Quote Originally Posted by Anxe View Post
Q 311

Can a Monk, or any other character actually, take Improved Natural Attack and apply it to Unarmed Strike?
A 311 full answer

A Monk can, as clarified in the FAQ reference by Lord_Silvanos. But it looks like WotC thinks any other character (or at least one with Improved Unarmed Strike) can also take this feat. The Fanged Ring (Dragon Magic, page 101) among other things grants these feats:
  • Improved Unarmed Strike
  • Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike)
There is no requirement of Monk levels to make use of the Fanged Ring.

Whether unarmed attacks count as natural weapons seems to be decided on a case-by-case basis without any general answer. Because of this magic item we know WotC has answered in the affirmative for the Improved Natural Attack feat if you've also got the Improved Unarmed Strike feat.


Sidebar: The text of Magic Fang describes fists as "natural weapons", but the primary definition of that term requires an armed attack that doesn't provoke AoOs.
Magic Fang

The spell can affect a slam attack, fist, bite, or other natural weapon.
Natural Weapons

Natural weapons are weapons that are physically a part of a creature. A creature making a melee attack with a natural weapon is considered armed and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
So an unarmed attack with the Improved Unarmed Strike feet meets this primary definition, and this may be why Wizards decided that Improved Natural Attack (unarmed strike) qualifies if you've got the first feat.