guardianfallenangel
First Post
Does sneak attack damage get applied to spells if your within 30 feet?
Question about sneak attack
- Thread starter guardianfallenangel
- Start date
darthkilmor
First Post
Ray of Frost suddenly becomes cool when you have sneak attack 
pressedcat
First Post
As the others said, yes if you need an attack roll, and if the spell deals hit point damage (so it doesn't work with ray of enfeeblement etc). Also, if the spell deals energy damage, the sneak attack damage is all of the same type as well (so ray of frost gives you cold damage s.a, scorching ray does fire s.a.... you get the gist).
Actually, from the Rules of the Game:pressedcat said:
"Spells that inflict energy drains or ability damage deal extra negative energy damage in a sneak attack, not extra negative levels or ability damage. For example, a 10th-level rogue who makes a successful sneak attack with an enervation spell deals 1d4 negative levels plus an extra 5d6 points of negative energy damage."
This still means that it doesn't work with ray of enfeeblement, since that spell actually applies a penalty instead of doing damage.
Nonlethal Force
First Post
Yep. And with a few ranks in UMD you can turn a 750 gp wand of MM into a damage machine that doesn't miss. Assuming you are within 30 feet and you meet the conditions of sneak attack - it's an auto score!
Of course, a wand of Ray of Frost (assuming your DM allows it) would deal just about the same amount of damage for less money, but you'd have to roll the attack.
In the end, both are good deals for the rogue.
EDIT: Or wait a minute. MM doesn't require an attack role. Does that mean that you can't sneak with a MM spell? That seems odd.
Of course, a wand of Ray of Frost (assuming your DM allows it) would deal just about the same amount of damage for less money, but you'd have to roll the attack.
In the end, both are good deals for the rogue.
EDIT: Or wait a minute. MM doesn't require an attack role. Does that mean that you can't sneak with a MM spell? That seems odd.
Nonlethal Force
First Post
Yeah, that's what I just realized. I don't typically play rogues ... so this had never come up for me personally before. I think that's really odd. I understand why in terms of the auto-hit and thus game balance, but if you can sneak attack with a ranged spell that does damage, why not with MM?
Winding Road
First Post
Since Magic Missile doesn't require an attack roll, I'd assume there's not meant to be much precision to it. Sneak attack, on the other hand, is all about precision and hitting the enemy where they're vulnerable. A spell like Scorching Ray or Ray of Frost that you aim (make an attack roll) can be precise, so they can add SA dice, but Magic Missile is a lot more blunt, so SA isn't an option.
That's how I'd rationalize it, anyway.
That's how I'd rationalize it, anyway.
