Questions tagged [unarmed-combat]

For questions about fighting without weapons, whether that be through the use of kicks, punches, and the like, or through the use of fangs, claws, and similar.

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Can unarmed strikes be used with Dread Ambusher?

I’m currently playing an unarmed monk. The build is to run as many attacks as I can without going too far into multi-classing fighter (I’ll go two levels in to pick up action surge). I’m considering ...
TangledInYarn's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Epic Holy Strike and its applicability to Unarmed Strikes

Under the Unarmed Strike subsection of the Monk class it states: A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that ...
MichaelDorf's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
211 views

Can you use two-weapon fighting with unarmed attacks while both of your hands are occupied?

By definition, unarmed attacks are: Striking for damage with punches, kicks, and head butts is much like attacking with a melee weapon... Which do not necessarily need a hand. So, assuming somebody ...
Terry Windwalker's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is Fighter a better option for unarmed fighting compare with Monk?

This is under the case of single classing only. I see in a optimising site saying that Fighter is a better option than Monk even if you are building a dedicated bare hand warrior. I wonder how does ...
Terry Windwalker's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
623 views

How do I maximize the damage of a single, unarmed attack?

I've noticed that monks favor many, smaller attacks which grow to a set limit of strength after a period of time, but I was wondering if you could somehow get a different build setup that favors a few,...
J Thompson's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Cold Iron Handwraps of Mighty Blows

Handwraps of Mighty Blows can have runes, so your unarmed attacks benefit from these: These handwraps have weapon runes etched into them to give your unarmed attacks the benefits of those runes, ...
András's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
559 views

Can a monk disarm the target with a Flurry of Blows?

A monk uses his Flurry of Blows feature and tries to snatch a wand from an enemy caster. We model this using the Disarm rules (DMG, p. 271): A creature can use a weapon attack to knock a weapon or ...
Dan B's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
972 views

Can a Beast Barbarian use the Unarmed Fighting fighting style with Claw attacks?

If you have a Path of the Beast Barbarian who is using the Form of the Beast Claws, can this be combined with the Fighting Style: Unarmed Fighting to make the claws do 1d8 instead of 1d6 (if you are ...
K.L.R.'s user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
1k views

How much damage do giants deal with unarmed strikes?

A lot of monsters have attack descriptions that include using their appendages to hit characters and those appendages generally can't be disarmed. However, giants are unique in that they almost always ...
Pyrotechnical's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
195 views

Does trip trigger attack of opportunity when the PC has Improved Unarmed Strike?

Trip You can try to trip an opponent as an unarmed melee attack. You can only trip an opponent who is one size category larger than you, the same size, or smaller. Making a Trip Attack Make an unarmed ...
Terry Windwalker's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
36 views

DND 3.5e: Does offhand unarmed attack have full STR Adj? [duplicate]

Unarmed Strike At 1st level, a monk gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A monk’s attacks may be with either fist interchangeably or even from elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a monk ...
Terry Windwalker's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
250 views

Can draconic Strike be used to damage objects?

Under Monk of the Way of the Ascendant Dragon, the Draconic Strike ability says: When you damage a target with an unarmed strike, you can change the damage type to acid, cold, fire, lightning, or ...
K.L.R.'s user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can you use Gloves of Soul Catching to effectively convert temporary hp into healing?

This question came up when discussing the healing effect from the Gloves of Soul Catching. The text for this legendary item states: After making a successful unarmed strike while wearing these gloves,...
Matthieu's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
8k views

Unarmed strike with brass knuckles, gauntlets, or bare fists

One of my players wants to buy a set of brass knuckles to keep on him as a low-profile weapon in case he can't bring his giant axe with him into a situation and feels the need to engage in fisticuffs. ...
Darth Pseudonym's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
446 views

how to increase the range increments of ranged unarmed attacks?

Some unarmed attacks have range, but the increment is never more than 30 feet. Is there a way to increase it? Far Shot only doubles your weapon's range, but "an unarmed attack isn't a weapon"...
András's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
300 views

Are Tengu Talons hands or feet?

I found the Taloned Tengu heritage through this answer. However, it is not clear for me which limbs are used. For usual birds, the talons are on the back/lower limbs, but usual birds cannot use ...
András's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there a list of hands-free unarmed attacks?

For many builds, it is beneficial to have an unarmed attack that leaves the hands free, and is lethal, unlike your fists or kicks. For example, a Magus might want to have a staff and a shield in his ...
András's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
3k views

Does a Shove or a Grapple count as an "unarmed strike" for purposes of a Monk using a bonus action for a martial arts attack?

