Psychic Strike and Critical Hits [Archive] - Wizards Community

Psychic Strike and Critical Hits [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheKeyofE
05-19-07, 05:05 AM Okay, I honestly feel really dumb for having to ask this, but does a Soulknife's Psychic Strike do double damage on a critical?

The XPH doesn't explicitly say. It says that unlike a rogue's sneak attack, it is not precision based and can still affect creatures immune to critical hits (provided they're living and not mindless). That almost implies that it would do double damage on a critical.

However, in my mind it is thematically similar to sneak attack and so should not do double damage. Also, most effects that add extra dice to an attack, such as flaming weapon or psychokinetic weapon, do not do double damage on criticals. These would indicate Psychic Strike works the same.

Is there a ruling on this? If so, what is it and how did I miss it? If not, what are your thoughts?

If Psychic Strike does critical damage, that would make Improved Critical (Mind Blade) or the Keen augment slightly more useful and definitely worth taking in my mind. If Psychic Strike does not crit, that would make Improved Critical or Keen slightly less useful (unless you're a build that doesn't use PS at all) and not really worth taking.

And honestly, if Psychic Strike can crit, that might make Soulknives feel a little less underpowered.
Fafnir
05-19-07, 05:13 AM Only static bonuses multiply on criticals. Additional dice do not. :whatsthis
TheKeyofE
05-19-07, 06:05 AM Okay, that's what I thought. I had been playing that way, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't needlessly gimping myself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheKeyofE 05-19-07, 05:05 AM	Okay, I honestly feel really dumb for having to ask this, but does a Soulknife's Psychic Strike do double damage on a critical? The XPH doesn't explicitly say. It says that unlike a rogue's sneak attack, it is not precision based and can still affect creatures immune to critical hits (provided they're living and not mindless). That almost implies that it would do double damage on a critical. However, in my mind it is thematically similar to sneak attack and so should not do double damage. Also, most effects that add extra dice to an attack, such as flaming weapon or psychokinetic weapon, do not do double damage on criticals. These would indicate Psychic Strike works the same. Is there a ruling on this? If so, what is it and how did I miss it? If not, what are your thoughts? If Psychic Strike does critical damage, that would make Improved Critical (Mind Blade) or the Keen augment slightly more useful and definitely worth taking in my mind. If Psychic Strike does not crit, that would make Improved Critical or Keen slightly less useful (unless you're a build that doesn't use PS at all) and not really worth taking. And honestly, if Psychic Strike can crit, that might make Soulknives feel a little less underpowered.
Fafnir 05-19-07, 05:13 AM	Only static bonuses multiply on criticals. Additional dice do not. :whatsthis
TheKeyofE 05-19-07, 06:05 AM	Okay, that's what I thought. I had been playing that way, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't needlessly gimping myself.