Two sets of claws: Standard TWF Rules or otherwise?


Rules Questions


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So, I recently made a Catfolk Ranger, planning on going Natural Weapon style with them, and I took the Cat's Claws alternate racial trait. However, I was planning on going for a strong DEX build, with only a bit of STR for the bonus melee damage. With that in mind, I present to you this question: Do you use a pair of Claw attacks like you would Two-Weapon Fighting, or are there different rules for natural weapons? I'm a little confused by this due to the abundance of monsters with two or more natural weapon attacks but no TWF, or even MWF. Could I please get some verification here?


You get ONE attack at your highest BAB with every natural weapon you have, some natural weapons are secondary attacks meaning you get a -5 penalty and half strength bonus to damage with them.

In this case, claws, you have two claw attacks which are a primary natural weapon which comes down to one attack each with no penalties (unlike TWF), however you will not get itterative attacks later.

level 2 ranger with BAB +2, str 12 and a dex of 20 with weapon finesse would get two attacks at +7 with no penalties to attack or damage.
(2 claws +7, damage 1d4+1)


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Thanks Remco, I thought that was how it worked but I wasn't certain, hence why I was asking here. Now I can finally finish my Catfolk's character sheet. @.@

Edit: Actually, I just thought of another question: Could I still get those two attacks at no penalty while using Claw Blades? Or does that cause me to need to use Two-Weapon Fighting to avoid the full penalty?


DarkStar15 wrote:

Thanks Remco, I thought that was how it worked but I wasn't certain, hence why I was asking here. Now I can finally finish my Catfolk's character sheet. @.@

Edit: Actually, I just thought of another question: Could I still get those two attacks at no penalty while using Claw Blades? Or does that cause me to need to use Two-Weapon Fighting to avoid the full penalty?

Claw Blades turn a claw in a weapon and you would use the weapon rules then.

One Claw Blade one Claw :

You have a Claw Blade you get to make itterative attacks with as usual for a weapon, you do not get TWF penalties, it functions like a one handed weapon. You do however get an additional claw attack, though because you use it with a weapon it becomes a secondary attack suffering a -5 penalty to hit and half strength damage. Multi-attack feat could take the penalty on attack rolls down to -2 for secondary natural attacks.

Two Claw Blades :

You use TWF as normal, which means a -2 penalty to hit with the basic TWF feat and half strength on the off-hand, presumably not a good option till you reach higher levels so you can enjoy itterative attacks.


DarkStar15 wrote:

Thanks Remco, I thought that was how it worked but I wasn't certain, hence why I was asking here. Now I can finally finish my Catfolk's character sheet. @.@

Edit: Actually, I just thought of another question: Could I still get those two attacks at no penalty while using Claw Blades? Or does that cause me to need to use Two-Weapon Fighting to avoid the full penalty?

Due to another post about the claws I was looking into the weapon. RAW, the wording of the weapon causes the claw attack to do S type (not S and B type) damage. It also specifically calls out that the attack is no longer a natural weapon but a light slashing weapon. The loss of it being a natural weapon would cause you to lose the natural attack routine and be forced to use Flurry of Blows, TWF or require you to have a BAB of +6 (or more) to get both claws during an attack sequence it seems.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Ok, you have been a great help on this, Remco. That's about everything I needed to know for this issue, so thanks. Looks like I'm gonna be waiting on getting Claw Blades and TWF until at least level 5.


DarkStar15 wrote:
Ok, you have been a great help on this, Remco. That's about everything I needed to know for this issue, so thanks. Looks like I'm gonna be waiting on getting Claw Blades and TWF until at least level 5.

I haven't acctually read the natural weapon style recently, just make sure it is compatible since the Claw Blade is technically not a natural weapon.


Remco Sommeling wrote:
DarkStar15 wrote:
Ok, you have been a great help on this, Remco. That's about everything I needed to know for this issue, so thanks. Looks like I'm gonna be waiting on getting Claw Blades and TWF until at least level 5.
I haven't acctually read the natural weapon style recently, just make sure it is compatible since the Claw Blade is technically not a natural weapon.

The natural weapon style just sets which feats are available for the ranger to choose from. Things like weapon focus or improved natural weapon should be fine, but they will have to check the feats because Rending Claw prereqs "2 claw natural attacks" which wouldn't be the case with the weapon being used.

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