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School me in th art of Charging.
- Thread starter Akarashi
- Start date
Hedgemage
First Post
In no particular order as I remember them...
1) Unless a power or item specifically states that it does something after a charge attack, a charge ends your turn. This means you can't use a free action after a charge, but, if you have something that is an immediate reaction and it is triggered by the charge, you can use it because immediate reactions don't have to be part of your turn.
2) Charging is a standard action, and as part of it, you have to move at least 2 squares. You can move, run, teleport, etc. as a move action prior to moving these two squares when charging. You can move up to your standard movement rate as part of the charge action.
3) You get +1 to hit on the attack granted by a charge.
4) The movement that is part of the charge has to put you in the space closest to your enemy from your starting position. You can use your move action to run circles around your enemy, but your charge action must essentially end in the space you can attack the enemy that was nearest your starting position. If that space is occupied you CAN'T CHARGE.
5) Movement that is part of the charge action draws opportunity attacks the same as normal movement, unless you have a power, item, feat, etc. that changes this.
6) Every rule to charging has an exception granted by a power, feat, item, etc. Watch out for those.
7) Unless a power, feat, item, etc. lets you do something else, the attack at the end of a charge is a Basic Attack or a Bull Rush.
1) Unless a power or item specifically states that it does something after a charge attack, a charge ends your turn. This means you can't use a free action after a charge, but, if you have something that is an immediate reaction and it is triggered by the charge, you can use it because immediate reactions don't have to be part of your turn.
2) Charging is a standard action, and as part of it, you have to move at least 2 squares. You can move, run, teleport, etc. as a move action prior to moving these two squares when charging. You can move up to your standard movement rate as part of the charge action.
3) You get +1 to hit on the attack granted by a charge.
4) The movement that is part of the charge has to put you in the space closest to your enemy from your starting position. You can use your move action to run circles around your enemy, but your charge action must essentially end in the space you can attack the enemy that was nearest your starting position. If that space is occupied you CAN'T CHARGE.
5) Movement that is part of the charge action draws opportunity attacks the same as normal movement, unless you have a power, item, feat, etc. that changes this.
6) Every rule to charging has an exception granted by a power, feat, item, etc. Watch out for those.
7) Unless a power, feat, item, etc. lets you do something else, the attack at the end of a charge is a Basic Attack or a Bull Rush.
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Heyy, thanks a lot for clearing this up. I've had it wrong all this time 
So since charge ends your turn, you still get a basic melee attack at the least right? Also, is this why some powers have: this power can be used in place of a melee attack?
So just to make sure I understand, So I can move my full 7 squares as an elf then charge 7 squares?
So since charge ends your turn, you still get a basic melee attack at the least right? Also, is this why some powers have: this power can be used in place of a melee attack?So just to make sure I understand, So I can move my full 7 squares as an elf then charge 7 squares?
Hedgemage
First Post
Yes to both questions.
You can use a Move Action to move 7 squares, and then the movement part of a charge can be your elf's full 7 squares, and the attack part can be either a bull rush or a basic attack unless he has a power or item that says otherwise. If he's a Barbarian, for example, he can use his Howling Strike At-Will power in the place of the basic attack because it is specifically mentioned in the power's description.
Remember, that whatever the 'attack' whether it is a Basic Attack, Bull Rush, or other, you get a +1 to hit because of the charge.
You can use a Move Action to move 7 squares, and then the movement part of a charge can be your elf's full 7 squares, and the attack part can be either a bull rush or a basic attack unless he has a power or item that says otherwise. If he's a Barbarian, for example, he can use his Howling Strike At-Will power in the place of the basic attack because it is specifically mentioned in the power's description.
Remember, that whatever the 'attack' whether it is a Basic Attack, Bull Rush, or other, you get a +1 to hit because of the charge.
Hedgemage
First Post
One more thing I just remembered that gave me trouble in the past -
You can Run with a move action prior to a charge. Using the elf example above, this means that the elf can run 9 squares (move action) and then move 7 squares and attack (charge action).
