The * Frilond * Campaign
Power Attack Calculator

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Combat Data
Base Attack Bonus:
Other Modifiers to Hit:
Average Damage:
Two-Handed Weapon:

Best Power Attack
AC: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Power Attack:                      

The Power Attack feat allows characters to decrease their attack bonus in exchange for increasing their damage bonus. But what is the optimal bonus to be used? The answer may surprise you. The benefit of Power Attack varies based on the character's average damage and chance to hit. This Power Attack Calculator finds the best bonus to be used against a range of ACs.

Contrary to many people's expectations, a big Power Attack is actually less useful for characters with high average damage and multiple attacks. While dim, violent creatures—like ruck-men or ogres—might max out their Power Attack bonuses every round, more wily fighters will use Power Attack judiciously.

The Calculator uses a nifty formula developed by Bradd W. Szonye (bradds@concentric.net) and posted on rec.games.frp.dnd:

P = (47 - 5N - 2D)/4 - T/2

Where P = optimal power attack bonus, N = number of attacks per round, D = average damage, and T = target number needed to hit.