If you attempt to grapple an opponent that you are hidden from, do they roll at disadvantage?












6












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Quick and to the point, I'm aware that if you make an attack (which a grapple is) against an opponent you are hidden from you gain advantage, but since a grapple also is a contest roll, does the opponent also roll at disadvantage?










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  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
    $endgroup$
    – Smart_TJ
    11 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    11 hours ago


















6












$begingroup$


Quick and to the point, I'm aware that if you make an attack (which a grapple is) against an opponent you are hidden from you gain advantage, but since a grapple also is a contest roll, does the opponent also roll at disadvantage?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
    $endgroup$
    – Smart_TJ
    11 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    11 hours ago
















6












6








6


1



$begingroup$


Quick and to the point, I'm aware that if you make an attack (which a grapple is) against an opponent you are hidden from you gain advantage, but since a grapple also is a contest roll, does the opponent also roll at disadvantage?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




Quick and to the point, I'm aware that if you make an attack (which a grapple is) against an opponent you are hidden from you gain advantage, but since a grapple also is a contest roll, does the opponent also roll at disadvantage?







dnd-5e grapple stealth advantage-and-disadvantage






share|improve this question









New contributor




Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 11 hours ago









V2Blast

25.7k488158




25.7k488158






New contributor




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asked 12 hours ago









Gavin DavisGavin Davis

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New contributor





Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Gavin Davis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
    $endgroup$
    – Smart_TJ
    11 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    11 hours ago
















  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
    $endgroup$
    – Smart_TJ
    11 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    11 hours ago










2




2




$begingroup$
Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
$endgroup$
– Smart_TJ
11 hours ago




$begingroup$
Where are you getting the idea that it would get disadvantage?
$endgroup$
– Smart_TJ
11 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
11 hours ago






$begingroup$
Welcome to RPG.SE! Take the tour if you haven't already, and check out the help center for more guidance. How are you hiding from a creature that you are in grappling range of?
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
11 hours ago












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















13












$begingroup$

Unless a DM determines otherwise, you do not get advantage and the opponent does not get disadvantage



The rule for Unseen Attackers states:




When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on Attack rolls against it.




The rules for Grappling state:




Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an Attack roll




What this means is that, you are making a grapple attempt (which is an opposed check) instead of a melee weapon attack (which requires that you roll a melee weapon attack).



Note that both activities require you start by taking the Attack action (and the book calls the grapple attempt a "special melee attack" because of this requirement) but only the latter uses an attack roll that can benefit from the advantage granted by being unseen.



Because of this, you do not get advantage and nor does your opponent have disadvantage. This is because the rules for Unseen Attackers only relate to attack rolls and not ability checks.





That said, as Linksassin points out, a DM is always free to use the general rule for disadvantage/advantage to impart one or both of these to the grapple participants:




The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.







share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
    $endgroup$
    – Allan Mills
    7 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
    $endgroup$
    – Rykara
    5 hours ago





















4












$begingroup$

No.



If you are hidden from your target when you attack it using the Attack action, you indeed have advantage on an attack roll (see Unseen Attackers and Targets):




When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




And a grapple is indeed a special attack made using the Attack action (see Grappling):




When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple.




However, grappling doesn't actually involve an attack roll (same section as above):




...you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use).




Since it's not an attack roll, you don't have advantage on it due to being hidden.



Furthermore, there's nothing in the rules to suggest that being hidden applies advantage or disadvantage to any ability check. The fact that an attack roll made from hiding normally has advantage does not imply that an ability check made from hiding would be made with advantage, nor that it would confer disadvantage on the ability check made by an opponent in a contest.



In addition, there is no general rule that if you have advantage in some scenario then your opponent automatically has disadvantage in the reverse scenario. For example, there's no rule to suggest that if you have advantage on an ability check then your opponent has disadvantage. There are some specific rules that work in this way (for example, if you are invisible and your opponent is not then your attacks are at advantage and theirs are at disadvantage), but in such cases the dichotomy is explicitly stated in the rules.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    There's no rule that says you do



    Rykara and Bloodcinder's excellent answers do a good job of explaining that there is no explicit rule that grant advantage or imposes disadvantage when the grappler is unseen.




    When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




    You gain advantage on attack rolls, that's it. However...



    Your DM may rule you do



    From the general rules on advantage/disadvantage we have the following:




    The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.




