Pugilist Combat Style

The Pugilist style allows you to add your ability modifier to both attacks. The intent is to change your unarmed strike from 1 + ability modifier to 1d4 + ability modifier, or 1d6 + ability modifier if you have Tavern Brawler. Since the bonus action attack is also an unarmed strike it works the same way.

The cestus is a very interesting question. I don’t want to make an official ruling on it just yet, but let me see if I can clarify the points being made.

If you are wearing a cestus, it changes your unarmed strike damage. In essence, it’s like the first half of the pugilist style. The cestus is versatile, so you can change the type of damage as well.

Logically, if you have the pugilist style and are wearing a cestus, your unarmed strike stays the same, 1d4+ability, with the option to change damage type. If you have the Tavern Brawler feat, your unarmed strike is 1d6 + ability modifier, with the option to change damage type.

Whether or not the cestus turns your unarmed strike into a weapon attack is a big can of worms. My first instinct is to say it doesn’t, that it is just an unarmed strike. That means we need to move it out of the weapons chart. But I will check on that and update the primer if necessary.