Top 5 Spell and Skill Pairings That Break Encounters in Half

Mike’s Personal Experience
There’s a special joy in watching a well‑planned combo dismantle a boss fight. Once, our wizard cast Grease under a hobgoblin captain, and as he slipped, our rogue used Sneak Attack to drive his dagger home. He never even stood up. Skill‑and‑spell pairings can ruin encounters for your enemies — here are my top five.

1. Grease + Trip / Athletics

Cast Grease, then use Athletics to trip the already unbalanced foe. They take penalties to AC and may struggle for multiple rounds.

2. Entangle + Ranged Barrage

Root enemies with Entangle, then fire arrows or spells from a safe distance. Want a bow that shines? Try the Coin of the Lost Patron — it always finds its mark.

3. Fear + Sneak Attack

Frightened targets are easier to hit. Pair Cause Fear or Demoralize with a rogue’s sneak attack for devastating results.

4. Silence + Grapple

Cast Silence on a caster, then grapple them so they can’t leave the area. Goodbye, spellcasting.

5. Tanglefoot + Escape Route

In PF2e, Tanglefoot slows an enemy. Have your ally use Mobility or Acrobatics to slip past them, leaving the brute flailing at nothing.

Before You Swing Again…

Want to learn more killer combos? Browse the Tavern Toolshed for dungeon ideas and traps that complement spells, and check out our Player Tips for skill‑boosting advice. Don’t forget to share your own combos on the Contact page — we might feature them!

Final Thoughts

When spells and skills work hand in hand, monsters don’t stand a chance. These pairings are only the start; experiment and see which ones make your DM groan in despair.

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You’ve Heard the Lesson — Now Earn the Legend

Looking for character builds that leverage these combos? Our Player Builds & NPCs section has you covered. And for more creative spells, read When Session Zero Didn’t Save You to keep your party cohesive. Now get out there and break some encounters.