Natural Weapons

Natural weapons are attacks that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Likewise, it threatens any space it can reach. Creatures do not receive additional attacks from a high base attack bonus when using natural weapons. Unless otherwise noted, a natural weapon threatens a critical hit on a natural attack roll of 20.

The number of attacks a creature can make with its natural weapons depends on the type of attack and the number of limbs they possess. In general, a creature can only make a single attack with any particular limb. So, if a generally humanoid creature has two claws and two slam attacks, both made with their hands, then they can use each arm to make only one claw or one slam attack but can’t make both a claw and slam attack with the same limb. The same applies to limbs wielding a manufactured weapon. A creature can’t attack with a wielded weapon and natural weapon at the same time with the same limb.

Generally speaking, a creature can make one bite attack, one gore attack, one attack per claw, slam, tentacle, or wing, and one sting attack. Bite and gore are typically both part of a creature’s head, but a creature can use both in a single round as part of a full attack. Refer to the individual monster descriptions.

Natural weapons fall into one of two categories, primary and secondary attacks.

Primary Attack

Primary attacks are made using the creature’s full base attack bonus and add the creature’s full Strength bonus on damage rolls. A creature never has more than one type of primary attack, but their primary attack may have multiple attacks if the primary is a pair of weapons (such as a pair of claws). If a creature has only one natural attack, it is always considered the primary attack.

Secondary Attacks

All attacks other than the primary attack are considered secondary attacks. Secondary attacks are made using the creature’s base attack bonus –5 and add only 1/2 the creature’s Strength bonus on damage rolls. A creature usually has to make a full attack to be able to attack with their secondary attacks.

Types of Natural Weapons

• Bite: The creature attacks with its mouth, dealing piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning damage.
• Claw or Talon: The creature rips with a sharp appendage, dealing piercing and slashing damage.
• Gore: The creature spears the opponent with an antler, horn, or similar appendage, dealing piercing damage.
• Slap or Slam: The creature batters opponents with an appendage, dealing bludgeoning damage.
• Sting: The creature stabs with a stinger, dealing piercing damage. Sting attacks often deliver a poison in addition to dealing hit point damage.
• Tentacle: The creature flails at opponents with a powerful tentacle, dealing bludgeoning damage.