Actions in Combat
Starfinder Core Rulebook, page 244
The specific actions you can perform in combat are detailed in this section. For quick reference, specific combat actions are organized by their type in the Actions in Combat sidebar.
Swift Actions
You won’t commonly use a swift action, but occasionally you need to perform an action that is significantly less demanding than a move action. Some skills use swift actions, but special abilities are almost never swift actions.
Change Grips
Changing your grip on a weapon, such as going from wielding a two-handed weapon with both hands to holding it in one hand, is a swift action.
Drop Prone
Dropping to a prone position in your space is a swift action.
In this section
- Action Types An action’s type essentially tells you how long the action takes to perform within the framework of a 6-second combat round.
- Standard Actions A standard action is usually the main action you take each round, other than movement. Below are examples of standard actions.
- Move Actions Most move actions don’t require a check unless the circumstances are more difficult than normal. For instance, opening a door normally doesn’t require a check, but it does if the door is locked.
- Full Actions A full action requires your entire turn to complete. If you take a full action, you can’t take your usual standard, move, and swift actions. The following actions are full actions.
- Reactions A reaction is a special action you can take even if it’s not your turn, but only after a defined and concrete trigger. You can’t use a reaction before the first time you act in a combat.
- Other Actions The following actions are important but used less frequently.