What good is a "ranged basic" attack?

[Arabesu]

Warlocks and Wizards both get spells that qualify as "ranged basic" attacks.

What does this mean? How is this useful? Can anyone list good powers, spells, or exploits that could take advantage of this somehow?

For example, could either of these be used with "Fox's Cunning" for a multi-class warlock/ranger or wizard/ranger? What about with "Close Quarters Shot?"

Does anyone have a list of powers that employ ranged basic and melee basic attacks? I assume this is wording distinctive from when a power mentions 4[W] + X?

 

[Mort_Q]

There are powers is a power that other players can use that grant a free immediate "ranged basic" attack to allies in range. There are also items the key to "ranged basic" attack.

• Stir the Hornet’s Nest (War 25)
• Bracers of the Perfect Shot (Item)

I suspect there are more to come.

 

[A Passing Maniac]

In addition to the warlord attack that specifically calls for ranged basic attacks, there are several warlord exploits which allow allies to use basic attacks of any type, such as Surprise Attack (7), Beat Them into the Ground (13), or Relentless Assault (25).

 

[Mort_Q]

So... let's see if I get this...

Basic Attack includes:

• Melee Basic Attack
• Ranged Basic Attack

Is that correct?

 

[Kordeth]

So... let's see if I get this...

Basic Attack includes:

• Melee Basic Attack
• Ranged Basic Attack

Is that correct?

Assuming the power doesn't otherwise specify, yes.

 

[Arabesu]

So on page 287 it describes ranged basic and ranged melee:

At-Will <> Weapon
Standard Action Ranged weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Increase damage to 2[W] + Dexterity modifier at 21st level.
Special: Weapons with the heavy thrown property (see page 216) use Strength instead of Dexterity for attack rolls and damage rolls.
Special: Warlocks can use eldritch blast as a ranged basic attack, and wizards can use magic missile as a ranged basic attack.

Emphasis mine. So that line in a power is ignored evidently when deciding if a power permits eldritch blast and magic missile.

Also, the Hit line suggests that if for some reason the dexterity of a character is better than Cha or Int, Dex could be used...

that makes multiclassing much nicer.

So far the powers etc that I have found that could be used with magic missile or eldritch blast are:

Fox's Cunning, Tiger's Reflex, Hide from the light (sort of), Surprise Attack, Beat them to the Ground, Hail of Steel, Victory Surge, Relentless Assault, Stir the Hornets, Superior Tactics.

Bracers of Perfect Shot appears to be the only item.

It also seems that since a coup de grace uses a basic attack then these powers can be used for CDG as well.

Can anyone confirm if all of the above powers are correct? Are there any missing?

 

[Kordeth]

Emphasis mine. So that line in a power is ignored evidently when deciding if a power permits eldritch blast and magic missile.

Not entirely. You completely replace the Ranged Basic Attack power with the Magic Missile/Eldritch Blast power.

Also, the Hit line suggests that if for some reason the dexterity of a character is better than Cha or Int, Dex could be used...

that makes multiclassing much nicer.

No--you don't use any of the Ranged Basic Attack power block when you replace it with MM/EB.

So far the powers etc that I have found that could be used with magic missile or eldritch blast are:

Fox's Cunning, Tiger's Reflex, Hide from the light (sort of), Surprise Attack, Beat them to the Ground, Hail of Steel, Victory Surge, Relentless Assault, Stir the Hornets, Superior Tactics.

Bracers of Perfect Shot appears to be the only item.

I'm too lazy to look up all these powers to check, so I'll take your word for it.

It also seems that since a coup de grace uses a basic attack then these powers can be used for CDG as well.

Coup de grace uses any attack power you can use. So yes, you can use these for coup de grace attacks, but so can any other attack power, at-will, encounter, or daily.

 

[Maximillian]

Fox's Cunning, Tiger's Reflex, Hide from the light (sort of), Surprise Attack, Beat them to the Ground, Hail of Steel, Victory Surge, Relentless Assault, Stir the Hornets, Superior Tactics.

Well done. I only found one other. The creatures a Warlock with the Life Stealer PP brings to life with Life Spark Summons can make only basic attacks. Ranged or Melee.

Which is so far one of the few things I can find that monster ranged basics are good for.

 

[Arabesu]

There are actually several powers that force you to take basic attacks, I omitted them because they are usually not what you want to do...

Confusion for example.

 

[Starfox]

Confusion for example.

Which, of course, gives an advantage to the wizard who does NOT have Magic Missile. Its better to stab your friends with a knife or unarmed attack than to be bolt them with a magic missile.