Explain Feral Combat Training to me like I'm stoopid...

[VoodistMonk]

I have searched and still don't have a definite answer.

Say you have 2 claws as natural attacks, you are a level 3 Monk, and have Weapon Focus Claws/Feral Combat Training...

Does your Flurry of Blows look like this:

1. Kick @ BAB -2, kick @ BAB -2, 2 claws @ BAB -2? (Or as secondary @ BAB -5?)

Or:

2. Kick @ BAB -2, 2 claws @ BAB -2?

Or:

3. Kick @ BAB-2, 1 claw @ BAB -2?

.....................................

1. Implies that you use both your claws WITH your normal Flurry of Blows.

2. Implies that you use both your claws IN PLACE OF one of the unarmed strikes in your Flurry of Blows.

3. Implies that you can replace one of your unarmed strikes in your Flurry of Blows with one of your claws.

.......................................

Are any of those assumptions anywhere near correct?

Please type slowly, I can't read fast...

[LordKailas]

So, lets say you have the following attack options available to you

Left Claw, Right Claw, Kick

You are a level 6 Monk, and have Weapon Focus Claws/Feral Combat Training.

During Flurry:
An attack with a kick => BAB = Monk Level - 2
An attack with a claw => BAB = Monk Level - 2

It's my understanding that any of the following attack sequences would be fine

Kick @ BAB +4, Left Claw @ +5, Right Claw @ +5
Kick @ BAB +4, Left Claw @ +5, Left Claw @ +5
Right Claw @ +5, Right Claw @ +5, Right Claw @ +5

[Lemartes]

Wow I see why you're having trouble.

It says "with" so that might mean:

Kick BAB -2, Kick BAB -2, Claw BA B-5, Claw BAB -5

[thorin001]

Feral Combat Training effectively gives your claws the monk weapon trait. All FCT does is allow your claws to be a weapon you can flurry with. It does not allow you to gain the extra attacks from natural weapons while flurrying.

[Derklord]

"Feral Combat Training: What does “with” in the Special line for this feat mean for monks making a flurry of blows?
Normally a monk who has natural attacks (such as a lizardfolk monk with claw attacks) cannot use those natural attacks as part of a flurry of blows (Core Rulebook 57). Feral Combat Training allows you to use the selected natural attack as if it were a monk weapon—you can use it as one of your flurry of blows attacks, use it to deploy special attacks that require you to use a monk weapon, apply the effects of the natural weapon (such as a poisonous bite) for each flurry of blows attack, and so on.
The feat does not allow you to make your normal flurry of blows attack sequence plus one or more natural attacks with the natural weapon. In other words, if you can flurry for four attacks per round, with this feat you still only make four attacks per round... but any number of those attacks may be with the selected natural weapon."

[VoodistMonk]

Thank you.

[Talonhawke]

Yep it's not super useful if your going full monk unless you in an archetype that doesn't increase unarmed strike damage. However their are some places it can be.
1. No unarmed damage increase
2. Having different damage types
3. If your using a feat or ability that makes the natural weapons have useful effects or riders.

[thorin001]

FCT only really works if you can get your natural attacks to out damage your unarmed strikes. In general that only works with multiclassing. So if you have a lot of them, like polymorphed into a critter with pounce, or if you have a single massive natural attack like a hippo. A hippo with strongjaw cast on it and then flurrying with that bite can be terrifying.