Primary attacks for monsters?

[bweenie]

If a weapon wielding monster who also has a primary attack (such as a minotaur) wants to, can they switch it so that which ever weapon they want (wielded or nat) is their primary weapon?

 

[shilsen]

Yes, they can switch primary weapons, but only the manufactured weapon provides iterative attacks.

 

[Piratecat]

Off to the Rules forum! Vrroooooooom.

 

[Camarath]

Here are the rules for using Manufactured weapons and Natural weapons together.

Manufactured Weapons: Some monsters employ manufactured weapons when they attack. Creatures that use swords, bows, spears, and the like follow the same rules as characters, including those for additional attacks from a high base attack bonus and two-weapon fighting penalties. This category also includes “found items,” such as rocks and logs, that a creature wields in combat— in essence, any weapon that is not intrinsic to the creature.
Some creatures combine attacks with natural and manufactured weapons when they make a full attack. When they do so, the manufactured weapon attack is considered the primary attack unless the creature’s description indicates otherwise and any natural weapons the creature also uses are considered secondary natural attacks. These secondary attacks do not interfere with the primary attack as attacking with an off-hand weapon does, but they take the usual –5 penalty (or –2 with the Multiattack feat) for such attacks, even if the natural weapon used is normally the creature’s primary natural weapon.