Do alchemists cast arcane spells for purposes of the Arcane Strike feat?
Does the Arcane Strike bonus apply to natural weapons?
Does the natural armor bonus granted by a mutagen stack with the natural armor bonus provided by a polymorph spell and/or that of a monster race alchemist?
Regarding alchemists and polymorph. It seems that a master chymist with the feral mutagen, furious mutagen , and Improved Natural Attack (claws) feat have two claw attacks (for 2d6 damage) and bite attack (for 2d6) not counting damage bonuses from Strength and so on. If they polymorph into a girallon (using beast shape IV) , then they would have four claw attacks at (1d6) plus rend (1d6+(1.5xStr)) damage and the feral and furious mutagens become irrelevant, correct?
Polymorphed monsters retain supernatural attacks that don't depend on their forms, correct; eg. a ghoul would retain paralysis and disease and a green hag weakness, whereas a mummy would lose its despair ability but retain disease?
1: No, they are not considered to cast spells at all.
2: Yes.3: Yes, The Natural armor bonus from mutagens is alchemical, The natural armor bonus from polymorph spells is untyped
4: Yes, to the extent of my knowledge.
Thanks, Kierato! :)
Another couple of questions:
Do alchemists gain bonus extracts per day for high Intelligence?
It seems that if an alchemist is using a mutagen, he will retain the benefits of that mutagen when polymorphed. However, the Brutality feature of the master chymist (APG 270) says: “At 3rd level, a chymist in her mutagenic form deals +2 damage when attacking with simple weapons and natural attacks.” If the chymist polymorphs after changing into mutagenic form, do they retain that benefit (and other mutagenic form benefits such as "nimble") or not? I would think Brutality would still apply, as it derives from the chymist's mind, not the mutagenic form (if you read the full ability description).
1: Yes, see the 4th paragraph on page 27 of the APG.
2: Yes, As I understand it, most of it stacks. Mutagens are Alchemical bonuses. Note the Nimble Moves Natural armor bonus does not stack with he bonus from polymorph as I read it (you take the higher one), but it should does stack with the natural armor bonus from mutagens. Brutality would still apply.