Is there a way to increase the damage taken by tabaxi's claws? For example, increasing the die number/number of dice or something of the sort?
[RPG] way to increase the damage done by the claw attack for a Tabaxi
damagednd-5etabaxiunarmed-combat
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Best Answer
Two basic ways: increase stats, increase number of attacks
One of the features of D&D 5e is that weapons have fixed damage dice unless they have the versatile property: their utility with one hand or two. The claw does not fit into that category the way that a long sword(1d8/1d10) or a quarterstaff (1d6/1d8) does.
Unarmed strikes also have fixed damage output: a tabaxi claw attack is an unarmed strike.
With no attribute bonus, the claw does 1d4. (Average 2.5).
With a strength of 18, the claw does 1d4 + 4. (Average 6.5)
That's a 160% increase.
Compare that to a normal unarmed strike: 1 + Str mod.
In short, the tabaxi already has "more damage" with the claw attacks.
With more attacks, the claw does 2d4(5), 3d4(7.5), 4d4(10), depending on how you set up your PC for additional attacks: as Fighter, Ranger, Monk, etcetara. Depending on the strength or dexterity mod applied to the attack, add the bonus to the damage on a hit.
One additional way: score a critical hit
That will add an additional d4 to the damage.
If the tabaxi wants to do more damage (in terms of a larger damage die) per strike, they should use a weapon the way that all of the other humanoid races do (or become a Monk and earn levels in that class).
Be a monk
Choosing the character class of Monk will ensure that unarmed strikes are 1d4, per the Tabaxi slashing attack noted above, and then the damage is boosted for monk unarmed strike damage to 1d6 at level 5, 1d8 at level 11, and 1d10 at level 17.
Magic Item: Insignia of Claws
This item cropped up in the Hoard of the Dragon Queen published adventure. It adds +1 to hit and +1 to damage for both unarmed attacks and natural weapons (Tabaxi claws meet both criteria). Whether or not it shows up in your campaign is up to your DM. But it should be OK.