PC natural attacks


Rules Questions


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If a PC has a single natural attack what Strength modifier is used when he attacks with just that weapon; 1X str bonus or 1.5 str bonus?


Natural Attacks wrote:

Natural Attacks: Attacks made with natural weapons, such as claws and bites, are melee attacks that can be made against any creature within your reach (usually 5 feet). These attacks are made using your full attack bonus and deal an amount of damage that depends on their type (plus your Strength modifier, as normal). You do not receive additional natural attacks for a high base attack bonus. Instead, you receive additional attack rolls for multiple limb and body parts capable of making the attack (as noted by the race or ability that grants the attacks). If you possess only one natural attack (such as a bite—two claw attacks do not qualify), you add 1–1/2 times your Strength bonus on damage rolls made with that attack.

Some natural attacks are denoted as secondary natural attacks, such as tails and wings. Attacks with secondary natural attacks are made using your base attack bonus minus 5. These attacks deal an amount of damage depending on their type, but you only add half your Strength modifier on damage rolls.

You can make attacks with natural weapons in combination with attacks made with a melee weapon and unarmed strikes, so long as a different limb is used for each attack. For example, you cannot make a claw attack and also use that hand to make attacks with a longsword. When you make additional attacks in this way, all of your natural attacks are treated as secondary natural attacks, using your base attack bonus minus 5 and adding only 1/2 of your Strength modifier on damage rolls. Feats such as Two-Weapon Fighting and Multiattack can reduce these penalties.


Except that a PC always has unarmed strikes, which are natural weapons (mostly).

I think that RAW they should get 1.5 Str, but I do not think that was RAI; thus the question.


That's a different question. Unarmed strikes are not natural attacks, though a monk's unarmed strikes are treated as both natural and manufactured in some situations.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Unarmed attacks are considered manufactured weapons for a variety of reasons, even though it doesn't make intuitive sense.


RumpinRufus quoted the RAW and there is no indication that RAI should be different.
And, as said by two above posters unarmed strikes are not natural attacks. If they were you could kick your enemy in addition to hitting him with the sword with all your attacks.

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