Melee Defense

You are trained at using your combat ability for defense as well as offense.

Melee Defense

Prerequisite: Intelligence 13

• Benefit: When you use a standard action for a melee attack, you can take a penalty of up to -5 on your attack roll and add the same number {up to +5} as a dodge bonus to your General & Reflex Defense. This number may not exceed your Base Attack Bonus. The changes to Attack rolls & Reflex Defense last until the start of your next turn.

Improved Melee Defense

Prerequisites: Intelligence 15 & Melee Defense

• Benefit: When you use a standard action for a melee attack, you can take a penalty of up to -7 on your attack roll and add the same number {up to +7} as a dodge bonus to your General & Reflex Defense. This number can exceed your Base Attack Bonus. The changes to Attack rolls & Reflex Defense last until the start of your next turn. Once per Encounter, if you're Combat Focus is Defensive and you're hit by your opponent's attack, you may forfeit your bonus to increase your Damage Resistance by the same amount.

Master Melee Defense

Prerequisites: Intelligence 17 & Improved Melee Defense

• Benefit: When you use a standard action for a melee attack, you can take a penalty of up to -15 on your attack roll and add the same number {up to +15} as a dodge bonus to your General & Reflex Defense. This number can exceed your Base Attack Bonus. The changes to Attack rolls & Reflex Defense last until the start of your next turn. Once per encounter, as a reaction to a melee attack being declared against you, you can add this bonus to your General Defense.