Type of feat: class (given based on class levels)
Prerequisite: assassin
Specifics: At first level, an assassin may use a death attack, which functions similarly to a sneak attack in that if the target is not in combat they become victim to the death attack. The successful attack forces the target to make a fortitude save or become paralyzed. Even if they succeed with the saving throw they still suffer +1d6 points of damage in addition to the normal damage the attack caused. This damage increases to 2d6 at level 3, 3d6 at level 5, 4d6 at level 7, and 5d6 at level 9.
Use: automatic
Notes
- Added in the expansion packs.
- The difficulty class of the paralysis saving throw is 10 + assassin level + intelligence modifier, and the duration is 1 turn for each assassin level.
- Death attacks can be made with ranged weapons if within 30 feet of the target.
- The damage bonus for death attacks stacks with that for sneak attacks, including the blackguard's sneak attack.
- As with sneak attacks, the extra damage from a death attack is not multiplied in the case of a critical hit.
- The two parts of a death attack follow different rules for when they are applied. The save against paralysis is only made if the target is not engaged in combat, as per this feat's description. The damage bonus, on the other hand, is applied whenever an assassin's attack would qualify as a sneak attack.
- Assassins are never reported by the game as making a sneak attack. Any attack made by an assassin that qualifies as a sneak attack is called a death attack, even if there will be no save versus paralysis.
- The damage continues to increase in epic levels at the rate of 1d6 for every 2 levels (i.e., 6d6 at level 11, 7d6 at level 13, and continuing up to 15d6 at level 29).
- As of patch 1.66, immunity to mind spells no longer makes a character immune to death attack paralysis.