Grappled

A grappled creature has been grabbed by another creature or hazard. Usually this requires that the grappler uses an empty hand or appendage to grab the grappled creature.

To grapple a creature, you must have a free hand or otherwise be able to hold the target. So long as you hold the grapple, your hand cannot be used for anything else. You can grapple any time you would make a melee attack on your turn. Instead of rolling your melee attack, you roll an athletics skill check. Your target can roll either an athletics or acrobatics skill check. If you roll equal or higher than your target, your target is grappled. Some creatures have other abilities that allow them to grapple without this contested skill check. A creature can willingly be grappled without rolling. Two creatures can also grapple each other.

This condition ends if the grappler becomes incapacitated, or if any effect forces either the grappler or grappled creature to move (such as a shove attack). 

The Grappler​

• Can end the grapple at any time, including during another creature's turn.

• Can hang on to the grappled creature instead of falling. If the grappled creature is smaller, they both fall instead.

• Has their speed halved.

The Grappled Creature

• If grappled by a creature (rather than a spell or other ability), they can replace one of their weapon attacks on their turn with an escape attempt. They roll either acrobatic or athletics, and their grappler rolls athletics. If the grappled creature rolls equal to or higher than the grappler, they break free. If the grappled creature escaped with athletics, they can choose to make this a shove attack and push the grappler either 5 ft. or knock them prone. Size advantage or disadvantage (listed below) applies.

If both are the same size

• The grappled creature's speed is 0. The grappler cannot move away from the grappled creature without ending the grapple.

If the Grappler is two or more size categories larger

• The grappler has advantage on the grapple check, and moves at full speed instead of half.

• The grappled creature's speed is 0, and they are restrained (which prevents them from grappling the larger grappler).

If the Grappler is one size category larger

• The grappler has advantage on the grapple check.

• The grappled creature's speed is 0.

• The larger creature can drag the smaller creature. Whenever the larger creature moves, the smaller creature moves in the same direction.

If the Grappler is one size category smaller

• The grappler has disadvantage on the grapple check.

• The grappled creature has their speed halved. When the grappled, larger creature moves, the grappler moves too.

• The grappler counts as occupying the nearest unoccupied part of the grappled creature's space. If the grappler ends the grapple willingly, they choose a space within 5 ft. (or the nearest unoccupied space) to move to.

If the Grappler is at least two size categories smaller

• The grappler has disadvantage on the grapple check.

• When the grappled, larger creature moves, the grappler moves too.

• The grappler counts as occupying the nearest unoccupied part of the grappled creature's space. If the grappler ends the grapple willingly, they choose a space within 5 ft. (or the nearest unoccupied space) to move to.

• If the grappler doesn't have a climb speed, their speed is 0.

• If the grappler has a climb speed, they can climb the grappled creature. The climber can expend movement to move to any other space the grappled creature occupies. The climber has advantage on attacks against the grappled creature, and the grappled creature has disadvantage to attack the climber.

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