrike and other combat actions.

So either you get to do a full attack action with no spells, or you cast a spell as a standard action and use your bow to deliver said spell.

And at 18th level you'll get to shoot as many arrows as the spell you cast creates separate ray or line of effects.

If you dip 1 level into magus: eldritch archerer it will let you pick up Spell Combat with the provisions to use it with a ranged weapon, but you'll only be able to use Spell Combat with spells from the Magus list.

[baggageboy]

This isn't 100% true, or rather it fails to address the whole range of possibilities.

Spelstrike is the ability to deliver a spell via a weapon. Simple as that. There is NO ACTION associated with using spellstrike. All action interaction come from performing actions such as casting a spell. Spellstrike doesn't care.

As explained however if you cast a spell you have used a standard action. If you get a free attack with the spell you can then deliver the attack via the normal method or via spellstrike.

You could also hold the charge (for spells that allow such) then deliver the spell via the usual method or via spellstrike.

Or if you have a spell like chill touch that allows delivering on more than one attack you can continue to deliver the spell via a normal touch attack, or via spellstrike.

For an arrowsong minstrel this doesn't come up very often as most ranged touch spells don't allow holding the charge or have multiple charges (I can't think of any off the top of my head) but the distinction does matter.

For instance if you were to cast a quickened acid splash you could deliver it via spellstrike if you so chose, and then follow with a full round action. OR if you were to be able to gain the reach Spellstrike magus arcana via VMC magus or similar you could deliver several charges of chill touch. (BTW VMC magus is great with arrowsong minstrel if you can sacrifice the feats)