Does Drawing A Weapon Provoke An Attack Of Opportunity

In D&D 3.5, there are 5 ways to deal sneak attack damage with attacks of opportunity, ranging from simple skill tricks, available 1/encounter, to an all-encompassing epic feat. Here they are.

1. Hidden Blade [Manipulation Skill Trick, Complete Scoundrel]

You can quickly draw a hidden weapon to make a deadly strike.

Prerequisite: Sleight of Hand 5 ranks, Quick Draw.

Benefit: After you have used the Sleight of Hand skill to successfully conceal a weapon (PH 81), you can draw that weapon as a move action instead of a standard action. An opponent that was unaware of the concealed weapon is treated as flat-footed against the first attack you make in that turn.

2. Sudden Draw [Manipulation Skill Trick, Complete Scoundrel]

You can quickly draw a hidden weapon to make a deadly strike.

Prerequisite: Sleight of Hand 8 ranks, Quick Draw.

Benefit: If an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity from you, you can draw a weapon that you have successfully concealed using Sleight of Hand (PH 81) as an immediate action to deliver the attack of opportunity with that weapon. That opponent is treated as flat-footed against the attack with the concealed weapon.

The Rogue comments: If you're not going to use sneak attacks of opportunity as a regular tactic with your primary weapon(s), but prefer to have an ace up your sleeve once in a while, these skill tricks are your best bet. Quick Draw in a feat tax here, but it has its uses. Master Throwers (Complete Warrior) get it for free.

3. Sneak Attack of Opportunity [General Feat, Dragon # 340]

When your opponent leaves you an opening, you can strike with deadly accuracy.

Prerequisite: Combat Reflexes, sneak attack +3d6.

Benefit: When you make a successful attack of opportunity against an opponent, you also deal sneak attack damage to that opponent. This extra damage only applies to the first attack of opportunity you make in a round.

The Rogue comments: Combat reflexes won't be that useful if you can only do this once per round. On the other hand, a Rogue with Combat Reflexes, the Opportunist special ability, and this feat makes perfect sense. And you don't have to muck about with concealed weapons.

4. Mercurial Strike [General Feat, Dragon #310 / Dragon Compendium]

With a single motion, you draw your weapon and slash at an opponent.

Prerequisite: Quick Draw, base attack bonus +5.

Benefit: Any time an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity from you, but you are unarmed, you may draw a melee weapon and make your attack of opportunity with it. The target of your attack of opportunity is caught flat-footed for that attack.

The Rogue comments: This silly-worded feat doesn't actually work by RAW (unarmed people don't threaten any squares and can't make AoOs, unless they have Improved Unarmed Strike or wear a gauntlet, in which case they are considered armed, so technically the feat never triggers). Dragon Magazine material is often like that. For sanity's sake, we assume RAI here - Rules As Intended.

As intended and as it makes sense, the feat goes "any time an opponent WOULD provoke an AoO…" - which is not bad. With a Gnome Quickrazor, all your AoOs can be sneak attacks. The combo takes some investment, but it works almost all the time.

5. Sneak Attack of Opportunity [Epic Feat, Epic Level Handbook]

Prerequisites: Sneak attack +8d6, opportunist class feature.

Benefit: Any attack of opportunity you make is considered a sneak attack.

The Rogue comments: And finally, the feat that simply works. (As it should, we're epic levels now). A fine choice even if you don't focus on AoOs. And a particularly reckless rogue, who has taken this feat, Combat Reflexes, and Robilar's Gambit, can make short work of many an epic monster. It's really reckless though: not recommended unless you boost your AC to high heavens and have reliable miss chances on top of it (illusion-based ones will be negated by most foes at this point), and of course it's incompatible with stealth tactics.