So there is NO difference if you either fight with your bare fist or with a metal gauntlet?
Correct. Gauntlets are armor, not weapons.
The DM could homebrew something, but the game does not currently have a weaponized version of mundane armor.
Edit: More generally, the value of a glove/gauntlet in the real world (wrt punching) is that you can avoid hurting yourself while punching. The fantasy world doesn't worry about these kinds of self-inflicted wounds, so a punch is a punch.
Every suit of metal armor is presumed to include some form of hand protection such as gauntlets and they do not change anything to do with unarmed strikes.
Theoretically one might make the argument that they are an improvised weapon and therefore deal 1d4+Str bludgeoning damage, but that is completely not RAW, and it would take a very generous DM. The downside to that though is that without the Tavern Brawler feat, you aren’t proficient with improvised weapons, so you wouldn’t add your PB to the attack roll, only your Str mod, so you would be less likely to hit and the potential 1-3 additional damage means nothing if you miss. And again, that is totally not RAW at all whatsoever in any way, shape, or form.
If you take it off and swing it like a hammer you can use se it as an improvised weapon and the damage increases to 1d4+str mod. You lose your proficiency bonus to the attack roll though, so it’s much less likely to hit the target.
edit: literally typed what was in the spoiler box...
old thread new post, Artificer Armorer gauntlets count as simple weapons now, perfect if your looking for a simple way to activate melee cantrips like green flame blade and booming blade
Guardian Armor: Thunder Gauntlets
Action Type:1 Action
To Hit:+6
Damage:1d8+3
Damage Type: Thunder
Stat: INT
Range/Area: 5ft. Reach
Proficient: Yes
Each of the armor’s gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren’t holding anything in it, and it deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.
old thread new post, Artificer Armorer gauntlets count as simple weapons now, perfect if your looking for a simple way to activate melee cantrips like green flame blade and booming blade
Guardian Armor: Thunder Gauntlets
Action Type:1 Action
To Hit:+6
Damage:1d8+3
Damage Type: Thunder
Stat: INT
Range/Area: 5ft. Reach
Proficient: Yes
Each of the armor’s gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren’t holding anything in it, and it deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.
I've seen arguments about the gauntlets not meeting the material component requirement of the weapon cantrips because they do not have a stated value.
I allow it, because I think the component restriction is just a clunky way to prevent use with particular weapons like shadow blade, but just know not every DM would.
old thread new post, Artificer Armorer gauntlets count as simple weapons now, perfect if your looking for a simple way to activate melee cantrips like green flame blade and booming blade
Guardian Armor: Thunder Gauntlets
Action Type:1 Action
To Hit:+6
Damage:1d8+3
Damage Type: Thunder
Stat: INT
Range/Area: 5ft. Reach
Proficient: Yes
Each of the armor’s gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren’t holding anything in it, and it deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.
I've seen arguments about the gauntlets not meeting the material component requirement of the weapon cantrips because they do not have a stated value.
I allow it, because I think the component restriction is just a clunky way to prevent use with particular weapons like shadow blade, but just know not every DM would.
Actually, as I understand it, the cost requirement was intended to prevent the character from pulling whatever weapon they wanted out of their spell component pouch since it can supply ANY spell material component without a stated cost. I think shadow blade was just an unfortunate bystander.
P.S. I've seen the gauntlet argument too - the other side of that is that the gauntlets are part of a suit of armor that does have a value greater than the minimum required for the blade cantrips so even if the gauntlets are a small fraction of the total armor price they should still satisfy the requirement. (Booming blade isn't necessarily a great option for an armorer since they get extra attack at level 5).
Actually, as I understand it, the cost requirement was intended to prevent the character from pulling whatever weapon they wanted out of their spell component pouch since it can supply ANY spell material component without a stated cost. I think shadow blade was just an unfortunate bystander.
I find this hilarious XD.
I immediately thought "What if the caster uses their Component Pouch as an improvised weapon?"
One simple question: unarmed attack with metal gauntlets... what amount of damage do you make?
If they are not a monk or unarmed fighter. 1+STR.
So there is NO difference if you either fight with your bare fist or with a metal gauntlet?
Correct. Gauntlets are armor, not weapons.
The DM could homebrew something, but the game does not currently have a weaponized version of mundane armor.
Edit: More generally, the value of a glove/gauntlet in the real world (wrt punching) is that you can avoid hurting yourself while punching. The fantasy world doesn't worry about these kinds of self-inflicted wounds, so a punch is a punch.
Unless the gauntlet has a property that changes unarmed strike damage (like demon armor), then no.
Every suit of metal armor is presumed to include some form of hand protection such as gauntlets and they do not change anything to do with unarmed strikes.
Theoretically one might make the argument that they are an improvised weapon and therefore deal 1d4+Str bludgeoning damage, but that is completely not RAW, and it would take a very generous DM. The downside to that though is that without the Tavern Brawler feat, you aren’t proficient with improvised weapons, so you wouldn’t add your PB to the attack roll, only your Str mod, so you would be less likely to hit and the potential 1-3 additional damage means nothing if you miss. And again, that is totally not RAW at all whatsoever in any way, shape, or form.
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If you take it off and swing it like a hammer you can use se it as an improvised weapon and the damage increases to 1d4+str mod. You lose your proficiency bonus to the attack roll though, so it’s much less likely to hit the target.
edit: literally typed what was in the spoiler box...
thx @all
old thread new post, Artificer Armorer gauntlets count as simple weapons now, perfect if your looking for a simple way to activate melee cantrips like green flame blade and booming blade
Guardian Armor: Thunder Gauntlets
Action Type:1 Action
To Hit:+6
Each of the armor’s gauntlets counts as a simple melee weapon while you aren’t holding anything in it, and it deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.
I've seen arguments about the gauntlets not meeting the material component requirement of the weapon cantrips because they do not have a stated value.
I allow it, because I think the component restriction is just a clunky way to prevent use with particular weapons like shadow blade, but just know not every DM would.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Actually, as I understand it, the cost requirement was intended to prevent the character from pulling whatever weapon they wanted out of their spell component pouch since it can supply ANY spell material component without a stated cost. I think shadow blade was just an unfortunate bystander.
P.S. I've seen the gauntlet argument too - the other side of that is that the gauntlets are part of a suit of armor that does have a value greater than the minimum required for the blade cantrips so even if the gauntlets are a small fraction of the total armor price they should still satisfy the requirement. (Booming blade isn't necessarily a great option for an armorer since they get extra attack at level 5).
I find this hilarious XD.
I immediately thought "What if the caster uses their Component Pouch as an improvised weapon?"
The only issue I see with this is it isn't clear from the PHB if improvised weapons are further qualified as melee or ranged based on how they are being used: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#ImprovisedWeapons