Can natural weapons be simple or martial weapons?











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6
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Natural weapons are considered to be melee weapons rather than unarmed.
I see in this answer that natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons, but this seems to be an assumption that I can't find in any rulebooks or the errata.
All I can find is this relatively out of context quote from the equipment section in the Player's Handbook:




Your race, class, and feats can grant you proficiency
with certain weapons or categories of weapons. The two
categories are simple and martial.




This line implies that every weapon is considered either simple or martial. It could be assumed to only refer to equipment, or only refer to proficiency, but I can't find anything excluding natural weapons from this.



Are natural weapons able to be simple or martial weapons, or am I missing something that puts them into a third exclusive category?



I would like to multiclass as a monk/druid, and choose a natural weapon such as a bear's claws as my Kensei weapon. It sounds like that's not completely within the rules (and I haven't run the numbers, so I can't tell you whether it's effective). I'm just wondering if I missed something here.










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  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    2 days ago






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    2 days ago















up vote
6
down vote

favorite












Natural weapons are considered to be melee weapons rather than unarmed.
I see in this answer that natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons, but this seems to be an assumption that I can't find in any rulebooks or the errata.
All I can find is this relatively out of context quote from the equipment section in the Player's Handbook:




Your race, class, and feats can grant you proficiency
with certain weapons or categories of weapons. The two
categories are simple and martial.




This line implies that every weapon is considered either simple or martial. It could be assumed to only refer to equipment, or only refer to proficiency, but I can't find anything excluding natural weapons from this.



Are natural weapons able to be simple or martial weapons, or am I missing something that puts them into a third exclusive category?



I would like to multiclass as a monk/druid, and choose a natural weapon such as a bear's claws as my Kensei weapon. It sounds like that's not completely within the rules (and I haven't run the numbers, so I can't tell you whether it's effective). I'm just wondering if I missed something here.










share|improve this question









New contributor




user2249657 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    2 days ago






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    2 days ago













up vote
6
down vote

favorite









up vote
6
down vote

favorite











Natural weapons are considered to be melee weapons rather than unarmed.
I see in this answer that natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons, but this seems to be an assumption that I can't find in any rulebooks or the errata.
All I can find is this relatively out of context quote from the equipment section in the Player's Handbook:




Your race, class, and feats can grant you proficiency
with certain weapons or categories of weapons. The two
categories are simple and martial.




This line implies that every weapon is considered either simple or martial. It could be assumed to only refer to equipment, or only refer to proficiency, but I can't find anything excluding natural weapons from this.



Are natural weapons able to be simple or martial weapons, or am I missing something that puts them into a third exclusive category?



I would like to multiclass as a monk/druid, and choose a natural weapon such as a bear's claws as my Kensei weapon. It sounds like that's not completely within the rules (and I haven't run the numbers, so I can't tell you whether it's effective). I'm just wondering if I missed something here.










share|improve this question









New contributor




user2249657 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











Natural weapons are considered to be melee weapons rather than unarmed.
I see in this answer that natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons, but this seems to be an assumption that I can't find in any rulebooks or the errata.
All I can find is this relatively out of context quote from the equipment section in the Player's Handbook:




Your race, class, and feats can grant you proficiency
with certain weapons or categories of weapons. The two
categories are simple and martial.




This line implies that every weapon is considered either simple or martial. It could be assumed to only refer to equipment, or only refer to proficiency, but I can't find anything excluding natural weapons from this.



Are natural weapons able to be simple or martial weapons, or am I missing something that puts them into a third exclusive category?



I would like to multiclass as a monk/druid, and choose a natural weapon such as a bear's claws as my Kensei weapon. It sounds like that's not completely within the rules (and I haven't run the numbers, so I can't tell you whether it's effective). I'm just wondering if I missed something here.







dnd-5e weapons natural-weapon






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edited 2 days ago









V2Blast

18.1k248114




18.1k248114






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asked 2 days ago









user2249657

333




333




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user2249657 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






user2249657 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    2 days ago






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    2 days ago


















  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    2 days ago






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    2 days ago
















A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
– Luke
2 days ago




A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
– Luke
2 days ago




1




1




Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
– user2249657
2 days ago




Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
– user2249657
2 days ago










1 Answer
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up vote
13
down vote



accepted










D&D 5e lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford has issued a clear clarification on this one:




Natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons. They're their own thing.




The rule you quoted does not say that all weapons are either simple or martial, it says that the two categories of weapons you can be proficient in due to your race, class or feats are simple and martial.






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    1 Answer
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    active

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    1 Answer
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    active

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    up vote
    13
    down vote



    accepted










    D&D 5e lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford has issued a clear clarification on this one:




    Natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons. They're their own thing.




    The rule you quoted does not say that all weapons are either simple or martial, it says that the two categories of weapons you can be proficient in due to your race, class or feats are simple and martial.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      13
      down vote



      accepted










      D&D 5e lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford has issued a clear clarification on this one:




      Natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons. They're their own thing.




      The rule you quoted does not say that all weapons are either simple or martial, it says that the two categories of weapons you can be proficient in due to your race, class or feats are simple and martial.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        13
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        13
        down vote



        accepted






        D&D 5e lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford has issued a clear clarification on this one:




        Natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons. They're their own thing.




        The rule you quoted does not say that all weapons are either simple or martial, it says that the two categories of weapons you can be proficient in due to your race, class or feats are simple and martial.






        share|improve this answer












        D&D 5e lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford has issued a clear clarification on this one:




        Natural weapons are neither simple nor martial weapons. They're their own thing.




        The rule you quoted does not say that all weapons are either simple or martial, it says that the two categories of weapons you can be proficient in due to your race, class or feats are simple and martial.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 days ago









        Charles Miller

        1,046125




        1,046125






















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