Crushing Grabs interaction with Polymorph effects like a druids Wildshape

[Recoveres153]

I have a question,if a druid animal shapes, its written that his attack bonus is strength and for the base animal form for example you get a +1 damage bonus. now if you have the Crushing Grab feat, would it deal 1 damage on grab then ? because Crushing Grab ( https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?ID=439&ArchLevel=4 ) normally works of Strenght but the animal form doesnt say you have +1 strength mod but instead gives you that damage bonus and argues that "Your attack modifier is +9, and your damage bonus is +1. These attacks are Strength based (for the purpose of the enfeebled condition, for example). If your unarmed attack bonus is higher, you can use it instead. "

[HammerJack]

Animal Form doesn't affect your Strength modifier.

Nothing other than Strength modifier is used to determine the damage dealt by Crushing Grab.

The Static damage modifier that your Animal Form Strikes have is not relevant to Crushing Grab at all. Neither is the form's attack modifier or Athletics modifier.

[Gortle]

The battle form abilities don't list a Strength or change your Strength. So use the number you have or you have nothing.

Yes I see it as a problem too. But what else can we do?

[Tactical Drongo]

This Thread made me realize there is nothing dropping a shapechanging Druid from Picking up the wrestler dedication and later in suplex the tarrasque while being a kaiju

[HammerJack]

There is one thing... but one thing I'd put an asterisk on.

The potential issue:
Grapple requires a free hand. Combat grab requires a free hand. Many forms you might wild shape into don't have hands.

The caveat I'd put on it:
Those rules are definitely written for bipeds. The best example of why I'd say they shouldn't actually be taken as "no hands, no grappling" is the snake animal companion, which has no hands and has no unarmed attack with Grab, but has a Constrict ability that they can only ever use by Grappling first.

Still, it's reason to talk to your GM about what sort of Athletics maneuvers they think different animals can do before planning too heavily around it.

[ReyalsKanras]

HammerJack wrote:

Those rules are definitely written for bipeds.

It seems so reasonable that a book written for humans and by humans would do this, but then you remember the book is about dragons and wizards and people turning into snakes and the whole thing just falls apart. At least in this case the strength modifier ruling is clear. Now if only we could get some more inclusive language regarding hands or equivalent appendages.

[Recoveres153]

alright it seems like i missunderstood how the battleform handles the attackbonus as it having the attackbonus as strenght given the wording but that is cleared up , but i agree with you that it isnt clear if something like a bear or cat could grapple with its paws since they arent exactly hands (tho in reality we see them do this often) thanks for the input everyone