Power Attack + Powerful Bite

[Otm-Shank]

A Tyrannosaurus animal companion has an ability called Powerful Bite which allows it to add double it's strength modifier to it's bite damage.

I am wondering what happens if you give the tyrannosaurus Power Attack as a feat? Does it get double the power attack damage bonus (-1/+4), or does it still only get the extra 50% (-1/+3)?

Thanks in advance!

[Thomas LeBlanc]

Rules don't cover a natural attack with 2x Str. I would give it a +100% bonus, so +4. The +2 seems to equal a one hand attack. Adding +50% is equal to 1 1/2 Str for 2-hand or natural attack. And -50% for 1/2 Str attacks for off hand and secondary natural. So +100% works for me.

[james maissen]

Otm-Shank wrote:

A Tyrannosaurus animal companion has an ability called Powerful Bite which allows it to add double it's strength modifier to it's bite damage.

I am wondering what happens if you give the tyrannosaurus Power Attack as a feat? Does it get double the power attack damage bonus (-1/+4), or does it still only get the extra 50% (-1/+3)?

Thanks in advance!

Power attack is not dependent upon the STR modifier applied to the attack, rather on the weapon/natural weapon used (and how if used as an 'offhand').

The one in question would get (-1/+3) unless somehow it was used as a secondary natural weapon though I can think of only a few ways that this would ever occur.

-James

[thepuregamer]

actually, power attack is dependent on the str bonus you add to attack for natural weapons.

"This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls."

But since powerful bite is a special case scenario, power attack does not have rules that cover how it would interact with it. A friendly dm could probably be convinced to give you a +100% bonus, or a +4 for every -1.

[BobChuck]

+1

However, by strict reading of the rules, the Powerful Bit ability has absolutely no effect on how Power Attack works.

[LoreKeeper]

-1/+3

An archetype two-handed fighter doesn't get bonus on his power attacked overhand chop either.

[Phage]

I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself thinking that this function like the Greater Power Attack feat that would increase the bonus of Power Attack from 150% to 200%.

Powerful Bite does not affect Power Attack, it is just an additional bonus based on your strength modifier. If you have 32 strength, your normal attack would deal +22 damage, instead of 16.

If this functioned like Greater Power Attack your bonus would be 6 applications of Power Attack (20 BaB / 4) times 4 (2 base doubled), or 24 damage. Normal Power Attack would give you 6*3, or an additional 18 damage.

Not allowing for double dipping between the two, you actually end up with the same damage: 22+18=24+16=40. Powerful Bite does however have an additional 6 damage when not Power Attacking.

If you wanted to let the T-rex Greater Power Attack, it would first need access to Power Attack and Greater Power Attack. If your GM is more lenient they could allow you to double dip because it would follow with the ratios for Power Attack: 50% str mods get 50% PA, 100% get 100%, 150% get 150%, so why not 200% getting 200%?