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<blockquote data-quote="James McMurray" data-source="post: 1390454" data-attributes="member: 743">Not if your foe has a high AC and a low touch AC. Against, for example, a dragon (not a red one of course) you'll be much better off making 2 touch attacks for 25 damage instead of 3 wild shape attacks which might not even hit. Your expected damage also increases due to the increased threat range (18-20/x2 instead of 20/x2).For instance, at 9th level you'll have +8/+3 to hit (assuming just BAB and +2 strength) with each attack dealing an average of 12.75 damage. We'll give 4 rounds of attacks (cast + attack for four rounds).As a wildshaped polar bear you'll have 2 claws +14 and a bite +9, with average damages of 12.5, 12.5, and 11.If your foe is a young adult green dragon (AC 25 without spells, touch AC 9), your average damage with the Flame Blade (not including crits) will be 21.7 damage per round, or 86.8 total damage. Of course, adding haste or crits will greatly enhance this damage.With flame blade and wild shaped attacks your average damage will be: 22 (flame strike, DC 18 for half) + 61 (claws). Total expected damage 83.The two average damages are very close, but Flame Blade didn't factor in the chance for a critical. And if there is a spellcaster hasting the party (and there should be in every dragon fight) then your expected damage increases greatly.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="James McMurray, post: 1390454, member: 743"] Not if your foe has a high AC and a low touch AC. Against, for example, a dragon (not a red one of course) you'll be much better off making 2 touch attacks for 25 damage instead of 3 wild shape attacks which might not even hit. Your expected damage also increases due to the increased threat range (18-20/x2 instead of 20/x2). For instance, at 9th level you'll have +8/+3 to hit (assuming just BAB and +2 strength) with each attack dealing an average of 12.75 damage. We'll give 4 rounds of attacks (cast + attack for four rounds). As a wildshaped polar bear you'll have 2 claws +14 and a bite +9, with average damages of 12.5, 12.5, and 11. If your foe is a young adult green dragon (AC 25 without spells, touch AC 9), your average damage with the Flame Blade (not including crits) will be 21.7 damage per round, or 86.8 total damage. Of course, adding haste or crits will greatly enhance this damage. With flame blade and wild shaped attacks your average damage will be: 22 (flame strike, DC 18 for half) + 61 (claws). Total expected damage 83. The two average damages are very close, but Flame Blade didn't factor in the chance for a critical. And if there is a spellcaster hasting the party (and there should be in every dragon fight) then your expected damage increases greatly. [/QUOTE]

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