No, the two damages do not stack. The monks description clearly says:
You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike or monk weapon. This die changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table.
So you would use your Talons to do unarmed strikes, which deal slashing damage, but you would use the damage die according to your Monk level (d6 starting at 5th level, etc.).
Are player races different from the monster entries themselves? As far as I understand it, monster's natural weapons are not considered unarmed attacks. I'd assume this would also apply for the PC races that have natural weapons. Thus using the talons for an attack is not an unarmed attack.
Are player races different from the monster entries themselves? As far as I understand it, monster's natural weapons are not considered unarmed attacks. I'd assume this would also apply for the PC races that have natural weapons. Thus using the talons for an attack is not an unarmed attack.
This is mostly 3.5-era thinking, where natural weapons were a whole category unto themselves for rules. While the specifics can be a bit confusing, unarmed strikes are considered melee weapon attacks in general (bottom left of p.10). You can always replace one or all of your melee attacks with an unarmed strike - the Monk's schtick is just making that a good idea. Further, player races with natural weapons are explicitly worded as allowing you to use your natural weapon "to make unarmed strikes". Like the Monk's wording, this allows you to replace your unarmed strike at will with a different damage die/type. It does not stack or other change the nature of your weapon strikes (i.e., you can still headbutt for d4 if you desire).
Edit: I've just noticed that Arakocra have a slightly different wording ("You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit"), but they're kind of a broken and abandoned race anyway (given the lack of inclusion in Volo's). The latest wording on the races in Volo's include natural weapons as alternatives for unarmed strikes, rather than replacements. (All of this is beside the point for answering the question - player race natural weapons are unarmed strikes.)
Are player races different from the monster entries themselves? As far as I understand it, monster's natural weapons are not considered unarmed attacks. I'd assume this would also apply for the PC races that have natural weapons. Thus using the talons for an attack is not an unarmed attack.
Like the Monk's wording, this allows you to replace your unarmed strike at will with a different damage die/type. It does not stack or other change the nature of your weapon strikes (i.e., you can still headbutt for d4 if you desire).
The Monk's wording does not allow you to replace the damage type of your unarmed strikes. The Monk does not specify, which type of damage the unarmed strike deals. For most player races that use their fists, this will be bludgeoning damage. An Aarakocra using their talons will always deal slashing damage. You could argue, that they might be able to deal bludgeoning damage by using a different body part - that would not be RAW though.
Like the Monk's wording, this allows you to replace your unarmed strike at will with a different damage die/type. It does not stack or other change the nature of your weapon strikes (i.e., you can still headbutt for d4 if you desire).
The Monk's wording does not allow you to replace the damage type of your unarmed strikes. The Monk does not specify, which type of damage the unarmed strike deals. For most player races that use their fists, this will be bludgeoning damage. An Aarakocra using their talons will always deal slashing damage. You could argue, that they might be able to deal bludgeoning damage by using a different body part - that would not be RAW though.
I was being general - unlike the Monk's wording, the wording of Tabaxi and Lizardfolk races allow you to replace the damage type along with the damage dice. The rules for those races are worded much better than the Arakocra, which (as I've noted in my edit above) is kinda broken and I assume is abandoned since it didn't make it into Volo's (unlike the Goliath).
Any PC and NPC is able to do bludgeoning unarmed strike. So the Aarakocra Monk can do bludgeoning and slashing unarmed strike with the martial arts.
Also, the AArakocra is not broken or abandoned. The Goliath is particularly popular that is why they included in VGTM.
But doesn't the Monster Manual establish that monsters "unarmed" attacks aren't unarmed attacks when the monster uses its natural weapons? And why wouldn't that apply to monsterous PC races also? Or do you end up with some wonky idea where if you shapechange or polymorth into the creature it isn't an unarmed attack, but if you play the character it is?
Yes natural weapons and unarmed strike are two different things. The damage of Natural weapons is expressed in the monster stats, the unarmed strike is always 1 + STR modifier, unless a feature change that.
Only some monstrous PC have some special unarmed strike, like Lizardfolk, Tabaaxi and Aarakocra.
Any PC and NPC is able to do bludgeoning unarmed strike. So the Aarakocra Monk can do bludgeoning and slashing unarmed strike with the martial arts.
Also, the AArakocra is not broken or abandoned. The Goliath is particularly popular that is why they included in VGTM.
But doesn't the Monster Manual establish that monsters "unarmed" attacks aren't unarmed attacks when the monster uses its natural weapons? And why wouldn't that apply to monsterous PC races also? Or do you end up with some wonky idea where if you shapechange or polymorth into the creature it isn't an unarmed attack, but if you play the character it is?
