So the players handbook said that AoOs can be made with weapon or unarmed strikes. Monsters say they can make reactions if part of their stat block. Therefore either non-weapon attacks are considered unarmed strikes or monsters can't make AoOs. I didn't see any clarification in the Monster Manual so what is considered RAW?
So the players handbook said that AoOs can be made with weapon or unarmed strikes. Monsters say they can make reactions if part of their stat block. Therefore either non-weapon attacks are considered unarmed strikes or monsters can't make AoOs. I didn't see any clarification in the Monster Manual so what is considered RAW?
All creatures can make opportunity attacks. This is stated in the Rules Glossary entry on Reactions in the Player's Handbook. As such, it doesn't need to be specifically mentioned in every single monster stat block.
Incidentally, the same is true for actions in general; monsters can take any of the actions that are defined in the Player's Handbook as being available to all creatures, even if those actions aren't specifically listed in the stat block.
A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. You can take a Reaction on another creature’s turn, and if you take it on your turn, you can do so even if you also take an action, a Bonus Action, or both. Once you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn. The Opportunity Attack is a Reaction available to all creatures. See also “Opportunity Attacks” and chapter 1 (“Actions”).
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. You can take a Reaction on another creature’s turn, and if you take it on your turn, you can do so even if you also take an action, a Bonus Action, or both. Once you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn. The Opportunity Attack is a Reaction available to all creatures. See also “Opportunity Attacks” and chapter 1 (“Actions”).
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
Agreed. I think it's also worth considering that suddenly making it impossible for any monster with natural weapons to make opportunity attacks would be such an enormous change to the mechanics of the game that they absolutely would've explicitly stated that somewhere, and they haven't.
A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. You can take a Reaction on another creature’s turn, and if you take it on your turn, you can do so even if you also take an action, a Bonus Action, or both. Once you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn. The Opportunity Attack is a Reaction available to all creatures. See also “Opportunity Attacks” and chapter 1 (“Actions”).
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
Agreed. I think it's also worth considering that suddenly making it impossible for any monster with natural weapons to make opportunity attacks would be such an enormous change to the mechanics of the game that they absolutely would've explicitly stated that somewhere, and they haven't.
A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. You can take a Reaction on another creature’s turn, and if you take it on your turn, you can do so even if you also take an action, a Bonus Action, or both. Once you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn. The Opportunity Attack is a Reaction available to all creatures. See also “Opportunity Attacks” and chapter 1 (“Actions”).
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
Agreed. I think it's also worth considering that suddenly making it impossible for any monster with natural weapons to make opportunity attacks would be such an enormous change to the mechanics of the game that they absolutely would've explicitly stated that somewhere, and they haven't.
Yep!
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A Reaction is a special action taken in response to a trigger defined in the Reaction’s description. You can take a Reaction on another creature’s turn, and if you take it on your turn, you can do so even if you also take an action, a Bonus Action, or both. Once you take a Reaction, you can’t take another one until the start of your next turn. The Opportunity Attack is a Reaction available to all creatures. See also “Opportunity Attacks” and chapter 1 (“Actions”).
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
Agreed. I think it's also worth considering that suddenly making it impossible for any monster with natural weapons to make opportunity attacks would be such an enormous change to the mechanics of the game that they absolutely would've explicitly stated that somewhere, and they haven't.
Not to mention monsters lacking opportunity attacks would nerf a big reason to take shocking grasp, which specifically only works on opportunity attacks.
I think most of yall misread the OP. They're not saying that monsters don't have opportunity attacks by their nature of being monsters. No. They just noticed that technically, they lack, often times, suitable weapons to make opportunity attacks with.
Of course they're allowed to make opportunity attacks. If given a proper weapon by which to make them, of course.
That's what they're saying.
So all these posts about how of course monster can make opportunity attacks per Rules Glossary... doesn't even address their point.
They're saying like a Wolf has the option to make an opportunity attack... but only if it has a longsword or something. And since it doesn't... can't.
