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Hi All,
I'm new to Pathfinder (and d20 games in general) and am trying to make sense of the monster stat blocks. Specifically, melee attacks...
For example, let's take the Barghest. It says "Melee bite +10 (1d6+4), 2 claws +10 (1d4+4)". So, if I'm understanding this right, a Barghest can make a Bite attack at +10 as a standard action. Or, it can make the Bite at +10, and two more Claw attacks at +10 as a full-round action. Is that correct? Or does it make all three attacks every round as a standard action?
And can the Barghest attack 3 different targets if they're all adjacent to it, or does it have to pounce and attack one target with all three?
Clarification is appreciated. Thanks!
For example, let's take the Barghest. It says "Melee bite +10 (1d6+4), 2 claws +10 (1d4+4)". So, if I'm understanding this right, a Barghest can make a Bite attack at +10 as a standard action. Or, it can make the Bite at +10, and two more Claw attacks at +10 as a full-round action.
Absolutely correct. You can make one (and only one) attack with a standard action, or make all your attacks with a full-round action.
Or does it make all three attacks every round as a standard action?
Unless there's something on its stat block specifically telling you otherwise, a creature never gets more than one attack unless it takes a full-attack.
And can the Barghest attack 3 different targets if they're all adjacent to it, or does it have to pounce and attack one target with all three?
Nope, he's free to split his attacks as he sees fit. He can also take his attacks in any order his chooses.
Also be mindful of the word "pounce". This is actually the name of a special ability that allows a creature to use all its attacks whenever it charges.
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To add on to this ... How do primary and secondary attacks fit in?
If a creature takes a full round action and performs both the bite and claw attacks does whichever one he attacks with second become the secondary attack and suffer the -5 to hit penalty? I know both bite and claw are listed as primary attacks in the chart, but can both attacks be primary if made in the same round?
Or does primary and secondary have nothing to do with multiple attacks?
Thanks!
To add on to this ... How do primary and secondary attacks fit in?
If a creature takes a full round action and performs both the bite and claw attacks does whichever one he attacks with second become the secondary attack and suffer the -5 to hit penalty? I know both bite and claw are listed as primary attacks in the chart, but can both attacks be primary if made in the same round?Or does primary and secondary have nothing to do with multiple attacks?
Thanks!
In 3.5, a creature could only have 1 primary attack, and all others were secondary.
Pathfinder changed it so certain natural attacks are always either primary (taking no penalty) or secondary (taking a -5 penalty). Since bite attacks and claw attacks are always primary, there's no penalty.
Luckily, the statblocks already take all the relevant penalties into account, so there's no need to calculate them unless you change a monster or create a new one :)