    This is a final catch-all, DM-knows-best rule that is designed for situations like this where the rules don't quite cover it. Your DM may choose to rule that you have advantage on your check, or the target has disadvantage. I wouldn't suggest applying both as this would be too strong.



    At my table I rule that the target has disadvantage on their check as they were unprepared for it. This only applies to the initial grapple attempt however and attempts to break free are made as normal. This has never caused an issue (not that it has come up that often) and makes the players feel rewarded for intelligent play.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      13












      $begingroup$

      Unless a DM determines otherwise, you do not get advantage and the opponent does not get disadvantage



      The rule for Unseen Attackers states:




      When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on Attack rolls against it.




      The rules for Grappling state:




      Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an Attack roll




      What this means is that, you are making a grapple attempt (which is an opposed check) instead of a melee weapon attack (which requires that you roll a melee weapon attack).



      Note that both activities require you start by taking the Attack action (and the book calls the grapple attempt a "special melee attack" because of this requirement) but only the latter uses an attack roll that can benefit from the advantage granted by being unseen.



      Because of this, you do not get advantage and nor does your opponent have disadvantage. This is because the rules for Unseen Attackers only relate to attack rolls and not ability checks.





      That said, as Linksassin points out, a DM is always free to use the general rule for disadvantage/advantage to impart one or both of these to the grapple participants:




      The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.







      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
        $endgroup$
        – Allan Mills
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        5 hours ago


















      13












      $begingroup$

      Unless a DM determines otherwise, you do not get advantage and the opponent does not get disadvantage



      The rule for Unseen Attackers states:




      When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on Attack rolls against it.




      The rules for Grappling state:




      Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an Attack roll




      What this means is that, you are making a grapple attempt (which is an opposed check) instead of a melee weapon attack (which requires that you roll a melee weapon attack).



      Note that both activities require you start by taking the Attack action (and the book calls the grapple attempt a "special melee attack" because of this requirement) but only the latter uses an attack roll that can benefit from the advantage granted by being unseen.



      Because of this, you do not get advantage and nor does your opponent have disadvantage. This is because the rules for Unseen Attackers only relate to attack rolls and not ability checks.





      That said, as Linksassin points out, a DM is always free to use the general rule for disadvantage/advantage to impart one or both of these to the grapple participants:




      The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.







      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
        $endgroup$
        – Allan Mills
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        5 hours ago
















      13












      13








      13





      $begingroup$

      Unless a DM determines otherwise, you do not get advantage and the opponent does not get disadvantage



      The rule for Unseen Attackers states:




      When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on Attack rolls against it.




      The rules for Grappling state:




      Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an Attack roll




      What this means is that, you are making a grapple attempt (which is an opposed check) instead of a melee weapon attack (which requires that you roll a melee weapon attack).



      Note that both activities require you start by taking the Attack action (and the book calls the grapple attempt a "special melee attack" because of this requirement) but only the latter uses an attack roll that can benefit from the advantage granted by being unseen.



      Because of this, you do not get advantage and nor does your opponent have disadvantage. This is because the rules for Unseen Attackers only relate to attack rolls and not ability checks.





      That said, as Linksassin points out, a DM is always free to use the general rule for disadvantage/advantage to impart one or both of these to the grapple participants:




      The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.







      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Unless a DM determines otherwise, you do not get advantage and the opponent does not get disadvantage



      The rule for Unseen Attackers states:




      When a creature can’t see you, you have advantage on Attack rolls against it.




      The rules for Grappling state:




      Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an Attack roll




      What this means is that, you are making a grapple attempt (which is an opposed check) instead of a melee weapon attack (which requires that you roll a melee weapon attack).



      Note that both activities require you start by taking the Attack action (and the book calls the grapple attempt a "special melee attack" because of this requirement) but only the latter uses an attack roll that can benefit from the advantage granted by being unseen.



      Because of this, you do not get advantage and nor does your opponent have disadvantage. This is because the rules for Unseen Attackers only relate to attack rolls and not ability checks.





      That said, as Linksassin points out, a DM is always free to use the general rule for disadvantage/advantage to impart one or both of these to the grapple participants:




      The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.








