Is a Ruffian Rogue able to sneak attack with Gouging Claw?

[markrivett]

Title says it all.

Is a Ruffin Rogue
https://2e.aonprd.com/Rackets.aspx?ID=1
able to sneak attack
https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=10
via Gouging Claw attack?
https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=920

[MEATSHED]

Gouging claw is a spell attack, while sneak attack needs either a weapon or unarmed strike, with ruffian removing some restrictions on the weapons they can use with it. Ruffian doesn't allow sneak attacking with spell attacks, they need magical trickster to do so.

[Taja the Barbarian]

markrivett wrote:

Title says it all.

Is a Ruffin Rogue
https://2e.aonprd.com/Rackets.aspx?ID=1
able to sneak attack
https://2e.aonprd.com/Classes.aspx?ID=10
via Gouging Claw attack?
https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=920

Gouging Claw is a spell attack rather than a weapon, so you'd need the Magical Trickster feat:

Magical Trickster <Feat 4> wrote:

Rogue

Source Core Rulebook pg. 185 4.0
Whether you’re using magic items, wielding innate magic, or dabbling in spellcasting, you can sneak spells past your foes’ defenses as easily as any blade. When you succeed at a spell attack roll against a flat-footed foe’s AC and the spell deals damage, you can add your sneak attack damage to the damage roll. If your single spell leads to multiple separate damage rolls, apply your sneak attack damage only once per target.

[Red Metal]

No, because sneak attack requires a strike, and gouging claw is a spell attack, not a strike. Ruffian loosens the restriction on what weapons you can sneak attack with, but it doesn't change the fact that sneak attack requires a strike.

If you want to sneak attack with gouging claw, you need the magical trickster feat.