Please rate Snatch Arrows

[smetzger]

Snatch Arrows [General]
REQ: Base Attack bonus +3, Deflect Arrows, Dex 15+, Improved Unarmed Strike
You must have at least one hand free to use this feat. When using the Deflect Arrows feat, you may catch the weapon instead of just deflecting it. Thrown weapons such as spears or axes can be thrown back at the original attacker as an immediate free action or kept. Projectile weapons such as arrows or bolts can be fired back normally on your next turn or later, if you possess the proper kind of bow or crossbow. Sword and Fist, pg 9

 

[The Souljourner]

Total crap. Monks are the only ones who get deflect arrows, except maybe a high level fighter who's run out of better feats to take. Monks need to spend their feats more wisely, and high level fighters who really want to be good at deflecting should wait 'til epic levels and start reflecting... no missile weapon needed.

Anyone else think infinite deflection and missile reflection just makes a damn cool image? 100 crossbowmen fire at a monk all at once, and every one of them gets his bolt bounced back at him. Too cool.

-The Souljourner

 

[gfunk]

I agree with Souljourner. If you need this feat to obtain arrows for your bow, then you are in serious trouble as it is.

 

[Stalker0]

I also agree this feat is crap. Deflecting is practically just as good as snatching, and isn't as feat expensive.

 

[maddman75]

While mecahnically its crap, I gave it a three for style. Catching a dagger and flinging it back at your opponent is very cool.

 

[Victim]

I also agree this feat is crap. Deflecting is practically just as good as snatching, and isn't as feat expensive.

I agree. Deflecting provides the same level of defense, and doesn't cost an extra feat. Against projectile weapons, snatch arrows is pretty much useless, since you still have to spend an action. Snatch arrows is only beneficial against thrown weapons. Since most characters using thrown weapons are going to be either high strength melee characters with thrown weapons as an inexpensive ranged threat with good damage, or a rogue with lots of daggers and sneak attack, a monk will probably miss out on all the damage from thrown weapons, making the feat a negligible offensive contribution.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

As others have said, this would only really be useful against a foe using magical spears or javalins, throwing and returning weapons, or the Throw Anything feat. I guess it could be useful against an Exotic Weapon Master too but that's about it.

Considering that it's primarily a monk feat and monks don't get many feats (and have good ones like pain touch and extra stunning attacks available to them), I think I might have rated it too high at 2.

 

[IceBear]

Question:

It's been awhile since I've read the rules, but lets say someone shoots an arrow of human slaying at the monk. If he deflects it, is the arrow now non-magical? If he snatches it, is it still magical?

This would be the only reason I could see to take this feat - to capture powerful magical arrows (if the enchantments are lost once shot).

IceBear

 

[AuraSeer]

It's been awhile since I've read the rules, but lets say someone shoots an arrow of human slaying at the monk. If he deflects it, is the arrow now non-magical? If he snatches it, is it still magical?

IMC the DM has ruled that magical arrows aren't discharged until they impact something. If you couldn't re-use a snatched magic arrow, this feat would be even less useful than it already is.

In fact, this is one of the main reasons I took this feat for my Ftr/Mnk/Sor/Arcane Archer. If somebody fires a Slaying Arrow at me, it gets marked "Return To Sender."

 

[Chun-tzu]

Here's what Sean K. Reynolds has to say:

Deflect Arrows should have a second paragraph in the Benefit line that reads as follows:

If you beat the check DC by 10 or more, you catch the missile instead of merely deflecting it.

(I don't feel the Snatch Arrows feat is really necessary, considering its many prereqs and very limited utility. Best to fold its abilities into an existing feat.)

http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/misc/PH_opinions_feats.html

I agree with Sean.