Eberron - Battlefist and Improved Natural Attack - Do they stack?

[reveal]

A warforged PC in my campaign had a good question. If they take Improved Natural Attack at 6th level, will that stack with his Battlefist?

Normally, a slam attack deals 1d4 damage. With Improved Natural Attack, that would go to 1d6.

A Battlefist does 1d8 damage. Would that go up to 2d6, per the feat, or would it stay at 1d8 since it's technically not a "natural attack" but actually a weapon?

 

[ruleslawyer]

The latter, IIRC. The battlefist allows the character to make a slam attack using it; that's not the same as a "natural weapon." A monk's attacks are, IMHO, but not this item, which is more like a powerful spiked gauntlet.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I agree with ruleslawyer here.

Cheers

 

[CronoDekar]

Mmm, I'd let them stack, myself. From a "weapon" or not, a slam attack is still a natural attack. Though, as a natural attack it still couldn't be used as an iterative attack (but it could be used as a secondary at -5).

 

[kayn99]

Where did the Battle fist appear

I was looking for more P. Classes for Warforged and just wondering where this one was.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Knight Otu]

The battlefist is not a class, it is a warforged component. Page 268 in the Eberron CS.

 

[uzagi_akimbo]

The latter, IIRC. The battlefist allows the character to make a slam attack using it; that's not the same as a "natural weapon." A monk's attacks are, IMHO, but not this item, which is more like a powerful spiked gauntlet.

/agree

A battlefist is basically a tool/weapon used to enhance a natural attack, akin to a weighted glove or a set of brass-knuckles. Its not part of warforge-per-se but a customized add-on. A tool that can be enhanced/improved/enchanted like any other item. Hence, it shouldn't be eligible for "natural attack"-boosting feats and spells.

But that's the problem with integrating "upgradeable character bodies" and a bascially "slight yet effective mutation" feat.