Can I alternate between using claws and not using claws?

[Silverhand]

Hey everyone,

If I have a tengu that has claws as a natural attack, can I choose not to use claws as a natural attack and instead use unarmed attack feats?

Example: My tengu has claws as natural weapons. BUT I close my fist and punch instead. If I do this, can I alternate between attack types?

[Murdock Mudeater]

Yes, and unarmed attacks are not limited to hands. Get a headbutt in there too.

[BigNorseWolf]

Yes but...

Unarmed attacks works like manufactured weapons. When you toss an unarmed attack into the mix you make all the natural attacks secondary, so its only worth it if you have an astronomical attack bonus or a lot of attacks. You get a -5 to attack and more importantly, only half your strength or dex on the damage.

[Cavall]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Yes but...

Unarmed attacks works like manufactured weapons. When you toss an unarmed attack into the mix you make all the natural attacks secondary, so its only worth it if you have an astronomical attack bonus or a lot of attacks.

Exactly this. Once you throw a fist your claws or beak or..whatever you had as a natural attack now has a -5 to hit. That's a bit steep. Also of you dot have improved unarmed attack you've wound up with a whole other barrel of issues there.

However, yes. You can.

[Dragonchess Player]

Also, a "limb" can only be used to make one type of attack in any round: Either claw or punch/unarmed strike/weapon attack, not both; similarly, you can't both bite (beak) and head-butt in the same round.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Dragonchess Player wrote:

Also, a "limb" can only be used to make one type of attack in any round: Either claw or punch/unarmed strike/weapon attack, not both; similarly, you can't both bite (beak) and head-butt in the same round.

Source?

[Gisher]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

Dragonchess Player wrote:

Also, a "limb" can only be used to make one type of attack in any round: Either claw or punch/unarmed strike/weapon attack, not both; similarly, you can't both bite (beak) and head-butt in the same round.

Source?

It's from the Combat section of the CRB.

CRB wrote:

Natural Attacks:

...
You can make attacks with natural weapons in combination with attacks made with a melee weapon and unarmed strikes, so long as a different limb is used for each attack. For example, you cannot make a claw attack and also use that hand to make attacks with a longsword.

[Ventnor]

Which means that Tengu should make unarmed attacks exclusively with their feet.

[WagnerSika]

Or body slams.

Dragonchess Player wrote:

you can't both bite (beak) and head-butt in the same round

I would say you can, since you can use gore and bite in the same round. It is however moot, as you can use any part of your body to make unarmed attacks.

[Kolokotroni]

WagnerSika wrote:

Or body slams.

Dragonchess Player wrote:

you can't both bite (beak) and head-butt in the same round

I would say you can, since you can use gore and bite in the same round. It is however moot, as you can use any part of your body to make unarmed attacks.

There are some very specific cases where it is not moot. For instance the unchained monks style strikes.

In regards to the OP I have before created a tengu monk before. Basically the bit claw claw supplemented unarmed attacks in a full attack. Sure its at -5, but so are iterative attacks. They still have value. Particularly since they are ALL aided by an amulet of mighty fists together.