[RPG] Does a Flaming Sphere gain combat advantage with its initial attack against a prone enethe

combat-advantagednd-4epronespells

Daily ✦ Arcane, Conjuration, Fire, Implement
Standard Action Ranged 10
Flame Sphere:
Effect: You conjure a Medium flaming sphere that occupies a
square within range, and the sphere
attacks. Any creature that starts
its turn adjacent to the sphere takes
1d4 + Intelligence modifier fire
damage. As a move action, you can
move the sphere 6 squares.
Target: One creature adjacent to the flaming sphere
Attack: Intelligence vs. Reflex
Hit: 2d6 + Intelligence modifier fire damage.
Sustain Minor: You can sustain this power until the end of the
encounter. As a standard action, you
can make another attack with the
sphere

If flame sphere is created in a square adjacent to a prone enemy, does it gain combat advantage since it's making a melee attack against a prone target?

Related: Does the prone ranged defensive bonus apply to a creature hit by Flaming Sphere's initial attack?

Best Answer

No.

The power's description doesn't explicitly mention the Melee keyword for the sphere's attack, therefore that attack is not a Melee attack.

The only restriction is that the attack's target has to be adjacent to the sphere, but a close blast 1 or a [non-provoking] ranged 1 attack has the same effect. This means that the range restriction cannot be used to guess any implicit keywords of the attack in that way.

Compare the wording of these Conjuration powers, some of which explicitly mention the proxy's attack's type:

Flaming Sphere[DDI]:

[...] You conjure a Medium flaming sphere that occupies a square within range, and the sphere attacks. [...]

Mordenkainen's Guardian Hound[DDI]:

[...] You conjure a Medium guardian hound that occupies 1 square within range, and the hound makes the following melee attack. [...]

Ball Lightning[DDI]:

[...] You conjure a Medium ball of lightning that occupies 1 square within range, and the ball makes the following attack, which is a close burst 1. [...]

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