      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 5 hours ago

























      answered 11 hours ago









      RykaraRykara

      4,7711041




      4,7711041












      • $begingroup$
        Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
        $endgroup$
        – Allan Mills
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        5 hours ago




















      • $begingroup$
        Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
        $endgroup$
        – Allan Mills
        7 hours ago










      • $begingroup$
        @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        5 hours ago


















      $begingroup$
      Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
      $endgroup$
      – Allan Mills
      7 hours ago




      $begingroup$
      Does it not matter that grappling is stated as being a special melee attack?
      $endgroup$
      – Allan Mills
      7 hours ago












      $begingroup$
      @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
      $endgroup$
      – Rykara
      5 hours ago






      $begingroup$
      @allan I've updated the answer to better clarify :)
      $endgroup$
      – Rykara
      5 hours ago















      4












      $begingroup$

      No.



      If you are hidden from your target when you attack it using the Attack action, you indeed have advantage on an attack roll (see Unseen Attackers and Targets):




      When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




      And a grapple is indeed a special attack made using the Attack action (see Grappling):




      When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple.




      However, grappling doesn't actually involve an attack roll (same section as above):




      ...you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use).




      Since it's not an attack roll, you don't have advantage on it due to being hidden.



      Furthermore, there's nothing in the rules to suggest that being hidden applies advantage or disadvantage to any ability check. The fact that an attack roll made from hiding normally has advantage does not imply that an ability check made from hiding would be made with advantage, nor that it would confer disadvantage on the ability check made by an opponent in a contest.



      In addition, there is no general rule that if you have advantage in some scenario then your opponent automatically has disadvantage in the reverse scenario. For example, there's no rule to suggest that if you have advantage on an ability check then your opponent has disadvantage. There are some specific rules that work in this way (for example, if you are invisible and your opponent is not then your attacks are at advantage and theirs are at disadvantage), but in such cases the dichotomy is explicitly stated in the rules.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        4












        $begingroup$

        No.



        If you are hidden from your target when you attack it using the Attack action, you indeed have advantage on an attack roll (see Unseen Attackers and Targets):




        When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




        And a grapple is indeed a special attack made using the Attack action (see Grappling):




        When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple.




        However, grappling doesn't actually involve an attack roll (same section as above):




        ...you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use).




        Since it's not an attack roll, you don't have advantage on it due to being hidden.



        Furthermore, there's nothing in the rules to suggest that being hidden applies advantage or disadvantage to any ability check. The fact that an attack roll made from hiding normally has advantage does not imply that an ability check made from hiding would be made with advantage, nor that it would confer disadvantage on the ability check made by an opponent in a contest.



        In addition, there is no general rule that if you have advantage in some scenario then your opponent automatically has disadvantage in the reverse scenario. For example, there's no rule to suggest that if you have advantage on an ability check then your opponent has disadvantage. There are some specific rules that work in this way (for example, if you are invisible and your opponent is not then your attacks are at advantage and theirs are at disadvantage), but in such cases the dichotomy is explicitly stated in the rules.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          4












          4








          4





          $begingroup$

          No.



          If you are hidden from your target when you attack it using the Attack action, you indeed have advantage on an attack roll (see Unseen Attackers and Targets):




          When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




          And a grapple is indeed a special attack made using the Attack action (see Grappling):




          When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple.




          However, grappling doesn't actually involve an attack roll (same section as above):




          ...you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use).




          Since it's not an attack roll, you don't have advantage on it due to being hidden.



          Furthermore, there's nothing in the rules to suggest that being hidden applies advantage or disadvantage to any ability check. The fact that an attack roll made from hiding normally has advantage does not imply that an ability check made from hiding would be made with advantage, nor that it would confer disadvantage on the ability check made by an opponent in a contest.



          In addition, there is no general rule that if you have advantage in some scenario then your opponent automatically has disadvantage in the reverse scenario. For example, there's no rule to suggest that if you have advantage on an ability check then your opponent has disadvantage. There are some specific rules that work in this way (for example, if you are invisible and your opponent is not then your attacks are at advantage and theirs are at disadvantage), but in such cases the dichotomy is explicitly stated in the rules.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          No.



          If you are hidden from your target when you attack it using the Attack action, you indeed have advantage on an attack roll (see Unseen Attackers and Targets):




          When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




          And a grapple is indeed a special attack made using the Attack action (see Grappling):




          When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple.




          However, grappling doesn't actually involve an attack roll (same section as above):




          ...you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use).




