This ability causes an attack to deal additional damage based on precisely targeting vulnerable points for maximum injury. Precision damage almost always modifies an existing attack rather than being an attack of its own. The most common form of precision damage is the rogue’s sneak attack ability.
Precision damage can be any damage type, in fact it always matches the damage type of the attack it modifies. For example, a rogue making a sneak attack with a short sword would deal her sneak attack damage as slashing damage. Regardless of damage type, precision damage can only deal hit point damage, even if the base attack normally deals ability damage or some other type of damage.
Precision damage is not multiplied on a critical hit.
Precision damage normally deals lethal damage. It can only be used to deal nonlethal damage if the base attack normally deals nonlethal damage. For example, a sap normally deals nonlethal damage and can be used to deal nonlethal precision damage; however, a short sword normally deals lethal damage and cannot be used to deal nonlethal precision damage, even with the usual -4 penalty.
Precision damage can only be used against creatures with discernible anatomies and vital organs (or similar weak points). Creatures immune to critical hits are also immune to precision damage. This includes constructs, elementals, oozes, plants, undead, and any creature with the incorporeal subtype or amorphous special ability.
Precision damage can only be dealt if the target’s vitals can be reached. A creature with concealment or whose vitals are beyond reach cannot be dealt precision damage.
Precision Range
Precision damage must be focused on a small, precise area of a target. This precision means that it can only be dealt from a limited distance beyond which such precise aim becomes impossible. The base precision range is 30 feet. A creature must be within your precision range to target them with precision damage.