Attacks of Opportunity

Action Costs and Attacks of Opportunity

Action	Action Cost	Provokes AoO
Cast a spell	Usually a standard action	Usually yes
Draw a weapon	Swift action or as part of a move action	No
Use a consumable	Swift action	Yes
Pick up an item in [Melee] range	Move action	Yes
Use combat maneuver	See description	See description
Use extraordinary ability	See description	Usually no
Use item	See description	Usually no
Use skill	See description	Usually no
Use spell-like ability	See description	Usually yes
Use supernatural ability	See description	Usually no

Sometimes a creature in melee combat lets its guard down. In this case, nearby combatants can take advantage of the lapse in defense to gain free attacks. These free attacks are called attacks of opportunity.

Threatened Squares

You threaten all squares within [Melee] range, even when it is not your turn. An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you.

Provoking an Attack of Opportunity

Generally speaking, activating spells and spell-like abilities provokes attacks of opportunity, while activating extraordinary and supernatural abilities does not provoke attacks of opportunity unless they cause the user to move out of threatened squares. The following actions provoke attacks of opportunity when performed in threatened squares.

Moving

Moving out of a threatened square usually provokes an attack of opportunity from the threatening opponent. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack: the 5 ft step and the Run action. Remember that movement caused by opponents (such as being [Blown away] by an Iron Magi's Howl of the North Wind) or other allies (becoming the target of a friendly tactician's dimensional swap) does not count as an action made by you, and thus would not provoke an attack of opportunity unless otherwise stated.

Performing a Distracting Act

Some actions, when performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks of opportunity as you divert your attention from the battle. Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.

Ranged Attacks

Making one or more ranged attacks provokes an attack of opportunity.

Making an Attack of Opportunity

An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack, and you can only make one per [Round]. You don’t have to make an attack of opportunity if you don’t want to.

An attack of opportunity does not count as an action, but effects that prevent you from taking actions or making attack rolls prevent you from making attacks of opportunity.