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
    Nov 22 at 4:48






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    Nov 22 at 5:41















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
























  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    Nov 22 at 4:48






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    Nov 22 at 5:41













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















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 Nov 22 at 7:51









V2Blast

18.4k248114




18.4k248114










asked Nov 22 at 4:20









user2249657

333




333












  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    Nov 22 at 4:48






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    Nov 22 at 5:41


















  • A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
    – Luke
    Nov 22 at 4:48






  • 1




    Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
    – user2249657
    Nov 22 at 5:41
















A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
– Luke
Nov 22 at 4:48




A related question: rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/114938/…
– Luke
Nov 22 at 4:48




1




1




Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
– user2249657
Nov 22 at 5:41




Ok, edited the question to ask "are" rather than judgements on balance.
– user2249657
Nov 22 at 5:41










1 Answer
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up vote
15
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

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    15
    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
      15
      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
        15
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        15
        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 Nov 22 at 7:00









        Charles Miller

        1,086125




        1,086125






























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