History Main / NaturalWeapon

* ''[[VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce EXTRAPOWER Attack of Darkforce]]'': The parasitic Bem organisms only require their Panzer Arms to attack, hardening their hands into sharpened knife edges.

** The Khajiit CatFolk have natural razor-sharp and retractable claws. They have numerous [[FantasticFightingStyle fantastical martial arts styles]] which revolve around their use of these as a primary form of defense. Gameplay-wise, they get a bonus to their unarmed skill because of their claws. {{Game Mod}}s extend this to [[LizardFolk Argonians]] as wel and boost the effectiveness for both races with each gain in level.

* One ''ComicBook/XMen'' villain, Riptide, could secrete hardened resin from his skin and fire it as projectile weapons at his foes.
** ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and ComicBook/{{X 23}}'s... WolverineClaws are also made of bone, although they both have [[{{Unobtanium}} adamantium]] attached to them (Wolverine on his whole skeleton, X-23 just on her claws) to make them much more dangerous.

* ''Film/ResidentEvil2002'': The Licker mutant had huge claws that could rip through solid metal and inflict grievous wounds. Its bite attack was also fairly impressive.
* The bug aliens of the ''Film/StarShipTroopers'' movie series were able to poop city-destroying plasma across interstellar distances; the novel version built weapons just like people do.

** Bit of a subversion on the Hork-Bajir -- despite appearing to be a walking knife factory, they're a peaceful race and use the blades to cut and eat tree bark... but this made them a target for enslavement by the [[PuppeteerParasite Yeerks]].
* The tripodal Puppeteer race of Creator/LarryNiven's ''Literature/KnownSpace'' universe have hooves on their rear legs. Although pacifist by nature, one badly frightened Puppeteer in ''Literature/{{Ringworld}}'' [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] when he instinctively uses his rear hoof to kick a man's heart through his spine.
* When she's in her CatGirl form, Danielle from ''Literature/MindGames'' has claws on both her fingers and toes that count as System weapons, which means [[spoiler:they're more dangerous than bullets to most System-empowered beings.]]
* ''Literature/MoreauSeries'': Many flavors of moreaus have them, mostly claws and teeth. Angel Lopez' legs may count; as an engineered rabbit the size of a small human, she has a kick that can shatter bones.
* Happens frequently in ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', since most animals have at least some natural defenses they can bring to bear. Examples include:
** ''Redwall'': Constance the badger, who uses her sheer bulk to overpower the cutlass-armed [[YouDirtyRat Redooth]]. Asmodeus Poisonteeth, being an adder, and therefore legless, has no choice but to use his fangs and coils as his main weapons. And the sparrows attack with beak and talon alone.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': In one episode, Spike says that one advantage a vampire has over a Slayer is that while the Slayer needs to reach for her weapon a vampire is always armed with their fangs. The episode in question demonstrates this by having Buffy suffer a near fatal encounter with a vampire in which he used her own stake against her.

* In Myth/ClassicalMythology, Prometheus was given a bag full of gifts to distribute to the various new creatures populating the earth. Said gifts pretty much amounted to this, and that's why dogs have fangs, snakes have venom, lions have claws and fangs, and so on. But when it came to humans, Prometheus was out of gifts, and he decided to gave human fire that he stole from the gods. Thus humans lack Natural Weapon, but are granted a mind capable of reasoning. And for this act, [[AndIMustScream Prometheus was chained to a rock where an eagle would tear out his liver, he would suffer in pain all day, regenerate by the next day, and the process repeats.]]

* The TropeNamer is ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', where "natural weapon" is a special ability for monsters (with some ways to gain access to them for non-monster player characters). Some special abilities that don't fall into the natural weapon category could also qualify (in 3e/3.5 natural weapons are specifically weapons ''in the game-mechanical sense'' that are part of the body, so more mundane breath weapons, poison secretions, etc. aren't natural weapons so far as mechanics are concerned).
* Subverted by the Vorox in ''TabletopGame/FadingSuns''. They are ten-feet-tall six-limbed alien bear-lion-wolves, but many of them shave their claws as a mark of being "civilized".

