D&D 5E (2014) Natural Attacks

[MNblockhead]

Tomato

It's toMAHto! Get it right!


;-)

 

[NotAYakk]

You can make a simple melee attack is an attack with a natural weapon, melee weapon, improvised weapon or an unarmed strike. When making a simple melee attack, roll 1d20 and add your strength, plus any proficiency bonus (if applicable), against the target's AC. The damage it deals varies.

When making a simple melee attack with an improvised weapon, the DM may state that feats, properties or abilities or proficiencies that work with melee weapons may apply if the improvised weapon is sufficiently similar. For example, the DM may decide that a chair leg functions enough like a club when making an improvised weapon attack, and allow a fighter to apply her duelist fighting style and add proficiency to the attack roll. Otherwise, it deals 1d4+strength bonus damage and most characters and creatures are not proficient in improvised weapon attacks.

Sometimes you can use a ranged weapon as an improvised weapon. If you do so, its properties as a ranged weapon do not apply to the attack.

When making an unarmed strike, your attack deals 1 point of damage (2 on a crit), plus your strength bonus. Most creatures and characters are proficient in unarmed strikes.

When making an simple melee attack with a melee weapon, use the weapon's damage dice plus your strength modifier for damage. If you are proficient in the melee weapon, you get to add proficiency to your to-hit roll.

Most creatures are proficient with any natural weapon they have. Damage is determined by the natural weapon, and typically adds your strength bonus. Some natural weapons use dexterity for attack and damage instead of strength.

Simple ranged attacks can be with a ranged weapon, a melee weapon with the thrown property, an improvised weapon, or a natural weapon. Ranged attacks involve rolling 1d20 plus your dexterity modifier plus your proficiency bonus against the target's AC. The damage it deals varies.

etc.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

"Xanathars 2" would be a logical place to do a full "clarification".

 

[Nebulous]

Well now I'm confused. A player asked me yesterday if magic weapon can be cast on monk's fists and I said yes. Was that not right?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Well now I'm confused. A player asked me yesterday if magic weapon can be cast on monk's fists and I said yes. Was that not right?

RAW it's not right: "you touch a non-magical weapon".

As DM you can rule how you like though.

 

[Nebulous]

RAW it's not right: "you touch a non-magical weapon".

As DM you can rule how you like though.

Would there be any good reason not to allow that, other than RAW?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Would there be any good reason not to allow that, other than RAW?

It's also RAI. Body parts are not weapons. And you might also argue that a monk's body is not "non-magical". Monks get a "your unarmed strikes count as magical" ability later on, specifically because they can't benefit from Magic Weapon.

 

[Coroc]

I don't think there is a 'natural attack' category.... each monster attack is their own special thing.

However the crocodile (and pretty much every creature) specifically state the attack is "Bite. Melee Weapon Attack:'.

So yes.

And although it is raw, I see the hunter-ranger/druid polymorphed to into the pigeon, dropping something on an opponent (yes, exactly what you think, I still won't write it here) and claiming this be a sharpshooter ranged attack, so it is +10 for the damage adding to the insult....

Polly Pigeon for C64 anyone? It is poly-pigeon for D&D now

 

[Fenris-77]

Would there be any good reason not to allow that, other than RAW?

Not really, despite the rules arguments. It isn't going to break the game. You may want to consider whether you'd allow it the next time that question were asked, but I don't see a pressing reason to go back on what you said in this particular case.

 

[Nebulous]

It's also RAI. Body parts are not weapons. And you might also argue that a monk's body is not "non-magical". Monks get a "your unarmed strikes count as magical" ability later on, specifically because they can't benefit from Magic Weapon.

You could argue that yes, but there's no to hit or damage bonus from that 6th level ability. And stunning strike says, "When you hit another creature with a melee weapon Attack" which is clearly your fists. So the wording in these abilities is messed up it seems.