Katana and weapon feats


Rules Questions

Silver Crusade

Ultimate Combat wrote:
Katana: Specifically constructed for samurai, katanas employ multiple types of steel combined in a distinctive forging process. The result are swords noted for their wickedly sharp yet slender, gently curved blades, designed to make graceful hacking strokes capable of severing opponents' heads and limbs. Though finely balanced, these blades are difficult to master. Characters can use a katana two-handed as a martial weapon, but must take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana) feat to use it one-handed.

Looking at the bolded sentence at the end, anyone with martial weapon proficiency is considered proficient to use a katana with both hands. Is that good enough for weapon feats like Weapon Focus and Improved Critical that require you to be proficient with the weapon to take the feat?

My paladin of Shizuru, who only uses the katana with both hands due to lack of proficiency with her goddess's favored weapon (which is still a sore point for me) really wants to know.


Search for similiar questions involving bastard swords, you will find many words on this matter, and perhaps an opinion that both you and your gm agree on.


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Fromper wrote:
Ultimate Combat wrote:
Katana: Specifically constructed for samurai, katanas employ multiple types of steel combined in a distinctive forging process. The result are swords noted for their wickedly sharp yet slender, gently curved blades, designed to make graceful hacking strokes capable of severing opponents' heads and limbs. Though finely balanced, these blades are difficult to master. Characters can use a katana two-handed as a martial weapon, but must take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana) feat to use it one-handed.

Looking at the bolded sentence at the end, anyone with martial weapon proficiency is considered proficient to use a katana with both hands. Is that good enough for weapon feats like Weapon Focus and Improved Critical that require you to be proficient with the weapon to take the feat?

My paladin of Shizuru, who only uses the katana with both hands due to lack of proficiency with her goddess's favored weapon (which is still a sore point for me) really wants to know.

I would say any character with martial weapon proficiency using the weapon two handed would be proficient for the purpose of feats. If for some reason you used the katana one handed you wouldn't get the benefit from the feats.


I would suggest so.

I have a thread (here about the interactions of the FAQs on these sorts of weapons.


I'd say that you'd have to be fully proficient with the weapon to take feats based on it.


Gallant Armor wrote:
Fromper wrote:
Ultimate Combat wrote:
Katana: Specifically constructed for samurai, katanas employ multiple types of steel combined in a distinctive forging process. The result are swords noted for their wickedly sharp yet slender, gently curved blades, designed to make graceful hacking strokes capable of severing opponents' heads and limbs. Though finely balanced, these blades are difficult to master. Characters can use a katana two-handed as a martial weapon, but must take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana) feat to use it one-handed.

Looking at the bolded sentence at the end, anyone with martial weapon proficiency is considered proficient to use a katana with both hands. Is that good enough for weapon feats like Weapon Focus and Improved Critical that require you to be proficient with the weapon to take the feat?

My paladin of Shizuru, who only uses the katana with both hands due to lack of proficiency with her goddess's favored weapon (which is still a sore point for me) really wants to know.

I would say any character with martial weapon proficiency using the weapon two handed would be proficient for the purpose of feats. If for some reason you used the katana one handed you wouldn't get the benefit from the feats.

^^This.


If you got martial weapon proficiency and you're only using it two-handed, then you're proficient enough that you don't suffer from a -4 penalty to attack rolls from non-proficiency; then you're fine to take Weapon Focus (katana) while treating it as a martial two-handed weapon.
If you ever try using it one-handed without Exotic Weapon Proficiency, it would simply be too large to use.


you can take the feats, you're proficient with the weapon and that's the only requirement.

Silver Crusade

Java Man wrote:
Search for similiar questions involving bastard swords, you will find many words on this matter, and perhaps an opinion that both you and your gm agree on.

I forgot that bastard swords are the same way, so I didn't search for threads based on that. I didn't find anything in a quick search for katana threads. This is for PFS, so I was hoping there would already be a definitive ruling.


Since you are such a devoted follower, maybe you need something bigger, grander, to show your zeal. A bonafide two-handed katana, full of divine glory. (No dachi).

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