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Unleashing the Beast Within: A Comprehensive Guide to Natural Attacks

Natural attacks represent a creature’s innate capacity to inflict harm without relying on manufactured weapons. These attacks are an extension of the creature’s physiology, be it razor-sharp claws, powerful jaws, or crushing horns. How do natural attacks work? In essence, they are melee attacks made using a creature’s physical body parts, categorized as either primary or secondary based on their power and the creature’s training or lack thereof. Primary attacks utilize the creature’s full base attack bonus (BAB) and add the creature’s full Strength modifier to damage, making them the most potent natural offensive option. Secondary attacks, by contrast, use a modified BAB (usually BAB -5) and only add a fraction of the creature’s Strength modifier to damage, thus making them less effective, but still useful for a creature when used together with primary attacks. Understanding the mechanics of natural attacks is essential for any player or Game Master looking to engage with creatures that possess them.

The Dual Nature of Natural Attacks: Primary vs. Secondary

Natural attacks are not monolithic; they are differentiated into two distinct categories, each with its own application and limitations.

Primary Attacks: The Heavy Hitters

Primary natural attacks represent a creature’s most effective means of assault using its natural weapons. These are the attacks that a creature is best at using, most practiced at, and the main reason for them being such a threat in combat. Typically, a creature’s primary natural attacks include options such as:

Bite: The crushing force of jaws and teeth.
Claw: Slicing or rending with sharp claws.
Gore: Impaling or bull-rushing with horns or similar projections.
Slam: A blunt force attack using a limb or other body part.
Sting: Piercing with a venomous or painful barb.
Talons: Similar to claws, but often associated with birds of prey.

These primary attacks are made using the creature’s full Base Attack Bonus, mirroring the effectiveness of a martial character with a weapon. Furthermore, they benefit from the creature’s full Strength modifier on damage rolls, maximizing the impact of each strike. If a creature only has one type of natural attack, it is considered a primary attack. If a creature has multiple primary natural attacks, they can be used in any order the creature chooses. The combination of full BAB and full Strength modifier makes primary natural attacks a force to be reckoned with.

Secondary Attacks: Supplementary Offense

Secondary natural attacks are less potent than their primary counterparts and are often supplemental attacks used when multiple natural attacks are possible. They usually include attacks like:

Tail Slap: A sweeping blow with the creature’s tail.
Wing Buffet: Flapping the wings to knock back or strike.
Headbutt: The force of striking with the head.

Unlike primary attacks, secondary attacks are made with a reduced BAB (typically BAB -5) and only add half the creature’s Strength modifier to damage. This reduction makes them less reliable as a primary damage source but still valuable in a combination of natural attacks, often used after the primary attacks to maximize damage output. The combination of primary and secondary attacks allows creatures with multiple options to exert more combat control and damage onto their opponents.

Natural Attacks: More Than Just Melee

It’s crucial to distinguish natural attacks from other forms of combat. Natural attacks are considered weapons, even if they’re not manufactured items. Things designated as weapons by the rules, including natural weapons, are indeed weapons. This classification has crucial implications for rules interaction. This distinction separates them from unarmed strikes, which are attacks made using a fist, kick, or similar methods and are not considered weapons. Unarmed strikes also require human training and conditioning to be used as weapons, whereas natural weapons are inherent.

Natural Weapons vs. Unarmed Strikes: A Clear Distinction

The difference between natural weapons and unarmed strikes can be broken down as follows:

Natural Weapons: Are physical, inherent parts of the body that serve as weapons, like claws and teeth.
Unarmed Strikes: Are attacks made using limbs or other body parts that are not weapons by themselves, requiring physical training to maximize effectiveness.

While both might be part of melee combat, natural weapons are always considered weapons, while unarmed strikes are not.

The Strength Connection

Most natural weapons, whether primary or secondary, usually deal damage of 1d4 + the Strength modifier of the creature. This can change based on the type of creature or its size. The use of strength in damage calculation emphasizes the physical power of these attacks.

FAQs: Diving Deeper into Natural Attacks

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of natural attacks:

Are natural attacks considered light weapons? Yes, natural weapons are considered light weapons, though not explicitly defined as such in the rules. This designation has implications for certain combat feats and maneuvers, but not for two-weapon fighting.
Can you take Weapon Focus with natural weapons? Absolutely. You can take Weapon Focus with a specific type of natural attack, such as “Weapon Focus (bite)” or “Weapon Focus (claw)”, gaining the benefits of the feat with that specific attack type.
Does Two-Weapon Fighting work with natural weapons? No, the Two-Weapon Fighting rules and associated feats do not apply to natural attacks. Natural attacks do not get extra attacks for high BAB (at -5 to the attack). They only give one attack for each unless they have a special rule that specifies otherwise.
Can you use Flurry of Blows with natural weapons? No, Flurry of Blows specifically applies to unarmed strikes and special monk weapons only, not natural weapons. A monk cannot use natural attacks in addition to their flurry of blows.
Can magic weapon be used on natural weapons? Yes, the magic weapon spell can be used on any nonmagical weapon, including natural weapons, granting a bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Are there any races that have natural weapons? Yes, some races are inherently designed with natural weapons. Races like Aarakocra, Centaur, Dhampir, Leonin, Lizardfolk, Longtooth Shifters, Minotaur, Satyr, Simic Hybrids, Tabaxi, and Tortles often possess claws, bites, or other inherent weapons.
Can you use natural weapons as a monk? A monk with natural weapons cannot use such weapons as part of a Flurry of Blows, nor can he make natural attacks in addition to his flurry of blows attacks. There’s no such wording in the unchained monk, however.
Are natural weapons considered monk weapons? No, natural weapons are not monk weapons. Monk weapons are a specifically defined set of manufactured weapons or unarmed strikes, not inherent body parts.
What are examples of natural weapons in Pathfinder? Natural weapons in Pathfinder include claws, fangs, pincers, stingers, and tentacles. Breath weapons and natural magical abilities are not considered natural weapons.
Can humans be considered a weapon? Under certain circumstances, courts in some regions recognize that a human body can be a deadly weapon. Body parts such as feet, hands, teeth, mouth, elbows, and knees can be considered as such.
What natural weapons do humans have? Humans possess natural weapons, such as kicks, punches, knees, elbows, headbutts, and the ability to grip with their hands. However, these are usually considered unarmed strikes rather than natural weapons.
Is a fist considered a weapon? Not on its own, but a punch with enough force to cause serious bodily injury can be considered the use of a deadly weapon in some jurisdictions.
What is a normal attack type? This typically refers to what is colloquially known as an Auto Attack, which is a sequence of 3-6 strikes and requires player input.
Do natural weapons use Strength? Yes, most natural weapons use the Strength modifier in calculating damage, typically adding it to 1d4 for the attack.
What is a natural weapon in 5e? In 5e, natural weapons are weapons that are physically part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. They threaten the spaces they can reach.

Conclusion

Natural attacks are a diverse and essential aspect of many creatures in fantasy settings, offering unique and powerful ways to engage in combat. Understanding the difference between primary and secondary attacks, their relationship to Strength, and their interaction with other game mechanics is essential for anyone looking to master their use, whether in the hands of a creature or a player-character through some form of transformation or other ability. By knowing the nuances of how natural attacks work, players and game masters alike can enrich their gaming experience and bring their encounters to a whole new level.