Determining When to Use Power Attack

Tutorial for d20 Attack Calculator

• Start from the Attacks tab and input your normal attack (without Power Attack) in the first attack row. 
• Next, add a new attack row by pressing the "+" button (1. in the figure).
• Input now your attack modified by the Power Attack to the second attack row.
• Uncheck the box next to the second attack row (2. in the figure)
• Press Plot Selected Button (3. in the figure).

• Your normal attack ("Attack 1", first attack row) is now plotted in the Plot page.
• Return to the Attacks page.

• Uncheck the first attack row box and re-check the box next to the attack modified by Power Attack.
• Press Plot Selected. This plots the second attack row (separate from the first).

• Now the plot shows both your normal attack ("Attack 1") and your attack modified by Power Attack ("Attack 2").
• From the figure you can see that your attacks deal more damage on average with Power Attack, when the AC of the enemy is < 22. When AC > 22, Power Attack may even reduce slightly your damage output, and you should  consider not to use Power Attack.
• You are done.

• If you want a nicer plot, you can edit the curves from the Edit button to change the AC range or rename the attack curves.

• Rename the "Attack 1" to "Normal" and "Attack 2" to "Power Attack"

• The final figure.
• You can save the plot for future use by pressing the Menu button of your mobile phone and selecting Save.
• Using a similar approach, you can easily compare the effects of various feats, improved gear or spells such as Weapon Focus, Two-Weapon Fighting, Bless, Haste, etc.