          Since it's not an attack roll, you don't have advantage on it due to being hidden.



          Furthermore, there's nothing in the rules to suggest that being hidden applies advantage or disadvantage to any ability check. The fact that an attack roll made from hiding normally has advantage does not imply that an ability check made from hiding would be made with advantage, nor that it would confer disadvantage on the ability check made by an opponent in a contest.



          In addition, there is no general rule that if you have advantage in some scenario then your opponent automatically has disadvantage in the reverse scenario. For example, there's no rule to suggest that if you have advantage on an ability check then your opponent has disadvantage. There are some specific rules that work in this way (for example, if you are invisible and your opponent is not then your attacks are at advantage and theirs are at disadvantage), but in such cases the dichotomy is explicitly stated in the rules.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 11 hours ago









          V2Blast

          25.7k488158




          25.7k488158










          answered 11 hours ago









          BloodcinderBloodcinder

          23k382140




          23k382140























              3












              $begingroup$

              There's no rule that says you do



              Rykara and Bloodcinder's excellent answers do a good job of explaining that there is no explicit rule that grant advantage or imposes disadvantage when the grappler is unseen.




              When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




              You gain advantage on attack rolls, that's it. However...



              Your DM may rule you do



              From the general rules on advantage/disadvantage we have the following:




              The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.




              This is a final catch-all, DM-knows-best rule that is designed for situations like this where the rules don't quite cover it. Your DM may choose to rule that you have advantage on your check, or the target has disadvantage. I wouldn't suggest applying both as this would be too strong.



              At my table I rule that the target has disadvantage on their check as they were unprepared for it. This only applies to the initial grapple attempt however and attempts to break free are made as normal. This has never caused an issue (not that it has come up that often) and makes the players feel rewarded for intelligent play.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                3












                $begingroup$

                There's no rule that says you do



                Rykara and Bloodcinder's excellent answers do a good job of explaining that there is no explicit rule that grant advantage or imposes disadvantage when the grappler is unseen.




                When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




                You gain advantage on attack rolls, that's it. However...



                Your DM may rule you do



                From the general rules on advantage/disadvantage we have the following:




                The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.




                This is a final catch-all, DM-knows-best rule that is designed for situations like this where the rules don't quite cover it. Your DM may choose to rule that you have advantage on your check, or the target has disadvantage. I wouldn't suggest applying both as this would be too strong.



                At my table I rule that the target has disadvantage on their check as they were unprepared for it. This only applies to the initial grapple attempt however and attempts to break free are made as normal. This has never caused an issue (not that it has come up that often) and makes the players feel rewarded for intelligent play.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  There's no rule that says you do



                  Rykara and Bloodcinder's excellent answers do a good job of explaining that there is no explicit rule that grant advantage or imposes disadvantage when the grappler is unseen.




                  When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




                  You gain advantage on attack rolls, that's it. However...



                  Your DM may rule you do



                  From the general rules on advantage/disadvantage we have the following:




                  The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.




                  This is a final catch-all, DM-knows-best rule that is designed for situations like this where the rules don't quite cover it. Your DM may choose to rule that you have advantage on your check, or the target has disadvantage. I wouldn't suggest applying both as this would be too strong.



                  At my table I rule that the target has disadvantage on their check as they were unprepared for it. This only applies to the initial grapple attempt however and attempts to break free are made as normal. This has never caused an issue (not that it has come up that often) and makes the players feel rewarded for intelligent play.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  There's no rule that says you do



                  Rykara and Bloodcinder's excellent answers do a good job of explaining that there is no explicit rule that grant advantage or imposes disadvantage when the grappler is unseen.




                  When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.




                  You gain advantage on attack rolls, that's it. However...



                  Your DM may rule you do



                  From the general rules on advantage/disadvantage we have the following:




                  The GM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or the other and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result.




                  This is a final catch-all, DM-knows-best rule that is designed for situations like this where the rules don't quite cover it. Your DM may choose to rule that you have advantage on your check, or the target has disadvantage. I wouldn't suggest applying both as this would be too strong.



                  At my table I rule that the target has disadvantage on their check as they were unprepared for it. This only applies to the initial grapple attempt however and attempts to break free are made as normal. This has never caused an issue (not that it has come up that often) and makes the players feel rewarded for intelligent play.







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                  answered 11 hours ago









                  linksassinlinksassin

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