What is a "special attack?"


Rules Questions


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

In the universal monster rules the term "special attack" is thrown around and used inconsistently from one rules entry to the next. Trip is described as a special attack, but its format text says it's not a Special Attack; Bleed is described as an ability, but its format text says it is a Special Attack; Push and Pull are described as abilities, but their format text describes them as being listed in both Special Attacks and individual attacks, but in actual stat blocks they're only listed only in the special attacks section; Grab is described as a special attack, and its format text says it should be in the individual attacks and Special Attacks, but the actual stat blocks only list it with the individual attacks and not Special Attacks.

So the descriptive text, the format text, and the actual stat blocks using the rules are not necessarily in agreement with each other and there's no consistency between one rule to the next. I'd be inclined to rule in accordance to however the actual stat blocks are structured, simply out of practicality, but the RAW appears to be unclear on the matter.

Please FAQ is you wish to know the following:
How do we determine what is and is not a Special Attack for the purposes of things like qualifying for the Ability Focus feat, or whether or not a skeleton loses them?

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