Free Hand Fighter and Improved Unarmed Strike


Rules Questions


I'm trying to build an unarmed combat fighter, so I currently have a 3rd level Monk (Because bonus feats I would take anyway, class abilities, and the option to take Monastic Legacy later)

We just hit level 4, so I'm trying to decide whether to go normal fighter or Free Hand Fighter (APG), since I won't be wearing armor anyway, but I've run into a problem with the Singleton ability. It specifies that you get the bonus when "wielding a melee weapon in one hand and leaving your other hand free"

Does Improved Unarmed Strike count as "wielding a weapon"?

For that matter, can you Two-Weapon Fight with unarmed strikes? I've always assumed yes, but I see that uses the same wording.


Good question, I don't know if unarmed you can do it, I DO know that with Brass Knuckles or a Cestus you can...

So if you want to avoid the issue just wear Brass Knuckles and fluff them to be like gloves or something... ;)


Are you wielding your unarmed strike in your hand? No, it is your hand. Alternatively, it could be your foot, or your shoulder, or your pelvis, or whatever you want it to be.


Arachnofiend wrote:
Are you wielding your unarmed strike in your hand? No, it is your hand. Alternatively, it could be your foot, or your shoulder, or your pelvis, or whatever you want it to be.

It's not that simple, if I remember well Monk unarmed strike count as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon...

But the Brass Knuckles thingy resolve the dilema, you can use your unarmed strike but when you want to use the Singleton ability you still have the brass knuckles wielded... ;)

Scarab Sages

If you aren't holding a weapon, it's free. If you use flurry of blows you can make all attacks with the same weapon, so Singleton applies.

Grand Lodge

The wording of TWF implies that you cannot TWF with your fists.


You can TWF with unarmed strikes.

FAQ wrote:

Unarmed Strike: Can I use two-weapon fighting to make two unarmed strikes in one round?

Yes.


You can if you put a Cestus or Brass Knuckles on your fist... ;)


Well... DM ruled that because TWF works by rules clarification, and they use the same wording, Singleton also applies, because RAI, the important part is the free hand, not the weapon.

Thanks, fretgod, BTW for the rules pointer.

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