Haven’t you previously said that unarmed strikes are NOT weapon attacks?
— Ed Robinson (@Lwnasidh) January 12, 2018
Unarmed strikes have always been weapon attacks. Here's where the confusion comes in: your unarmed strike (fist, elbow, knee, butt, etc.) is not considered by the rules to be a weapon the way a longsword is a weapon. But the rules let you make unarmed weapon attacks anyway. #DnD https://t.co/9JUpp3k6vv
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 12, 2018
I understand all this and you can smite with unarmed attacks but rogues cannot sneak attack with them because it is not technically a finesse weapon. Even though thematically it would make sense for a Rogue’s sneak attack to work with unarmed strike. Why the limitation?The monk, not the rogue, is designed to be the class that deals more damage with unarmed strikes. Classically, the rogue stabs you in the back. This is largely about preserving different character archetypes that are part of D&D's legacy. Multiclass stacking is also a factor.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 12, 2018
But smite and sneak attack stack and smite with unarmed strike stack. Is it just to limit smite and sneak attack on unarmed which deals less damage than most normal weapons ie 1d4, 1d6. It just seems a bit silly to not allow sneak on an unarmed strike. Again, it's about character archetypes. Multiclass stacking, which is only a factor if an optional rule is used, doesn't drive our design, but we consider it. Classically, rogues don't stab you or shoot you with their knees.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 12, 2018
Knee to the throat could be pretty deadly. But I understand your point. My point is more mechanical in nature, being it doesn’t really cause much in the way of a balance issue. Our design is driven by story and legacy. Balance supports them. But story and legacy reign.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 12, 2018
Note that (RAI, at the least) Divine Smite is meant to be used with an actual weapon. Arguably it is even RAW due to the line about adding the Smite damage to “the weapon’s damage”. It is, indeed, both RAW and RAI.
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) January 13, 2018
It’s unfortunate, to rule out so many Martial Arts sneak attacks.
Monk is by no means the only Martial Arts Archetype to use unarmed strikes in addition to simple weapons.
Our Special Forces all learn unarmed sneak attacks. They are certainly more Rogue or Ranger than Monk, and it speaks directly to the comment that a “Rogue does not classically sneak attack you with an unarmed strike”.
Thank you for the clarity on your ruling though.
We can always adjust at our private tables.
Interestingly enough, regarding Dungeons and Dragons Legacy from previous editions.
Quote
An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon. Therefore, you can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with an unarmed strike. Unarmed strikes do not count as natural weapons (see Combat). The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that give you a bonus on weapon damage rolls.
A monk or any character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat can deal lethal or nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes, at his discretion.
A Monk can still sneak attack with their shortsword proficiency and also use their Monk bonus action to Flurry or punch once or whatever in the same round of actions.