Take Enemies Out of the Combat Equation in One DnD with a Grappler
If you're playing Dungeons and Dragons (One DnD edition) and looking to add some variety to your combat style, then grappling might be a great option for you. Grappling in One DnD is an excellent way to control the battlefield by immobilizing opponents, knocking them prone, and leaving them open to attacks from your allies.
In this article, we'll go over how grappling works in One DnD and how to make a grappler.
Grappling in One DnD
In One DnD, grappling has some significant changes from DnD 5e Grappling. The new rules for Unarmed Strikes give you the option to deal damage by making an attack as normal. However, you have two other options, Grapple and Shove, which work a bit differently.
In 1DnD, the target of your Grapple or Shove attack make a Strength or Dexterity save (DC for the saving throw and any escape attempts equals 8 + your Strength modifier + your Proficiency Bonus.)
If they fail, they can be pushed back five feet or knocked prone by a shove, or grappled.
A big change here is that armor can no longer protect you from being grappled, which is an improvement. If anything, armor would hinder your ability to wrestle, unless maybe it was covered in spikes.
One DnD Grapple Condition
According to the UNEARTHED ARCANA 2023 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK : DRUID & PALADIN Release, while Grappled, you experience the following effects:
Speed: Your Speed is 0 and can’t change.
Attacks Affected. You have Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than the grappler. (If prone you have disadvantage on attacks against the grappler too)
Movable. The grappler can drag or carry you when it Moves, but every foot of movement costs it 1 extra foot. If you are tiny or two sizes smaller than the grappler their speed isn't reduced.
How to Escape. Use your action to make a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check against the grapple’s escape DC.
The condition also ends if the grappler is Incapacitated or is moved out of melee attack range.
Why Grapple in One DnD?
The holy grail for a grappler is to knock the enemy prone. When someone is prone, they need to use half their move speed to stand up. If they are grappled, their speed is 0, so they can't stand up.
You can knock someone prone and grapple them without being prone yourself. Since the grappled creature is prone, they attack with disadvantage, and any melee attacks targeting them are made with advantage.
So you can knock someone down and your entire party can hammer them with blows at advantage. If you need to re-grapple, you do that with advantage too.
in One DnD, Grappling is a great option for a character playing a tank role. You can take a major enemy out of combat until other characters deal with their henchmen, or nurf the enemy parties' spell caster, by retraining their hands while dealing damage to them with attack roles at advantage.
Choosing the Grappler Feat
In One DnD, the Grappler feat provides several benefits. The feat is available at level four. In addition to an ability score increase, it gives the grappler the following benefits:
Advantage on attack roles against grappled foes
The ability to move a grappled creature at your full movement
The ability to punch an enemy as an attack and grapple them with the same action
The ability works especially well for characters with high strength and movement. Monks and Barbarians both gain increased movement at higher levels. Combine this with a buff like the Longstrider spell and you have a character who can grapple an enemy and drag them out of range of combat. A rouge who uses cunning action to dash with a grappled foe could do the same.
Prone + Grappled should be the Goal of any Grappler Player Build
You can either knock an enemy prone then grapple it or grapple it and knock it prone. Either way, once it is prone and grappled, the grappler build fully shines.
The ideal grappler builds are both tanky, have free hands, unarmed damage, and, ideally can grow in size and high movement to easily carry or drag grappled opponents long distances.
Which Classes and Subclasses Make the Best Grapplers?
These sub-classes are from DnD 5e. They will be updated as more One DnD rules are released.
Certain character classes and subclasses are better suited to the grappling play style due to their abilities and proficiencies.
Here are some of the best character classes and subclasses for a grappler build:
Barbarian (Path of the Beast): The Barbarian class is great for a grappler build because it has a high Strength score, proficiency in Athletics, and access to Rage which grants advantage on Strength checks, and increased movement at level 5. The Path of the Beast subclass also provides natural weapons that can be used for unarmed strikes, and at higher levels, the option to grow claws that deal extra damage when grappling.
Monk (Way of the Open Hand): The Monk class has access to Unarmed Strikes and proficiency in Athletics. The Way of the Open Hand subclass allows for additional control over opponents, including knocking them prone to set up a grapple.
Druid (Circle of the Moon): The Druid class may not be an obvious choice for a grappler, but the Circle of the Moon subclass can wild shape into beasts that have a higher Strength score and proficiency in Athletics. This can make for a formidable grappler build, especially at lower levels.
Home-Brew Grappler Rules
Here's a home-brewed grappler subclass we use in our games to help grappling play a larger role in combat.
Home Brew Grappler Subclass: The Wrestler
The Wrestler is a fighter who has dedicated themselves to mastering the art of grappling and close-quarters combat. They use their immense strength and skill to take down opponents in hand-to-hand combat, and are particularly adept at controlling and restraining their enemies.
Grappling Maneuvers
Starting at 3rd level, the Grappling Specialist gains access to a set of special grappling maneuvers that they can use during combat. These maneuvers are as follows:
Body Slam: The Grappling Specialist can use their action to grapple a target, and then use their movement to slam the target into the ground, dealing bludgeoning damage equal to the Grappling Specialist's Strength modifier.
Joint Lock: The Grappling Specialist can use their action to grapple a target and then use their bonus action to apply a joint lock, dealing damage equal to the Grappling Specialist's Strength modifier to the target and preventing them from using the grappled limb.
Chokehold: The Grappling Specialist can use their action to grapple a target and then use their bonus action to apply a chokehold, dealing damage equal to the Grappling Specialist's Strength modifier to the target and preventing them from speaking or using verbal components for spells.
Grappling Expertise
Starting at 7th level, the Grappling Specialist gains expertise in grappling. They have advantage on all grapple checks, and can use their reaction to attempt to escape from a grapple that they are caught in.
Grappling Mastery
At 10th level, the Grappling Specialist gains mastery over grappling. They can grapple creatures that are one size larger than them.
Unstoppable Grappler
Starting at 15th level, the Grappling Specialist becomes nearly unstoppable when grappling. They gain immunity to being grappled, and deal an extra 1D8 damage + their strength modifier with any grappling maneuver they use.
Grappling Legend
At 18th level, the Grappling Specialist becomes a legend in the art of grappling. They can grapple creatures of any size, and can use their action to attempt to grapple two creatures at once as long as both creatures are no more than one size larger than the grappler.
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