** Some SpaceMarines are capable of spitting acid and eating concrete. The [[Literature/SpaceWolf Space Wolves]] go even further, with some mutations making them more wolf-like (grey hair, yellow eyes and long fangs).
* Many monsters in TabletopGame/YuGiOh have these, some more extravagant than others.

* In ''VideoGame/CastleCat'' the titular cat can shoot cannonballs out of his head.

** The Khajiit CatFolk have natural razor-sharp and retractable claws. They have numerous [[FantasticFightingstyle fantastical martial arts styles]] which revolve around their use of these as a primary form of defense. Gameplay-wise, they get a bonus to their unarmed skill because of their claws. {{Game Mod}}s extend this to [[LizardFolk Argonians]] as well -- and boosts the effectiveness for both races with each gain in level.

* Interestingly averted in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''. Wookiees have claws and they use them as tools, but are not allowed to use them as weapons, because only animals do that. Any wookie that fights with his claws is branded a mad-claw and banished.

* Pretty much any creature more powerful than a zombie in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' will have these; various formerly human [[ZombieApocalypse T-Virus]] mutants (from Crimson Heads to Tyrants) tend to grow claws as they mutate. [[BodyHorror G-Virus and Nemesis]] mutants gain CombatTentacles. [[PeoplePuppets Las Plaga]] have their own natural weapons when they leave their human hosts. Animals infected by any of these naturally keep their own examples as well.
* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'':
** The Zerg are a fearsome species whose swarm seeks to devour and assimilate other forms of life throughout the Koprulu Sector, particularly their arch-enemies the Protoss. The Zerg use no inorganic technology; in addition to the more animal-like creatures who serve as their foot soldiers, every building, spaceship, point defense weapon, etc. is some kind of Zerg creature evolved and designed to perform that role. In general, the natural weapons of Zerg creatures are at least as capable and deadly as the inorganic weapons of their opponents.

*** Roaches spit acid at their enemies.
*** Banelings are zerglings that mutate to incorporate bulging sacs of acid. They serve as suicide bombers by charging into the enemy and bursting apart, splashing them with acid.

*** Brood Lords are giant fliers which continously produce smaller creatures called broodlings, which they shoot down at ground enemies from a long distance. They're basically the Zerg equivalent of heavy bomber aircraft, if the bombs were like ravenous piranhas that nibble the enemy to death.

* Some of the [[BeastMan anthropomorphic animals]] in ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' have natural weapons. Most of the time, it takes the forms of teeth, claws and muscle but snakes in this universe possess ''working'' venom glands.
* Similarly, the characters from ''Webcomic/{{Dogfight}}'' count as this. Using claws, fangs, horns, and hooves for unique martial arts fights.
* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' species with abilities along these lines (as well as [[TheBigGuy sheer size]]) are in high demand for private security (legal or otherwise) in places like [[MegaCity Dom Atlantis]] (the capital city of Earth) where even non-lethal weapons outside the local law enforcement are ''heavily'' restricted since they can't be regulated.

* Skunks have a well-known natural chemical weapon, spraying a substance that smells so foul, other animals fear it. Bombardier beetles take this UpToEleven, spraying a boiling chemical to severely burn targets.

* Several herbivorous dinosaurs had various natural weapons to deal with carnivores, such as ''Triceratops[='=]'' horns, ''Stegosaurus[='=]'' tail spikes, ''Ankylosaurus[='=]'' tail club, ''Therizinosaurus[='=]'' long claws, and such.

* The Zerg in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' are made of this trope... [[LivingWeapon literally]].
** The psi-blades of Protoss Zealots are just that, focused psionic energy that that slice through anything.

* AbsurdlySharpClaws: A creature attacks using their own sharp claws.