The Monk's Martial Arts ability says: When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon on your turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a bonus action. The Grapple and Shove ...
K.L.R.'s user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
266 views

Can a character make an unarmed strike and a claw attack with the same limb during a single turn?

If a Thri-Kreen takes Multi-Weapon Fighting they are allowed to make up to three additional attacks as part of their full-attack action due to having three "off" hands in addition to their one "main" ...
Benjamin's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
1k views

How does the Eldritch Claw Tattoo bonus to unarmed strikes interact with the fighting style Unarmed Fighting?

I have an unarmed fighter with the Eldritch Claw Tattoo making their unarmed strikes +1 magical attacks. This being the case, how does this interact with the Unarmed Fighting fighting style which ...
iScreamsalad's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
651 views

Can a Paladin smite using an unarmed attack if they’re wearing Demon Armor?

Since Demon Armor turns the wearer’s unarmed strikes into magic weapons can a Paladin smite with their unarmed strikes while wearing it?
Cellheim's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
448 views

If knives and fists are all considered light weapons, what's the benefit of picking up such weapons?

If weapons like knives, small guns, and a fist punch are all considered light weapons, why would a player ever pick up a knife if they drop it in a fight (from a bad roll, for instance)? Sure, they ...
Jo the Jocker's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Do the Gloves of Soul Catching heal HP equal to only the damage from the item, or does it include any other force damage from the attack as well?

The description of the Gloves of Soul Catching state, in part (Candlekeep Mysteries, p. 169; emphasis mine): After making a successful unarmed strike while wearing these gloves, you can use the ...
Plucky54's user avatar
  • 559
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why would I spend resources on racial unarmed attacks?

As highlighted in this question about Razortooth Goblin, racial unarmed attacks seem to be significantly weaker than manufactured weapons. Some examples: Razertooth Goblin jaws: Damage comparable to ...
András's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
10k views

Can a paladin use Divine Smite with unarmed strikes, but not Improved Divine Smite?

In the Player's Handbook, it says that paladins can use Divine Smite when they make a melee weapon attack. That seems to mean that I can use Divine Smite when I attack with my fists (I think, based on ...
Richard Chester's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
226 views

Does armor provide the same protection against unarmed attacks as it does to armed attacks?

I mean, there isn't any rule differentiating ballistic and impact damages? I remember that in the old 2nd edition this rule existed, but I couldn't find something similar in the 5th and I would like ...
Bruno Estrazulas's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
872 views

What is monk off-hand str damage bonus when using unarmed two-weapon fighting

With regard to this question, assuming it is decided that a monk can use unarmed attacks "off-hand" in two-weapon fighting, does a monk using the standard rules for two-weapon fighting with &...
Wannabe Warlock's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are unarmed strikes "an attack using a weapon"? [duplicate]

The relevant part of the Rune Knight's Fire Rune reads as follows: When you hit a creature with an attack using a weapon, you can invoke the rune to summon fiery shackles: the target takes an extra ...
The Zach Man's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
3k views

How does the Grung playable race's Poisonous Skin ability interact with unarmed strikes?

The relevant text of the ability in question is as follows: Poisonous Skin. Any creature that grapples you or otherwise comes into direct contact with your skin must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution ...
The Zach Man's user avatar
  • 1,087
8 votes
1 answer
780 views

Can you stack Bracers of Striking and Necklace of Natural Weapons?

Let's say you play a monk or other unarmed character and wear both a bracers of striking and necklace of natural weapons. Magic Fang established that for the exclusive purposes of enchantment, unarmed ...
ChaoticMarin's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

Does a Monk gain benefits from taking a level in Fighter and choosing Unarmed Fighting from Tasha's?

The Unarmed Fighting style from Tasha's states: Your unarmed strikes can deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier. If you strike with two free hands, the d6 becomes a d8. When ...
eengstroem's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
4k views

Can I make an unarmed strike while holding a two handed weapon? [duplicate]

My barbarian Gus uses a Greataxe, a two handed weapon. While raging in combat against harpies, a round passed without Gus taking damage. On his turn, all harpies were out of his melee range, and he ...
Jon Aristotle's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
221 views

Can I use two feats affecting unarmed strike at the same time?

Is there anything preventing a character from using, for example, Stunning Fist on the same attack as he uses Befuddling Strike, Perfect Strike (with a Ki Focus weapon), Scorpion Style, or similar ...
hamburgerpls's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
988 views

What's the furthest possible range that an unarmed strike could have?

