Is Spring Attack worth it?

[Stalker0]

As others have mentioned, its very good in a limited number of builds. For a ranger, I would not recommend it.

Shot on the Run could be a decent feat for a archer ranger. Note that spring attack and shot on the run work differently in 3.5 than it did in 3.0. In 3.5, you can can move,attack,move as your ATTACK action...that means you still have a move action left.

So you can move 30 ft as your move action, then move 15 feet, attack, and move 15 feet as your attack action.

 

[Felix]

I find Spring Attack synergizes very well with a two-handed weapon and Power Attack.

If you PA for quite a bit, then against higher-AC foes, the first attack is the only one that has a good chance of hitting; that damage bonus from a two-handed weapon will help your offense, and springing away after the attack will mitigate the AC loss from not carrying a shield.

 

[Geoff Watson]

As others have mentioned, its very good in a limited number of builds. For a ranger, I would not recommend it.

Shot on the Run could be a decent feat for a archer ranger. Note that spring attack and shot on the run work differently in 3.5 than it did in 3.0. In 3.5, you can can move,attack,move as your ATTACK action...that means you still have a move action left.

So you can move 30 ft as your move action, then move 15 feet, attack, and move 15 feet as your attack action.

I think they're supposed to work the same as they did on 3.0, but the writers of 3.5 forgot to change these feats when they changed the definition of 'Standard Action'.

Geoff.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I am SOOOOO glad no one made any lame jokes about the seasons in this thread so far!

Well, if a lot of opponents start readying trips, as frankthedm suggests, then Spring Attack can quickly become Fall Attack...

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

Well, if a lot of opponents start readying trips, as frankthedm suggests, then Spring Attack can quickly become Fall Attack...

-Hyp.

Argh, he did it again...

Where has the Summer gone?

 

[FireLance]

I think they're supposed to work the same as they did on 3.0, but the writers of 3.5 forgot to change these feats when they changed the definition of 'Standard Action'.

For the record, the "stealth errata" in the revised PH states something along the lines of Spring Attack allowing you to split your move action so that you move both before and after your attack action. Unless someone is prepared to argue that Spring Attack grants you an additional move action, that closes off the "move, attack, move as an attack action" interpretation.

 

[BadMojo]

Spring attack is great for rogues or scouts though that can add damage to one good shot.

I really think these are the only situations where I would use Spring Attack. Other than a pure fighter built for TWF (like the Tempest mentioned earlier), would you really want to spend two feats on Dodge and Mobility when you could be getting stuff like Power Attack, Leap Attack or the new Weapon Spec. feat tree in PHB II?

 

[satori01]

There are feats in PHB II, like Bounding Assault that let you make more than one attack with Spring Attack, albeit at a reduced rate of hitting. The Tempest PrC and the feat Dual Strike, (I think it is the name, CoAdv feat I think),are options that let you make an offhand strike at the same time as you take a full move.

It is doable, but not a common choice for a Two Weapon fighter. Though flavor wise you could say you are emulating a Lion and pounce.

I personally love Spring Attack and think the feat is underutilized.
First off Mobility is a great feat, and helps alot. Secondly, contrary to what Frank said, one of the players in my group will often use Spring Attack to harry an approaching enemy by striking out at the enemy, and then moving back into her original defensive position.

Speed Enhancement obviously helps the utility of the feat, but it is a great tool to have in the tool box.

 

[Crothian]

would you really want to spend two feats on Dodge and Mobility when you could be getting stuff like Power Attack, Leap Attack or the new Weapon Spec. feat tree in PHB II?

Yes, because Spring Attack is cool but so is the feat after it.

 

[BadMojo]

I do think a +4 to AC is great, even if it is for AoO's only, but unless you're the heavily armored tank I don't know how wise it is to be regularly moving around in an enemy's threatened area.

If you've got the heavy armor, chances are your not doing the "agile, mobile fighter" thing anyway, if you're a Monk or a Rogue it seems like using the Tumble skill would be a much safer bet.

It also seems like Mobility loses a lot of its usefulness once you get Spring Attack.

I don't think it's a strong feat by any means, but it's not a waste like Toughness or Skill Focus. It just seems like Spring Attack has a moderately steep pre-req cost with Dodge (fairly useful) and Mobility (mediocre). Since it seems like most of us agree that Spring Attack works best with sneak attack or skirmish damage, or a dedicated TWF build I would answer the OP's question as: Yes, as long your character was built to do one of the things listed above.