1)
If for any reason (using a free action to release my hand on my two-handed weapon or I am wielding a long sword) I am wielding a weapon but have a hand free, and have chosen,
BEAST TOTEM, lesser
...Benefit: While raging, the barbarian gains two claw attacks. These attacks are considered primary attacks and are made at the barbarian’s full base attack bonus. The claws deal 1d6 points of slashing damage (1d4 if Small) plus the barbarian’s Strength modifier...
can I use my ONE free hand to make two claw attacks?
2)
No matter the answer to the question above, after I have made a full round attack with my weapon do the claw attacks count as primary and receive the bonus from str or do they become secondary with penalty?
Thank you in advance (Longtime Wizard, first time Barbarian)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
One claw attack per hand.
Any time you mix natural attacks with manufactured weapons the natural attacks become secondary.
The above two posts are entirely correct, here're the rule quotes for that:
can I use my ONE free hand to make two claw attacks?
"You do not receive additional natural attacks for a high base attack bonus. Instead, you receive additional attack rolls for multiple limb and body parts capable of making the attack (as noted by the race or ability that grants the attacks)." CRB pg. 182, emphasis mine The number of natural attacks is tied to the number of destinct body parts (unless something lets you make extra attacks with existing natural weapons, e.g. Haste).
after I have made a full round attack with my weapon do the claw attacks count as primary and receive the bonus from str or do they become secondary with penalty?
"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. (...) When you make additional attacks in this way, all of your natural attacks are treated as secondary natural attacks, using your base attack bonus minus 5 and adding only 1/2 of your Strength modifier on damage rolls." ibid. You can never, ever make a primary natural attack and manufactured weapon attack during the same full-attack action. Plus, every limb/body part can only be used for either one, not for both during the same full-attack action.
Basically, for your ordinary Barb with a two-handed weapon, Lesser Beast Totem does nothing 99.9% of the time. Just live with it, Greater Beast Totem is so strong it more than makes up for that.
You can't make an attack with a 2 handed weapon then make other attacks with one of those hands. (Barring a lot of weapon switching shenanigans).
Basically if you attack with a 2 hander you're not going to get any claw attacks on that turn
A bit of an unusual corner case to this is using any sort of one-handed weapon two-handed or a bastard sword when at BaB 6+ and making your last iterative attack one-handed... seems to be perfectly within the rules to permit an secondary claw attack with your off-hand after such a full attack... although if you perform the attack in the opposite manner starting one-handed and ending two-handed you would be unable to make a secondary claw attack with your off-hand
A bit of an unusual corner case to this is using any sort of one-handed weapon two-handed or a bastard sword when at BaB 6+ and making your last iterative attack one-handed... seems to be perfectly within the rules to permit an secondary claw attack with your off-hand after such a full attack... although if you perform the attack in the opposite manner starting one-handed and ending two-handed you would be unable to make a secondary claw attack with your off-hand
No. If you used the hand to make any manufactured weapon attack, it's unaviable for a natural attack during the same full attack action, and vice versa. No exception.
"For example, you cannot make a claw attack and also use that hand to make attacks with a longsword." CRB pg. 182 The rule doesn't care how many or which attacks you made with the weapon.