Melee special attack

A melee special attack is the swing used to initate a variety of single-target combat feats, which all can cause a special penalty, in addition to normal weapon damage. Related feats are Trip, Improved trip, Sunder, Improved sunder, Stunning Blow, Slicing Blow, Hamstring, and Sap. (Improved Feint is not a special attack, because it cannot do normal damage)

Such an attack is activated by using the icon for the particular feat. A single swing animation is made at your highest iterative BAB; that is, if your BAB is 5 or greater, it is at +5 above your listed BAB, or is +10 if your BAB is 10.

You cannot be moving during the swing (which can be a significant penalty, as you possibly can't catch a running monster). On a hit, the feat will apply additional penalties beyond just damage, assuming the target fails the appropriate saving throw. After a melee special attack, there is a delay before you can attack again, meaning that using special attacks will decrease your overall attack rate. Essentially, you must wait for the entire remainder of the "combat round" before attacking again.