Magus Class: Spell Strike & Spell Combat Scenarios?

[Aroth Khashar]

Regarding the Magus class, which scenario is the correct usage of Spell Strike and Spell Combat:
1) The Magus uses Spell Combat to make a melee attack with a -2 penalty on the attack roll. He then casts a spell defensively and uses Spellstrike to deliver the attack through his weapon with a -2 penalty on the attack. (This results in 2 melee attacks in the round, one of which also deals the damage from the spell.)

2) The Magus uses Spell Combat to cast defensively and then delivers the spell through his weapon with a -2 penalty on the attack. (This results in a single attack for the round which deals both weapon and spell damage.)

[Kurald Galain]

The former.

You can do the latter without spell combat, so as a standard action and without the -2.

[MrCharisma]

I always recommend new Magus players read this:

GRICK'S GUIDE TO TOUCH SPELLS, SPELLSTRIKE, AND SPELL COMBAT

This will give you the mechanics of how Spell Combat and Spellstrike actually work. Also how Touch spells work, which is why this is all so weird, and seems to be something people only know properly if they've played with a Magus =P

Once you have the mechanics down, check out:

MYRRH, FRANKINCENSE, AND STEEL: KURALD GALAIN'S GUIDE TO THE MAGUS

This will help you work out which options work with your build and which options maybe to avoid (and as you can see Kurald is still active on the forums and is a helpful guy).

Also I don't know if I've ever said this, but propps to you Kurald for having the best name for a guide.