Actions taken in combat can be almost anything imaginable- from drinking a potion to making a Skill check (or plainly attacking someone). The different actions that can be taken are divided into six categories, according to how long they take and if attacks of opportunity are provoked.
TYPES OF ACTIONS:
Standard Action
A standard action is the most basic action a character or creature can take. The most common type of action is an attack; magical, physical, or otherwise. Other common standard actions include casting a spell, concentrating to maintain an active spell, activating a magic item, and using a special ability. See the table below for different actions and what category they fall into.
Move Action
A move action allows you to move your speed or perform an action that takes a similar amount of time. You can move your speed, climb for 1/4 of your speed, draw or stow an item, stand up, pick up an object, or perform some equivalent action. See the table below for different actions and what category they fall into.
You can take a move action in place of a standard action. For instance, rather than moving your speed and attacking, you could stand up and move your speed ( two move actions )put away a weapon and climb one quarter of your speed (two move actions),or pick up an item and stow it in your backpack (two move actions).
If you move no actual distance in a round (commonly because you have swapped your move for one or more equivalent actions, such as standing up),you can take one 5-foot step either before, during, or after the action. For example if a character is on the ground, he can stand up (a move action), move 5 feet (a 5-foot step), and then attack.
Full-Round Action
A full round action consumes all your effort during a round. The only movement you can take during a full-round action is a 5-foot step before, during, or after the action. You can also perform free actions (see below) as your DM allows. The most common type of full-round action is a full attack,which allows you to make multiple melee or ranged attacks in a single round. Some full-round actions do not allow you to take a 5-foot step. Some full-round actions can be taken as standard actions, but only in situations when you are limited to performing only a standard action during your round (such as in a surprise round). The descriptions of specific actions below detail which actions allow this option. See the table below for different actions and what category they fall into.
Free Action
Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort, and over the span of the round, their impact is so minor that they are considered free. You can perform one or more free actions while taking another action normally. However, the DM puts reasonable limits on what you can really do for free.for instance, calling out to your friends for help, dropping an object, and ceasing to concentrate on a spell are all free actions. See the table below for different actions and what category they fall into.
Not an Action
some activities are so minor that they are not even considered free actions. They literally don't take any time at all to do and are considered on an inherent part of doing something else. For instance, using the Use Magic Device skill while trying to activate a device is not an action, it is part of the standard action to activate a magic item.
Restricted Activity
In some situations (such as when you're slowed or during a surprise round), you may be unable to take a full round's worth of actions. In such cases, you are restricted to taking only a single standard action or a single move action (plus free actions as normal). You can't take a full-round action (although you can start or complete a full-round action by using a standard action; see below). See the table below for different actions and what category they fall into.
Actions in Combat: Table 1:1
| Standard Action | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
|---|---|
| Attack (melee) | No |
| Attack (ranged) | Yes |
| Attack (unarmed) | Yes |
| Activate a magic item other than a potion or oil | No |
| Aid another | Maybe² |
| Bull rush | Yes |
| Cast a spell (1 standard action casting time) | Yes |
| Concentrate to maintain an active spell | No |
| Dismiss a spell | No |
| Draw a hidden weapon | No |
| Drink a potion or apply an oil | Yes |
| Escape a grapple | No |
| Feint | No |
| Light a torch with a tindertwig | Yes |
| Lower spell resistance | No |
| Make a dying friend stable | Yes |
| Overrun | No |
| Read a scroll | Yes |
| Ready (triggers a standard action) | No |
| Sunder a weapon (attack) | Yes |
| Sunder an object (attack) | Maybe³ |
| Total defense | No |
| Turn or rebuke undead | No |
| Use extraordinary ability | No |
| Use skill that takes 1 action | Usually |
| Use a spell-like ability | Yes |
| Use supernatural ability | No |
| Move Action | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
| Move | Yes |
| Control a frightened mount | Yes |
| Direct or redirect an active spell | No |
| Draw a weapon&sup4; | No |
| Load a hand- or light crossbow | Yes |
| Open or close a door | No |
| Mount or dismount a horse | No |
| Move a heavy object | Yes |
| Pick up an item | Yes |
| Sheathe a weapon | Yes |
| Stand up from prone | Yes |
| Ready or loose a shield &sup4; | No |
| Retrieve a stored item | Yes |
| Full-Round Action | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
| Full attack | No |
Charge
&sup4; |
No |
| Deliver coup de grace | Yes |
| Escape from a net | Yes |
| Extinguish flames | No |
| Light a torch | Yes |
| Load a heavy- or repeating crossbow | Yes |
| Lock or unlock weapon in locked gauntlet | Yes |
| Prepare to throw splash weapon | Yes |
| Run | Yes |
| Use skill that takes 1 round | Usually |
| Use touch spell on up to six friends | Yes |
Withdraw
&sup5; |
No |
| Free Action | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
| Cast a quickened spell | No |
| Cease concentrating on a spell | No |
| Drop an item | No |
| Drop to the floor | No |
| Prepare spell components to cast a spell &sup6; | No |
| Speak | No |
| No Action | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
| Delay | No |
| 5-foot step | No |
| Action Type Varies | Attack of Opportunity
¹ |
| Disarm &sup7; | Yes |
| Grapple &sup7; | Yes |
| Trip an opponent &sup7; | Yes |
| Use feat &sup8; | Varies |
¹ Regardless or the action, if you move out of a threatened square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This column indicates whether the action itself, not moving, provokes an attack of opportunity.
² If you aid someone performing an action that would normally provoke an attack of opportunity, then the act of aiding another provokes an attack of opportunity as well.
³ If the object is being held, carried, or worn by the creature, yes. If not, no.
⁴ If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can combine one of these actions with a regular move. If you have the [Two-Weapon Fighting, Feat|[Two-Weapon Fighting]] feat, you can draw two light or one-handed weapons in the time it would normally take to draw one.
⁵ May be taken as a standard action if you are limited to taking only a single action in a round.
&sup6; Unless the component is an extremely large or awkward item (DM's call)
&sup7; These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, or even as an attack of opportunity.
&sup8; The description of a feat describes its effect.