[RPG] Are Unarmed Strikes Natural Weapons

dnd-3.5enatural-weaponunarmed-combat

I know that Natural Weapons don't all count as Unarmed Strikes, but I keep hearing online that Unarmed Strikes are a kind of Natural Weapon. Is this the case?

Best Answer

No.

Unarmed Strike

The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that give you a bonus on weapon damage rolls.

An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon.

Improved Unarmed Strike

Benefit: You are considered to be armed even when unarmed —that is, you do not provoke attacks or opportunity from armed opponents when you attack them while unarmed. However, you still get an attack of opportunity against any opponent who makes an unarmed attack on you.

Unarmed Strike (Monk)

A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.

Conclusion

In regards to anyone other than a monk, an unarmed strike is a light weapon that is neither natural nor manufactured.

Exclusively for the monk (and others with monk-like abilities), an unarmed strike is a manufactured light weapon, and a natural light weapon.


What is a Manufactured Weapon?

Any weapon that is not intrinsic to the creature, such as a sword, a rock you pick up, a club you make.

What is a Natural Weapon?

Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature, such as a bite, a claw, a tail slap.

Unless specifically mentioned, (such as the Monk, creature listing or racial description, etc.) no one has a natural weapon right away. For example, no human has a claw attack, a bite attack, etc. without feats, spells, or other abilities that gives that to them.

Also, an unarmed strike does not cause lethal damage, provokes an attack of opportunity, and is a very unappealing option without Improved Unarmed Strike, and/or some other way to make it better. Monk's specifically mention that their unarmed strikes count as both manufactured and natural or intents and purposes - because almost no one else's do.

If you take Skip William's advice to heart (which is not RAW) then you will find him stating, "For purposes of weapon enhancements, an unarmed strike is considered a natural weapon," and "Natural weaponry deals lethal damage without recourse to a class feature or feat, such as Improved Unarmed Strike."