Favored Power Attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Favored Power Attack [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
masamunekaigen
12-18-07, 03:56 PM I heard there was a feat called Favored Power Attack. Am I right in assuming it increases your power attack output by 50-100%.

I'm considering it for a build involving the below combos and variants:

Ranger:
-Trade Combat Style for Wild Shape (small and medium only) and Barbarian fast movement
-Trade Wild Shape for Aspect of Nature
-Trade Animal Companion for Solitary Hunter (FE Bonus to accuracy too)
-Favored enemy: arcanist (almost all increases to here), human, evil outsiders, and undead
-Trade Evasion for Spell Deflection (Complete Mage)

Barbarian (one level):
-Lion Totem (Trades fast movement for the Run feat since I have it as ranger)
-Rage for Whirling Dervish

Item:
Girdle of Hatred (every Ranger gets one eventually)

Feats: (Just a few of them)
Favored Dodge (arcanists), Nemesis (arcanists), and Favored Power Attack.
Eerongal
12-18-07, 04:06 PM Favored power attack is in complete warrior, it bumps your PA multiplier up by 1X against favored enemies, basically.
Tordak
12-18-07, 04:19 PM And if you don't care about your caster level (many good Ranger spell don't rely on it) go with mage slayer, pierce magical protection (and possibly pierce magical concealement also, but that will cost an extra blind-fighting feat).

Favored power attack is in Complete Warrior. You can check the consolidated list on Crystal Keep (look it up on google) to be sure and have a short description.

The benefit you get from it is similar to leap attack : when you trade you AB for additional damage via power attack, you do it with a 1:2 ratio with one handed weapon, 1:3 ratio with 2 handed.

I'm not sure trading evasion for spell deflection is worth it. You do it a limited number of time per day, and you need to be miss where most ranged attack spells require only a range touch attack; you'll need a huge touch AC to make it worthwhile. You could consider becoming (at the lost of a few ranger level) an occult slayer; it's an ok deal to be better against every magic user, you'll get strong immunities.

Or, with evasion, consider 3 level of Hexblade (if you're evil) to get Arcane resistance (+ cha bonus to all saves vs spells and spell-like) and mettle (same as evasion but works for will and fortitude saves), as well as a little boost to will save (which will be a bit lacking). If you can rage, also consider the feat Mad Foam Rager (from the PHB2).
masamunekaigen
12-18-07, 06:51 PM I thought Spell Deflection was an unlimited number of times per day once a round as an immediate action.

Favored Dodge covers my touch AC (adding my FE bonus to my AC vs attacks from that favored enemy.) I'll have +12 dodge bonus to AC at 10th and +20 at 20th. I think that covers my touch AC. But you are right...I was pondering giving that up.

As unbalanced as mages are, a 20th level magehunting ranger sneaking up on one is crazy too. Just with the FE bonus (if all upgrades are put in it) of FE (arcanist), Solitary Hunter, Favored Power Attack and a Girdle of Hatred that ranger could deal +60 damage per hit, +80 with a two-handed weapon. If you get a full attack that's 240/320 damage just from that. I'm packing a base STR of 18, +4 from whirling frenzy, Belt of Giant Strength +6, and +8 from Aspect of Nature's STR boost (the AC drop reversed by the AC boost from the frenzy, which also grants another attack). Regardless of weapon the mage facing that ranger better get him with some Forcecages.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
masamunekaigen 12-18-07, 03:56 PM	I heard there was a feat called Favored Power Attack. Am I right in assuming it increases your power attack output by 50-100%. I'm considering it for a build involving the below combos and variants: Ranger: -Trade Combat Style for Wild Shape (small and medium only) and Barbarian fast movement -Trade Wild Shape for Aspect of Nature -Trade Animal Companion for Solitary Hunter (FE Bonus to accuracy too) -Favored enemy: arcanist (almost all increases to here), human, evil outsiders, and undead -Trade Evasion for Spell Deflection (Complete Mage) Barbarian (one level): -Lion Totem (Trades fast movement for the Run feat since I have it as ranger) -Rage for Whirling Dervish Item: Girdle of Hatred (every Ranger gets one eventually) Feats: (Just a few of them) Favored Dodge (arcanists), Nemesis (arcanists), and Favored Power Attack.
Eerongal 12-18-07, 04:06 PM	Favored power attack is in complete warrior, it bumps your PA multiplier up by 1X against favored enemies, basically.
Tordak 12-18-07, 04:19 PM	And if you don't care about your caster level (many good Ranger spell don't rely on it) go with mage slayer, pierce magical protection (and possibly pierce magical concealement also, but that will cost an extra blind-fighting feat). Favored power attack is in Complete Warrior. You can check the consolidated list on Crystal Keep (look it up on google) to be sure and have a short description. The benefit you get from it is similar to leap attack : when you trade you AB for additional damage via power attack, you do it with a 1:2 ratio with one handed weapon, 1:3 ratio with 2 handed. I'm not sure trading evasion for spell deflection is worth it. You do it a limited number of time per day, and you need to be miss where most ranged attack spells require only a range touch attack; you'll need a huge touch AC to make it worthwhile. You could consider becoming (at the lost of a few ranger level) an occult slayer; it's an ok deal to be better against every magic user, you'll get strong immunities. Or, with evasion, consider 3 level of Hexblade (if you're evil) to get Arcane resistance (+ cha bonus to all saves vs spells and spell-like) and mettle (same as evasion but works for will and fortitude saves), as well as a little boost to will save (which will be a bit lacking). If you can rage, also consider the feat Mad Foam Rager (from the PHB2).
masamunekaigen 12-18-07, 06:51 PM	I thought Spell Deflection was an unlimited number of times per day once a round as an immediate action. Favored Dodge covers my touch AC (adding my FE bonus to my AC vs attacks from that favored enemy.) I'll have +12 dodge bonus to AC at 10th and +20 at 20th. I think that covers my touch AC. But you are right...I was pondering giving that up. As unbalanced as mages are, a 20th level magehunting ranger sneaking up on one is crazy too. Just with the FE bonus (if all upgrades are put in it) of FE (arcanist), Solitary Hunter, Favored Power Attack and a Girdle of Hatred that ranger could deal +60 damage per hit, +80 with a two-handed weapon. If you get a full attack that's 240/320 damage just from that. I'm packing a base STR of 18, +4 from whirling frenzy, Belt of Giant Strength +6, and +8 from Aspect of Nature's STR boost (the AC drop reversed by the AC boost from the frenzy, which also grants another attack). Regardless of weapon the mage facing that ranger better get him with some Forcecages.