Do zombies keep weapon finesse or power attack?

[ccflier]

Monster manuel says both:

"A zombie loses all feats of the base creature"

and

"A zombie loses most special qualities of the base creature. It retains any extraordinary special qualities that improve its melee or ranged attacks."

Power attack improves melee attacks. So would a zombie keep it?

A feat like weapon finesse is something different that the creature gets as a bonus feat, and improve it's melee attacks, does this make it special to the point where if a zombie doesn't keep power attack, they would keep the bonus feats like weapon finesse?
A raven has 1 HD so the MM says it should only have 1 feat, alertness. But the bonus feat weapon finesse is added even though it doesn't qualify for a second feat, and doesn't have the +1BAB to qualify for the feat itself.

[Blackhawk748]

No because it's a feat. It it had something that basically was Power Attack or Weapon Finesse as an ability it would keep it.

Basically, zombies keep things that are innate abilities (IE something has an ability that adds Cold damage to it's natural attacks) and lose feats, even racial bonus feats.

[ccflier]

No because it's a feat. It it had something that basically was Power Attack or Weapon Finesse as an ability it would keep it.

Basically, zombies keep things that are innate abilities (IE something has an ability that adds Cold damage to it's natural attacks) and lose feats, even racial bonus feats.

Thanks. Is there anything as a necromancer I should be looking for in stat blocks that they will keep? Or something a zombie keeps that a skeleton doesn't?

[Esprit15]

Thanks. Is there anything as a necromancer I should be looking for in stat blocks that they will keep? Or something a zombie keeps that a skeleton doesn't?

Zombies keep all flight, but become clumsy, while skeletons only retain magical flight. Zombies also keep natural armor, in addition to improving it. Keep an eye out for things like pounce or rider effects like dazzling blow (like war trolls get) - if they’re not poisons or similar, it’s kept, and runs on CHA if it was originally based on CON. Lots of attacks are always good, and zombies can still charge, so pounce arguably still works for them.

[Blackhawk748]

Thanks. Is there anything as a necromancer I should be looking for in stat blocks that they will keep? Or something a zombie keeps that a skeleton doesn't?

Big things with large single attacks are preferred for Zombies. That and Hydras. Hydras are great.

Big cats, as mentioned, though they also make good Skeletons as the maneuverability loss is pretty bad during Zombification, so things like Ogres and Giants are the ideal.

Basically, big dumb bruisers.

[rel]

Skeletons gain claw attacks so non-limb natural attacks like bites or slams are good because they will stack rather than replace like weapon attacks will.

[Doctor Despair]

As a necromancer, also be sure to take a look at the Corpsecrafting feat tree to improve whatever undead you do end up raising :)