"To make the Opportunity Attack, take a Reaction to make one melee attack with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike against the provoking creature."
The only valid options are weapon or unarmed strikes. Creatures can make these. All creatures can. But they're still not exempted from which attacks are eligible.
I think most of yall misread the OP. They're not saying that monsters don't have opportunity attacks by their nature of being monsters.
I don't think so, or not in my case.
They're saying like a Wolf has the option to make an opportunity attack... but only if it has a longsword or something. And since it doesn't... can't.
"To make the Opportunity Attack, take a Reaction to make one melee attack with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike against the provoking creature."
The only valid options are weapon or unarmed strikes. Creatures can make these. All creatures can. But they're still not exempted from which attacks are eligible.
A Wolf will use its Bite for an Opportunity Attack because you use either a weapon or an unarmed strike—in this case, Bite.
As per 2024 rules, monsters can make opportunity attacks.
However, an opportunity attack in 2024 5e must be made with a weapon or unarmed strike, and a weapon is defined as an object in the Simple or Marital weapon category. Likewise, an unarmed strike has its own specific definition.
Therefore, if an enemy wants to make an opportunity attack, they must either be using a weapon that is available to PCs or they must make an unarmed strike following the rules of such—a shove, grapple, or melee attack roll that does damage equal to Strength mod.
Conversely, 2014 dictated only that the reaction must be "one melee attack". So this is another instance in which 2024 5e makes rules more unclear if not outright broken due to ill-planned wording changes.
I think the only RAW question would be could they use their claws vs having to use the base 1 damage + str per the description of unarmed strike. Which would be fine if you also made the monks unarmed AoO do only 1 damage as well instead of recognizing the claw like the monks base unarmed damage as a exception to the damage part of an unarmed strike. But the claws, bite, tail swipe etc meet the definition in the game, an attack using your body.
I think RAI is clear, they can attack with their claws etc.
Yeah, seems the RAW is clear. They can't use their natural weapons to make opportunity attacks. They can only use weapons, or an unarmed strike.
Now. How people actually play? Like Plague talks about, or RAI, like Dude talks about.. open to interpretation.
RAW seems to be what OP suggests. Most creatures can't make effective opportunity attacks. Only unarmed attacks. Since they lack weapons.
I do not think that RAW is clear. You could make an argument they have to make a slap attack for 1 damage+strength mod, but the definition of an unarmed attack is an attack with part of your body. Which I would consider a creature horns, claws, teeth, tail etc to be. So their attacks that use that imo are by definition an unarmed strike. That I think is both the RAW and RAI. I can see people making an argument otherwise but I do not think it is the clear RAW, just a possible RAW reading.
Though I always do question RAW readings where there is another potential RAW reading that more closely aligns to what people think is the RAI. And don't get me wrong I think they dropped the ball massively on their technical language in 5e leading to tons of ambiguity. I just think people are also creating ambiguity in some places where there really isn't much. I enjoy the discourse on these topics so I like when people do it, but I don't think it is helpful to a persons game table to read a RAW that contradicts not only with RAI but what would likely make a less fun game.
Yeah, seems the RAW is clear. They can't use their natural weapons to make opportunity attacks. They can only use weapons, or an unarmed strike.
Now. How people actually play? Like Plague talks about, or RAI, like Dude talks about.. open to interpretation.
RAW seems to be what OP suggests. Most creatures can't make effective opportunity attacks. Only unarmed attacks. Since they lack weapons.
RAW
Exactly we're taking RAW.
Which I would consider a creature horns, claws, teeth, tail etc to be.
That has nothing to do with RAW. The rule either exists or doesn't. And, far as I can tell, nothing says that Bite attacks should be treated as Unarmed Attacks. For this to be RAW, it would need to be printed in the rulebook.
I enjoy the discourse on these topics so I like when people do it, but I don't think it is helpful to a persons game table to read a RAW that contradicts not only with RAI but what would likely make a less fun game.
We might disagree with the RAW, I often do in fact. But what we want RAW to be and what RAW actually is aren't the same thing. RAW just is what it is.
