Mastering the Grapple: Can You Grab on an Attack of Opportunity in Pathfinder?
The short answer is: generally, no. You cannot initiate a grapple as an Attack of Opportunity (AoO) in Pathfinder using the standard grapple rules. The core rulebook clearly states that initiating a grapple requires a standard action. An AoO, by definition, only allows you to make a single melee attack.
However, things get interesting when we delve into monster abilities and specific feats. Some creatures possess the “Grab” special attack, which can appear to allow a grapple on a successful hit during an AoO. But even in this case, it is the Grab special attack that is enabling the grapple. Furthermore, some feats might allow a combat maneuver (like disarm) as an AoO.
Let’s unpack this further, exploring the intricacies of Pathfinder’s combat system and highlighting when and how grappling tactics can (and can’t) be employed as an AoO.
Understanding Attacks of Opportunity
Before diving into the grapple specifics, it’s crucial to understand what triggers an AoO and what actions can be taken during one. An AoO is a free attack you get when an enemy threatens you and then performs an action that provokes it. Common examples include:
- Moving out of a threatened square
- Casting a spell
- Firing a ranged weapon while threatened
During an AoO, you can make a single melee attack against the provoking creature. This attack follows all the normal rules for attack rolls, damage, and critical hits.
The Grapple Action: A Standard Action
The fundamental grapple action in Pathfinder is defined as a standard action. This means it consumes your entire action for that turn. The grapple process involves a combat maneuver check, opposed by the target’s Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD). If successful, you and your opponent are considered grappled, and you can then take further actions to maintain, move, or damage the grapple.
Because it is a standard action, this precludes a standard grapple from being executed during an AoO, as AoOs inherently limit actions to a single melee attack.
The “Grab” Special Attack: A Grappling Exception
This is where things get interesting. Some monsters and creatures have the “Grab” special attack. This ability modifies the attack to allow a grapple.
How “Grab” Works: If a creature with the Grab ability hits with a specified attack (usually a claw or bite), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Critically, this isn’t using the standard grapple rules. It’s using the Grab special attack’s rules.
Therefore, if a creature with the Grab ability triggers an AoO with its specified attack (e.g., a claw attack), it can indeed deal damage and attempt a grapple as part of that AoO. This is not a standard grapple replacing an AoO; instead, it is a specifically defined ability enabling it.
Combat Maneuvers as Attacks of Opportunity: Disarm & Others
While you can’t initiate a standard grapple as an AoO, it is still possible to perform combat maneuvers as an AoO if they qualify. Not all maneuvers are eligible; the requirement is that the maneuver must be something that can be done “in place of a melee attack”.
According to the information provided:
- You CAN use Disarm, Sunder, or Trip as an Attack of Opportunity
- You CANNOT use Grapple, Drag, Dirty Trick, Reposition, Overrun, Bull Rush, or Steal as an Attack of Opportunity.
Sentinel Feat and OA Grapple
The information you provided mentions Sentinel and its advantages for OA Grapple. However, that’s not relevant in Pathfinder, as it is a feature from another system. You cannot make a Grapple combat maneuver as an Attack of Opportunity unless you are using the Grab special attack or some similar ability.
FAQs: Grappling on an Attack of Opportunity in Pathfinder
1. Can I use the Improved Grapple feat to grapple on an AoO?
No. The Improved Grapple feat allows you to initiate a grapple as a standard action without provoking an AoO itself. It does not change the action required to initiate a grapple, therefore it does not allow it as part of the single melee attack of the AoO.
2. If I have a free hand, can I automatically grapple on an AoO?
No. Having a free hand is a requirement for standard grappling, but it doesn’t change the action cost. You still need a standard action to initiate a grapple.
3. Can I ready an action to grapple someone who moves out of my threatened area?
No, the Ready Action would allow you to take your standard action before someone performs a specific action. Since grappling is a standard action, you still couldn’t do so as part of an AoO.
4. Does being Prone or Disarmed affect my ability to grapple on an AoO?
Being Prone or Disarmed doesn’t inherently grant you the ability to grapple on an AoO. However, these conditions might influence the outcome of a successful grapple attempt (initiated through the “Grab” ability, for example).
5. Can I use a whip to grapple as an AoO?
A whip allows you to make melee attacks at reach. Unless you have some specific feat or ability that allows you to grapple with a whip as a melee attack, you still can’t grapple as an AoO with a whip.
6. What if a creature provokes an AoO by casting a spell? Can I grapple them then?
No, the fact that a creature provoked the AoO by casting a spell doesn’t allow you to grapple as part of the single melee attack. You still need the Grab ability, or a special rule to do this.
7. If I have the Combat Reflexes feat, does that let me grapple on multiple AoOs?
Combat Reflexes allows you to make more than one attack of opportunity per round. It doesn’t change what action you can take (a single melee attack) during each AoO. If you had the Grab special attack, you could attempt to grapple on each AoO you take (if the attack hits).
8. Can I use a natural attack to grapple as an AoO?
If the natural attack grants the Grab special attack ability, then yes, you can initiate the grapple as a free action following a successful hit on an AoO. Otherwise, no.
9. Does having a high Dexterity score affect my ability to grapple on an AoO?
A high Dexterity score improves your Armor Class (AC), Reflex saves, and ranged attack rolls. It doesn’t directly influence your ability to grapple as an AoO unless you have a special ability that keys off of it.
10. If I have the “Pinning” feat, can I pin someone on an AoO?
The Pinning feat most likely requires a successful grapple check as a standard action to use its effect, which will prohibit its use on an AoO.
11. Can a Rogue sneak attack on an AoO while grappling?
As stated in the extracted article, you can Sneak Attack on an AoO if the requirements for Sneak Attack are met during the AoO. However, it is worth clarifying that this applies to a melee attack, not a grapple attempt. The sneak attack damage would be applied to the damage of your melee attack.
12. Does invisibility prevent me from making AoOs, including grapple attempts (if I have “Grab”)?
You can make an opportunity attack only against creatures that you can see. The same logic applies to Grab. So, invisibility would prevent you from making AoOs, including grapple attempts.
13. Can I draw a weapon as part of my Attack of Opportunity if I intend to grapple?
No. The extracted article clearly states that a weapon cannot be drawn as part of an opportunity attack.
14. Can I use Multiattack action during my Attack of Opportunity if I intend to grapple?
No. Per your extracted article, “A creature can’t use Multiattack when making an opportunity attack, which must be a single melee attack.“
15. Can I ready an action to grapple someone who attacks my ally?
No, the Ready Action would allow you to take your standard action before someone performs a specific action. Since grappling is a standard action, you still couldn’t do so as part of an AoO.
Conclusion
In summary, while the standard grapple action in Pathfinder requires a standard action and cannot be performed as an AoO, the “Grab” special attack provides a notable exception. Mastering this distinction and understanding the limitations of AoOs is crucial for effective combat tactics. Remember to always check creature abilities and feat descriptions carefully to determine your options in the heat of battle.
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