Dirty Trick

Combat Maneuvers

A Dirty Trick imposes one of six debilitating conditions on the target for a short duration — a handful of sand to the eyes, a leg sweep that leaves a foe tangled in their own cloak, a well-placed elbow to the ear. The target can remove the condition with a move action, so Dirty Trick rewards following up immediately. Introduced in Ultimate Combat and part of the standard PRD maneuver list.

Performing a Dirty Trick

Action Standard action
Provokes AoO Yes, from the target — unless you have Improved Dirty Trick
Check d20 + CMB vs. target's CMD

Conditions Available

On a successful Dirty Trick, choose one of the following conditions to impose:

Condition Key Effect
Blinded Target loses DEX bonus to AC, takes –2 penalty on most checks, 50% miss chance on attacks, cannot make AoOs
Dazzled –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks
Deafened –4 penalty on initiative checks; 20% spell failure chance for spells with verbal components; cannot hear anything
Entangled –2 penalty on attack rolls; –4 penalty to DEX; cannot run or charge; casting requires concentration check
Shaken –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks
Sickened –2 penalty on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks

Duration and Removing the Condition

Duration

  • 1 round on a base success.
  • +1 round for every 5 by which your CMB exceeds the CMD.

Removing the Condition

  • The target may spend a move action to remove the condition (reduces remaining duration by 1 round).
  • With Greater Dirty Trick, removal requires a standard action instead.
Follow-up timing. Because the target needs a move action to remove the condition, the best use of Dirty Trick is as a setup: impose Blinded, then your ally attacks with a 50% miss chance against them — before the target can clear the condition on its next turn. Greater Dirty Trick (standard action to remove) extends this window significantly.

Key Feats

Feat Benefit Prerequisite
Improved Dirty Trick Does not provoke AoO; +2 CMB and CMD for Dirty Trick INT 13, Combat Expertise
Greater Dirty Trick Conditions imposed by Dirty Trick require a standard action (instead of move) to remove Improved Dirty Trick, BAB +6