And if he can, can he keep holding it like when he's earthgliding or vortexing?

I don't see why they couldn't, but I think they wouldn't. Using weapons would, in their view, be beneath them since their reality would be very different from our own. That's just my take though. :)

I can see an Earth Elemental. Fire Elemental, not for long. Air and Water, probably not, though I could see a Water Elemental carrying around their animal companion gold fish, if that makes you feel better.

:)

If they have a humanoid form they can wield weapons. I think it says in the monster description they can come in pretty much any shape they want. So air elemental could be a humanoid shaped avian looking creature.

If you meant "weapons made by/for humanoids", I think that only humanoid-shaped Earth elementals would be able to wield them, although they'd prefer not to, since they wouldn't be able to use Earthglide (those weapons don't "meld" with earth). As for the others... Fire would burn/melt them while Air and Water would drop them.

If you meant "weapons in general" as opposed to Slam, feel free to explore the possibilities. Afterall, wouldn't it be possible for a whole Plane inhabited by intelligent creatures to build themselves houses and forge themselves weapons and armors? Meeting a fire-elemental-creature with a fire-elemental-greatsword and a fire-elemental-fullplate... that would be an Intimidation check all by itself.

I agree - the weapons would have to be made specifically to accommodate the elemental in question. I could see this happening more on their native plane than on our own, but you never know.

If you want to bolster your elementals, what would happen if the earth elemental was summoned on, say, holy/unholy ground? or you summoned an air elemental in the area of effect of a Cloud Kill spell? A water elemental made of holy water? A fire elemental made from Hellfire? Of course I have no idea if the rules would allow for such things but it would be fun anyway.

If you meant "weapons made by/for humanoids", I think that only humanoid-shaped Earth elementals would be able to wield them, although they'd prefer not to, since they wouldn't be able to use Earthglide (those weapons don't "meld" with earth). As for the others... Fire would burn/melt them while Air and Water would drop them.

If you meant "weapons in general" as opposed to Slam, feel free to explore the possibilities. Afterall, wouldn't it be possible for a whole Plane inhabited by intelligent creatures to build themselves houses and forge themselves weapons and armors? Meeting a fire-elemental-creature with a fire-elemental-greatsword and a fire-elemental-fullplate... that would be an Intimidation check all by itself.

Just a thought for a weapon-wielding fire elemental: many fantasy stories I read had some foe wielding a fire whip (the Balor from LotR comes to mind). That's scary as well.

Elemental subtype:

# Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.

# Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Elementals not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Elementals are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.

Can they carry armor or weapons(or other objects)? Yes.
Will they? Not usually.

Do they keep them when using whirlwind or similar ability?
Well, genies do have and keep them. So yes.

To take the question one stage further (I'm not sure if this was what the OP was after or not):

Can a druid or other caster, polymorphed into an elemental, use weapons previously dropped at her feet?

Relevant: you don't gain the elemental type. You don't lose your own weapon proficiencies. You assume a generic form of the elemental. You may change size.

So then I think we're left with a DM call: are the generic elemental forms in a given campaign capable of hefting weaponry?

Mmmm, elementals are not insubstantial so I think what I said before stands. They can pick up, move or wield any weapon or object.

Proficiencies affect how well they can do it but the ability it's alredy there. A wildshaped druid has the proficiencies.
Size changes can be a problem to wield a manufactured weapon but that's not intrinsecally related to elemental forms.

So technically a druid could drop his scimitar wildshape into a medium sized elemental form them pick it up and start slashing things but the benefit he would get from it is marginal IMO.

Mmmm, elementals are not insubstantial so I think what I said before stands. They can pick up, move or wield any weapon or object.

Proficiencies affect how well they can do it but the ability it's alredy there. A wildshaped druid has the proficiencies.
Size changes can be a problem to wield a manufactured weapon but that's not intrinsecally related to elemental forms.

So technically a druid could drop his scimitar wildshape into a medium sized elemental form them pick it up and start slashing things but the benefit he would get from it is marginal IMO.

Nothing says he can't carry around a large or huge weapon in a efficient quiver or whatever. Drop the weapon before he changes then pick it up. I look at wild shape as a buff. It is just another way a druid can buff str, dex, ac and increase size.

nidho wrote:

Mmmm, elementals are not insubstantial so I think what I said before stands. They can pick up, move or wield any weapon or object.

Proficiencies affect how well they can do it but the ability it's alredy there. A wildshaped druid has the proficiencies.
Size changes can be a problem to wield a manufactured weapon but that's not intrinsecally related to elemental forms.

So technically a druid could drop his scimitar wildshape into a medium sized elemental form them pick it up and start slashing things but the benefit he would get from it is marginal IMO.

Nothing says he can't carry around a large or huge weapon in a efficient quiver or whatever. Drop the weapon before he changes then pick it up. I look at wild shape as a buff. It is just another way a druid can buff str, dex, ac and increase size.

Sure, if you want to invest in that particular tactic it can become more useful. I was talking in a general sense.

Maybe this is just me, but why use a big sword when you can burn your foe to death? :)

Can an elemental use a weapon? Certainly. I love giving longspears to Medium fire elementals.

Melee slam +7 (1d6+1 plus burn) with 5 ft. of reach before the longspear. Melee longspear +7 (1d8+1) with 10 ft. of reach and slam +2 (1d6 plus burn) with 5 ft. of reach. If no one's in longspear range, forgo the full attack and use slam +7 (1d6+1 plus burn).

:)

Have a look at the Elemental Sub Type reference:

"Proficient with natural weapons only, unless generally humanoid in form, in which case proficient with all simple weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry"

So is this more of an question of a druid or spell caster using elemental form then an actual elemental?