Yes RAW "Instead of using a weapon to make a melee attack, you can use a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow. In game terms, this is an Unarmed Strike—a melee attack that involves you using your body to damage, grapple, or shove a target within 5 feet of you." A melee attack that involves you using your body to damage, grapple, or shove a target. Are a creatures claws part of its body or not. Because if they are, that being an unarmed strike is RAW.
What actions can monsters use to make opportunity attacks? Are Multiattack and breath weapon actions allowed?
A monster follows the normal opportunity attack rules, which specify that an attack of opportunity is one melee attack. That means a monster must choose a single melee attack to make, either an attack in its stat block or a generic attack, like an unarmed strike. Multiattack doesn’t qualify, not only because it’s more than one attack, but also because the rule on Multiattack (MM , "Multiattack") states that this action can’t be used for opportunity attacks. An action, such as a breath weapon, that doesn’t include an attack roll is also not eligible.
That means bites, claws, tail swipes, ETC ARE included as unarmed attacks. Period. That is RAW. As long as it is a Melee range attack. There is nothing from 2014 to the 2024 edition that would make this change either.
I'm not sure how the Player's Handbook definition of unarmed is excluding bites or claws, it seems a pretty broad description to be open to more:
Unarmed Strike
Instead of using a weapon to make a melee attack, you can use a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow. In game terms, this is an Unarmed Strike—a melee attack that involves you using your body to damage, grapple, or shove a target within 5 feet of you.
Bold underline above mine. Claw, bite, tail, would fall under that.
And again it goes back to "or a generic attack" from Sage if they don't have a stat block ability.
I get the argument, but I don't see how someone could accidentally find what they believe to be a loophole. No offense, but you would have to SEARCH for stuff like this.
I get the argument, but I don't see how someone could accidentally find what they believe to be a loophole. No offense, but you would have to SEARCH for stuff like this.
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So the players handbook said that AoOs can be made with weapon or unarmed strikes. Monsters say they can make reactions if part of their stat block. Therefore either non-weapon attacks are considered unarmed strikes or monsters can't make AoOs. I didn't see any clarification in the Monster Manual so what is considered RAW?
All creatures can make opportunity attacks. This is stated in the Rules Glossary entry on Reactions in the Player's Handbook. As such, it doesn't need to be specifically mentioned in every single monster stat block.
Incidentally, the same is true for actions in general; monsters can take any of the actions that are defined in the Player's Handbook as being available to all creatures, even if those actions aren't specifically listed in the stat block.
From the Rules Glossary (emphasis mine):
I'd say monsters can make Opportunity Attacks. I couldn't find the definition of "natural Weapon" in the 2024 MM, so I think their non-weapon attacks or body parts could be considered as Unarmed Strikes.
Agreed. I think it's also worth considering that suddenly making it impossible for any monster with natural weapons to make opportunity attacks would be such an enormous change to the mechanics of the game that they absolutely would've explicitly stated that somewhere, and they haven't.
The debate about natural weapons (it doesn't seem to be a term anymore) and Unarmed Strikes came up in some recent threads:
Yep!
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Not to mention monsters lacking opportunity attacks would nerf a big reason to take shocking grasp, which specifically only works on opportunity attacks.
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I think most of yall misread the OP. They're not saying that monsters don't have opportunity attacks by their nature of being monsters. No. They just noticed that technically, they lack, often times, suitable weapons to make opportunity attacks with.
Of course they're allowed to make opportunity attacks. If given a proper weapon by which to make them, of course.
That's what they're saying.
So all these posts about how of course monster can make opportunity attacks per Rules Glossary... doesn't even address their point.
They're saying like a Wolf has the option to make an opportunity attack... but only if it has a longsword or something. And since it doesn't... can't.
"To make the Opportunity Attack, take a Reaction to make one melee attack with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike against the provoking creature."
The only valid options are weapon or unarmed strikes. Creatures can make these. All creatures can. But they're still not exempted from which attacks are eligible.
I got quotes!
I don't think so, or not in my case.
