Druid animal forms affected by Tavern Brawler & Monk feats ?

[Pimpin Pippin]

Since BG3 has been in early access for a while there is a lot of outdated or guesswork info on wikipedias and forums, sometimes even the in-game UI may be misleading.

I like the concept of druid animal forms but to make them "suck less" usually you have to take all the Unarmed/Fist feats & multi-class Monk bonuses - because for some reason being a Tavern Brawler & a Monk makes my Spider form better at biting...

Does anyone please have up-to-date info on are Druid animal forms affected by feats like Tavern Brawler and Monk stuff?
Thanks for explaining.

[Keldor]

Tavern Brawler is currently bugged. It will work and give you a bonus to your hit. But not to your damage (in animal form). Unsure if the fix will add damage or make it not work at all. As for Monk. The unarmed stuff doesn't work with animal forms (no flurry of blows or bonus unarmed attacks). But, the unarmored defense does work with SOME of the animal forms. I know it doesn't work with Bear form. As it's believed that form is coded to essentially be wearing armor. Being that it's the "tank" form, essentially. Most of the other forms though, benefit from the Monk's Wisdom bonus to armor. And you do keep your Wisdom score while transformed. You don't benefit from increased move speed or feather fall in animal form. And any equipment meant to buff your monk features won't work. Due to your entire avatar being replaced by the animal and your gear essentially not existing in that form. Since you don't gain anything for the 12th level of Druid. You might as well take one level in Monk for the unarmored defense bonus to AC. And it will help you when you're not shapeshifted as well, of course.

[Moffin Bovin]

yes and no. if you are a wildshaped monk it says you get to do another unarmed strike, but it doesnt let you use any of your available attacks. So you cant actually do it.

and for some reason you get -2 to your wisdom bonus to ac.

[Keldor]

Originally posted by Moffin Bovin:

yes and no. if you are a wildshaped monk it says you get to do another unarmed strike, but it doesnt let you use any of your available attacks. So you cant actually do it.

and for some reason you get -2 to your wisdom bonus to ac.

That's for forms that have increased AC. As they are counted as having armor. But, if you have 18 or 20 in Wisdom. It's a net gain in AC as you'll be left with +2 or +3 AC (respectively) in those forms.

[Asyrian]

Originally posted by Keldor:

Originally posted by Moffin Bovin:

yes and no. if you are a wildshaped monk it says you get to do another unarmed strike, but it doesnt let you use any of your available attacks. So you cant actually do it.

and for some reason you get -2 to your wisdom bonus to ac.

That's for forms that have increased AC. As they are counted as having armor. But, if you have 18 or 20 in Wisdom. It's a net gain in AC as you'll be left with +2 or +3 AC (respectively) in those forms.

This is purely wrong
All the ppl advising on taking monk dont know that shapes alrdy have natural armor that is LOST when the armor is calculated in another way than that natural to the shape.
A owlbear has 4 natural armor so ends by 15 (1 from dex)
Even with 18 wis it would result in the same armor and so is a complete waste a bear got 2 natural armor and even here the netwin without the first feat would max be 1 armor...its just a waste to take monk