Magus and Chain Lightning

[MaxAstro]

Simple: If a magus spell strikes with Chain Lightning, does it still chain?

I'm learning towards "no", but that seems like a somewhat unfortunate reading.

[shroudb]

I dont think it'll chain.

Chain lightning has "Target:1, plus any number of additional creatures"

while magus specifically say that multitargeting spells only target initial target. IF chain lighnting's "chaining" was only an effect of the spell and wasnt specified as additional targets, it could potentially work, but as written i dont see it.

[Thebazilly]

Ancillary Effects wrote:

It still has any non-targeted effects that might affect creatures other than the target, and any ongoing effects starting from the moment you hit with the Strike. For example, acid splash would still deal its splash damage to creatures other than the target, tanglefoot’s penalty would last for its normal duration, and vampiric touch still gives you temporary Hit Points. The spell takes effect after the Strike deals damage; if the Strike has other special effects, the GM determines whether they happen before or after the spell.

The words that jump out at me here are "non-targeted effects." Since Chain Lightning still has to target a save to jump to a new enemy, I think you're correct that it doesn't chain.

[HumbleGamer]

I agree it doesn't.

Any spell, regardless the description, has to target just the one the magus spell strikes.

[Kalaam]

It would kind of chain with Whirlwing Spellstrike since it allows to discharge the spell to a number of target up to the maximum allowed by the spell.
I think chain lightning would then be a very good high level spell for the magus.