Hesitation Slash - awesome Lvl. 3 Power from Dragon

[Orcus Porkus]

I'm playing a Level 6 Eladrin Barbarian MC Fighter with Greatspear, Strength 18 and Dexterity 18, and after searching the Compendium I found this little awesomeness: A Level 3 Fighter Encounter Power that adds Dex to the attack roll, deals 2(W) + Strength damage, and grants me CA towards the victim until the end of my next turn. This is so cool, I'm thinking of investing a feat to snatch it.

Possible sequence:
- Start encounter with Instinctive Charge. +5 on Ini, +2 on first attack roll.
- Howling Strike charge attack with +3 bonus
- Spend Action Point
- Attack with Hesitation Slash (total +4 on attack), and most likely hit
2nd turn:
- Launch Thunderhawk Daily Rage on victim with CA
3rd turn:
- knock victim prone (Thunderhawk)
- continue the hurt

Fighter Attack 3

Hesitation Slash

You flick your weapon one way, then the next, slashing your opponent and making it unclear from which direction your next attack will come.
Encounter Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee wewapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Weapon: If you’re wielding a light blade or a spear, you gain a bonus to the attack roll equal to your Dexterity modifier.
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage, and the target grants you combat advantage until the end of your next turn.

 

[Dracorat]

Where you getting the +6?

I see the +4 from Dex, but that's all.

 

[Orcus Porkus]

fixed. Originally I wanted to start the turn with Hesitation Slash, which would grant the +6. That's an option when the enemy's AC seems really high.

The power is very versatile. Worth investing a feat?

 

[Dracorat]

It's an encounter, so it should be pretty good.

Remember you can do only one encounter power per encounter. So whether to invest a feat or not is no ask if it beats all the other encounter powers in your book?

 

[Hammerhead]

You could also get Rain of Blows at the same level, which also uses a spear.

 

[Kordeth]

Remember you can do only one encounter power per encounter.

Errr....no, you can use every encounter power you know once per encounter.

 

[Orcus Porkus]

Rain of Blows is a maximum of 2 attacks right? I remember there was some discussion of whether it actuall grants up to 4 attacks.
Anyway, I'd have to give up either Powerful Charge (+2 on damage when charging) or Surprising Charge (extra [W] when charging into CA). Since I charge a lot, this would really hurt.
I just think that the combo of +4 attack bonus (unheard of, and stacks with other stuff I might get) and having CA is pretty cool to have once per encounter...

 

[Lizard]

It's an encounter, so it should be pretty good.

Remember you can do only one encounter power per encounter. So whether to invest a feat or not is no ask if it beats all the other encounter powers in your book?

Uhm... no.

You can use EACH encounter power once per encounter. If you have four encounter powers, you can use all four in the same encounter.

 

[Tale]

And he's a DM. Oh lordy.

 

[Lizard]

And he's a DM. Oh lordy.

FWIW, I've seen a lot of people somehow lock on to this misconception. I'm not sure where it comes from or how the rules could have been any clearer.