Ways to Obtain Claws?

[Dr. Cliché]

Are there any spells, classes or abilities that can give you claws?

(Either real/permanently ones or temporary one like you get from Primal Savagery.)

[Kuulvheysoon]

Reincarnation with the Tabaxi added to the table?

[kardar233]

You can obtain claws by being a bear (Moon Druid).

Apart from that, the Bestial Claws manifestation of the UA Mystic (https://media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/UAMystic3.pdf) is described as claws.

Most of the ways to gain claws are through race choice. Dragonborn get access to the Dragon Hide feat (https://media.wizards.com/2017/dnd/downloads/RJSJC2017_04UASkillFeats_24v10.pdf) which gives you 1d4 damage claws, +1 unarmoured AC and +1 to Str or Cha. Tabaxi (from Volo's) get 1d4 damage claws as well. Razorclaw Shifters (https://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/UA_Eberron_v1.pdf) get Dex-based claws with no listed damage while shifting, that can attack as a bonus action.

Those are all the ways I know.

[DracoKnight]

There's a wonderful, oft overlooked 2nd-level spell that gives you magical +1 claws that deal 1d6 damage for 1 hour. It's a little gem known simply as alter self.

[Daithi]

Unearthed Arcana Mystic has Bestial Form with Bestial Claws that add 1d10 damage per psi spent (max 7).

[A Fat Dragon]

There’s a UA Cantrip called Primal Savagery which alllows you to transform your hands into claws for a round, and deal d10 acid damage. However, it only lasts for when you make the attack with it, but you could always do a bit of flavoring if need be.

[Mongobear]

Dragonborn via a Feat.

Tabaxi via being a Tabaxi.

Druids from Wild Shape.

Maybe Tavern Brawler if your DM allows it, and you're something that would reasonably have claws. (Likely would need to be something like Dragonborn for it to make sense.)

Polymorph type spells.

A nice DM refluffing Martial Arts to be a claw attack.

Mystic from the UA. (Not sure what, dont use UA.)

[Lawful Good]

There’s a UA Cantrip called Primal Savagery which alllows you to transform your hands into claws for a round, and deal d10 acid damage. However, it only lasts for when you make the attack with it, but you could always do a bit of flavoring if need be.

Yeah, I believe this made it into Xanathar's.

I also think Tenser's Transformation gives you a natural attack, but Im AFB right now.

[Asmotherion]

Best way I know is Alter Self. When you don't need to look like an other person or race, breath underwater or use it in some other crafty way, just spawn some cool claws/teeth/other natural weapon and maim your opponent with an enhancment bonus on top. Switching betwing options (including the option of looking like your normal form) for the duration makes you going Wolverin (non-metal version of the claws, sadly, but can work around that if you are crafty*) tottaly legit.

Most versalite 2nd level spell ever. :3

*Perhaps a Dragonic origin Sorcerer with Metalic (silver probably) Dragon Ancestry could get totally legit metalic-looking claws... Just putting the idea on the table XD

[Jaymax91]

In VgtM there is a section on mind flayers that mentions "flensing claws" can be attached to humanoids.

[bc56]

In VgtM there is a section on mind flayers that mentions "flensing claws" can be attached to humanoids.

Good luck getting a willing mindflayer to attach them, plus you will never be able to normally manipulate objects again, but it technically works.

[Ganymede]

Get yourself a suit of Demon Plate.

[Lombra]

Aarakocra has natuaral claws. Other than that alter self looks like the simplest way. Becoming an half-dragon or a werebeast too.

[Ivor_The_Mad]

Polymorph or true polymorph would give you claws. The shape change ability of the druid can give you claws. Also if you get bitten by a lycanthrope.

[Rogerdodger557]

Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter gets you claws when you shift. Or be a tortle.

[Strangways]

There's a wonderful, oft overlooked 2nd-level spell that gives you magical +1 claws that deal 1d6 damage for 1 hour. It's a little gem known simply as alter self.

Druids eventually get the ability to cast that spell at will, so you could have permanent claws at that point.

[Dr. Cliché]

Druids eventually get the ability to cast that spell at will, so you could have permanent claws at that point.

Hmm, that is interesting.

Can't Warlocks eventually cast that spell at-will, too?

[SkylarkR6]

Master of Myriad forms. 15th level invocation

[Dr. Cliché]

Hmm, both are depressingly high-level. :smalltongue:

[Mortis_Elrod]

Hmm, both are depressingly high-level. :smalltongue:

But it is only 2nd level spell. So Druid’s would be. Able to use it very often and when not using it use the primal savagery cantrip from Xans.

Wizards get the spell I believe and can cast it at will with Spell Mastery. But that’s level 18.

