What Happens When a Creature is Grappled?
Grappling in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is a core combat mechanic that allows characters to seize and restrict an opponent. But what exactly happens when you successfully grapple a creature, and how does it affect both the grappler and the grappled? Understanding the nuances of this action is crucial for tactical combat, especially for characters who rely on close-quarters engagement.
The primary effect of a successful grapple is to impose the grappled condition on the target. This condition has several key implications:
- Speed Becomes Zero: The most immediate effect is that the grappled creature’s speed becomes 0. This means they cannot move by walking, running, swimming, burrowing, climbing, or flying. If the creature was airborne (without hovering), they will begin to fall. They also cannot stand up from being prone. This restriction is paramount in controlling the enemy’s movement and limiting their escape options.
- Movement-Based Actions are Hindered: The inability to move means the grappled creature cannot make any movement-based attacks, such as a charge or a run-by attack.
- Attacks and Actions are Still Possible: Crucially, being grappled doesn’t prevent a creature from taking other actions. They can still attack, use bonus actions, and take reactions, including making attacks against the grappler. The idea that being grappled means helplessness is a misconception, as the grappled creature retains the capability to fight back or perform other actions that don’t require movement.
- Breaks can happen: A grappled creature can use its action to attempt to break free of the grapple.
Grappling is not a passive action; it’s a strategic move that requires you to use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, replacing one of your attacks if you have multiple attacks per action. Success or failure is determined by an opposed ability check: the grappler makes a Strength (Athletics) check, and the target makes either a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (their choice). If the grappler’s check exceeds the target’s, the grapple is successful, and the target is grappled.
While the condition itself does not apply a disadvantage to all attacks from the creature, failing to break a grapple might prove to be more detrimental. If the grapple check succeeds by 5 points or more, then the grappled creature becomes restrained, applying a disadvantage to all of their attack rolls. The grappler also does not gain advantage to attacking the grappled creature just from the grapple.
It’s important to note that both the grappler and the grappled creature are considered to be in the same space, they don’t change positions because of the grapple. They remain where they were before the attempt was made. Also, it should be noted that both the grappler and the grappled creature have the grappled condition.
In short, grappling is not a guaranteed victory but a tactical choice that allows you to hinder your opponent while potentially facing a counterattack if not performed correctly. It’s a mechanic that can change the course of battle if used wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grappling
How does grappling work mechanically?
Grappling utilizes the Attack action to initiate a special melee attack. Instead of making a weapon attack roll, you make a Strength (Athletics) check. Your target contests this check with either their Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (their choice). If your check exceeds theirs, you successfully grapple them. This replaces one attack if you have multiple attacks on your action.
Can a grappled creature still attack?
Yes, a grappled creature can still attack. The grappled condition only reduces their movement to zero. They can use their action to attack the creature that grappled them or any other valid target within range. In fact, a grappled creature can take any action that does not require movement, including using reactions.
What’s the difference between grappled and restrained?
The primary difference is that a grappled creature’s speed is reduced to zero, while a restrained creature has the additional handicap of attacking with disadvantage. Also, the creature has disadvantage on their ability checks to break free from the grapple. A creature becomes restrained when a successful grapple check has a modifier of 5 more than the target’s check.
Can you teleport while grappled?
Yes, teleportation spells can be a valid escape. Since the grappled condition only affects movement, spells like Misty Step, which do not require movement, function normally. However, teleporting an enemy away is more complex, as most teleport spells either require a willing target or rely on the caster’s touch.
Can a grappled creature use attacks of opportunity?
No, a grappled creature cannot take opportunity attacks. This is a key aspect of the grappled condition, effectively disallowing the creature from making opportunity attacks.
Can a grappled creature fly?
No. When you are grappled, all your movement types become zero. You can’t walk, swim, burrow, crawl, stand up from prone, climb, or fly. If flying without hover when grappled, the creature will fall.
Can a grappled creature stand up?
No. If you are grappled and prone, you can’t stand up. However, you can still attack. Conditions stack, so being both prone and grappled hinders your movement even more.
Do grappled creatures threaten an area?
Yes, a grappled creature still threatens the space that they occupy, assuming they have a one-handed weapon or some ability to attack in melee. This means they can still make attacks and enable flanking with their allies, unless there are other limiting conditions.
Can grappled creatures cast spells?
Yes, typically. The grappled condition, by itself, does not prevent spellcasting. However, if a creature is also restrained, the disadvantage applies to attack rolls. A creature will always be able to cast spells unless stated otherwise in the given scenario.
What is the disadvantage of grappling in D&D?
While grappling itself doesn’t have a direct disadvantage to the user unless they also happen to be a target, a successful grapple might lead to the target attacking you. Be wary of creatures with abilities that enable them to damage those who are grappling them. Also, a failure to grapple might lead to an attack of opportunity from the target.
Can you use a potion while grappled?
Yes, you can use a potion while grappled. The grappled condition only affects your movement, and using a potion is an action that does not require movement and can be performed with one hand.
Can a grappled creature flank?
Yes, a grappled creature can contribute to flanking as they still threaten the space they occupy. This is provided they have a way to make a melee attack. They could be wielding a weapon, holding a touch spell, or have improved unarmed fighting.
Does attacking a grappled creature give advantage?
No, merely grappling a creature does not grant advantage. However, if you pin a creature after successfully grappling it by making another successful grapple check and now both creatures are restrained, then the grappler has advantage to attacking the grappled creature.
Can a creature be grappled twice?
Yes, multiple creatures can grapple the same target. However, a single creature cannot grapple the same target more than once at a time. Each grappler’s grapple needs to be broken individually.
Does forced movement break a grapple?
Yes, forced movement can break a grapple. Grappling sets the speed of a creature to zero, but explicitly allows forced movement to break the grapple, provided the forced movement takes the grappled creature out of reach of the grappler.