The rules specifically indicate, as presently written, that the monk's unarmed attack is considered to be either a weapon or a natural weapon, for effects which depend on type.
I am firmly convinced that this is a mistake, because it generates multiple rule anomalies. Specifically, for those creatures who are considered to have Natural Weapon sequences. What happens to a True Dragon who takes class levels in Monk? How about a centaur? Or even Half Dragon? What makes all of these options complex for a Monk is that they all have secondary natural weapons, so may end up with Unarmed Attack sequence/Secondary Natural Weapon sequence. How would this impact those classes which have the ability to gain natural weapons who multiclass to monk, like bloodline sorcerors?
While technically this may be an issue with the working of the improved unarmed attack feat, the unarmed attack rules are a key part of the monk class. Patching and correcting this confusion will be critical to the function of the Monk class, especially with regard to feats, like Improved Natural Weapon.
I propose that unarmed attacks be made a slam natural attack, with an exception that allows the slam attack to iterate with BAB/Flurry of Blows progression. This will limit the number of effects a monk can layer on their unarmed strike, and makes oils of align weapon useless for monks, but I consider this a small price to pay for rules logic and consistency. Besides, the monk already has access to weapons when necessary. I know I have played many monks who have used the quarterstaff or kama to avoid touching hazardous enemies.
Actually, a Monk's natural attack is considered BOTH a natural weapon and a manufactured weapon.
From Beta PFRPG, pag. 29:
"A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons."
This was made in order to make a Monk qualify for spells like Magic Fang and Magic Weapon; also, some feats like Improved Natural Attack can be taken by a Monk thanks to this unusual quality.
Please note that a creature that uses "classical" natural attacks cannot use Flurry of Blows, increased damage from claws/bites/whatever, etc. (you can see the official FAQ from Wizards of the Coast for these clarifications, under the heading "Classes -> Monk")
A Dragon that takes Monk levels, for example, can only do two things:
1) attack with his "monster" attacks (2 claws,1 bite, 2 wings... it depends on the size of the Dragon), with his "basic" Dragon Full Attack
2) attack with his Monk Unarmed damage, which is based on his size and his Monk level only, using the Flurry of Blows ONLY with these attacks (but see below for more).
It's like a Fighter who has both a greatsword and a warhammer; he uses only one of them in a single round, not both.
The only exception is if the creature (like an Half-Dragon, or a full Dragon) can use some of its natural attacks as secondary weapons (in the case of a Human/Half-Dragon for example, only his bite, since his 2 claws are primary weapons; in the case of a Dragon, all his attacks except for his bite; please note that the penaties or Flurry of Blows apply to ALL the attacks of the creature,included his natural attacks that are not part of the Flurry of Blows itself). By the same principle, a Sorcerer(Abyssal or Draconic Bloodline)/Monk cannot use both his claws and his Monk Unarmed strikes, since the claws are both primary attacks.
Actually, a Monk's natural attack is considered BOTH a natural weapon and a manufactured weapon.
From Beta PFRPG, pag. 29:
"A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons."This was made in order to make a Monk qualify for spells like Magic Fang and Magic Weapon; also, some feats like Improved Natural Attack can be taken by a Monk thanks to this unusual quality.
Please note that a creature that uses "classical" natural attacks cannot use Flurry of Blows, increased damage from claws/bites/whatever, etc. (you can see the official FAQ from Wizards of the Coast for these clarifications, under the heading "Classes -> Monk")
A Dragon that takes Monk levels, for example, can only do two things:
1) attack with his "monster" attacks (2 claws,1 bite, 2 wings... it depends on the size of the Dragon), with his "basic" Dragon Full Attack
2) attack with his Monk Unarmed damage, which is based on his size and his Monk level only, using the Flurry of Blows ONLY with these attacks (but see below for more).It's like a Fighter who has both a greatsword and a warhammer; he uses only one of them in a single round, not both.
The only exception is if the creature (like an Half-Dragon, or a full Dragon) can use some of its natural attacks as secondary weapons (in the case of a Human/Half-Dragon for example, only his bite, since his 2 claws are primary weapons; in the case of a Dragon, all his attacks except for his bite; please note that the penaties or Flurry of Blows apply to ALL the attacks of the creature,included his natural attacks that are not part of the Flurry of Blows itself). By the same principle, a Sorcerer(Abyssal or Draconic Bloodline)/Monk cannot use both his claws and his Monk Unarmed strikes, since the claws are both primary attacks.
Actually, One Half Dragon claw, oddly enough, is situationally considered a secondary weapon, so a half dragon monk might be either flurry or unarmed attack sequence/claw/bite (since a presented attack sequence for a half dragon is Longsword/Claw/Bite) or what you presented. Still, I consider it a needless complexity. It would be far easier for all improved unarmed attacks to be considered a slam which can be used in place of a primary natural attack, with improved unarmed attack granting secondary unarmed slam attacks at appropriate BAB. Unification of rules which would be otherwise complex is a good thing. Otherwise, you have to rely on resources outside of the RAW to answer a question which can and will come up with the information presented in the RAW. You can still leave in a rider that allows effects which target a weapon to target the unarmed attack slam, but by defining it specifically in this way, a hole in the rules is patched.