D&D 5E Unarmed strikes. Is a unarmed monk wielding a melee weapon? Is his strike a melee weapon attack?

[brehobit]

OK, overly long title says it all.

Basic questions:

Can a monk use an unarmed strike to trigger their "stunning strike" power? It requires a "melee weapon attack" and I'm not sure if RAW or RAI the unarmed strike is one.

Is an unarmed monk said to be "wielding a melee weapon" for purposes of the dueling fighting style? What about a non-monk?

Is there someplace I'm missing that clarifies how unarmed strikes an melee weapon attacks/melee weapons all relate to each other?

 

[Fanaelialae]

OK, overly long title says it all.

Basic questions:

Can a monk use an unarmed strike to trigger their "stunning strike" power? It requires a "melee weapon attack" and I'm not sure if RAW or RAI the unarmed strike is one.

Is an unarmed monk said to be "wielding a melee weapon" for purposes of the dueling fighting style? What about a non-monk?

Is there someplace I'm missing that clarifies how unarmed strikes an melee weapon attacks/melee weapons all relate to each other?

Unarmed strike is on the weapons table in the PHB, so it is classified as a melee weapon.

As such, stunning strike can be used unarmed.

I believe that anyone with dueling fighting style qualifies for its bonus when unarmed, provided they aren't dual wielding. I suppose the fact that you have two fists does make this a bit of a grey area, but I'd say that they get one or the other. I'd rule they just have to announce whether they're dueling or "dualing" before they make their first attack.

 

[the Jester]

Yes. Check out the Monster Manual- things like bite, slam, claw and tail attacks are all "melee weapon attacks".

 

[steeldragons]

Agreed. Don't have a page number right now, but I'm fairly sure I read somewhere that a monk's unarmed strike counts as a melee weapon. So yes.

As for a non-monk,I don't know. The Tavern Brawler feat gives anyone unarmed strikes. I suppose I would fall back to Fanaelialae's point that "Unarmed Strike" appears on the weapons' list.

 

[Paraxis]

Just don't forget that unarmed strike have no special properties like 'light' so you can't use them for dual wielding unless you take the dual wielding feat.

 

[PnPgamer]

Although as a monk there is no point to dual wield them. He gets a better version automatically.

For other classes the feat is mandatory.