I am looking for ways to bypass DR with my Brawler. Currently, his Unarmed strikes count as magical.
I was wondering if I could wear two Cold Iron Cestus (Cesti?) on each hand, and thus gain the ability to also bypass the DR of Fey/Demons, as well as pick up the ability to do Piercing damage with Unarmed Strikes.
In effect his Unarmed strikes would be/could be as follows:
Lethal
Nonlethal
Magic
Cold Iron
Bludgeoning
Piercing
I suppose I could wear one Cold Iron Cestus and one Alchemical Silver Cestus to also have the ability to bypass the DR for Lycanthropes. Though, I don't believe I have ever come up against a werewolf in PFS play.
Or would it be better to use brass knuckles....though story wise the cestus would fit my Brawler much better.
Remember that the Brawler gets both Cold Iron and Silver at 9th level.
Until then there's no reason not to get one of each, as your Flurry can be done with just one, the other, or with both as needed.
Maybe even pick up an Adamantine version in case you find yourself having to punch your way out of a room.
-j
Am I translating this incorrectly then: this is from the Ultimate Equipment description of the Cestus.
Cestus
Price 5 gp
Type simple
The cestus is a glove of leather or thick cloth that covers the wielder from mid-finger to mid-forearm. The close combat weapon is reinforced with metal plates over the fingers and often lined with wicked spikes along the backs of the hands and wrists. While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal lethal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, you can have your unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus. When using a cestus, your fingers are mostly exposed, allowing you to wield or carry items in that hand, but the constriction of the weapon at your knuckles gives you a –2 penalty on all precision-based tasks involving that hand (such as opening locks). A cestus can't be disarmed.
So I can choose to allow my Unarmed Strikes to deal piercing damage but I do not get the DR for the material? That does not seem right. If the item I am wearing can affect my strikes in one way, why would it prevent the other way?
The usual consensus I've seen here is that a cestus replaces the entirety of the attack, so your 20th level brawler would replace her 2d10 punch with a 1d4 punch/slice, not accounting for the benefits on the weapon. You can of course just kick or headbutt for those times you don't need the mithral or cold iron properties.
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Since the Brawler can do an Unarmed Strike with any part of their body like the Monk, even if both hands are covered with a different Cestus a Brawler could still do an Unarmed Strike with their elbow or a kick or whatever they want. You just won't be able to do your increased Unarmed Strike damage when using the Cestus. However, also keep in mind that the Brawler has an ability called Close Weapon Mastery that makes any weapon in the close weapon category get a delayed Unarmed Strike damage progression. So yes, you DO get your Unarmed Strike damage with a Cestus, but only because the Brawler class feature says you do and at a lvl-4 progression.
Since the Brawler can do an Unarmed Strike with any part of their body like the Monk, even if both hands are covered with a different Cestus a Brawler could still do an Unarmed Strike with their elbow or a kick or whatever they want. You just won't be able to do your increased Unarmed Strike damage when using the Cestus. However, also keep in mind that the Brawler has an ability called Close Weapon Mastery that makes any weapon in the close weapon category get a delayed Unarmed Strike damage progression. So yes, you DO get your Unarmed Strike damage with a Cestus, but only because the Brawler class feature says you do and at a lvl-4 progression.
Everyone can use any part of their body like a monk.
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Everyone can use any part of their body like a monk.
Looking at the PRD, yep, you're right. I assumed most people couldn't because otherwise the whole "A brawler may attack with fists, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a brawler may make unarmed strikes with her hands full" (and equivalent statements in every other class that focuses on unarmed strikes) seems to be completely unneeded. I guess the only reason it's there is to say that Monks (and their unarmed brethren) can make AoO with an unarmed strike at normal range even if they're holding a spear or something.
Anyway, I was just trying to make a point against the people saying to not use weapons if you want to do the Unarmed Strike route. You still have your unarmed strikes available even if you're wearing Cesti. The main limiting factor of both is that you then have to split the cost of enhancements between weapons and an Amulet of Mighty Fists.
I would highly suggest addy weapons. My monk has the biggest trouble with hardness.
The usual consensus I've seen here is that a cestus replaces the entirety of the attack, so your 20th level brawler would replace her 2d10 punch with a 1d4 punch/slice, not accounting for the benefits on the weapon. You can of course just kick or headbutt for those times you don't need the mithral or cold iron properties.
Brawler's Strike... at 5th level the brawler may do unarmed strike damage at level -4 with weapons in the close fighter's weapon group. At level 20 the cestus is doing 2d8 damage not 1d4.
