Unarmed rage

[Sein]

Noticed that barbarians in rage can`t apply bonus damage when attacking with bare hands and when using off-hand weapon. It shouldn`t work like this. According to the rules of DnD barbarians can add rage modifier to unarmed and off-hand attacks. Can devs fix this?
A melee weapon attack does include Unarmed Attacks, as seen here: https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/1088200198814232577?lang=en

[Recjawjind]

"In battle, you fight with primal ferocity. On your turn, you can enter a rage as a bonus action.

While raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing heavy armor:

You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.

When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll. This bonus increases as you level.

You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

If you are able to cast spells, you can't cast them or concentrate on them while raging.

Your rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your rage on your turn as a bonus action.

Once you have raged the maximum number of times for your barbarian level, you must finish a long rest before you can rage again. You may rage 2 times at 1st level, 3 at 3rd, 4 at 6th, 5 at 12th, and 6 at 17th."


RAW, You cannot apply rage damage to unarmed attacks, as they are not weapon attacks.

[Fishmonger]

Unarmed strikes are actually considered weapon attacks and therefore the rage damage should apply. There are only two types of attacks in DnD: Weapon attacks and Spell attacks. Unarmed Strike must fall under one of these two categories.

It's also been confirmed by multiple original writers of the rules.

[Sein]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

"In battle, you fight with primal ferocity. On your turn, you can enter a rage as a bonus action.

While raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing heavy armor:

You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.

When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll. This bonus increases as you level.

You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

If you are able to cast spells, you can't cast them or concentrate on them while raging.

Your rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your rage on your turn as a bonus action.

Once you have raged the maximum number of times for your barbarian level, you must finish a long rest before you can rage again. You may rage 2 times at 1st level, 3 at 3rd, 4 at 6th, 5 at 12th, and 6 at 17th."


RAW, You cannot apply rage damage to unarmed attacks, as they are not weapon attacks.

You are right. However in tabletop, Barbarians can still apply their Rage damage to Unarmed Strikes. They technically deal 1 damage, but that 1 damage is treated as a D1, as confirmed by Jeremy Crawford and the PHB's wording.

[sevensided]

Question number two: are you trying to do this as a Monk/Barbarian multiclass?

[Fishmonger]

If it helps, you can think of fists as a humanoids natural weapon.

[Sein]

Originally posted by sevensided:

Question number two: are you trying to do this as a Monk/Barbarian multiclass?

Nope. Just barbarian who throws out his weapon, using rage and go wild with his bare fists(Like Godfrey in Elden Ring)

[ComradePreacher]

Monk/barbarian will not work due to monk's martial arts die uses dexterity to apply it's effects, Barbarian's rage damage can only come from strength sources.

Tavern brawler feat will be ingame so your highest unarmed damage will be a 1d4+ your strength modifier.. I think it's safe to say it'll be a bit lackluster, however throwing unlike tabletop counts for rage damage aslong you use strength.

[sevensided]

Originally posted by ComradePreacher:

Monk/barbarian will not work due to monk's martial arts die uses dexterity to apply it's effects, Barbarian's rage damage can only come from strength sources.

It might not work-we don't know. Larian might alter rage/relentless attack to just work with melee attacks in rlease.

As to the OP, only thing I can think of is since Monk isnt in EA, they haven't bothered to code unarmed attacks as weapons, so rage isn't picking it up. *shrug*

[Tantresha]

Originally posted by ComradePreacher:

Monk/barbarian will not work due to monk's martial arts die uses dexterity to apply it's effects, Barbarian's rage damage can only come from strength sources.

Tavern brawler feat will be ingame so your highest unarmed damage will be a 1d4+ your strength modifier.. I think it's safe to say it'll be a bit lackluster, however throwing unlike tabletop counts for rage damage aslong you use strength.

Unarmed Monk attacks only scale with Dex IF it his higher then your Strength ..its not a limitation ...So you make a Strength based Monk instead ..and Tavern Brawler adds your Strength bonuses to hit and damage. You get your STR bonuses on top of what you have to start with , even if your a monk has highter DEX you still add the 2 together . Its OP my man .With a STR based Monk at level 4 with STR 18 you have +8 or to hit and damage With Tavern Brawler. Multi with Barbarian / Berserker and your rage damage adds so you can rip people in half then throw the body through enemies as a bonus action and with large range due to high STR .