Reading the text, you can make Agile Strikes which is used when you expend a Bardic Inspiration. So at first level that is a number of times based on your CHA modifier. That is done as a part expenditure, it is not free but it can be any part of the expenditure, bonus action, action or reaction. This is an Unarmed Strike.
Outside of expending a Bardic Inspiration, can the bard make Unarmed Strikes?
It doesn't specifically say no, but it doesn't specifically say yes you can either.
Reading the text, you can make Agile Strikes which is used when you expend a Bardic Inspiration. So at first level that is a number of times based on your CHA modifier. That is done as a part expenditure, it is not free but it can be any part of the expenditure, bonus action, action or reaction. This is an Unarmed Strike.
Outside of expending a Bardic Inspiration, can the bard make Unarmed Strikes?
It doesn't specifically say no, but it doesn't specifically say yes you can either.
Yes. It's covered under Bardic Damage
"Bardic Damage. You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack rolls of your Unarmed Strikes. When you deal damage with an Unarmed Strike, you can deal Bludgeoning damage equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Dexterity modifier, instead of the strike’s normal damage. This roll doesn’t expend the die."
Just to clarify, anyone can make unarmed strikes at any time. It is not a class-specific ability.
It's just usually not very useful for most characters, since they usually either have weapons or spells that will be more effective. Exceptions to this are when they have some feature that makes it do more damage or use an alternative ability score, such as Monks, this Bard subclass, or the Tavern Brawler feat.
But there's nothing stopping a character that doesn't have one of those features from making an unarmed strike.
I did not know that. I thought making unarmed strikes was only for characters that had specific training in the skill.
Yeah, the thing is that, in the absence of a special feature like the dance bard's Agile Strikes or the monk's Martial Arts, the damage dealt by an unarmed strike is 1 + your Strength modifier, with no die roll at all. Characters with a Strength score below 10 (which includes a lot of spellcasters) will have a Strength modifier that's negative, meaning their unarmed strikes will not actually do any damage; these characters may go their entire lives without ever making an unarmed strike, but it's technically an option they have.
The 2024 Player's Handbook also reworked the way that shoving or grappling another creature works; these are now two of three types of unarmed strike you can do (the third being the basic one that just does damage). Characters who can't do much or any damage with unarmed strikes might still find it valuable to use them for shoving or grappling on occasion.
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RE: College of the Dance
Reading the text, you can make Agile Strikes which is used when you expend a Bardic Inspiration. So at first level that is a number of times based on your CHA modifier. That is done as a part expenditure, it is not free but it can be any part of the expenditure, bonus action, action or reaction. This is an Unarmed Strike.
Outside of expending a Bardic Inspiration, can the bard make Unarmed Strikes?
It doesn't specifically say no, but it doesn't specifically say yes you can either.
Yes. It's covered under Bardic Damage
"Bardic Damage. You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack rolls of your Unarmed Strikes. When you deal damage with an Unarmed Strike, you can deal Bludgeoning damage equal to a roll of your Bardic Inspiration die plus your Dexterity modifier, instead of the strike’s normal damage. This roll doesn’t expend the die."
So the "free" (not meaning it is a free action) is just gravy when you spend a bardic inspiration. You can make Unarmed Strikes at any time.
Ok, I see where I misread it.
Thanks
Just to clarify, anyone can make unarmed strikes at any time. It is not a class-specific ability.
It's just usually not very useful for most characters, since they usually either have weapons or spells that will be more effective. Exceptions to this are when they have some feature that makes it do more damage or use an alternative ability score, such as Monks, this Bard subclass, or the Tavern Brawler feat.
But there's nothing stopping a character that doesn't have one of those features from making an unarmed strike.
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Good to know.
I did not know that. I thought making unarmed strikes was only for characters that had specific training in the skill.
Yeah, the thing is that, in the absence of a special feature like the dance bard's Agile Strikes or the monk's Martial Arts, the damage dealt by an unarmed strike is 1 + your Strength modifier, with no die roll at all. Characters with a Strength score below 10 (which includes a lot of spellcasters) will have a Strength modifier that's negative, meaning their unarmed strikes will not actually do any damage; these characters may go their entire lives without ever making an unarmed strike, but it's technically an option they have.
The 2024 Player's Handbook also reworked the way that shoving or grappling another creature works; these are now two of three types of unarmed strike you can do (the third being the basic one that just does damage). Characters who can't do much or any damage with unarmed strikes might still find it valuable to use them for shoving or grappling on occasion.
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