Bloodragers and Improved Natural Attack


Rules Questions


I've searched the archives for a week now and can't find an official ruling.
Are Bloodragers with the Abyssal or Draconic bloodlines proficient in natural attacks when they get claw attacks at level 1, or do they only have proficiency whilst bloodraging? Can they take feats like Improved Natural Attack (claws), Weapon Focus (claws), Improved Critical (claws) and so on, like Druids can? If not, why is Improved Natural Attack a bonus feat in the Hag bloodline?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

The Polymorph section of the Magic chapter in the Core Rulebook says that the magic that grants the natural attack also grants proficiency; hence, the proficiency disappears when the magic expires. Druids are an exception, because their weapon proficiency states:

Core Rulebook, Druid wrote:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Druids are proficient with the following weapons: club, dagger, dart, quarterstaff, scimitar, scythe, sickle, shortspear, sling, and spear. They are also proficient with all natural attacks (claw, bite, and so forth) of any form they assume with wild shape (see below).

According to the Improved Natural Attack feat, proficiency is not required. However, the natural weapon itself is required.

Bestiary, Improved Natural Attack wrote:

Improved Natural Attack (Monster)

Attacks made by one of this creature’s natural attacks leave vicious wounds.
Prerequisite: Natural weapon, base attack bonus +4.
Benefit: Choose one of the creature’s natural attack forms (not an unarmed strike). The damage for this natural attack increases by one step on the following list, as if the creature’s size had increased by one category. Damage dice increase as follows: 1d2, 1d3, 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 2d6, 3d6, 4d6, 6d6, 8d6, 12d6.

A weapon or attack that deals 1d10 points of damage increases as follows: 1d10, 2d8, 3d8, 4d8, 6d8, 8d8, 12d8.

Special: This feat can be taken multiple times. Each time it is taken, it applies to a different natural attack.

A character can qualify for a feat only if he has the prerequisite, and in general, having the prerequiste means not from a temporary effect, such as gaining Dexterity 13 from a Cat's Grace spell. However, we have some ambiguity over what temporary means. Does it mean he satifies all prerequisites 24 hours a day? Or does it mean he has access at will to the prerequisite in order to practice the feat in a realistic fashion? The FAQ is silent on that. Ask your GM.

I myself would rule on the iiberal side. The bloodrager can practice with his claws regularly during downtime, so he can train the Weapon Focus(claws). The feat deactivates when he does not have claws, but no-one can observe that, so it makes no practical difference.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Bloodragers and Improved Natural Attack All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.