[smcmike]

But it is only 2nd level spell. So Druid’s would be. Able to use it very often and when not using it use the primal savagery cantrip from Xans.

Wizards get the spell I believe and can cast it at will with Spell Mastery. But that’s level 18.

It isn’t a Druid or Warlock spell, though, apart from their high-level at-will abilities. That’s pretty frustrating.

[Mortis_Elrod]

It isn’t a Druid or Warlock spell, though, apart from their high-level at-will abilities. That’s pretty frustrating.

Wtf. Who decided to not give druids Alter Self??

I’ll trade Animal Nessenger Any day for alter self.


That’s crazy only sorceres and wizards get it on their list.

Ok so I guess best bet is...
3 levels of dragon Sorcerer then the rest Tomelock, pick up primal savagery cantrip with the tome, and alter self/PS until level 18 then cast it at will from there ?

[Dr. Cliché]

Ok so I guess best bet is...
3 levels of dragon Sorcerer then the rest Tomelock, pick up primal savagery cantrip with the tome, and alter self/PS until level 18 then cast it at will from there ?

But then you're delaying getting at-will claws to the point where you'll probably never get them at all. :smallconfused:


EDIT: I've also just found out that you're not allowed to use Dex for claw attacks. :smallfrown:

I think I'll just abandon this idea.

Thanks for your help, anyway, guys.

[Mortis_Elrod]

But then you're delaying getting at-will claws to the point where you'll probably never get them at all. :smallconfused:


EDIT: I've also just found out that you're not allowed to use Dex for claw attacks. :smallfrown:

I think I'll just abandon this idea.

Thanks for your help, anyway, guys.

True, delay is a thing.

You could just be a Tabaxi Monk. They get claws at level 1 usable with dex

[Dr. Cliché]

You could just be a Tabaxi Monk. They get claws at level 1 usable with dex

Except that I specifically didn't want to rely on my race to get claws.

[nickl_2000]

Druids eventually get the ability to cast that spell at will, so you could have permanent claws at that point.

This still requires concentration though, which is a major negative


Except that I specifically didn't want to rely on my race to get claws.

Can you refluff a dagger to be a set of claws that you strap onto your hands? 1d4 slashing damage using dex or str as a mod? I don't see any issue with this as a DM

[Mortis_Elrod]

Except that I specifically didn't want to rely on my race to get claws.

Than use a cantrip?

At will second level spells are not suppose to be easily attainable.

Best bet is Wildshape, cantrip, use spellslots as a wizard/Sorcerer/lore Bard, or wait till 14/15/18 to get it at will.

[Dr. Cliché]

Can you refluff a dagger to be a set of claws that you strap onto your hands? 1d4 slashing damage using dex or str as a mod? I don't see any issue with this as a DM

I could but I was aiming for actual claws (as in, my hands turning into claws), rather than makeshift claws I just strap on.


As I said, I might as well just drop this altogether. Truthfully, with all the magic in D&D (not to mention that attacking with claws would probably be suboptimal at best), I really hadn't expected it to be such a pain.



Than use a cantrip?

At will second level spells are not suppose to be easily attainable.

Doesn't matter anyway. I'd forgotten that I'm not allowed to use dexterity for "unarmed strikes".

[Rogerdodger557]

I could but I was aiming for actual claws (as in, my hands turning into claws), rather than makeshift claws I just strap on.


As I said, I might as well just drop this altogether. Truthfully, with all the magic in D&D (not to mention that attacking with claws would probably be suboptimal at best), I really hadn't expected it to be such a pain.




Doesn't matter anyway. I'd forgotten that I'm not allowed to use dexterity for "unarmed strikes".

I should have mentioned this in my previous post, but the Lycan Blood Hunter can use strength or dexterity with their claws, and the subclass grants a lot of survivability that the core class needs.

[Dr. Cliché]

I should have mentioned this in my previous post, but the Lycan Blood Hunter can use strength or dexterity with their claws, and the subclass grants a lot of survivability that the core class needs.

Okay, I'll take a look. Cheers.

[ThatDrowPlayer]

Princes of the Apocalypse, pg. 222:

Claws of the Umber Hulk
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
"These heavy gauntlets of brown iron are forged in the shape of an umber hulk's claws, and they fit the wearer's hands and forearms all the way up to the elbow. While wearing both claws, you gain a burrowing speed of 20 feet, and you can tunnel through solid rock at a rate of 1 foot per round.

You can use a claw as a melee weapon while wearing it. You have proficiency with it, and it deals 1d8 slashing damage on a hit (your Strength modifier applies to the attack and damage rolls, as normal).

While wearing the claws, you can't manipulate objects or cast spells with somatic components."

Praise Lolth.

[Blood of Gaea]

Be a Tortle for 1d4+Str.