Mirror Image

[Nym Moondown]

If I hit a target with a mirror image effect active and I hit the real caster (and not an image) can I still then declaring I'm hitting "that specific image" so to negate the spell from now henceforth?

In other words when I attack do I choose one specific image (so I can choose it again if I hit the true caster)? Or is it always random?

[Firebug]

Always random.

Though if the target has a lot of images, close your eyes. You will have a 50% miss chance, but won't have to roll for images since Mirror Image requires the attacker to see the images.

[CBDunkerson]

The reason you can't keep attacking a specific image is that they overlap and move through each other.

Ok, you got the correct target on one attack... but before the next time you can hit them that image and the others have all merged in and split apart again... making it impossible to determine which was the one you hit last time.

[blahpers]

Sorta like this, but the images are more opaque.

[Nym Moondown]

Thx!
A friend is arguing that it works differently from 3.5, mainly because its description has been changed deleting the part about "overlapping and moving through each other".
He says that in PF if you target the real caster you can clearly keep on targeting him, negating the spell as a whole.

[Chell Raighn]

Your friend is wrong. The only mechanical change to Mirror Image in pathfinder from 3.5 is that in pathfinder targeted spells that don’t require an attack roll bypass the illusions, while in 3.5 such spells still suffered a miss chance. Anything that has an attack roll must roll agains the miss chance from the illusions and may destroy an illusion instead of hit their intended target. The only way to bypass it with an attack roll is to either close your eyes (50% miss chance for fighting blind) or be under the effects of a spell such as true sight that lets you know which ones are illusions and which one is real. Technically Deathwatch could also allow one to ignore the illusion as an illusion would read as neither alive nor dead...

[PFRPGrognard]

Mirror Image even fools blindsight.

[blahpers]

Nym Moondown wrote:

Thx!

A friend is arguing that it works differently from 3.5, mainly because its description has been changed deleting the part about "overlapping and moving through each other".
He says that in PF if you target the real caster you can clearly keep on targeting him, negating the spell as a whole.

If your friend is parsing the text that specifically, then he'll note that there's no provision for specifically targeting an image, and that specifically targeting the caster (while looking at them) is exactly what makes the "miss" chance kick in in the first place.

[blahpers]

PFRPGrognard wrote:

Mirror Image even fools blindsight.

Not likely.

Blindsight wrote:

Some creatures possess blindsight, the extraordinary ability to use a nonvisual sense (or a combination of senses) to operate effectively without vision. Such senses may include sensitivity to vibrations, acute scent, keen hearing, or echolocation. This makes invisibility and concealment (even magical darkness) irrelevant to the creature (though it still can’t see ethereal creatures). This ability operates out to a range specified in the creature description.

Blindsight never allows a creature to distinguish color or visual contrast. A creature cannot read with blindsight.
Blindsight does not subject a creature to gaze attacks (even though darkvision does).
Blinding attacks do not penalize creatures that use blindsight.
Deafening attacks thwart blindsight if it relies on hearing.
Blindsight works underwater but not in a vacuum.
Blindsight negates displacement and blur effects.

If displacement and blur don't work due to using a non-visual sense to "see", I would expect mirror image to fail as well--so long as the creature wasn't trying to use real vision, anyway. Mirror image is a visual illusion, nothing more.

[Nym Moondown]

Thx, I think the same, glad to see there are no doubts here about. :)

[Azothath]

Mirror Image, an Illusion (Figment).
Displacement and Blur are an Illusion(Glamer).

From the CRB
Figment: A figment spell creates a false sensation. Those who perceive the figment perceive the same thing, not their own slightly different versions of the figment. It is not a personalized mental impression. Figments cannot make something seem to be something else. A figment that includes audible effects cannot duplicate intelligible speech unless the spell description specifically says it can. If intelligible speech is possible, it must be in a language you can speak. If you try to duplicate a language you cannot speak, the figment produces gibberish. Likewise, you cannot make a visual copy of something unless you know what it looks like (or copy another sense exactly unless you have experienced it).

Because figments and glamers are unreal, they cannot produce real effects the way that other types of illusions can. Figments and glamers cannot cause damage to objects or creatures, support weight, provide nutrition, or provide protection from the elements. Consequently, these spells are useful for confounding foes, but useless for attacking them directly.
A figment’s AC is equal to 10 + its size modifier.

Glamer: A glamer spell changes a subject’s sensory qualities, making it look, feel, taste, smell, or sound like something else, or even seem to disappear.

How much difference there is in Mirror Image is a GM call.

I think the key text in Mirror Image is, "These images remain in your space and move with you, mimicking your movements, sounds, and actions exactly." which implies Blindsight will not defeat the spell as it includes sounds etc.

Part of GM decision making is power level or a sense of fair play. Many would say a 3rd level spell should defeat a 1st or 2nd level spell. So there is game balance to consider. Unfortunately as an Monstrous Ability Blindsense and Blindsight don't particularly come under spell lists and spells ARE different from Monstrous Abilities (Regeneration!).

[blahpers]

Spell level is a poor metric to use when comparing whether a spell should "defeat" another. Pathfinder RPG spells aren't really designed that way, with a few notable exceptions (magical light and darkness come to mind).

I never noticed the "sounds" part of mirror image's description, but it doesn't mesh with the rest of the spell description, which clearly leaves the impression that the effect is primarily visual and thus is foiled when vision is taken out of the equation.

[Bloodrealm]

All the images react, so the only way you know if you've hit the real one is whether or not one of the several copies of that person disappears. You don't know which of the remaining ones is actually the real person.