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Pathfinder First Edition: activating a scroll provokes
First Edition says explicitly that activating a scroll is a standard action—or takes the spell’s longer casting time—and “provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does.” The action-types table also lists “Read a scroll” as provoking. Archives of Nethys: Scrolls and Action Types.
That does not mean an attack necessarily happens every time someone uses a scroll. The action provokes when performed in circumstances where an opponent can make an attack of opportunity, such as while the user is in a threatened square. The general rules also allow exceptions, so check any relevant ability or circumstance before resolving an unusual case. Archives of Nethys: Attacks of Opportunity.
Pathfinder Second Edition: check the spell and reaction
In Second Edition, casting a spell from a scroll requires holding it in one hand and using Cast a Spell with the spell’s normal number of actions. The scroll supplies the spell; the caster still performs that spell’s casting activity. The spell must be on the caster’s spell list. Archives of Nethys: Chapter 5—Treasure Trove.
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The scroll rule does not say that every scroll casting provokes. Instead, compare the spell’s Cast a Spell activity and traits with the wording of the enemy’s reaction. A reaction such as Reactive Strike can occur only when its trigger applies; do not import First Edition’s blanket scroll rule into Second Edition. See Archives of Nethys: Basic Actions for the Second Edition action and reaction rules.
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At a glance
| Edition | Scroll use | Does it provoke? |
|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder First Edition | Activate the scroll as a standard action, or use the spell’s longer casting time. | Yes, the activation provokes an attack of opportunity, subject to the usual circumstances and exceptions. |
| Pathfinder Second Edition | Cast the spell from the scroll using Cast a Spell and its normal action cost. | No blanket rule from the scroll itself; check the spell activity’s traits against the reaction’s trigger. |
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