Protection from "magical" arrows

[Snifferdoo]

What is the best defense against magical arrows? I have a high level scout that is just too deadly with a bow, and that's his schtick, but at the same time he does about 9d6 every time he hits, and he rarely misses, so he makes short work of nearly any BBG. Are there reliable spells or magic items that offer more than a 20%-30% miss chance? Thanks.

 

[JoelF]

Well there's Displacement and Blink. The deflect arrows feat completely negates 1 arrow per round. Also, incorporeal foes have a built in 50% miss chance (plus can move in and out of solid objects, giving them total cover while inside of something. Also, there's the simple Tower Shield - gives total cover if you don't attack - perfect for closing on an archer - or at least providing a stalemate if the archer is faster.

Then there's all sorts of ways to gain concealment which would provide 50% miss chance, all of the fog spells, darkness, etc. Wall spells either provide total cover or would otherwise stop the arrows, like wall of fire or wind wall.

Also, don't neglect tactics to take out the archer - a dimension door spell can drop a bunch of melee fighters at the archer's feet and make his life difficult, similarly, summon spells can give him a melee threat to worry about.

 

[Voadam]

Defelect arrows feat, gloves of arrow deflection, mirror image, blink, incorporeal, displacement, cloak of greater displacement, henchman with shield of arrow attraction, invisibility, ring of invisibility, greater invisibility, shadow dancing from shadow dancer prestige class, all come to mind.

 

[Henrix]

Control Winds is a pretty good defense against ranged attacks. At windstorm strength normal missile weapons are useless, according to the DMG.

 

[mikebr99]

windwall
stoneskin
wall of force
etc.

Mike

 

[adwyn]

Sunder and disarm can be good tactics too if anyone can get close.

 

[Darklone]

Deflect arrows feat can really ruin the day for scouts

If he has the Greater Manyshot feat: Windwall. Sunder the bow. Get him grappled with Summoned Monsters.

And don't forget about tanglefoot bags to keep him from using improved skirmish

Duh: Best spell ever against these kind of attacks: Mirror Image.

 

[Stalker0]

Entropic Shield is a 1st level spell that gives 20% to ranged attacks.

 

[jefgorbach]

Animated Tower Shield
Tower shield offers total cover vs his ranged attacks while the animation eliminates the shield's normal encumberance hinderance.

 

[Pell-Mell]

Wind Wall is widely accessible (Air 2, Clr 3, Drd 3, Rgr 2, Sor/Wiz 3) and provides complete protection from arrows (Arrows and bolts are deflected upward and miss, while any other normal ranged weapon passing through the wall has a 30% miss chance.) It is also shapeable, so your bad guys can get creative.

For high-level clerics and druids, check out Stormrage (Clr 8, Drd 8) from the Spell Compendium. Among its many functions, the caster gains immunity from projectile weapons.

Lastly, for clerics aligned with Air, the Air Devotion domain feat in Complete Champainon. It does a couple things, but one of its functions is that gives a 50% miss chance to projectile weapons for a short time.