This is the fourth article in this series. I explain what I am doing (and why) in the first article in this series, here.

The Second article in this series is here, and the third here.

Paying Patrons can also go here, where all the Starfinder Combat Tricks to-date are compiled into a single article. Links to all my Starfinder First Edition Combat Tricks can be found, along with links to many other Starfinder entries, at the Paying-Patreon Exclusive Starfinder First Edition Index.

It's just a few bucks a month to be a paying Patron, and the indexes and compilations make it MUCH easier to find and use game-specific content.

Having done ALL the non-proficiency combat feats in the Starfinder Core Rulebook, here are Combat Tricks for 20 combat feats taken from every other official source of feats in the game. As long as these are popular, I'll keep doing them.

Combat Tricks

Above and BelowCombat Trick (Cost—Low): Perform this Combat Trick after rolling damage, to allow you to reroll all damage dice with a result of 1. Each die can only be rerolled once.

Add LeverageCombat Trick (Cost—Low): Perform this trick while using the Add Leverage feat to move your target an additional 5 feet.

Advanced WarningCombat Trick (Cost—High): When using Advanced Warning you can perform this trick to either use that feat even when you are flat-footed (in which case you remain flat-footed even after using the feat), or to use that feat as part of another action (rather than as a swift action).Special: You perform this Combat Trick either as a swift action or as part of any one other action (rather than as part of an attack).

Aerial EvasionCombat Trick (Cost—Moderate): Perform this Combat Trick when making an attack while using Aerial Evasion. You are not Off-Target as a result of using this feat.

Akit Battery HackCombat Trick (Cost—Low, see text): Perform this trick to use this feat a second time each day. You can use it a third time for a Moderate cost, and a fourth time for a High cost.Special: You perform this Combat Trick as part of the action to use Akit Battery Hack (rather than as part of an attack).

(To you, they're batteries. To the engineer, they are a nasty surprise shock to some jerknik, just waiting to happen. Art by roman3d.)

AmbuscadeCombat Trick (Cost—Moderate): Perform this Combat Trick to gain the benefit of Ambuscade on the first attack you make in the first round of a combat without having gone in the surprise round.

Ambush AwarenessCombat Trick (Cost—Low): Perform this Combat Trick when taking the total defense action as a result of the Ambush Awareness feat to also be allowed to take a Guarded Step.

AntigrenadierCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this Combat Trick when making a Sunder attempt as a result of the Antigrenadier feat to gain a +4 bonus to your attack roll.

AvengerCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to use this feat, despite already using it since you last Recuperated**.

Back to BackCombat Trick (Cost—Low): When you are attacked, perform this trick to gain the Teamwork Benefit of this feat until the beginning of your next turn without meeting the teamwork requirement.Special: You perform this Combat Trick when you are attacked (rather than as part of an attack).

BackpedalCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to use Backpedal as a Move actionSpecial: You perform this Combat Trick when you use Backpedal (rather than as part of an attack).

Balanced ChargerCombat Trick (Cost—Low): When you charge using Balanced Charger, perform this trick to gain a +4 bonus to the required Acrobatics check and halve both the AC and attack penalties from the charge (rather than just one).Special: You perform this Combat Trick when you charge using Balanced Charger (rather than as part of an attack).

Battle ThaumaturgyCombat Trick (Cost—Low): When using this feat, perform this trick to convert all the damage from the attack to one of the listed damage descriptors, regardless of what descriptors the spell used has.

Blood in Their EyesCombat Trick (Cost—Low): When using this feat, even when the target receives an effect that would remove the bleeding condition, they remain dazzled for another 1d4 rounds.

Breach and ClearCombat Trick (Cost—Low): Perform this trick to be able to open any door you are adjacent to as part of any action that allows you to move.Special: You perform this Combat Trick when moving (rather than as part of an attack).

Breaking BlastsCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick when you use this feat. As a free action, you may make an Engineering check with a DC equal to 15 + 1.5 x the item level of the weapon. If you succeed, the weapon does not gain the broken condition.

Bullying BruteCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to gain a +2 bonus to an attack roll for a bull rush, reposition, or trip combat maneuver.

Certain StrengthCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to use Certain Strength in a day when you have already used it. Once you do this, you cannot perform this trick again until after you next recuperate**.Special: You perform this Combat Trick when moving (rather than as part of an attack).

Clever RetortCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to use Clever Retort when a foe speaks and you can hear them, rather than any of the other triggering actions. Once you do this, you cannot perform this trick again until after you next recuperate**.Special: You perform this Combat Trick as a reaction when a foe speaks (rather than as part of an attack).

Quick QuipCombat Trick (Cost—High): Perform this trick to gain a +3 bonus on the Diplomacy check made to use the Quick Quip feat.Special: You perform this Combat Trick when making a Diplomacy check as part of the Quick Quip feat (rather than as part of an attack).

NEW RULE TERMS I refer to "Recuperate" in the Combat Trick rules. Here is an explanation for that term.

**Recuperate is my game term to describe when a character takes a 10-minute rest and expends a Resolve Point to regain Stamina Points. You can Recuperate even if you don’t need to recover Stamina Points, but it still takes 10 minutes and costs 1 Resolve Point.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAYThe day I posted this, Oct 28, 2026, is my 56th birthday. So, if you want to spend money for my birthday to make me happy, I ask you to consider donating to one of these three people who need help.

Lynne M. Meyer: https://www.spotfund.com/story/51c654dc-9c5e-4c13-a25b-7a8bce40c50c

David Flor: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-david-stay-housed-after-layoff

Ross A. Isaacs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ross-isaacs-recovery-and-living-expenses

Please help them if you can, and spread their GFM info around even if you can't donate.