Eldritch Blast and Ranged Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Eldritch Blast and Ranged Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Myzery78
01-06-08, 12:47 AM Hello, I recently had a situation where a player used an Eldritch blast against an adjacent creature and was unsure about what happens. Does the ranged attack provoke an AoO like firing a ranged weapon at an adjacent target? What if any are the consequences of using the blast or any ranged spell against an adjacent target? Thanks.
Marcus Majarra
01-06-08, 02:21 AM Attacking with a ranged weapon, which includes attacking with a ranged weapon-like spell, provokes AoOs. Keep in mind, however, that an action cannot provoke more than one AoO. For example, using an eldritch blast can provoke AoOs on two accounts: using a spell-like ability and attacking with a ranged weapon. You won't provoke two AoOs for using the eldritch blast within melee reach of an opponent, but you need to bypass both of these conditions in order to avoid provoking AoOs in the first place. Thus, even if you use the eldritch blast defensively, you still provoke an AoO for attacking with a ranged weapon, even though you no longer provoke an AoO for using a spell-like ability.
Meles_Meles
01-06-08, 09:53 AM Attacking with a ranged weapon, which includes attacking with a ranged weapon-like spell, provokes AoOs.

I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO.

Touch Attacks: Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity. However, the act of casting a spell does provoke an attack of opportunity. Touch attacks come in two types: melee touch attacks and ranged touch attacks. You can score critical hits with either type of attack. Your opponent’s AC against a touch attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. His size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) all apply normally.

Therefore, the use of Eldritch Blast only provokes an attack of opportunity on one ground, that it is a spell-like ability. If the Eldritch Blast is used defensively, then there is no AoO provoked.
Merestil Haye
01-06-08, 10:24 AM You've just missed a long argument on this.I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO.That's quite clearly an erroneous conclusion. A creature using a ranged weapon is not armed for the purposes of determining whether they provoke AoOs. The first sentence you quote can only be applying to melee touch attacks with spells.

Therefore, the use of Eldritch Blast only provokes an attack of opportunity on one ground, that it is a spell-like ability. If the Eldritch Blast is used defensively, then there is no AoO provoked.It is asserted that spells that allow you to make ranged attacks fall under all the relevant rules for ranged combat. This is not inconsistent with what the SRD and expansion books say about spells with attack rolls.

That would mean that yes, an AoO is provoked.

Marcus's post expresses my position in the last thread pretty succinctly.
Marcus Majarra
01-06-08, 02:00 PM I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO.
Whoa there, Nelly. A spell (or any ability) that requires a touch attack (melee or ranged) as part of its delivery mechanism is not a touch spell. A touch spell (or spell-like ability) is one for which the listed range is touch. The SRD segment you provided refers to touch spells, not to any ability that is discharged through touch attacks.

In any case, attacking with a ranged weapon-like ability is just like attacking with a ranged weapon, for the purposes of provoking AoOs, just like attacking with a touch weapon-like ability is just like attacking with a melee weapon for the same purposes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Myzery78 01-06-08, 12:47 AM	Hello, I recently had a situation where a player used an Eldritch blast against an adjacent creature and was unsure about what happens. Does the ranged attack provoke an AoO like firing a ranged weapon at an adjacent target? What if any are the consequences of using the blast or any ranged spell against an adjacent target? Thanks.
Marcus Majarra 01-06-08, 02:21 AM	Attacking with a ranged weapon, which includes attacking with a ranged weapon-like spell, provokes AoOs. Keep in mind, however, that an action cannot provoke more than one AoO. For example, using an eldritch blast can provoke AoOs on two accounts: using a spell-like ability and attacking with a ranged weapon. You won't provoke two AoOs for using the eldritch blast within melee reach of an opponent, but you need to bypass both of these conditions in order to avoid provoking AoOs in the first place. Thus, even if you use the eldritch blast defensively, you still provoke an AoO for attacking with a ranged weapon, even though you no longer provoke an AoO for using a spell-like ability.
Meles_Meles 01-06-08, 09:53 AM	Attacking with a ranged weapon, which includes attacking with a ranged weapon-like spell, provokes AoOs. I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO. Touch Attacks: Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity. However, the act of casting a spell does provoke an attack of opportunity. Touch attacks come in two types: melee touch attacks and ranged touch attacks. You can score critical hits with either type of attack. Your opponent’s AC against a touch attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. His size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) all apply normally. Therefore, the use of Eldritch Blast only provokes an attack of opportunity on one ground, that it is a spell-like ability. If the Eldritch Blast is used defensively, then there is no AoO provoked.
Merestil Haye 01-06-08, 10:24 AM	You've just missed a long argument on this.I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO.That's quite clearly an erroneous conclusion. A creature using a ranged weapon is not armed for the purposes of determining whether they provoke AoOs. The first sentence you quote can only be applying to melee touch attacks with spells. Therefore, the use of Eldritch Blast only provokes an attack of opportunity on one ground, that it is a spell-like ability. If the Eldritch Blast is used defensively, then there is no AoO provoked.It is asserted that spells that allow you to make ranged attacks fall under all the relevant rules for ranged combat. This is not inconsistent with what the SRD and expansion books say about spells with attack rolls. That would mean that yes, an AoO is provoked. Marcus's post expresses my position in the last thread pretty succinctly.
Marcus Majarra 01-06-08, 02:00 PM	I think you may be wrong about that. In the RAW, it mentions nothing about ranged weapon-like spells counting as ranged attacks for the purposes of AoO. And later on, under spellcasting, it states that discharging ranged touch spells (Eldritch blast is a ranged touch spell-like ability) specifically do not provoke an AoO. Whoa there, Nelly. A spell (or any ability) that requires a touch attack (melee or ranged) as part of its delivery mechanism is not a touch spell. A touch spell (or spell-like ability) is one for which the listed range is touch. The SRD segment you provided refers to touch spells, not to any ability that is discharged through touch attacks. In any case, attacking with a ranged weapon-like ability is just like attacking with a ranged weapon, for the purposes of provoking AoOs, just like attacking with a touch weapon-like ability is just like attacking with a melee weapon for the same purposes.