Common Sense Claw and Bite Attacks

Slash attack

Slash attacks from claws are melee attacks that do slashing damage on a hit.

Slam attack

A creature can make a slam attack using its Strength to attempt to knock down a target creature of up to one size larger. On a hit, the target suffers bludgeoning damage, and must succeed on an Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) save or be knocked prone.

Seize attack

Seize attacks with claws are made with Dexterity or Strength and do piercing damage on a hit and the target creature is grappled. If the target creature is one size larger, the grapple does not reduce its speed to zero; it is merely encumbered. For creatures two or more sizes larger, apply the optional rules for climbing on larger creature (DMG pg. 271). The target creature can use an action to escape this grapple with a contested Strength (Athletics or Dexterity (Acrobatics) vs attacker Strength (Athletics) check, as usual. See Common Sense Grappling and Restraining for optional rules.

Bite attack (clawed creature)

When a clawed creature has grappled a target, it may make a bite attack with advantage as a bonus action, or on a later action while the target is grappled, depending on challenge rating.

Black Bear (revised)

Medium beast, unaligned

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• Armor Class 11 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 19 (3d8 + 6)
• Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	10 (+0)	14 (+2)	2 (-4)	12 (+1)	7 (-2)

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• Skills/Senses Perception +3, passive Perception 13
• Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

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Keen smell. The bear has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on smell.

Charge. The bear may make a seize or slam attack as a bonus action after a dash.

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Actions

Multiattack. The bear makes two melee attacks.

Slash. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage. Target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) saving throw or be knocked prone.

Seize Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage. Target is grappled.

Bite Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit (advantage), reach 5 ft., one grappled creature. Hit 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage and the target creature has disadvantage to escape a grapple.

Venom

On a successful bite attack, a venomous serpentine creature may choose to inject venom (just as a paladin might choose to add divine smite to a successful attack). The affect of the venom can be poison damage, the poisoned condition, or another condition such as paralyzed, movement reduced, or blinded. The venom effect may allow a constitution save for partial or full avoiding of damage or the condition, depending on the creature's challenge rating.

Grappled

On a hit, the target is grappled. On a successive attack or action, a serpentine attacking creature may attempt a constrict attack with advantage. Again, if the target is larger than the creature its movement is not reduced to zero, rather it is encumbered by the attacker.

Tearing

Tearing is less common for serpentine creatures as they lack claw to hold creatures while they tear. However a creature with multiple heads, such as a hydra would likely tear at prey as soon as two heads have grappled the same target.

Swallow

A large enough serpentine creature may attempt to swallow a restrained victim whole. In reality this process is lengthy, but in gameplay we reserve the swallow action for creatures so large or with such distorted physique that this happens in one action.

Vulnerable position

Attacks against a serpentine creature that is constricting a target have advantage unless the constricted creature is two sizes or more smaller.

For example a huge constrictor snake constricting a medium creature does not grant advantage to attackers.

Crippling Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature with a walking speed. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage, and the target's walking speed is reduced by 10 ft. until the end of its next turn.

Disruptive Bite Melee Weapone Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage. The bite has a disruptive effect on magic. A creature concentrating on a spell makes the concentrating check with disadvantage.

Dispelling Bite Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage. Attacker may immediately dispel any active spell effects of 3rd level or below on the target, as if casting dispel magic. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, the spell ends.

Vampiric Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit (advantage), reach 5 ft., one grappled creature. Hit: 1d6 + 3 piercing damage plus 2d6 necrotic damage and the blood sucking attacker regains hit points equal to the necrotic damage. The hit point reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest.

Synaptic Control Bite Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one grappled creature. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage. Target is grappled. While the condition persists, the attacker may use a bonus action to inject a compulsion into the target's mind as if casting the spell suggestion or command. Target attempts a Wisdom save versus the attacker's spell DC. On a fail the target performs the suggestion beginning with their next action. The grappling creature can alter the suggestion or give an additional suggestion or command as a bonus action while the grapple lasts. The grappled creature may attempt a Wisdom saving throw for each new suggestion or command.

Agonizing Bite Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage. The bite injects a toxin that causes severe pain. The target has disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of its next turn.

Slowing Bite Melee Weapon Attack: +(Dex) to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1d4 + Dex piercing damage. The bite injects a toxin that causes dulls the senses and slows reactions. The target has -2 to its AC, cannot take reactions, may take either one action or bonus action, and can make only one attack until the end of its next turn.