The only reference I can find in the MM is p.10-11, where it says "...weapon attacks, where the "weapon" might be a manufactured item or a natural weapon". As above, unarmed strikes are considered melee weapon attacks for basic intents and purposes.
Any PC and NPC is able to do bludgeoning unarmed strike. So the Aarakocra Monk can do bludgeoning and slashing unarmed strike with the martial arts.
Also, the AArakocra is not broken or abandoned. The Goliath is particularly popular that is why they included in VGTM.
But doesn't the Monster Manual establish that monsters "unarmed" attacks aren't unarmed attacks when the monster uses its natural weapons? And why wouldn't that apply to monsterous PC races also? Or do you end up with some wonky idea where if you shapechange or polymorth into the creature it isn't an unarmed attack, but if you play the character it is?
The only reference I can find in the MM is p.10-11, where it says "...weapon attacks, where the "weapon" might be a manufactured item or a natural weapon". As above, unarmed strikes are considered melee weapon attacks for basic intents and purposes.
Idk, I just know there was some debate that if a Monk turned into say a bear, that its claw attacks would count as unarmed attacks for the purpose of the monk being able to use their higher damage dice. I thought it was established in that debate that a bear's claw attacks are actually not an unarmed weapon attack. But I haven't really looked into it myself.
It seems a bit counterintuitive, but according to RAI claws aren't unarmed strikes
Right, so does this mean the Lizardfolk and AArakocra are unarmed strikes when a PC race, but not unarmed strikes when you are polymorphed/shapechanged into one?
It seems a bit counterintuitive, but according to RAI claws aren't unarmed strikes
Right, so does this mean the Lizardfolk and AArakocra are unarmed strikes when a PC race, but not unarmed strikes when you are polymorphed/shapechanged into one?
Lizardfolk and Aarakocra NPCs can do only the bludgeoning unarmed strike.
It seems a bit counterintuitive, but according to RAI claws aren't unarmed strikes
Right, so does this mean the Lizardfolk and AArakocra are unarmed strikes when a PC race, but not unarmed strikes when you are polymorphed/shapechanged into one?
Lizardfolk and Aarakocra NPCs can do only the bludgeoning unarmed strike.
Interesting because my Tabaxi's claws count as unarmed strikes and thus gain the benefits of the monk skills - the difference AFAIK is just the damage type though - slashing vs bludgeoning...
Interesting because my Tabaxi's claws count as unarmed strikes and thus gain the benefits of the monk skills - the difference AFAIK is just the damage type though - slashing vs bludgeoning...
Hey guys.
Im still pretty new to D&D and I was thinking of making a Aarakocra monk.
My question is: While both the class and race give some extra dmg with unarmed does it stack???
I mean monk does 1d4 unarmed dmg at first level and the Aarakocra does 1d4 with its talons so does its become 2d4
and do i have to choose the dmg type???(Monk bludgeoing - Aarakocra slashing)
Thx in advance.
No, the two damages do not stack. The monks description clearly says:
So you would use your Talons to do unarmed strikes, which deal slashing damage, but you would use the damage die according to your Monk level (d6 starting at 5th level, etc.).
Missed that one. :)
Thx. :)
Are player races different from the monster entries themselves? As far as I understand it, monster's natural weapons are not considered unarmed attacks. I'd assume this would also apply for the PC races that have natural weapons. Thus using the talons for an attack is not an unarmed attack.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
The talons of the Aarakocra player race are considered unarmed strikes.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Any PC and NPC is able to do bludgeoning unarmed strike. So the Aarakocra Monk can do bludgeoning and slashing unarmed strike with the martial arts.
Also, the AArakocra is not broken or abandoned. The Goliath is particularly popular that is why they included in VGTM.
Yes natural weapons and unarmed strike are two different things. The damage of Natural weapons is expressed in the monster stats, the unarmed strike is always 1 + STR modifier, unless a feature change that.
Only some monstrous PC have some special unarmed strike, like Lizardfolk, Tabaaxi and Aarakocra.
Not sure about your last question.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/17/does-a-beasts-natural-melee-weapon-attacks-count-as-unarmed-strikes/
It seems a bit counterintuitive, but according to RAI claws aren't unarmed strikes
The mechanics of PCs is different from the mechanics of NPCs.
Interesting because my Tabaxi's claws count as unarmed strikes and thus gain the benefits of the monk skills - the difference AFAIK is just the damage type though - slashing vs bludgeoning...
https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/800045721218990080
Tabaxi with a penchant for shenans. He will....shenan again...
According to my character sheet (I'm playing an aarakocra monk/fighter named Echo) you can choose to use the talon attack or the monk unarmed strike.
"Teach a man to make fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."