Critical Hits in Pathfinder 2e: A Comprehensive Guide
The thrill of a critical hit, that moment when your attack lands with devastating force, is a cornerstone of many tabletop role-playing games. In Pathfinder 2nd Edition (PF2e), critical hits are not just about dealing extra damage; they are a core mechanic intertwined with the game’s success system. Let’s delve into how critical hits work in PF2e and address some common questions.
How Critical Hits Work in PF2e: The Core Mechanics
In PF2e, a critical success is achieved in two primary ways when making an attack roll:
- Natural 20: If you roll a natural 20 on the d20 (the die shows 20), you automatically increase your degree of success by one step. This means a normal success becomes a critical success.
- Exceeding the Target’s AC by 10 or More: If your total attack roll result meets or exceeds the target’s Armor Class (AC) by 10 or more, you also achieve a critical success.
When you land a critical hit on a Strike, the most common form of attack, you double the damage dice you roll. This doesn’t mean doubling all damage; rather, you roll the damage dice as normal and then multiply those dice results only by two. You would then add any flat bonuses such as strength or weapon bonuses just once. Other attacks and actions, such as spell attacks or uses of skills like Athletics, will have specific rules detailing what happens on a critical success.
Example: A character using a longsword (1d8 damage) critically hits with a roll that beat the AC by 10. Normally the character would just roll 1d8 to determine damage. On a critical hit they would roll 2d8 damage and add any other flat damage bonuses only once.
The Degrees of Success
Pathfinder 2e uses a four-tiered degree of success system: Critical Failure, Failure, Success, and Critical Success. A natural 20 on any d20 roll will always bump the degree of success up by one step. Conversely, a natural 1 on a d20 roll will always reduce the degree of success by one step. This means that a natural 20 is not always a critical success, and a natural 1 is not always a critical failure. This makes the system more nuanced and engaging.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Critical Hits in PF2e
To further enhance your understanding of critical hits in Pathfinder 2e, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions:
1. Is a Natural 20 an Automatic Critical Success?
Not quite. A **natural 20** on an attack roll *does* grant you a critical success *if it results in a successful attack*. However, if you fail the attack roll even with the natural 20, the degree of success only increases by one, so a failure becomes a normal success. It's an automatic improvement of one degree, not necessarily a crit.
2. Do Critical Hits Double All Damage?
No. Critical hits only double the damage dice rolled. Flat bonuses, such as strength modifiers, item bonuses, and flat damage from feats or abilities, are only applied once. This rule is clearly defined in the rulebook and is important for maintaining balance.
3. Does Weakness Get Doubled on a Critical Hit?
**Weakness does not get doubled** on a critical hit. Weakness is applied as an additional flat bonus or reduction to the overall damage taken at the end of damage calculation.
4. Is Precision Damage Doubled on a Critical Hit?
Yes. **Precision damage dice are doubled** on a critical hit. For example, a Rogue's Sneak Attack damage (1d6) is doubled. A rogue who critically hits while doing sneak attack damage would roll 2d6 for the sneak attack damage, plus the weapon damage dice doubled, and then add any static bonuses only once.
5. Are There Other Ways to Get a Critical Hit Besides a Natural 20 or Exceeding AC by 10?
Yes. Some feats, spells, and class features can grant **automatic critical hits**, or increase the crit range making a crit more likely or allow a player to get an additional degree of success.
6. Do Critical Hits Work on Spells?
Yes, spell attacks can critically hit, provided they involve an attack roll. The effects of a critical success will be detailed in the spell’s description. Many spells might have specific effects on a critical hit rather than doubling dice.
7. Can Abilities or Effects Prevent a Critical Hit?
Yes, some abilities or effects can **reduce or negate critical hits**, such as the "Fortification" property on armor, or certain monster abilities. It's important to read all descriptions thoroughly.
8. Can a Natural 1 Result in a Critical Failure?
Yes. A **natural 1** on a d20 roll will always **reduce your degree of success by one step**. Therefore, a normal failure becomes a critical failure, and a success becomes a normal failure.
9. What is the Benefit of a Critical Success for Skills other than Strikes?
Each skill will have a specific set of results for a critical success. For instance, a **critical success** with **Athletics** might result in a successful grapple and the target falls prone. These effects are outlined in the description of the skill.
10. How Do Critical Hits Interact with Multiple Attack Penalties?
Multiple Attack Penalties (MAP) still apply when making attacks that can cause critical hits. **MAP reduces the chance to critically hit**, particularly for the second and third attacks within a round.
11. What is the difference between a Critical Hit and a Critical Success?
**Critical Success** is a general term that refers to a check where the result meets or exceeds the target DC by 10, or by rolling a natural 20 which bumps the degree of success up by one step. **Critical hit** specifically refers to a critical success on an attack roll where you are usually doing damage to an enemy.
12. If I Critically Fail an Attack, What Happens?
A **critical failure** on an attack roll can result in negative consequences. Depending on the context and the attack type, it could include the attack missing entirely and possibly causing a bad effect such as the character falling prone or dropping a weapon.
13. How Do Critical Hits Affect Saving Throws?
Saving throws also use the degree of success system. A **critical success** on a saving throw usually means no effect from the harmful effect, and possibly something positive for the character. A **critical failure** may result in the worst outcome of that particular effect.
14. Can Monsters Critically Hit?
Yes. **Monsters** use the same critical hit rules as player characters. They can score critical hits on their attacks if they roll a natural 20 or exceed the AC by 10 or more.
15. Are There Items That Boost Critical Hits?
Yes. There are various items, such as weapons with the “critical specialization” trait, that can enhance the effects of a critical hit, or increase the chance of scoring a critical hit.
Final Thoughts
Critical hits in Pathfinder 2e are a dynamic and impactful mechanic. Understanding how they work, including the nuances of the degree of success system and the specific rules for different attack types, is crucial for both player characters and Game Masters. Mastering the critical hit system adds depth to combat and elevates the tactical decision-making that makes Pathfinder 2e such a rewarding tabletop experience. By remembering these mechanics, you will enhance the excitement and enjoyment of every game session.