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Hi, the Strangler archetype has the Strangle ability, which replaces the Brawler's Unarmed Strike and Brawler's Fury abilities. But, then later, it gets the Close Weapon Mastery ability which gives it a Brawler's unarmed strike damage minus 4 levels when wielding a close weapon, the group which includes unarmed strikes. Does this give you back the Brawler's Unarmed Strike damage ability at a -4 level instead of 1d3 base damage? I think it's intended to be used with close weapons besides UAS. Are UAS's wielded? Maybe that is the important factor.
"Strangle: At 1st level, a strangler deals +1d6 sneak attack damage whenever she succeeds at a grapple check to damage or pin an opponent. The strangler is always considered flanking her target for the purpose of using this ability. This damage increases by +1d6 at 2nd, 8th and 15th levels. This ability replaces unarmed strike and brawler's flurry."
"Close Weapon Mastery: At 5th level, a brawler's damage with close weapons increases. When wielding a close weapon, she uses the unarmed strike damage of a brawler 4 levels lower instead of the base damage for that weapon (for example, a 5th-level Medium brawler wielding a punching dagger deals 1d6 points of damage instead of the weapon's normal 1d4). If the weapon normally deals more damage than this, its damage is unchanged. This ability does not affect any other aspect of the weapon. The brawler can decide to use the weapon's base damage instead of her adjusted unarmed strike damage—this must be declared before the attack roll is made."
Technically, I think it does.
I think most people agree that the Strangler losing Unarmed Strike is a mistake and it's supposed to lose Brawler's Strike (the thing that let's their fist count as magic, etc. for overcoming DR) instead.