The downside of running before a charge is that you have a total of -4 to attack (-5 for running, +1 for charging) and you grant combat advantage until the start of your next turn. And, on the off chance that you make an attack before your next turn, it will be at -5 since the penalty for running stays with you, but the bonus for charging only is for that one attack.
Still, having an elf barbarian move 16 squares and making an at-will attack is not something to dismiss. Especially since you can take feats to lessen the penalties, move faster, do more damage, etc.
Charging is a very valid tactic.
You can Run with a move action prior to a charge. Using the elf example above, this means that the elf can run 9 squares (move action) and then move 7 squares and attack (charge action).
The downside of running before a charge is that you have a total of -4 to attack (-5 for running, +1 for charging) and you grant combat advantage until the start of your next turn. And, on the off chance that you make an attack before your next turn, it will be at -5 since the penalty for running stays with you, but the bonus for charging only is for that one attack.
Still, having an elf barbarian move 16 squares and making an at-will attack is not something to dismiss. Especially since you can take feats to lessen the penalties, move faster, do more damage, etc.
Charging is a very valid tactic.
This is incorrect, for two reasons.
First, a Free action can indeed be performed after a charge. This is clarified by the FAQ for Player's Handbook 2 at FAQ for Player's Handbook II! which clearly states this in the answer to question 6.
Secondly, Immediate actions can never be used on your turn, as per page 268 of Player's Handbook.
While you must move at least 2 squares, this movement must be "directly to the nearest square from which you can attack the enemy." (PHB 287) This means creatures with Reach must stop at the full extent of their reach, including PCs wielding reach weapons. "directly" is also important, you cannot wander around obstacles as part of the charge, though certainly as it is movement jumps are allowable.
All true, but remember that given that diagonal movement is the same as non-diagonal movement in 4e, the problem if "the" square being filled comes up rarely (only on hard diagonals) and can be fixed easily, with a lateral shift with your move action prior to charging.
The major hit list for these include :
- Badge of the Beserker (Neck) : Movement made as part of a charge does not provoke OAs.
- Vanguard Weapon : Extra 1d8 damage on charge attacks
- Boots of Adept Charging : Shift 1 after a charge
- Horned Helm : Extra 1d6 damage on charge attacks
- Marauder's Armor : +1 AC after charging until next turn.
- Fast Runner (feat) : +2 Speed when Charging (and running)
- Roundabout Charge (paragon feat): Charge to any square adjacent to the target.
Not just a Basic Attack, but explicitly a Melee Basic Attack. Anything that can be used as a Melee Basic Attack can be done at the end of a charge, plus many powers have a Special note stating they can be used in place of a Melee Basic Attack at the end of a charge. This can include encounters and even some Daily powers.
Charge can be very very powerful, I have an Orc Barbarian who is a charge specialist, it can be a very potent attack when you learn to work with it.
Ah, who figured such a simple mechanic could cause so much fuss? So a few questions:
1. If a charge has to be directly to the target, you can't zig zag? It has to be a direct straight charge?
2. Can I use my move action to position myself by moving horizontally or even away from the target then charge?
1. If a charge has to be directly to the target, you can't zig zag? It has to be a direct straight charge?
2. Can I use my move action to position myself by moving horizontally or even away from the target then charge?
1) As long as each square is moving you closer, you can zig-zag, just no movement that does not reduce your range to the target.
2) Absolutely, this is very common and useful. Often I will charge a ranged combatant, who will shift away 1 square on their turn, and I will shift back 1 square on my turn and then charge. You are free to use your move action for whatever purpose you like, it is unrelated to the charge.
This is a GM's call, I'm afraid, as nothing explicitly defines directly. At my tables, I would allow this but I know many people who would not. The most common rule I've seen applied at tables is the range rule, in your example you are at range 3 from the target, so your first step in the charge must be to range 2, then range 1. Given that rule, this would not be possible as there is no square you can reach that moves you to range 2 in your example.
On the other hand, this is a great time to use your move action to move prior to the charge, clear the obstructing corner, and then charge on your standard.
