Lizardfolk Bite Clarification

[Aett_Thorn]

So the Lizardfolk Bite attack states that:


Bite Attack: Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes.

Now, how would you rule this trait for something like Potent Psionics, which states that "Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon, you can deal an extra 1d8 psychic damage to that target" or Green-Flame Blade, which requires an attack with a weapon?

Is the bite attack a natural weapon, that just so happens to qualify as an unarmed strike? Or is it a natural weapon that can only be used to make unarmed strikes?

[Ventruenox]

Based on the wording, it would seem to be a natural weapon that qualifies to make unarmed strikes. The only granted use of it is in making unarmed strikes, but it is still a weapon otherwise. By incorporating it as the material component for GFB or Potent Psionics, you found additional uses for the weapon.

[Aett_Thorn]

Based on the wording, it would seem to be a natural weapon that qualifies to make unarmed strikes. The only granted use of it is in making unarmed strikes, but it is still a weapon otherwise. By incorporating it as the material component for GFB or Potent Psionics, you found additional uses for the weapon.

Hmmm...makes sense to me. Thanks!

[sithlordnergal]

It is considered a weapon, so you can use Green Flame Blade and anything else you need a weapon attack for. If your DM dislikes it, relfavor it to be Green Flame Teeth, or Green Flame Maw. X3

[JackPhoenix]

Natural weapons and unarmed attacks aren't weapons (though they are used to make weapon attacks, to make the terminology more confusing). Neither GFB or Potent Psionics apply, as they require actual weapon (as in actual object you use to beat/stab someone)

[sithlordnergal]

Natural weapons and unarmed attacks aren't weapons (though they are used to make weapon attacks, to make the terminology more confusing). Neither GFB or Potent Psionics apply, as they require actual weapon (as in actual object you use to beat/stab someone)

Well, the thing is Crawford feels it would work with a natural attack like the bite since it is considered a weapon.

[Davrix]

its a DM ruling, Crawford has tried to make rulings but I think its just going to wind up what your DM feels is right and what isn't. Me personally it doesn't make that much of a difference so re-flavor away to have a flame coated maw of green fire when you bite something. That just sounds awesome.

[JackPhoenix]

Well, the thing is Crawford feels it would work with a natural attack like the bite since it is considered a weapon.

It's a weapon attack, but it's not a weapon. https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/10/19/does-the-magic-weapon-spell-work-on-natural-weapons/

[sithlordnergal]

It's a weapon attack, but it's not a weapon. https://www.sageadvice.eu/2016/10/19/does-the-magic-weapon-spell-work-on-natural-weapons/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/05/does-booming-blade-require-a-weapon-or-does-natural-weapons-work-as-well/amp/

And here we have Crawford contradicting himself as always. He'd allow it to work.

[Davrix]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/05/does-booming-blade-require-a-weapon-or-does-natural-weapons-work-as-well/amp/

And here we have Crawford contradicting himself as always. He'd allow it to work.

opinions change over time or he simply forgot about what he said first. Can you imagine how many rulings the guy gets asked on a daily basis? I'm sure he can't keep it all in his head.

[JackPhoenix]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sageadvice.eu/2016/08/05/does-booming-blade-require-a-weapon-or-does-natural-weapons-work-as-well/amp/

And here we have Crawford contradicting himself as always. He'd allow it to work.

Yes... "I'd allow that to work" is different from "This is how it works by the rules". He's not contradicting himself, he just mentions possible houserule.

[A Fat Dragon]

Here’s how I’d rule it: All creatures have natural weapons. Most creatures however, don’t have a natural weapon beyond an unarmed attack. Lizardfolk have a natural weapon, that allows them to do an enhanced unarmed attack.

The attack would still be treated as an unarmed attack would, as natural weapons aren’t actually a specific weapon, but rather a clarification for any object or part of the body that is able to be used as a weapon in a certain way.
If for example, you had an axe for a hand, then you’d have a natural weapon, that is a hand axe. You can use it as a normal hand-axe, but it doesn’t need to be sheathed, nor can it be removed (except by special rulings) from the character.