The 2014 rules were explicit on what a natural weapon is. No longer being explicit is not the same as removing or replacing the rule.
A natural weapon is something that is listed in a stat block as a natural weapon. No creatures in 2024 have a natural weapon listed in their stat block.
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The 2014 rules were explicit on what a natural weapon is. No longer being explicit is not the same as removing or replacing the rule.
A natural weapon is something that is listed in a stat block as a natural weapon. No creatures in 2024 have a natural weapon listed in their stat block.
No creatures in 2014 have a natural weapon listed in their stat block.
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
Someone should probably tell the design team, because Multiattack keeps getting listed with Actions and not Traits.
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
Someone should probably tell the design team, because Multiattack keeps getting listed with Actions and not Traits.
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
Someone should probably tell the design team, because Multiattack keeps getting listed with Actions and not Traits.
You have to take the attack action for Multiattack to do anything.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
Source? Everything seems to point to it being an action, including the Monster Manual itself:
"Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action."
An entry in the Actions part of a stat block seems like it would be an Action the creature can take. Now, it does specify that it uses the Attack action. However, that's splitting hairs, as you wouldn't say that a single attack is a trait instead of an action. Rather, it's one of several options with the Attack action.
From what I understand, in the 2014 MM, Multiattack was an action (a special one for monsters, if you prefer), but in the 2024 MM, Multiattack is once again an action, but now it's part of the Attack action..
If it helps in some way:
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.
The Monster Manual, and literally every stat block, says otherwise.
Incorrect
Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action.
This is essentially the same language used for PCs
Level 5: Extra Attack
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The Monster Manual, and literally every stat block, says otherwise.
Incorrect
Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action.
This is essentially the same language used for PCs
Level 5: Extra Attack
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Is "Extra Attack" an action?
"Multiattack" is listed under Actions in the Monster Manual, which is where it appears in every stat block it appears in.
So, I'm not really sure where you, or Smite, are going with this.
The Monster Manual, and literally every stat block, says otherwise.
Incorrect
Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action.
This is essentially the same language used for PCs
Level 5: Extra Attack
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Is "Extra Attack" an action?
"Multiattack" is listed under Actions in the Monster Manual, which is where it appears in every stat block it appears in.
So, I'm not really sure where you, or Smite, are going with this.
And it is explicitly not described as an action, but instead as a modifier on the Attack action
Like, that's what it says. I'm not really sure where you're going with denying the actual text of the rules
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The Monster Manual, and literally every stat block, says otherwise.
Incorrect
Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action.
This is essentially the same language used for PCs
Level 5: Extra Attack
You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Is "Extra Attack" an action?
"Multiattack" is listed under Actions in the Monster Manual, which is where it appears in every stat block it appears in.
So, I'm not really sure where you, or Smite, are going with this.
And it is explicitly not described as an action, but instead as a modifier on the Attack action
Like, that's what it says. I'm not really sure where you're going with denying the actual text of the rules
Under your own logic, casting a spell with a time of 1 Action isn't an action, it's a trait, because it falls under the Magic action...
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
If a monster has a trait that says it can do X... it can do X. This is true whether you interpret the action it's using as the one listed on the monster's stat sheet, the attack action, the magic action, or anything else, regardless of the normal limits of that action.
Under your own logic, casting a spell with a time of 1 Action isn't an action, it's a trait, because it falls under the Magic action...
The Action used when you cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action is the Magic action, yes. That's how the rules work
What Action do you take when you use Extra Attack, or Multiattack?
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What Action do you take when you use Extra Attack, or Multiattack?
Creatures can use either generic actions (e.g. attack) or specific named actions. If a creature uses a specific named action... it's using that action.
What Action do you take when you use Extra Attack, or Multiattack?
Creatures can use either generic actions (e.g. attack) or specific named actions. If a creature uses a specific named action... it's using that action.
You didn't answer the question, but that's fine because it's irrelevant to a discussion of opportunity attacks anyway, as I said a couple pages ago
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Under your own logic, casting a spell with a time of 1 Action isn't an action, it's a trait, because it falls under the Magic action...
Wizards don't take the Cast Fire Bolt action, they take the Magic action to cast Fire Bolt.
Fighters don't take the Extra Attack action, they take the Attack and benefit from the Extra Attack feature, giving them extra attacks as part of the Attack action.
Eldritch Knights don't take the War Magic action, they take the Attack and benefit from the War Magic feature, giving them additional options as part of the Attack action.
Monsters don't take the Multiattack action, they take the Attack and benefit from the Multiattack feature, giving them additional options and/or attacks as part of the Attack action.
The Multiattack action isn't an action. It's a feature that affects the actions that the Monster can take. I can see how the organization can be confusing, but if you ready the feature, you will see that you must use the Attack action to use it. When you use it, you are therefore restricted by the restrictions of the Attack action except where contradicted by the Multiattack entry. War Magic is probably a better comparison than Extra Attack.
When you use it, you are therefore restricted by the restrictions of the Attack action except where contradicted by the Multiattack entry.
The Multiattack entry is either its own action, or completely overrides the attack action. In either case, the restrictions on the attack action do not apply.
When you use it, you are therefore restricted by the restrictions of the Attack action except where contradicted by the Multiattack entry.
The Multiattack entry is either its own action, or completely overrides the attack action. In either case, the restrictions on the attack action do not apply.
It only overrides the portions of the Attack that it explicitly overrides. For example, Equipping and Unequipping Weapons and Moving Between Attacks are not overridden. The only thing overridden is generally the one portion of "When you take the Attack action, you can make one attack roll with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike."
