Is Falling Stone unarmed strike NOT agile?


Rules Discussion


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

On CRB pg 159 lists special unarmed attacks for Monk. Some, like Falling Stone, do not include the Agile trait. My assumption was that all unarmed attacks are agile (per weapon table pg 280). This seems like they are in conflict with one another.

So if a Monk is in Mountain Stance are his/her attacks truly NOT agile even though they are listed as Unarmed?


2 people marked this as a favorite.

The 'fist' attack on the weapon table is just the default unarmed attack. There are tons of special unarmed attacks you get from a variety of sources that don't have the same traits, as stated on page 278. "Unarmed Attacks lists the statistics for an unarmed attack with a fist, though you’ll usually use the same statistics for attacks made with any other parts of your body. Certain ancestry feats, class features, and spells give access to special, more powerful unarmed attacks. Details for those unarmed attacks are provided in the abilities that grant them."


Yes, because the concept for the Mountain Stance monk is not having high dex for AC. It's completely intentional.

Stance strikes are not "unarmed strikes+".


bearcatbd wrote:

On CRB pg 159 lists special unarmed attacks for Monk. Some, like Falling Stone, do not include the Agile trait. My assumption was that all unarmed attacks are agile (per weapon table pg 280). This seems like they are in conflict with one another.

So if a Monk is in Mountain Stance are his/her attacks truly NOT agile even though they are listed as Unarmed?

While I can see how that can be confusing, it would also mean a barbarian could "wield" an agile d12 reach weapon with the Deer Animal instinct. This would be totally overpowered.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Fist, as seen on the weapon table, is an unarmed attack. Claws are an unarmed attack. Falling Stone strikes are an unarmed attack. Antlers are an unarmed attack.

This is no different than "short sword is a weapon and great club is a weapon." Unarmed attacks don't inherit properties from other unarmed attacks any more than weapons inherit properties from other weapons.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
HammerJack wrote:

Fist, as seen on the weapon table, is an unarmed attack. Claws are an unarmed attack. Falling Stone strikes are an unarmed attack. Antlers are an unarmed attack.

This is no different than "short sword is a weapon and great club is a weapon." Unarmed attacks don't inherit properties from other unarmed attacks any more than weapons inherit properties from other weapons.

No, but you CAN use the statistics for a fist for a kick or headbutt in a way you can't with weapons. Which doesn't undermine your point but I could see it causing confusion.

So to be clear: fist covers any "generic" unarmed strike without associated stats. Specific stats for a specific unarmed strike use their own specific statistics.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Sure, the definition of "Fist" is deliberately very loose. I'm just trying to make it clear that unarmed attacks need to be read as separate, the way two weapons owned by the same character are, NOT as things that modify a base template of Unarmed Attack.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Okay, I understand now. Thanks everyone for the assist!

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder Second Edition / Rules Discussion / Is Falling Stone unarmed strike NOT agile? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.