Mastering the Greater Grapple in Pathfinder

Greater Grapple is a powerful combat maneuver in Pathfinder, allowing you to completely control your opponent. This guide delves into the intricacies of the Greater Grapple, exploring its benefits, requirements, and how to effectively utilize it in your Pathfinder campaigns.

Understanding the Greater Grapple Pathfinder Maneuver

The Greater Grapple in Pathfinder goes beyond a simple grapple. It’s about establishing complete control over your opponent, rendering them virtually helpless. While a regular grapple restricts movement and allows for a pin, the Greater Grapple offers much more: the ability to constrict, rendering your foe unable to breathe, and the option to maintain a grapple even while moving. This powerful tactic can turn the tide of battle, especially against larger, more physically imposing foes.

Prerequisites and Execution of a Greater Grapple

Before attempting a Greater Grapple, certain prerequisites must be met. You need the Improved Grapple feat, which builds upon the basic Grapple maneuver. This feat allows you to maintain a grapple even when taking damage. Additionally, you need a way to start a grapple. This could be through a successful touch attack or by using a specific combat maneuver, such as a trip attempt followed by a swift action to grapple.

Once you initiate the grapple, you can attempt the Greater Grapple as a standard action. This involves a combat maneuver check opposed by your opponent’s CMD (Combat Maneuver Defense). Success means you have your opponent in your grasp, ready for the next stage.

Benefits of the Greater Grapple Pathfinder

The advantages of a successful Greater Grapple are significant. You can choose to pin your opponent, keeping them prone and vulnerable. More importantly, you gain the ability to constrict. Constricting deals damage equal to your unarmed strike damage, and, more critically, prevents your opponent from breathing. Against creatures that require air, this can quickly lead to unconsciousness and even death.

Utilizing the Greater Grapple Effectively

shield brace pathfinder

The Greater Grapple is particularly effective against larger creatures that rely on brute strength rather than agility. By grappling a larger foe, you negate their size advantage and force them to fight on your terms. Furthermore, the ability to move while maintaining a Greater Grapple allows for strategic repositioning. You can drag your grappled opponent into hazardous terrain, or position them for a flanking attack from your allies.

Conclusion

The Greater Grapple Pathfinder maneuver is a potent tool in the arsenal of any martial character. By understanding its mechanics and benefits, you can turn challenging encounters into decisive victories. Mastering the Greater Grapple can drastically alter the flow of combat, giving you unparalleled control over your opponents.

FAQ

1. What are the prerequisites for Greater Grapple? Improved Grapple feat and a method to initiate a grapple.
2. How much damage does constricting deal? Damage equal to your unarmed strike damage.
3. Can you move while maintaining a Greater Grapple? Yes.
4. Is Greater Grapple effective against all enemies? It’s particularly effective against larger, strength-based opponents.
5. What is the benefit of pinning an opponent? It keeps them prone and vulnerable.
6. What happens if a creature is constricted and cannot breathe? They can become unconscious and potentially die.
7. How do you initiate a grapple? Through a successful touch attack or specific combat maneuvers.

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