Melee Spell Attack and Flanking

[PascalManders]

Does an enemy get the -2 AC penalty when being flanked and one of the flanking opponents uses a spell such as Gouging Claws which is a Melee Spell attack?

If not why is de term melee spell attack added if the range is touch and the defense is AC?

[Dr. Frank Funkelstein]

Yes.

Flanking:
"A creature is off-guard (taking a –2 circumstance penalty to AC) to melee attacks from creatures that are flanking it"

[NorrKnekten]

Also because of relevancy

Spell Attacks wrote:

Some spells require you to succeed at a spell attack roll to affect the target. This is usually because they require you to precisely aim a ray or otherwise make an accurate attack. A spell attack roll is compared to the target’s AC. Spell attack rolls benefit from any bonuses or penalties to attack rolls, including your multiple attack penalty, but not any special benefits or penalties that apply only to weapon or unarmed attacks. Spell attacks don’t deal any damage beyond what’s listed in the spell description. In rare cases, a spell might have you make some other type of attack, such as a weapon Strike. Such attacks use the normal rules and attack bonus for that type of attack.

So yes, it is indeed benefitting from anything that would benefit attacks in general, with Melee Spell Attacks being Melee Attacks. But they would never be Unarmed attacks unless the spell states that you use a melee unarmed strike.

[PascalManders]

NorrKnekten wrote:

Also because of relevancy

Spell Attacks wrote:

Some spells require you to succeed at a spell attack roll to affect the target. This is usually because they require you to precisely aim a ray or otherwise make an accurate attack. A spell attack roll is compared to the target’s AC. Spell attack rolls benefit from any bonuses or penalties to attack rolls, including your multiple attack penalty, but not any special benefits or penalties that apply only to weapon or unarmed attacks. Spell attacks don’t deal any damage beyond what’s listed in the spell description. In rare cases, a spell might have you make some other type of attack, such as a weapon Strike. Such attacks use the normal rules and attack bonus for that type of attack.

So yes, it is indeed benefitting from anything that would benefit attacks in general, with Melee Spell Attacks being Melee Attacks. But they would never be Unarmed attacks unless the spell states that you use a melee unarmed strike.

So a Melee Spell Attack may benefit from flanking, spells such a Gouging Claws for example.

[Tridus]

PascalManders wrote:

So a Melee Spell Attack may benefit from flanking, spells such a Gouging Claws for example.

Right. The melee version of Ignition is another example.