Nimble Strike

[Geek-Zilla]

So I'm checking out some of the D&DXP character sheets and notice something about the Ranger At-Will ability Nimble Strike. Namely the special rule for that ability that allows the PC to SHIFT 1 SQUARE before or after the attack.

Now from the PHB Lite, my understanding is that PCs are allowed a movement action, a standard action, and a minor action during their turn. So if I'm reading this correctly, the Ranger At-Will Nimble Strike allows for an ADDITIONAL move (being a 1 square shift) on top of his/her normal movement for their turn.

Is this how you read it? Seems to follow in the concept that Rangers are a mobility class.

 

[Bayonet_Chris]

Correct

Yes, that's right. The Ranger can take a minor action, a move action, then as a standard use nimble strike (including the shift that comes along with it).

 

[Dunamin]

Yep, that's how I read it.

 

[Belphanior]

Yes. As part of the standard action he both gets to attack and shift.

This isn't so much unique to the ranger, but to all striker classes. The rogue and warlock also have a high mobility (eg. tumble and teleportation, respectively). But people tend to forget and oversimplify and think striker = high damage.

There's other aspects as well. Strikers, I noticed, tend to avoid attacks altogether. The ranger can shift away before a blow lands. The warlock can conceal himself and make himself invisible against one target. The rogue likely still has evasion somewhere in there or other, similar abilities.

 

[NebtheNever]

The ranger can shift away before a blow lands.

If you're talking about Fox's Cunning, I don't think that's true. Because the power is a reaction and not an interrupt, it happens after you're attacked and not before.

 

[Delgar]

I agree with Neb. It's not an interrupt. Therefore it takes place after the attack, so the ranger can't avoid the blow, just make it hurt to hit him.

Strikers, I noticed, tend to avoid attacks altogether. The ranger can shift away before a blow lands. The warlock can conceal himself and make himself invisible against one target. The rogue likely still has evasion somewhere in there or other, similar abilities.

 

[Stalker0]

If you're talking about Fox's Cunning, I don't think that's true. Because the power is a reaction and not an interrupt, it happens after you're attacked and not before.

Yep, I made this mistake the first time I ran the ranger. But the mechanics as written say you move after the blow is landed. Further, even the flavor text supports this version, as it mentions using the force from a blow to move into a better position.

Nimble strike can be decently useful. The biggest uses:

1) Moving out of melee with a guy so you avoid an AOO on your attack.

2) You can shift out of cover, fire, and then move back into cover, effectively giving you complete protection.