Spring attack and Charge

MacMathan · Mar 1, 2003

Can the Spring Attack feat be used with the Charge attack action or is it more limited?
(Edited for my own idiocy)
Thanks,
-MacMathan

Dungannon · Mar 1, 2003

Assuming the title of the thread is correct and not the post, we're talking about Spring Attack and not Sneak Attack. In that instance, I would rule that you do one or the other, but you can't combine them. As the rules for Charge state "You must move before your attack, not after....You must stop as soon as you are within striking range of your tarkget. You can't run past him..." That would eliminate the benefit of Spring Attack of moving before and after a melee attack.

Spatula · Mar 1, 2003

Sneak attack or spring attack? You can use sneak attack with a charge if you meet the regular sneak attack conditions. Spring attack and charge and two different types of standard actions, however. Unless you were hasted you can only perform one or the other each round.

Caliban · Mar 1, 2003

I think you could use Spring Attack with a Charge.

The Spring Attack feat would negate any movement related AoO from the target, but the Charge action would prevent you from moving after you have attacked.

Spring Attack allows you to move after you attack, but doesn't require it. Charge requires that you not move again after you have attacked.

You have to use Spring Attack with an attack action, and a Charge is an attack action. (See the chart on page 122 of the PHB).

Legildur · Mar 3, 2003

Benefit: When using the attack action with a melee weapon, the character can move both before and after the attack, provided that the character's total distance moved is not greater than the character's speed.

(my emphasis).

So, as long as the charge was less than the character's speed, and in a straight line and moved at least 10ft of course, then I guess it might be okay.

Charge is a full-round action, but I think Caliban has it right to include it as an attack action where Spring Attack can be used. Although I remember some previous debate about whether it was a special action (but I think that was a movement related issue and not an attack action issue).