The usual consensus I've seen here is that a cestus replaces the entirety of the attack, so your 20th level brawler would replace her 2d10 punch with a 1d4 punch/slice, not accounting for the benefits on the weapon. You can of course just kick or headbutt for those times you don't need the mithral or cold iron properties.Brawler's Strike... at 5th level the brawler may do unarmed strike damage at level -4 with weapons in the close fighter's weapon group. At level 20 the cestus is doing 2d8 damage not 1d4.
Yeah, I forgot that minor detail. Wonder why monks don't get that benefit.
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Yeah, I forgot that minor detail. Wonder why monks don't get that benefit.The usual consensus I've seen here is that a cestus replaces the entirety of the attack, so your 20th level brawler would replace her 2d10 punch with a 1d4 punch/slice, not accounting for the benefits on the weapon. You can of course just kick or headbutt for those times you don't need the mithral or cold iron properties.Brawler's Strike... at 5th level the brawler may do unarmed strike damage at level -4 with weapons in the close fighter's weapon group. At level 20 the cestus is doing 2d8 damage not 1d4.
They do, with Ascetic Style.
I know that SKR and JB both weighed in on the forums several years ago that they do not believe that monk (or by extension brawler/sacred fist warpriest etc) unarmed strike damage could be used in place of brass knuckle/cestus damage:
Was this ever officially formalized in FAQ or errata format?
-j
I know that SKR and JB both weighed in on the forums several years ago that they do not believe that monk (or by extension brawler/sacred fist warpriest etc) unarmed strike damage could be used in place of brass knuckle/cestus damage:
Was this ever officially formalized in FAQ or errata format?
-j
Yes the newer printing of those items no longer allow unarmed damage to replace the damage they do.
If you look on the prd it is not up to date. The APG brass knuckles still say you get the monk damage, but the newer ULt EQP does not have that entry.
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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A cestus doesn't count as an unarmed strike, but a gauntlet does. Seems like you could enhance that instead.
While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus.
If you attack with a cestus as a medium PC, you always deal 1d4.
If you are wearing one, you are always considered armed.
If you attack with an unarmed attack, you can deal lethal.
If you are proficient (and monks are), you can also deal piercing with unarmed strikes.
This metal glove lets you deal lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes. A strike with a gauntlet is otherwise considered an unarmed attack.
If you attack with a gauntlet as a medium PC, it always deals 1d3.
If you attack with Unarmed Strike, you can deal lethal without the penalty.
If you attack with a gauntlet, it is an unarmed attack and provokes as a result.
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The plot thickens when used in conjunction with the Brawler (or Monk) class due to lines like:
A brawler also deals more damage with her unarmed strikes than others, as shown on Table 1–5.
Lets assume Mr. Brawler has a cestus on one hand and a gauntlet on the other (and isn't grasping some other weapon in the gauntlet). The cestus would definitely be a step backward in damage output for this Brawler.
But, in spite of the first benefit (lethal damage) being redundant with the improved unarmed strike feat and/or the unarmed strike class feature(s), wearing a (non-spiked) gauntlet doesn't lessen the damage for this class since it still counts as an unarmed strike, and is therefore still improving in die type at higher class levels.
At least, that's my take.
A cestus doesn't count as an unarmed strike, but a gauntlet does. Seems like you could enhance that instead.While wearing a cestus, you are considered armed and your unarmed attacks deal normal damage. If you are proficient with a cestus, your unarmed strikes may deal bludgeoning or piercing damage. Monks are proficient with the cestus.If you attack with a cestus as a medium PC, you always deal 1d4.
If you are wearing one, you are always considered armed.
If you attack with an unarmed attack, you can deal lethal.
If you are proficient (and monks are), you can also deal piercing with unarmed strikes.
This metal glove lets you deal lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes. A strike with a gauntlet is otherwise considered an unarmed attack.If you attack with a gauntlet as a medium PC, it always deals 1d3.
If you attack with Unarmed Strike, you can deal lethal without the penalty.
If you attack with a gauntlet, it is an unarmed attack and provokes as a result.
This really should be a FAQ. I've lost count of the number of times this topic has come up.
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Owner - D20 Hobbies
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gauntlet doesn't lessen the damage for this class since it still counts as an unarmed strike
It counts as an "unarmed attack" not an "unarmed strike".
This really should be a FAQ. I've lost count of the number of times this topic has come up.
Your right, but it is mostly because so many people conflate unarmed attack and unarmed strike.