Improved Uncanny Dodge vs Rogues [Archive] - Wizards Community

Improved Uncanny Dodge vs Rogues [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kahil
07-17-07, 07:33 AM Hi, The discription of Improved Uncanny Dodge says it works vs all Sneek attacks of Rogues unless there 4 levels higher.

But will it work vs things like Sudden Strike and Sneek attacks of other classes that are not Rogues?
Platstud
07-17-07, 08:04 AM It does apply to sneak attack from other classes, and levels in other classes with sneak attack would stack with rogue levels to determine whether they were 4 levels higher and could ignore the effect.

As for sudden strike, it has nothing to do with being flanked and therefore this ability doesn't apply to it.
Dheran
07-17-07, 10:52 AM It's not just Rogues and Barbarians, but multiclass Scouts and some Clerics can avoid being flanked also.

Uncanny Dodge combines with itself to become Improved Uncanny Dodge, so you can get that ability a bit more quickly with the right combination. Straight Rogues get Improved Uncanny Dodge at level 8, but a Barbarian 2/Cleric 1 with the Fate domain also gets Improved Uncanny Dodge.

One good thing to note is that all the levels from classes that grant Uncanny Dodge add up to be compared to the attacker's Rogue/other sneak attack class levels. Taking the Fate domain lets all your Cleric levels be included in this sum, whereas Cleric levels without the Fate domain don't count.
Kouk
07-17-07, 12:31 PM Hi, The discription of Improved Uncanny Dodge says it works vs all Sneek attacks of Rogues unless there 4 levels higher.

But will it work vs things like Sudden Strike and Sneek attacks of other classes that are not Rogues?

It does not say it works to prevent all Sneak Attacks, it says that it prevents Sneak Attacks due to Flanking. You can still be hit with a Sneak Attack when you are Helpless.

The main thrust of the ability is that you cannot be Flanked. This has the secondary impact of preventing a Rogue or other class with a Sneak Attack ability (such as Assassin) from being able to Sneak Attack you by flanking you (unless he is 4 levels higher). So, unless the other abilities you are asking about work based on when an opponent is flanked, it will not help.

Skirmish and Sudden Strike have nothing to do with an opponent being Flanked, so Improved Uncanny Dodge does not prevent those abilities from doing extra damage. It does still prevent flanking from those enemies which may or may not help your AC a bit.

Normal Uncanny Dodge grants some protection against Sudden Strike though, because Sudden Strike requires the opponent to be denied a dexterity bonus, and being Flat Footed is one way that you might be denied your Dexterity bonus. With regular Uncanny Dodge you do not lose your Dexterity Bonus from being Flat Footed (such as before you get to move in a combat) or attacked by Invisible opponents (such as Ninja using Ghost Step) so a Ninja would have to find some other way to deny you your Dexterity bonus (such as Feinting).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kahil 07-17-07, 07:33 AM	Hi, The discription of Improved Uncanny Dodge says it works vs all Sneek attacks of Rogues unless there 4 levels higher. But will it work vs things like Sudden Strike and Sneek attacks of other classes that are not Rogues?
Platstud 07-17-07, 08:04 AM	It does apply to sneak attack from other classes, and levels in other classes with sneak attack would stack with rogue levels to determine whether they were 4 levels higher and could ignore the effect. As for sudden strike, it has nothing to do with being flanked and therefore this ability doesn't apply to it.
Dheran 07-17-07, 10:52 AM	It's not just Rogues and Barbarians, but multiclass Scouts and some Clerics can avoid being flanked also. Uncanny Dodge combines with itself to become Improved Uncanny Dodge, so you can get that ability a bit more quickly with the right combination. Straight Rogues get Improved Uncanny Dodge at level 8, but a Barbarian 2/Cleric 1 with the Fate domain also gets Improved Uncanny Dodge. One good thing to note is that all the levels from classes that grant Uncanny Dodge add up to be compared to the attacker's Rogue/other sneak attack class levels. Taking the Fate domain lets all your Cleric levels be included in this sum, whereas Cleric levels without the Fate domain don't count.
Kouk 07-17-07, 12:31 PM	Hi, The discription of Improved Uncanny Dodge says it works vs all Sneek attacks of Rogues unless there 4 levels higher. But will it work vs things like Sudden Strike and Sneek attacks of other classes that are not Rogues? It does not say it works to prevent all Sneak Attacks, it says that it prevents Sneak Attacks due to Flanking. You can still be hit with a Sneak Attack when you are Helpless. The main thrust of the ability is that you cannot be Flanked. This has the secondary impact of preventing a Rogue or other class with a Sneak Attack ability (such as Assassin) from being able to Sneak Attack you by flanking you (unless he is 4 levels higher). So, unless the other abilities you are asking about work based on when an opponent is flanked, it will not help. Skirmish and Sudden Strike have nothing to do with an opponent being Flanked, so Improved Uncanny Dodge does not prevent those abilities from doing extra damage. It does still prevent flanking from those enemies which may or may not help your AC a bit. Normal Uncanny Dodge grants some protection against Sudden Strike though, because Sudden Strike requires the opponent to be denied a dexterity bonus, and being Flat Footed is one way that you might be denied your Dexterity bonus. With regular Uncanny Dodge you do not lose your Dexterity Bonus from being Flat Footed (such as before you get to move in a combat) or attacked by Invisible opponents (such as Ninja using Ghost Step) so a Ninja would have to find some other way to deny you your Dexterity bonus (such as Feinting).