I'm wondering about the interaction of Spectral Hand with Imaginary Weapon, specifically if it would allow you to make both Strikes on 2 adjacent targets or 2 targets separated by 5 feet (XOX).
Spectral Hand :
You create a semi corporeal hand out of your essence that delivers touch spells for you. Whenever you Cast a Spell with a range of touch, you can have the hand crawl to a target within range along the ground, touch it, and then crawl back to you. When making a melee spell attack with the hand, you use your normal bonuses. The hand can move as far as it needs to within range.
Imaginary Weapon :
Cast somatic, verbal
Range touch; Targets 1 creature
You create a simple weapon of force. Make a melee spell attack roll against your target's AC. If you hit, you deal your choice of bludgeoning or slashing damage equal to 1d8 plus your spellcasting ability modifier. On a critical success, you deal double damage and can choose to detonate your weapon to push the target 10 feet away from you.
Heightened (+1) The damage increases by 1d8.
Amp You form multiple force weapons to lash out at multiple foes. You make two imaginary weapon Strikes, each against a different target. Your multiple attack penalty doesn't increase until you've made both Strikes.
Amp Heightened (+1) The damage increases by 2d8 instead of 1d8.
Spectral Hand says that the hand can touch a single target, but so does Imaginary Weapon.
My question is : if the hand can get into position to target 2 ennemies, can you do both strikes from the Amped Imaginary Weapon?
Bonus question : Do you control the movement of the hand (possibly avoiding AoOs) or does it just automatically take the shortest path to the target?
Thanks a lot in advance for your input !
Yes and no.
The hand says that it targets a single enemy, so from a strict RAW reading you can only use it to target one enemy. But you can target an enemy with the hand and an enemy at touch range, so it still gives you more room to use Imaginary Weapon. Still, if you really want to benefit from Imaginary Weapon double attack, I think the best thing to do is to use Reach Spell.
Also, it's unclear if you control the movement of the hand but you don't have to as the hand doesn't trigger AoOs: It's no creature and it doesn't use move actions. Spell effects rarely trigger reactions. The only way to destroy the hand as a reaction is to use a Ready action.
Still, if you really want to benefit from Imaginary Weapon double attack, I think the best thing to do is to use Reach Spell.
The problem is that you can’t use both an Amp and metamagic on the same spell so that wouldn’t work.
I’m using the sorcerer dedication to get access to Long Limbs so I will be able to use that, but I still want to have Spectral Hand as a backup to reach far ennemies. It’s also neat because it will let me use my third action for something else than extending the limbs.The question for me is if you need to actually touch 2 ennemies, or does touching one ennemy triggers the spell and then lets you do 2 strikes within range.
The problem is that you can’t use both an Amp and metamagic on the same spell so that wouldn’t work.
Yes, I always forget about this one. It's true that it only works for the unamped version.
The question for me is if you need to actually touch 2 ennemies, or does touching one ennemy triggers the spell and then lets you do 2 strikes within range.
I'm not sure I really understand the question. When you cast the spell you can target 2 enemies at range (touch range). With the hand you can target one enemy at touch range and one enemy at hand range.
I'm not sure I really understand the question. When you cast the spell you can target 2 enemies at range (touch range). With the hand you can target one enemy at touch range and one enemy at hand range.
That’s actually still helpful I did not think about that. Since I can get reach for 1 minute with Long Limbs I will be able to move within reach of 1 enemy and target another one far away thanks to the hand.