Can You Grapple with Extra Attack in D&D 5e? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, absolutely! You can grapple with an extra attack in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The Attack action allows you to substitute one or more of your attacks with a special melee attack like a grapple. So, if you have the Extra Attack feature (common among fighters, barbarians, and other martial classes), you can use one attack to swing your sword and another to attempt to grapple a foe. Understanding how this works unlocks a whole new level of tactical options in combat. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics and explore some common questions surrounding grappling in 5e.

Understanding the Grapple Mechanic

The grapple mechanic in 5e is relatively straightforward but requires careful understanding of the rules. When you want to grapple a creature, you use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. Instead of making an attack roll, you make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses which to use). If you succeed, you grapple the target.

A grappled creature’s speed becomes 0, meaning they cannot move. This is a powerful condition, especially against enemies relying on mobility. The condition also ends if the grappler is incapacitated. The target can use their action to repeat the contest to try and escape the grapple.

Extra Attack and Grappling: A Perfect Match

The Extra Attack feature lets you attack more than once when you take the Attack action on your turn. Since grappling replaces one of your attacks, you can use your extra attacks for further attacks, grapples, or even shoves. This grants martial characters unparalleled control over the battlefield.

For example, a 5th-level fighter with the Extra Attack feature can attack a creature with their sword and then use their second attack to attempt to grapple that same creature. This opens up opportunities to set up allies for advantage, control enemy movement, and generally disrupt the battlefield. A fighter can also use their Action Surge for even more grappling and shoving fun. It is important to know that grappling is a special melee attack.

Tactical Advantages of Grappling

Grappling offers numerous tactical advantages in combat:

• Control enemy movement: Preventing an enemy from moving can be crucial, especially for casters or ranged attackers trying to stay out of melee range.
• Set up allies for advantage: Prone and grappled targets are easy pickings.
• Disrupt spellcasters: A grappled spellcaster might find it harder to cast spells, especially those requiring somatic components and movement.
• Drag enemies into hazards: You can drag a grappled enemy into environmental hazards like fire, acid pools, or off a cliff (consult with your DM for rulings).
• Focus fire: Keeping a powerful enemy grappled allows your party to focus fire on them without them repositioning to attack weaker targets.

FAQs About Grappling in 5e

Here are some frequently asked questions about grappling in 5e to further clarify the rules and mechanics:

1. Can you try to grapple twice with Extra Attack?

Yes! If you have the Extra Attack feature, you can use multiple attacks to attempt multiple grapples. You could grapple the same target twice (though the second attempt is usually redundant if the first succeeds) or attempt to grapple two different targets.

2. Can you grapple two targets at once?

Yes, but it’s challenging. The rules only state that a grapple requires one free hand. However, grappling two creatures implies you’re now physically controlling two creatures. Consult with your DM about the specifics, as they may impose disadvantage on the second grapple attempt or require a higher DC.

3. Can you grapple with two weapons?

No. You can’t attack with two weapons while grappling if both weapons are in your hands, as you need a free hand to attempt the grapple. You can attack with one-handed weapon while grappling someone.

4. What is the grapple rule in 5e?

The grapple rule in 5e involves using the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. You make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If you succeed, the target is grappled and their speed becomes 0. The target can use its action to repeat this contest to try and escape the grapple.

5. Can you use weapons while grappling?

Yes, you can use a one-handed weapon to attack while grappling, assuming you have a free hand to maintain the grapple. You can’t, however, perform the grapple attack and an actual weapon attack using the same hand at the same time.

6. Can a creature be grappled by multiple creatures?

Yes, a creature can be grappled by multiple creatures simultaneously. Each grappler imposes the grappled condition independently, and the target must make a separate escape attempt against each grappler.

7. Does forced movement break grapple?

While grappling sets a creature’s speed to zero, some forms of forced movement can indeed break a grapple. Consult with your DM as the rules are unclear, and you’ll likely have to use a Strength (Athletics) check to keep holding on while dragging someone.

8. Can you full attack while grappled?

If you are grappled, you can still make a full attack if the attack doesn’t involve two hands or require movement.

9. Can you shove twice in D&D?

Yes, because shoving is considered an attack, and if you have the Extra Attack feature, you can replace multiple attacks with shove attempts.

10. Can you grapple and flurry of blows?

Grapple and shove are attacks but they are not unarmed strikes or attacks using a monk weapon (what Martial Arts needs) and they are not melee weapon attacks (what Flurry of Blows needs), so if you only grapple or shove on your turn, you can’t use the Monk’s bonus action.

11. Can swarms grapple?

No. Swarms are typically immune to being tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent due to their dispersed nature.

12. Can a dragon be grappled in D&D?

Grappling is restricted to “one size larger”, so a medium character would need to become large via a spell like enlarge to be able to grapple a huge adult dragon. You only need to pin one wing to disrupt flight.

13. What is the disadvantage of grapple in D&D?

The ‘advanced’ form of ‘grappled’ is ‘restrained’, which gives the ‘restrained’ character disadvantage on all attacks it makes.

14. Can you cast while grappled?

Yes, being grappled does not inherently prevent you from casting spells, unless the spell requires movement or somatic components you can’t perform while grappled.

15. Does stun break grapple?

Yes. If the grappler is stunned, they are also incapacitated, and the grapple ends automatically.

Conclusion

Grappling in 5e is a powerful and versatile combat option, especially when combined with features like Extra Attack. By understanding the rules and mechanics, you can effectively control the battlefield, disrupt enemies, and create opportunities for your allies. Remember to always consult with your Dungeon Master for rulings on specific situations and creative uses of the grapple mechanic.

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