It only overrides the portions of the Attack that it explicitly overrides. For example, Equipping and Unequipping Weapons and Moving Between Attacks are not overridden. The only thing overridden is generally the one portion of "When you take the Attack action, you can make one attack roll with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike."
So, it only overrides the portion that is relevant to this discussion?
Wow, what’s the point of discussing whether a creature/monster with multi-attack, which by the way is the same as a PC with Extra Attacks, uses the attack action?
The point of the OP question was does a creatures Natural Weapons still count as a weapon attack or an unarmed strike when it comes to Attacks of Opportunity. Natural weapons count for AoO attacks, no Multi-attack can’t be used, only a single attack can be used in AoO’s, and a DM has to rule it on the fly. This is why SAC and other third party sources shouldn’t be allowed in debates on what the rules should mean, as now it all boils down to someone being stuck on semantics.
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A natural weapon is something that is listed in a stat block as a natural weapon. No creatures in 2024 have a natural weapon listed in their stat block.
Yes, but the normal restrictions on what you can do with an attack action do not apply -- you can do the things listed in the multiattack action even if they would not normally be permitted.
No creatures in 2014 have a natural weapon listed in their stat block.
The restrictions still apply to the Attack action. The multiattack trait (it is not an action) modifies the Attack action, but it is not always there.
How to add Tooltips.
Someone should probably tell the design team, because Multiattack keeps getting listed with Actions and not Traits.
It might be listed there for convenience, but as Smite noted all of one page ago, it's not an Action
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The Monster Manual, and literally every stat block, says otherwise.
Source? Everything seems to point to it being an action, including the Monster Manual itself:
"Multiattack
Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action. Such creatures have the Multiattack entry in the “Actions” section of their stat block. This entry details the attacks a creature can make, as well as any additional abilities it can use, as part of the Attack action."
An entry in the Actions part of a stat block seems like it would be an Action the creature can take. Now, it does specify that it uses the Attack action. However, that's splitting hairs, as you wouldn't say that a single attack is a trait instead of an action. Rather, it's one of several options with the Attack action.
From what I understand, in the 2014 MM, Multiattack was an action (a special one for monsters, if you prefer), but in the 2024 MM, Multiattack is once again an action, but now it's part of the Attack action..
If it helps in some way:
Incorrect
This is essentially the same language used for PCs
Is "Extra Attack" an action?
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
"Multiattack" is listed under Actions in the Monster Manual, which is where it appears in every stat block it appears in.
So, I'm not really sure where you, or Smite, are going with this.
And it is explicitly not described as an action, but instead as a modifier on the Attack action
Like, that's what it says. I'm not really sure where you're going with denying the actual text of the rules
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Under your own logic, casting a spell with a time of 1 Action isn't an action, it's a trait, because it falls under the Magic action...
If a monster has a trait that says it can do X... it can do X. This is true whether you interpret the action it's using as the one listed on the monster's stat sheet, the attack action, the magic action, or anything else, regardless of the normal limits of that action.
The Action used when you cast a spell with a casting time of 1 action is the Magic action, yes. That's how the rules work
What Action do you take when you use Extra Attack, or Multiattack?
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Creatures can use either generic actions (e.g. attack) or specific named actions. If a creature uses a specific named action... it's using that action.
You didn't answer the question, but that's fine because it's irrelevant to a discussion of opportunity attacks anyway, as I said a couple pages ago
Active characters:
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Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Wizards don't take the Cast Fire Bolt action, they take the Magic action to cast Fire Bolt.
Fighters don't take the Extra Attack action, they take the Attack and benefit from the Extra Attack feature, giving them extra attacks as part of the Attack action.
Eldritch Knights don't take the War Magic action, they take the Attack and benefit from the War Magic feature, giving them additional options as part of the Attack action.
Monsters don't take the Multiattack action, they take the Attack and benefit from the Multiattack feature, giving them additional options and/or attacks as part of the Attack action.
The Multiattack action isn't an action. It's a feature that affects the actions that the Monster can take. I can see how the organization can be confusing, but if you ready the feature, you will see that you must use the Attack action to use it. When you use it, you are therefore restricted by the restrictions of the Attack action except where contradicted by the Multiattack entry. War Magic is probably a better comparison than Extra Attack.
How to add Tooltips.
It's listed in the Actions section. Claiming that it's somehow not an action is nonsense. But it also does not matter.
The Multiattack entry is either its own action, or completely overrides the attack action. In either case, the restrictions on the attack action do not apply.
It is not its own action. It is not a new action.
How do you interpret "Some creatures can make more than one attack when they take the Attack action"?
It only overrides the portions of the Attack that it explicitly overrides. For example, Equipping and Unequipping Weapons and Moving Between Attacks are not overridden. The only thing overridden is generally the one portion of "When you take the Attack action, you can make one attack roll with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike."
How to add Tooltips.
So, it only overrides the portion that is relevant to this discussion?
Wow, what’s the point of discussing whether a creature/monster with multi-attack, which by the way is the same as a PC with Extra Attacks, uses the attack action?
The point of the OP question was does a creatures Natural Weapons still count as a weapon attack or an unarmed strike when it comes to Attacks of Opportunity. Natural weapons count for AoO attacks, no Multi-attack can’t be used, only a single attack can be used in AoO’s, and a DM has to rule it on the fly. This is why SAC and other third party sources shouldn’t be allowed in debates on what the rules should mean, as now it all boils down to someone being stuck on semantics.