Attack of Opportunity reaching into adjacent square?

[ckdragons]

An enemy (A) and I (C) were separated by a 5-ft square (B), do I provoke an attack of opportunity by reaching into that square to retrieve an item?

| A | B | C |

[MrCharisma]

I don't think so.

[Chell Raighn]

I believe you do have to enter the square to pick something up if it is on the ground...

[Scott Wilhelm]

Only if the A Monster has 10' Reach or some other special ability.

You provoke an Attack of Opportunity by performing a Distracting Act inside a Threatened Square. Reaching into square B from square C, you are performing that Distracting Act in square C and not in square B, so if square C is not somehow being Threatened, you risk no Attacks of Opportunity.

If your GM is ruling that "reaching into a square" counts as "entering a square," you should bear this in mind for character builds in the Future. For instance, MOMS Monks with Panther and Snake styles are often stymied by opponents with Reach, but if you Provoke by reaching into square B, then monsters with Reach that attack a Panther/Snake Style Master must also Provoke.

Tell him he can't have it both ways. I believe a GM should make any rules he wants, but a GM should obey his own rules. I guess a nicer way to do that is just use that as a counter-example.

[Chell Raighn]

I actually found an official answer for this question in an FAQ

FAQ wrote:

Reach and Objects: Can you pick up or manipulate an object in a square within your reach? Does this provoke an AOO? Does it provoke even if the foe can reach the object, but not your space?

The rules are a little hazy here, but to put it simply, you can affect objects and creatures within your reach. When picking up or manipulating objects, you generally provoke an attack of opportunity, but only against foes that can reach your space. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity from foes that cannot reach you, no matter what action you are taking, even if it includes reaching into a threatened space. Although it might seem realistic to allow an attack in such a case, it would make the game far too complicated.
This answer originally appeared in the 9/25/12 Paizo blog.

So it would appear the official answer is in fact no... though the hazy part of the rules mentioned in the FAQ is likely due to what I stated earlier... your DM could rule that you must enter the square first before you can pick up the item.

[thorin001]

The pedantic answer is: you you provoke, but the opponent cannot make the attack because you are out of reach. This is just like the reach monster attempting to grapple you.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Picking up an Item always provokes an AoO. If you look at the chart of actions under combat it has its own listing with a yes in the Attack of Opportunity column. Now you may not be in a threatened square so like thorin001 say they may not be able to attack you unless they have a reach weapon.

Depending on the object you may need to move into the square. If you are picking up a spear there is a good chance you can reach it. If the object you are picking up is a coin that may be a different story. But that is a separate question.

[LordKailas]

Much the same way that casting a spell (non-defensively) provokes an AoO. If the square you're standing in isn't being threatened it doesn't matter.

[bbangerter]

Mysterious Stranger wrote:

Depending on the object you may need to move into the square. If you are picking up a spear there is a good chance you can reach it. If the object you are picking up is a coin that may be a different story. But that is a separate question.

This would be entirely GM fiat, as there is nothing in the rules distinguishing differences based on the size of object being retrieved. If it's in a square within your reach, its within your reach from the square you are standing in. If not, then it is in a square that is not in your reach.