I really like the look of the Unarmed Fighting style in the Class Feature Variants UA, but i do have an issue with it.
Most features that enhance the attack action in someway (such as the paladins smite or champions improved critical) require that you use a weapon while attacking. So if you wanted to create a character that smites vile undead USING THEIR BARE HANDS, you can't. I know it's because of balancing reasons, and you could just ask your DM if you could use your fists as weapons, but its still something that kinda annoys me. What do you think?
One way a DM could houserule it is if you gained something like knuckledusters of cestus. It will allow for people like monks to be able to have enchantable "unarmed strikes" and make it count as a weapon attack. One way I did it for a campaign was give the monk some arm wrappings that were inscribed with runes of fire, allowing for them to have fire punches a limited amount of times a day.
I saw a video use demon armor to make unarmed strikes count as a weapon for a build. It almost completely invalidates the need for the fighting style though...
I just reread the rules from Smite and InspectorMuffin is completely correct.
Unarmed Strikes are "Melee Weapon Attacks". Smite does damage "in addition to the weapons damage". So even if the Weapon did 0 damage, the smite would still work.
So there is no logical reason to ever deny a Divine Smite powered Slap in the face (or headbutt. That could be fun)
I just reread the rules from Smite and InspectorMuffin is completely correct.
Unarmed Strikes are "Melee Weapon Attacks". Smite does damage "in addition to the weapons damage". So even if the Weapon did 0 damage, the smite would still work.
So there is no logical reason to ever deny a Divine Smite powered Slap in the face (or headbutt. That could be fun)
I could have sworn divine strikes required a weapon, but reading it again, it doesn't.
Improved divine strikes (which actually has nothing to do with divine strikes #WTFWotC) does specify weapons though, so that is something to consider.
I found a line from the rule book that says "Instead of using a weapon to make a melee weapon attack, you can use an unarmed strike: a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow (none of which count as weapons)." So i got the impression you required a weapon for features that say "melee weapon attack".
I found a line from the rule book that says "Instead of using a weapon to make a melee weapon attack, you can use an unarmed strike: a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow (none of which count as weapons)." So i got the impression you required a weapon for features that say "melee weapon attack".
No, all melee attacks that are not Spell Attacks are “Melee Weapon Attacks,” attacks that require a weapon are hyphenated to read “Melee-Weapon.” Unarmed strikes are melee weapon wttacks that do not use a weapon. That’s why unarmed strike are on the “simple weapon” list.
I found a line from the rule book that says "Instead of using a weapon to make a melee weapon attack, you can use an unarmed strike: a punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow (none of which count as weapons)." So i got the impression you required a weapon for features that say "melee weapon attack".
The sentence structure could have used some rephrasing to be clearer (a lot of rules should have been written clearer).
You can read it like this: "Instead of using a weapon," "you can use an unarmed strike" "to make a melee weapon attack."
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I really like the look of the Unarmed Fighting style in the Class Feature Variants UA, but i do have an issue with it.
Most features that enhance the attack action in someway (such as the paladins smite or champions improved critical) require that you use a weapon while attacking. So if you wanted to create a character that smites vile undead USING THEIR BARE HANDS, you can't. I know it's because of balancing reasons, and you could just ask your DM if you could use your fists as weapons, but its still something that kinda annoys me. What do you think?
One way a DM could houserule it is if you gained something like knuckledusters of cestus. It will allow for people like monks to be able to have enchantable "unarmed strikes" and make it count as a weapon attack. One way I did it for a campaign was give the monk some arm wrappings that were inscribed with runes of fire, allowing for them to have fire punches a limited amount of times a day.
I saw a video use demon armor to make unarmed strikes count as a weapon for a build. It almost completely invalidates the need for the fighting style though...
Unarmed strikes count as melee weapon attacks.
Deleted my earlier comment.
I just reread the rules from Smite and InspectorMuffin is completely correct.
Unarmed Strikes are "Melee Weapon Attacks". Smite does damage "in addition to the weapons damage". So even if the Weapon did 0 damage, the smite would still work.
So there is no logical reason to ever deny a Divine Smite powered Slap in the face (or headbutt. That could be fun)
Fortunately, we have an excellent guideline available for how an unarmed Divine Smite would look, in practice.
Please do not contact or message me.
I could have sworn divine strikes required a weapon, but reading it again, it doesn't.
Improved divine strikes (which actually has nothing to do with divine strikes #WTFWotC) does specify weapons though, so that is something to consider.
That’s something I houserule in my campaign. After the phrase “melee weapon” I added the word “attack” under Improved Divine Smite.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Now we need a feat for fist fighting on par with GWM/Duel Wielding.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
No, all melee attacks that are not Spell Attacks are “Melee Weapon Attacks,” attacks that require a weapon are hyphenated to read “Melee-Weapon.” Unarmed strikes are melee weapon wttacks that do not use a weapon. That’s why unarmed strike are on the “simple weapon” list.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
The sentence structure could have used some rephrasing to be clearer (a lot of rules should have been written clearer).
You can read it like this: "Instead of using a weapon," "you can use an unarmed strike" "to make a melee weapon attack."