From what I have seen, the furthest that I could get it was 20 feet, however, I'm sure it's possible to increase it further, so, how far can an unarmed strike truly reach?
VibinOwO's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

As a monk, if I throw a dart with my action, can I make an unarmed strike using my bonus action?

As a monk, after failing to hit someone with a dart throw, can I make an unarmed strike against an enemy close to me using my bonus action?
Death Flame ko's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
9k views

Can a Way of the Astral Self monk grapple with its Arms of the Astral Self?

In the Unearthed Arcana version of the Way of the Astral Self, the monk's Astral Arms were treated as monk weapons. Under that wording, the monk probably couldn't grapple/shove with them because ...
Rykara's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
74 views

Attacker's AC effect on pummeling attacks

On page 72 of the DMG under Pummel - Base Score to Hit, it says Attacker's AC, per point, with negative AC being treated as positive by type* +1% ... * Magical protections such as rings ... do not ...
munk's user avatar
  • 1,153
7 votes
2 answers
785 views

Is Stumbling Feint a misprint?

Luce Bri is a human fighter, who decided to take the Martial Artist archetype dedication. This means Luce doesn't have access to Flurry of Blows, as it's only available if Luce instead takes the Monk ...
Ben R.'s user avatar
  • 2,500
4 votes
1 answer
700 views

Are monks only allowed to use non-unarmed weapons as off-hand when two-weapon fighting?

Do the special rules regarding monks' unarmed strikes prevent monks from using unarmed strikes as off-hand weapons when using two-weapon fighting? The monk class' unarmed strike section states: There ...
Wannabe Warlock's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
3k views

Can a monk use a quarterstaff for the attacks from Flurry of Blows?

I have a Level 3 Air Genasi Monk with a quarterstaff. When I take Flurry of Blows, do I have to attack without a weapon, are there certain weapons I can use, or can I use any monk weapon as my Flurry ...
Howdy's user avatar
  • 284
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

Can a Monk use multiple Ki points to get more unarmed strikes from Flurry of Blows in a single turn?

In a recent session of 5e, our monk (4th level, Way of the Drunken Master) was using unarmed strikes, and the DM claimed that she could use any number of available Ki points to increase the amount of ...
ScragglyDan's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
52 views

Can produce flame do damage on unarmed strike? [duplicate]

So I have seen previous questions regarding this situation, but all of them appeared to be for fun and silly one shots. What’s different in this case is I’m trying to run a long and intense campaign. ...
Declan Glover's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
5k views

How do ranged unarmed attacks work in Pathfinder 2e? [closed]

I was looking at the Leshy Ancestry feats and found one where you make a ranged unarmed attack called Seedpod. I was wondering, how does a ranged unarmed attack work?
Anonymous's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
143 views

What Happens When You Have Multiple Unarmed Strike Dice? [duplicate]

So, while flipping through the PHB, I've noticed that in 5th edition, multiple abilities can give you a buff on your unarmed strike, such as a monk's Martial Arts ability, the Tavern Brawler feat or ...
Boredomnicity's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
211 views

Can I use both flying kick and Dragon Style in the same round?

So I am a level 8 unchained monk with haste. That gives me 4 attacks. I've selected the Dragon style feat tree and Flying kick as style strike. Can I use both Dragon Ferocity and Flying Kick in the ...
Steven's user avatar
  • 1,079
2 votes
1 answer
89 views

Can one use Shadowblade's "Unseen Weapon" on unarmed strikes?

Unseen Weapon (Su): As a standard action, you can wrap any melee weapon you wield in a layer of shifting shadows. This causes the weapon to darken, become less distinct, and leave a trail of shadow ...
Karrion42's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
10k views

Is the "Way of the Astral Self" Monk's extra punch useless?

Martial arts for monks states that when you take the attack action you can make 1 unarmed strike as a bonus action. However UA 2019 Astral monks at third level says the same thing: “you can make 1 ...
Dynobomb's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
869 views

What would the attack modifier be for an unarmed strike while wildshaped?

I know from a well voted for answer in Is a Wild Shape attack considered an unarmed strike? that it is possible for a druid to make an unarmed strike while wildshaped, just instead of the beast's ...
RallozarX's user avatar
  • 5,597
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Do unarmed strikes work with the Great Weapon Master feat?

A new player told me he wants to use the Great Weapon Master feat and choose 'Unarmed Strikes' as his weapon. I told him no because Unarmed Strikes are not considered weapons. He argued with me and I ...
IllegalCatToss's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

Unarmed strikes in mutants and masterminds

I have looked for how to perform unarmed strikes, but i can’t find it. I have looked in weapons and attacking but it does not say anything
Cat Army's user avatar
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