Monster Attacks

[Deadguy]

Okay, I am about to ask what will seem a really obvious question. A manticore has the following attacks listed: 2 claws +9, bite +7.

(1) When it makes a Standard Attack action, how what attack(s) does it make?

(2) And when it makes a Full Attack action?

 

[Berk]

1. one claw attack

2. 3 claw/claw/bite

 

[dcollins]

You may wish to consult MM p. 7, under "Natural Weapons", 3rd paragraph. There it specifies that like any other character, standard attack=1 attack, full attack=all attacks for monsters.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Okay, I am about to ask what will seem a really obvious question. A manticore has the following attacks listed: 2 claws +9, bite +7.

(1) When it makes a Standard Attack action, how what attack(s) does it make?

A standard action is always one attack at your highest bonus. So the Manticore could attack with either one claw or with its bite, at +9 melee. Since the claw is its primary natural weapon because it is listed first, it would usually use its claw. It also has the option of its 6 tail spikes as a standard action. This is an exception to the normal standard action rule, similar to, but not the same as, throwing 3 shuriken in one action.

(2) And when it makes a Full Attack action?

Two claws at +9 melee, one bite at +7 melee.

 

[Deadguy]

Hmmm... now where on earth did I get the idea that where the primary attack is bracketed together (like the manticore's claw attacks), that those attacks count as 'one' for the purposes of standard/full attack actions? I can recall vaguely making the shift to that position many months ago - I just can't recall what I would've read to prompt me!

Oh well, the PCs will be happy!

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Hmmm... now where on earth did I get the idea that where the primary attack is bracketed together (like the manticore's claw attacks), that those attacks count as 'one' for the purposes of standard/full attack actions? I can recall vaguely making the shift to that position many months ago - I just can't recall what I would've read to prompt me!

Oh well, the PCs will be happy!

That would be one attack with both claws. It would be written like this: claws +9 melee (not 2 claws +9 melee). It would use both claws as one attack. There are not many creatures like this in the MM, but there are a few, especially some of the animals/birds.

 

[Deadguy]

That could be it, Dr. Zoom. I suspect I read a discussion os something similar either here, or on another board, and got the wrong end of the stick!

Oh, and thanks to everyone for getting this straightened out so quickly!

 

[Spectrum Rider]

So can the manticore make a bite attack at +9 if it foregoes the claw attack? (As a standard action, let's say.)

The Spectrum Rider

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Yes.

 

[zoroaster100]

attack bonus for non-primary weapon

I have been working on the assumption that monsters can use any of their weapons to make a single attack as a standard action even if that is not usually the primary natural weapon, but I have been concerned maybe I'm misinterpreting the rules. Is the primary/nonprimary natural weapon rule analogous to lef/right handed? A right handed character that attacks only with his left hand gets a penalty for attacking with the nonprimary hand unless the character has ambidexterity....