Attack Of Opportunity
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Sometimes a combatant in a melee lets her guard down or takes a reckless action. In this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse in defense to attack her as an attack reaction. You can only make an attack of opportunity with a weapon or natural attack.
Attack of Opportunity
Reaction: Perform a single melee attack against the triggering creature.
Triggering an Attack of Opportunity
Two kinds of actions can trigger attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing certain actions within a threatened square.
Moving
Moving out of a threatened square usually triggers attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents. There are two common methods of avoiding such an attack—the 5-foot step and the withdraw action.
Performing a Compromising Act
Some actions make you unable to properly defend yourself, either because you are distracted, or because you are simply unable to focus on defense. Table: Actions in Combat notes many of the actions that triggers attacks of opportunity.
Remember that even actions that normally triggers attacks of opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.