feat Improved Unarmed Strike

Improved Unarmed Strike (General)

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Benefit: You are considered to be armed even when unarmed -that is, you do not provoke attacks of opportunity from armed opponents when you attack them while unarmed. However, you still get an attack of opportunity against any opponent who makes an unarmed attack on you.

In addition, your unarmed strikes can deal lethal or nonlethal damage, at your option.

Normal: Without this feat, you are considered unarmed when attacking with an unarmed strike, and you can deal only nonlethal damage with such an attack.

Special: A monk automatically gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat at 1st level. She need not select it.

A fighter may select Improved Unarmed Strike as one of his fighter bonus feats.

What Improved Unarmed Strike Changes

Improved Unarmed Strike means you are considered armed even while fighting without a weapon. You therefore do not provoke an attack of opportunity merely for making an unarmed attack against an armed opponent, and you can still make attacks of opportunity against opponents who make unarmed attacks on you.

Lethal or Nonlethal Damage

The feat also lets you choose whether your unarmed strikes deal lethal or nonlethal damage. The choice gives an unarmed combatant more control over the outcome of a fight without needing to change weapons.

Improved Unarmed Strike Example

A character punches an armed guard. With Improved Unarmed Strike, the attack does not provoke merely because it is unarmed. The character can choose to deal lethal damage or strike to subdue the guard with nonlethal damage.

Improved Unarmed Strike is also a prerequisite for options such as Improved Grapple. See the Feats index for related combat options.