Improved grab with AoO?

[Kershek]

Can a monster use its improved grab ability while hitting with an attack of opportunity? It would seem no because improved grab requires a free action. You have to be on your turn to do a free action. What do you think?

 

[sledged]

Going by the discription of improved grab, it would seem that it is an exception to the rule of when free actions can be taken.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It would seem no because improved grab requires a free action. You have to be on your turn to do a free action.

Looks right. If they wanted you to be able to do it with an AoO, they could have just left out the 'as a free action'.

Notice that Cleave, for instance, does not say you can make an immediate extra melee attack 'as a free action', and so it can be part of an AoO.

-Hyp.

 

[Iku Rex]

Looks right. If they wanted you to be able to do it with an AoO, they could have just left out the 'as a free action'.

I think you're giving them too much credit. More likely the guy who wrote the description didn't understand the implications.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think you're giving them too much credit. More likely the guy who wrote the description didn't understand the implications.

Perhaps.

Nevertheless, those implications exist.

As written, the grapple attempt is not available to a creature acting outside its own turn, just as someone can't use Quickdraw during an AoO.

-Hyp.