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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Patryn of Elvenshae" data-source="post: 3794675" data-attributes="member: 23094">... and why it is wrong.First, the FAQ's position.  It was first elucidated in this Q&A, and has since moved into other questions ("Can an AoO provoke an AoO?" etc.).The FAQ states that Sunder, like Grapple, Tripe, etc., may be performed once in an attack action, multiple times during a full attack action, or during an AoO.The FAQ's answer is incorrect, as it is based on faulty premises.First: "If it were a special standard action, its description would say so (as the descriptive text for the Manyshot feat says)."A description of an ability is only part of the rules for an ability.  The full set of rules for that ability can oftentimes be found in multiple areas.  For instance, Sunder, itself, is found on the table "Actions in Combat" under the heading "Standard Actions."Now, there is a primacy of rules guideline, in which, if there is a conflict, the full rules text takes precedence over an example (including a summary on a table).  However, this rule only comes into effect if there is, in fact, a contradiction.  Since there is not an outright contradiction in this case - the rules text can be read in a way which does not cause a contradiction - this rule does not come into effect.Accordingly, Sunder is a standard action in its own right because it is listed, in the table "Actions in Combat," as a standard action.Second: "Sunder does indeed get its own entry in Table 8–2: Actions in Combat in the Player’s Handbook. It needs one because unlike a regular melee attack, sunder provokes an attack of opportunity (although not if you have the Improved Sunder feat)."This is demonstrably false.The Grapple attack option has its own entry in Table 8-2: Actions in Combat.  It can be used in place of a regular melee attack, and provokes an AoO (although not if you have the Improved Grapple feat).However, the Grapple attack option is not listed under the Standard Actions header.  It is, instead, listed (along with Disarm and Trip, the other two examples quoted by the FAQ) under the "Action Type Varies" header.More importantly, the Grapple, Disarm, and Trip listings include Footnote 7, which, according to the table, means "These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity."This footnote is missing from the Sunder action's listing under Standard Actions.Accordingly, if Sunder were supposed to be treated identically to Grapple, Disarm, and Trip, it would fit perfectly under the "Action Type Varies" header, accompanied by a note that it provokes an AoO (just like Grapple and Disarm) and bearing footnote 7 (allowing it to substitute for an attack).Therefore, there is only 1 non-contradictory way to read the totality of the rules:  Sunder is a standard action which provokes an AoO and grants a melee attack.As Mistwell will no doubt agree ( <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> ), there are lots of ways to get attacks which are not the Attack or Full Attack actions.  This is just another one of them.  So, just like one could take the Manyshot standard action and make an attack, one can take the Sunder standard action and make an attack.</blockquote>

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