* Garyuu of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'', who in addition to his speed and strength, is capable of firing mana bullets as part of his biological functions, has retractable blades up the wazoo, and combat tentacles that could slice through Barrier Jackets. These, together with his other [[{{Flight}} natural]] [[{{Invisibility}} abilities]] and human-level intelligence, make him the equivalent of a skilled mage and one of the strongest amongst of Lutecia's [[BigCreepyCrawlies insect]] [[SummonMagic summons]].

[[folder: TabletopGames]]

...[[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible but not always.]]

[[folder: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

** {{Wolverine}} and ComicBook/{{X 23}}'s...WolverineClaws are also made of bone, although they both have [[{{Unobtanium}} adamantium]] attached to them (Wolverine on his whole skeleton, X-23 just on her claws) to make them much more dangerous.

[[folder: {{Film}}]]

[[folder: {{Literature}}]]

* The tripodal Puppeteer race of Larry Niven's "Known Space" universe have hooves on their rear legs. Although pacifist by nature, one badly-frightened Puppeteer in "Ringworld" takes a level in Badass when he instinctively uses his rear hoof to kick a man's heart through his spine.

* Many flavors of [[Literature/MoreauSeries moreaus]] have them, mostly claws and teeth. Angel Lopez' legs may count; as an engineered rabbit the size of a small human, she has a kick that can shatter bones.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Mythology]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]

* Psycho Gecko of Literature/WorldDominationInRetrospect realises that he can use his Nanomachines to give himself these, and immediately installs a set of fangs, and zirconium fingernails that may as well be claws.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* Most of WesternAnimation/TheHerculoids have at least one of some kind.

[[folder:RealLife]]
* RealLife: The cone shell can fire a neural-toxic laced harpoon. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcBKH7s4SVQ Seriously.]]

* ''Film/ResidentEvil'': The Licker mutant had huge claws that could rip through solid metal and inflict grievous wounds. Its bite attack was also fairly impressive.

* ShellOfImpalement

* The xenomorphs of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series. Extensible teeth, tremendously powerful arms, acid for blood, prehensile tail. Par for the course, since they were created as {{Living Weapon}}s in the expanded universe.

* The tripodal Puppeteer race of Larry Niven's "Known Space" universe have hooves on their rear legs. Although pacifist by nature, one badly-frightened Puppeteer in "Ringworld" takes a level in Badass when he instinctively uses his rear hoof to kick a man's heart through his spine.
* When she's in her CatGirl form, Danielle from ''Literature/MindGames'' has claws on both her fingers and toes that count as System weapons, which means [[spoiler:they're more dangerous than bullets to most System-empowered beings.]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', natural weapons are any melee weapons that are a natural part of a creature's body. Claws, fangs, pincers, stingers, and tentacles all count, but things like [[BreathWeapon breath weapons]] and natural magical abilities don't. Note that unarmed strikes don't count either, as it refers exclusively to appendages meant to do damage and not a bunch of fingers curled into a crude ball and used as an improvised bludgeoning weapon. Despite this, you'd be hard pressed to find a defensive ability that inflicts a penalty on attackers using natural weapons but not on those using unarmed strikes, or vice versa.
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
** The Tyranids. Besides various types of claw weapons, several units have organic projectile weapons integrated into their bodies.
** Some SpaceMarines are capable of spitting acid and eating concrete. The [[Literature/SpaceWolf Space Wolves]] go even further, with some mutations making them more wolf-like (grey hair, yellow eyes and long fangs).

* Everyone in ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'' has at least one, how effective it is depends on their brawling skill and their [[SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism species stat]].
* Subverted by the Vorox in ''TabletopGame/FadingSuns''. They are ten-feet-tall six-limbed alien bear-lion-wolves, but many of them shave their claws as a mark of being "civilized".

* ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'': All [[HalfHumanHybrid Vectors]] have a bite attack and a tail attack, bites are fairly weak but harder to parry than fists and deal lethal damage, while tail attacks only distract the enemy from parrying except reptiles whose tails are heavy enough to deal some nonlethal damage. [[TalkingAnimal Lateral]] Vectors also have claws. And the Reclaimed Venom surgery adds venom to bite attacks.

* [[CatGirl Taokaka]] and the rest of the [[AttackAnimal Kaka]] clan from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' have organic {{magitek}} claws that can absorb and use [[TheCorruption Seither]], something for which most of the other characters need weapons.

* The Laguz in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' as well as ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Mamkutes]] elsewhere in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series. The former use claws, beaks, etc. while the latter use {{Breath Weapon}}s.
* Several species of ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' base moves around their anatomy. Bulbasaur is famous for moves like Vine Whip and Bullet Seed, which use the bulb on its back; Octillery's signature move is Octazooka, which uses its mouth as an artillery piece, and so on. A full list would take up the entire page.
* Interestingly averted in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''. Wookiees have claws and they use them as tools, but are not allowed to use them as weapons, because only animals do that. Any wookie that fights with his claws is branded a mad-claw and banished.
* Baraka, from ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', is a member of the Tarkatan race, which have retractable blades in their arms. These blades serve many violent purposes, such as chopping off heads and impaling Torsos.
* Pretty much any creature more powerful than a zombie in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' will have these; various formerly human [[ZombieApocalypse T-Virus]] mutants (from Crimson Heads to Tyrants) tend to grow claws as they mutate. [[BodyHorror G-Virus and Nemesis]] mutants gain CombatTentacles. [[PeoplePuppets Las Plaga]] have their own natural weapons when they leave their human hosts. Animals infected by any of these naturally keep their own examples as well.
* All of the weapons you can get in ''VideoGame/{{Evolva}}''. The genohunters' limbs (sometimes the neck or the back) transform each time you select a weapon, as you shoot at the enemies using the transformed limb.
* In ''VideoGame/CastleCat'' the titular cat can shoot cannonballs out of his head.

* In ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' species with abilities along these lines (as well as [[TheBigGuy sheer size]]) are in high demand for private security (legal or otherwise) in places like [[MegaCity Dom Atlantis]] (the capital city of Earth) where even non-lethal weapons outside the local law enforcement are ''heavily'' restricted since they can't be regulated.

* SonicShockwave

* In GreekMythology, Prometheus was given a bag full of gifts to distribute to the various new creatures populating the earth. Said gifts pretty much amounted to this, and that's why dogs have fangs, snakes have venom, lions have claws and fangs, and so on. But when it came to humans, Prometheus was out of gifts, and he decided to gave human fire that he stole from the gods. Thus humans lack Natural Weapon, but are granted a mind capable of reasoning. And for this act, [[AndIMustScream Prometheus was chained to a rock where an eagle would tear out his liver, he would suffer in pain all day, regenerate by the next day, and the process repeats.]]

* Baraka, from ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'', is a member of the Tarkatan race, which have retractable blades in their arms. These blades serve many violent purposes, such as chopping off heads and impaling Torsos.

* When she's in her CatGirl form, Danielle from the Literature/RealRPG novel ''Literature/MindGames'' has claws on both her fingers and toes that count as System weapons, which means [[spoiler:they're more dangerous than bullets to most System-empowered beings.]]

[[caption-width-right:230:To top it all off, its Japanese name is just "Spear"]]

* The Laguz in VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Mamkutes]] elsewhere in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series. The former use claws, beaks, etc. while the latter use {{Breath Weapon}}s.

[[folder: WebOriginal]]

[[folder: RealLife]]

** ''Mossflower'': [[TheBigBad Tsarmina]], unarmed and confronted by a fully armed and armoured Martin the Warrior, attacks him with only her teeth and claws. Since she's a wildcat and he's a mouse, she damn near kills him anyway.