D&D 5E What constitutes an "unarmed" strike?

[Sunseeker]

Though this may apply specifically to Monks, the tiefling horns and tails tread made me wonder: though those creatures lack official "natural weapons" or a "tail slap" as a specific attack, whats to stop one from declaring an unnarmed strike with the use of one of those body parts? Although officially dragonborn don't have tails their addition or removal is a matter of vanity, not crunch, the same could be applied to them.

So really when it comes to making an unarmed strike, does it matter which part of my body I use?

 

[iserith]

Though this may apply specifically to Monks, the tiefling horns and tails tread made me wonder: though those creatures lack official "natural weapons" or a "tail slap" as a specific attack, whats to stop one from declaring an unnarmed strike with the use of one of those body parts? Although officially dragonborn don't have tails their addition or removal is a matter of vanity, not crunch, the same could be applied to them.

So really when it comes to making an unarmed strike, does it matter which part of my body I use?

As long as that body part can be reasonably used to do damage to someone or something else, I'd say you're good.

 

[Leatherhead]

Unarmed strikes are for use with any body part that doesn't already have a damage die. Yes, even those ones. The 5e rules are intended to be as vague as needed, so that you can imagine your character in whatever fashion you desire. If you want your monk to whip people with her tail, go for it.

 

[Parmandur]

Whatever body part you want; however, not actual natural weapons. Mearls stated on Twitter that the Gore attack of the Minotaur is *not* unarmed for a Monk.

 

[Sunseeker]

Whatever body part you want; however, not actual natural weapons. Mearls stated on Twitter that the Gore attack of the Minotaur is *not* unarmed for a Monk.

Considering it says it is a melee weapon attack, I would imagine so. Still I would think a minotaur could unarmed strike with its horns for unarmed strike damage, it'd probably be a downgrade though.

 

[Mistwell]

Could you use Tavern Brawler feat with a Minotaurs horns?

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

> What constitutes an "unarmed" strike?
When the player says "I am making an unarmed attack."
They do not get any bonuses or penalties from any weapons in hand. They add their proficiency bonus to the attack roll, if proficient in Simple weapons. They add their STR bonus to the attack roll. They do 1 + STR mod damage.

It is not in the book, but I think it would be reasonable to give bonus damage for worn gear. Headbutting or elbow striking while wearing armour seems like it would do more damage. Perhaps +1 damage for medium armour, + 2 damage for heavy armour.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

So really when it comes to making an unarmed strike, does it matter which part of my body I use?

Follow the process of play - describe the action you want to take, and the DM will tell you how it resolves. If you want to slap someone with your tail, then the DM will determine whether that's ineffective or if it's resolved as an unarmed strike.

 

[Li Shenron]

So really when it comes to making an unarmed strike, does it matter which part of my body I use?

As a simple rule of thumb, I'd go with "unarmed strike = no artificial weapon wielded or natural weapon specifically mentioned".

I don't know exactly what is the 5e definition of unarmed strike. In general, I think a strict definition is not even needed, and it can sometimes open a can of worm.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Unarmed strikes can be narrated however the player wishes -- any body part that the DM accepts can count. It's the mechanics that need to be thought through.

I can think of two places that unarmed strikes comes into play with other rules:
* the tavern brawler feat (using a bonus action to attempt a grapple)
* monk martial arts (and associated abilities).

I believe that the Minotaur's horns do not work with either of these abilities: with the tavern brawler feat, I'd allow it if you accepted the lower damage die, but it's the monk situation where the rules start to break, and for which (I believe) they wrote very clearly that the minotaur "is never unarmed".

Monk's martial arts you can use dex or str. That's fine for a low damage die, but obviously out of the bounds of normal with the minotaur's horns (where it matches the maximum damage a monk will do). I'm also struck that the ability doesn't make your unarmed strikes count as a finesse weapon, so that you cannot also apply rogue's sneak attack dice to flurry of blows, etc.