A Wolf will use its Bite for an Opportunity Attack because you use either a weapon or an unarmed strike—in this case, Bite.
As per 2024 rules, monsters can make opportunity attacks.
However, an opportunity attack in 2024 5e must be made with a weapon or unarmed strike, and a weapon is defined as an object in the Simple or Marital weapon category. Likewise, an unarmed strike has its own specific definition.
Therefore, if an enemy wants to make an opportunity attack, they must either be using a weapon that is available to PCs or they must make an unarmed strike following the rules of such—a shove, grapple, or melee attack roll that does damage equal to Strength mod.
Conversely, 2014 dictated only that the reaction must be "one melee attack". So this is another instance in which 2024 5e makes rules more unclear if not outright broken due to ill-planned wording changes.
I think the only RAW question would be could they use their claws vs having to use the base 1 damage + str per the description of unarmed strike. Which would be fine if you also made the monks unarmed AoO do only 1 damage as well instead of recognizing the claw like the monks base unarmed damage as a exception to the damage part of an unarmed strike. But the claws, bite, tail swipe etc meet the definition in the game, an attack using your body.
I think RAI is clear, they can attack with their claws etc.
I make Opportunity Attack with any monster's melee attacks, wether weapon, bite, claw etc..dealing damage and whatever effect included.
Yeah, seems the RAW is clear. They can't use their natural weapons to make opportunity attacks. They can only use weapons, or an unarmed strike.
Now. How people actually play? Like Plague talks about, or RAI, like Dude talks about.. open to interpretation.
RAW seems to be what OP suggests. Most creatures can't make effective opportunity attacks. Only unarmed attacks. Since they lack weapons.
I got quotes!
I do not think that RAW is clear. You could make an argument they have to make a slap attack for 1 damage+strength mod, but the definition of an unarmed attack is an attack with part of your body. Which I would consider a creature horns, claws, teeth, tail etc to be. So their attacks that use that imo are by definition an unarmed strike. That I think is both the RAW and RAI. I can see people making an argument otherwise but I do not think it is the clear RAW, just a possible RAW reading.
Though I always do question RAW readings where there is another potential RAW reading that more closely aligns to what people think is the RAI. And don't get me wrong I think they dropped the ball massively on their technical language in 5e leading to tons of ambiguity. I just think people are also creating ambiguity in some places where there really isn't much. I enjoy the discourse on these topics so I like when people do it, but I don't think it is helpful to a persons game table to read a RAW that contradicts not only with RAI but what would likely make a less fun game.
Exactly we're taking RAW.
That has nothing to do with RAW. The rule either exists or doesn't. And, far as I can tell, nothing says that Bite attacks should be treated as Unarmed Attacks. For this to be RAW, it would need to be printed in the rulebook.
We might disagree with the RAW, I often do in fact. But what we want RAW to be and what RAW actually is aren't the same thing. RAW just is what it is.
I got quotes!
Yes RAW "Instead of using a weapon to make a melee attack, you can use a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow. In game terms, this is an Unarmed Strike—a melee attack that involves you using your body to damage, grapple, or shove a target within 5 feet of you." A melee attack that involves you using your body to damage, grapple, or shove a target. Are a creatures claws part of its body or not. Because if they are, that being an unarmed strike is RAW.
Sage Advice:
That means bites, claws, tail swipes, ETC ARE included as unarmed attacks. Period. That is RAW. As long as it is a Melee range attack.
There is nothing from 2014 to the 2024 edition that would make this change either.
I'm not sure how the Player's Handbook definition of unarmed is excluding bites or claws, it seems a pretty broad description to be open to more:
Bold underline above mine.
Claw, bite, tail, would fall under that.
And again it goes back to "or a generic attack" from Sage if they don't have a stat block ability.
I get the argument, but I don't see how someone could accidentally find what they believe to be a loophole. No offense, but you would have to SEARCH for stuff like this.
Yes. To find sage advice rulings, you have to search sage advice. A daunting task, taking on the order of minutes to complete.
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