Warlock's Eldritch Blast and AoO

[Dimwhit]

So the Eldritch Blast is a spell-like ability that provokes an AoO. I'm adjacent to the enemy, so I do a Concentration check to avoid the AoO, and I'm successful. Does the fact that it's a ray touch attack provoke an additional AoO, since ranged attacks provoke? Or does casting the Eldritch Blast on the defensive cover that as well? Anywhere in the books that addresses this?

 

[Hypersmurf]

So the Eldritch Blast is a spell-like ability that provokes an AoO. I'm adjacent to the enemy, so I do a Concentration check to avoid the AoO, and I'm successful. Does the fact that it's a ray touch attack provoke an additional AoO, since ranged attacks provoke? Or does casting the Eldritch Blast on the defensive cover that as well? Anywhere in the books that addresses this?

Ranged attacks don't actually provoke.

The Attack (Ranged) standard action provokes... but you're not using the Attack (Ranged) standard action to make your ranged attack, you're making it as part of the Use Spell-like Ability standard action.

Attacking with a ranged weapon provokes (which is why someone firing a bow as part of a Full Attack action provokes, since they're not using the Attack (Ranged) standard action either).

So, one needs to determine whether Eldritch Blast is considered a ranged weapon or not...

-Hyp.

 

[Lela]

I use Warlocks a lot, and I assume no, but I've never looked. I've always assumed it would have been mentioned in the class description if that was the case.

My other argument is that the ranged touch portion is part of the spell itself and therefor covered in the Concentration check.

 

[Lela]

I did a little checking.

Page 141 of the PHB talks about Touch Attacks in Combat. It mentions that Touch spells are considered armed attacks and don't provoke. Then it goes on to talk about Ranged and normal Touch attacks. Never mentions an AoO.

So, one needs to determine whether Eldritch Blast is considered a ranged weapon or not...

-Hyp.

No more than using Ray of Frost.

 

[Hypersmurf]

No more than using Ray of Frost.

Right. The same question applies to Ray of Frost - does making the ranged touch attack for Ray of Frost count as 'attacking with a ranged weapon'?

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

Unless I'm incorrect it is the casting of the spell that provokes the AoO which is why it would be the activation of the spell like ability that provokes it IMO.


Also IIRC the concentration check is not made to avoid the AoO but to avoid having the spell (or spell like ability) be disrupted.

But I guess you were talking about casting on the defensive while doing it - which is something else.

 

[Dimwhit]

Thanks all.

My friend still insists that the act of rolling the ranged touch attack provokes an additional AoO (on top of the casting). Page 141 seems clear to me, but I can't convince him. I'd send an email to WotC, but they're a hindrance as often as a help.

 

[Caliban]

Thanks all.

My friend still insists that the act of rolling the ranged touch attack provokes an additional AoO (on top of the casting). Page 141 seems clear to me, but I can't convince him. I'd send an email to WotC, but they're a hindrance as often as a help.

Check the section on weaponlike spells in the Complete Arcane. It goes over the various ways in which they act like weapons. Ranged Touch Attack spell provoking an AoO is conspicuously absent.

 

[apesamongus]

Ranged attacks don't actually provoke.

The Attack (Ranged) standard action provokes... but you're not using the Attack (Ranged) standard action to make your ranged attack, you're making it as part of the Use Spell-like Ability standard action.

Attacking with a ranged weapon provokes (which is why someone firing a bow as part of a Full Attack action provokes, since they're not using the Attack (Ranged) standard action either).

So, one needs to determine whether Eldritch Blast is considered a ranged weapon or not...

-Hyp.

Wouldn't that mean that someone who moved and then made a single attack with a ranged weapon would provoke twice?

 

[Caliban]

Wouldn't that mean that someone who moved and then made a single attack with a ranged weapon would provoke twice?

Absolutely. As long as they moved through a threatened area in such a way as to provoke an AoO, and were still in a threatened area when they made the ranged weapon attack.