Improved Unarmed Strike

Improved Unarmed Strike

Type: General
Source: Player's Handbook v.3.5

You are skilled at fighting while unarmed.

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

Special: A monk fighting unarmed automatically gains the benefit of this feat.

For Spell casters: You can use an unarmed strike to deliver a touch spell and are considered to be armed. You make a normal melee attack (the defender gets the full benefit of armor and shield). If the attack hits, the unarmed strike deals its normal damage and the spell is discharged against the defender. Only the unarmed strike can inflict a critical hit. A character without this feat also could deliver a touch spell with an unarmed strike, but doing so would provoke an attack of opportunity from the target, and the unarmed strike would deal subdual damage.