Vestigial Arm + Feral Mutagen (Yes another question, I know it's annoying)


Rules Questions


Okay I know questions like this exist on the forums and I've looked at them but my particular question wasn't answered (at least not in a way I saw the question being asked). I'm fairly sure the answer will be "NO" but I figure I better make sure before I write it off.

With Feral Mutagen I get the option to take 2 claws and a bite attack while I'm under the effect of my Mutagen. It's my understanding that if I chose I could use those 2 claws and the bite at full BAB on all attacks OR use a weapon (like a dagger) in one hand and take ONE claw (because the other claw is holding the dagger) and the bite at -5.
Example: Level 8 Alchemist (no ability bonuses factored just BAB)
Dagger at +6/+1 then Claw at +1 then Bite at +1.

Or does using a weapon/claw use up "one hand's worth" of attack options (I read someone say ask yourself "can I make all these attacks with two hands?")?

A) Do I have this right so far? Because this interpretation is what leads me to the use of vestigial arm.

B) With Vestigial arm by the above interpretation (assuming it is correct), can one arm use the dagger while the other 2 make use of the claw attacks granted by the mutagen?
Example (same character only with vestigial arm)
Dagger at +6/+1 then 2 Claws at +1 each then Bite at +1

Or does using a weapon/claw use up "one hand's worth" of attack options (I read someone say ask yourself "can I make all these attacks with two hands?")?
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Alternatively (whether or not the above tactic works)
Can I use a vestigial arm to hold a shield and still use both of my claws with my natural hands (shield made to have no Armor Check penalty for non-proficiency).


Like Vestigial Arm says, you can't use it to get more attacks.

"The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or actions per round"

It can hold items like shields. "The arm can manipulate or hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms"

There aren't any rules saying you CAN'T hold it while you are fighting, and you aren't getting any extra attacks over what you normally could, but check with your GM.


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the easy way is to check if you didn't have the discovery are you making the same number of attacks. If the answer is no then you know that it's giving you extra attacks and that's not allowed. But if you have it hold a shield then it's not giving you more attacks and you're good.


Thanks. I figured that would be the answer. I just needed to ask the question in my words. Reading comprehension issue.

I knew Vestigial Arm itself doesn't give you extra attacks but I was just making sure they couldn't benefit from the attacks granted by Feral Mutagen while my natural arm used attacks given to me for BAB. Honestly, 3 attacks at full BAB and STR dmg isn't bad for a 3/4's BAB class considering at lvl 20 I'd only get 2 iterative attacks and 3 off hand attacks IF I sunk 3 feats into TWF. All of them less likely to hit than the claw/bite.

And thank you for also backing up my use of a shield in that hand.


dunelord3001 wrote:

Like Vestigial Arm says, you can't use it to get more attacks.

"The arm does not give the alchemist any extra attacks or actions per round"

It can hold items like shields. "The arm can manipulate or hold items as well as the alchemist’s original arms"

There aren't any rules saying you CAN'T hold it while you are fighting, and you aren't getting any extra attacks over what you normally could, but check with your GM.

This specific question was addressed by SKR.

Without Vestigial Arms you could kick/kick/claw/claw/bite, with the natural attacks treated as secondary.

With Vestigial Arms you can dagger/dagger/claw/claw/bite, again treating the natural attacks as secondary.

The only thing that matters is that the total number of allowed attacks does not increase.

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