Sometimes the best way to slay a dragon is to give it a hug it’ll never forget.
Grappling is one of those mechanics in Dungeons & Dragons that seems to over-complicate itself. There are so many house rules (or "homebrew rules") surrounding it that sometimes players become scared off of using it in the same way one may be scared away from using the dodge, dash, and hide actions. To many new players, it's just one more thing you can do but probably shouldn't, unless you're a rogue.
But really, it's not the same thing at all! The truth is, grappling can come in clutch for a player, especially in campaigns where you encounter particularly speedy foes. The problem lies in figuring out how it actually works!
What Is Grappling?
To make it short, sweet, and succinct, a grapple is when you grab something.
A shirt, a dress, an arm, a head, a leg, a wrestle, an awkward, sweaty hand-hold. These are all technically grapples. As long as you can grab onto them with a free hand, then it works as a functional grapple.
Not A Grapple
Here is what a grapple is not: a restraint, a paralyzing agent, or an automatic disarm. As far as the rules as written are (or, the RAW), grappling is your basic grasp.
Obviously, terms and conditions will apply. Some DMs love to make grappling more effective and some like to weaken it. Check with your DM to see how they're running their grappling rules.
How Does Grappling Work?
There are a couple of requirements to working your first grapple.
Firstly, grappling is considered a "special melee attack." This means you use your Attack action to grapple, so if you have more than one Attack action, you'll be able to make multiple grapple attempts.
This is exclusive to Attack actions. Though it uses an Attack action , a grapple cannot use an Attack roll . It is an ability check!
Secondly, your character has to have one hand free. You can hold whatever you want in the other hand, as long as you have a free hand to reach out with.
You can also grapple two people if you have two hands free!
Once you've grabbed the enemy, though, you can't do anything with the hand, as your opponent will occupy it. This leaves your other hand to wail on your opponent however you like. This also leaves your enemy free to attack you back, casting or melee.
If you're a two-handed fighter, this typically will render your two-handed attacks moot, but you can still grab them, since you'll technically have a free hand. Two-Weapon fighting will also require you to drop one of your weapons, so be careful!
Thirdly, grappling requires you to be within unarmed attacking distance of your enemy. You make a Strength check, and your enemy will choose to make either a contested Strength or Acrobatics roll.
Additionally, the creature can't be more than one size larger than you. This means halflings can't grapple cloud giants!
Lastly, you can move while grappling a creature, but you'll move at half speed as you drag your poor enemy along with you. Your enemy's speed reduces to zero, meaning that your friends can now get some hits in.
Taking the Grappler feat will give you advantage on any hits against a creature you've grappled.
The Grapple-Shove Combo
Grappling and shoving someone can be the Fighter's delight.
Shove works in a similar way to grapple in that it replaces one of your attacks. All you have to do is make a contested Strength check.
This is optional. You can choose whether your target goes five feet back or goes prone.
Once you've forced the prone condition onto the target, they'll have to use movement to get back up on their feet on their next turn. Until then, you've given your party advantage on all melee attacks made against them. In bigger parties, this can be absolutely lethal for your enemy.
This is where the grapple comes in if your character happens to have more than one attack. Once your enemy goes prone, your character can grapple them with your second attack.
Grappling reduces their speed to zero. They use their speed to stand up. Without that speed, they're essentially caught in a grapple.
So, your enemy can't stand, you have advantage on all attacks against them, and your enemy has disadvantage to hit you. For rogue or monk-like opponents, this can be really, really bad for them.
How To Escape A Grapple
Oh no! The grappler has become the grappled! Never fear. First, succeed on your Acrobatics or Athletics roll. If your roll is higher, you win. You are no longer grappled, and you can still run around to your heart's content.
Barring that, there are still a couple of options available for you.
For the savvy wizard, spells like Misty Step or Dimension Doorcan instantly break a grapple. Thunderwave or Gust of Wind can also work, forcing your enemy back.
Remember, you can still cast , so cleric spells like Inflict Wounds will also hit, because you're still in melee range.
As for the magically untalented, you can still, you know, beat your grappler to death. Every turn, you can use your action to attempt to break free. Both creatures will make the check again.
