D&D 5E So what can you do after you disarm an opponent?

[trentonjoe]

The Disarming Attack Battlemaster maneuver says:

Disarming Attack
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to disarm the target, forcing it to drop one item of your choice that it’s holding. You add the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll, and the target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it drops the object you choose. The object lands at its feet.

Can the disarmer pick up the object as a free action?
Can the disarmer then attack with it using a bonus action?
Can the disarmer use a free interaction to throw or kick the weapon away? (edited)

 

[Tormyr]

Incoming rulings in 3...2...1...

My thoughts.

1. Yes, they can pick it up as an interaction with the environment if they have a free hand and it is within 5 feet. An equally decent ruling would be that the weapon must be within the disarmer's space for them to pick it up, so they would need to shove the disarmee back so that they can stand over the weapon to pick it up.
2. It depends, the disarmer could attack with the weapon if the conditions were correct. If the disarmer's weapon and the disarmee's weapon were both light weapons, then the disarmer could use two-weapon fighting (where a bonus action melee attack usually shows up). Otherwise, the disarmer would have to drop its weapon to attack with the disarmee's weapon. A creature usually only gets one interaction with the environment as part of its turn, so that means picking up the weapon used it. It cannot also use another interaction with the environment for something else like stowing its weapon so it can use the other weapon as part of a multiattack.
3. Maybe? Kicking the weapon away seems more like an action to me. Since the attack action was already used, action economy would preclude this if a GM felt kicking the weapon away required an action. If the GM thinks that it is more of interaction with the environment, then yes, that would work.

 

[Iry]

I suppose you could use your object interaction to pick it up, then free action drop it into any square around you. As fluff, you could describe it as a quick kick that sends it clatting to the side/behind you.

 

[Oofta]

My rulings, which honestly may be a bit "conservative" because I don't like the whole disarming thing

You can't pick up the object it it's still in an enemy's space. You'd have to have a way to move the target first. You'd also have to have a free hand.
You could in theory attack if you meet all the other prerequisites for two weapon fighting.
Throwing or kicking is an action, and again, it's still in the enemy's space.

This might be fun and cinematic but can be really annoying after a bit. If every fight against what's supposed to be a high level BBEG with a weapon ends with "Ha! Got your sword!" it would get old quick because it would start to feel like an "I win!" button.

Although I suppose it could be kind of funny. You grab the sword and suddenly the BBEG has a beatific smile on his face as he kneels and proclaims "Thank you good sir! I thought I was doomed for eternity by using that cursed sword! But how did you know and how will you protect yourself?" Followed by the DM asking for a charisma save as the sword tries to dominate your PC.

 

[trentonjoe]

" If every fight against what's supposed to be a high level BBEG with a weapon ends with "Ha! Got your sword!" it would get old quick because it would start to feel like an "I win!" button."

How, in your opinion, is that different from something like hold person?

I am honestly interested, I don't mean to for this to be snarky or passive aggressive or combative!

 

[5ekyu]

The Disarming Attack Battlemaster maneuver says:

Disarming Attack
When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to disarm the target, forcing it to drop one item of your choice that it’s holding. You add the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll, and the target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, it drops the object you choose. The object lands at its feet.

Can the disarmer pick up the object as a free action?
Can the disarmer then attack with it using a bonus action?
Can the disarmer use a bonus action to throw or kick the weapon away?

Picking it up - do they have a free hand? Is there an obstacle or need for extra care or caution? Normally you can use your interaction to pick something up if you have a free hand and there are no circumstances that make it so that it's hard to pick up or requires carexetc. I

I the case of the there being an obstacle or special care needed that make the interaction no longer easy, the rules allow the GM to require the interaction is actually an action.

You should be able to kick it away, as an interaction or action (see "obstacle/care exception"), even with full hands.

In my games, if there is an adversary right there, active, who doesnt want you to pick up an item you do not already control, I count that as needing special care or as an obstacle and so it's always an action to pick up a "contested" object.

The bonus action options you list are by RAW a no. Bonus actions have to be allowed by specific abilities or traits. They are not just mini-actions you get to fill in with whatever seems convenient.

 

[trentonjoe]

Interacting with Objects Around You






Yeah, I guess this is just another example of DM interpretation. The interaction rules state this:

Here are a few examples of the sorts of thing you can do in tandem with your Movement and action:

*draw or sheathe a sword
*open or close a door
*withdraw a potion from your Backpack
*pick up a dropped axe

But then there is the line 5ekyu pointed out:

The DM might require you to use an action for any of these activities when it needs special care or when it presents an unusual obstacle. For instance, the DM could reasonably expect you to use an action to open a stuck door or turn a crank to lower a drawbridge.

So I guess it depends if you think the bugbear trying to pick up it's own sword a usual or unusual obstacle!

 

[Iry]

So I guess it depends if you think the bugbear trying to pick up it's own sword a usual or unusual obstacle!

Nothing really stops a Bugbear from putting his foot on the weapon when you try to go for it.
How that breaks down in the action economy (Bugbear's Reaction or PC requiring an Action) would be a DM call.

 

[trentonjoe]

Nothing really stops a Bugbear from putting his foot on the weapon when you try to go for it.
How that breaks down in the action economy (Bugbear's Reaction or PC requiring an Action) would be a DM call.

Yeah I am cool with that but then it's just as difficult for the bugbear to pick up the sword on his turn right?

 

[Arvok]

"So what can you do after you disarm an opponent?"

Stab him repeatedly until he dies.

Mechanics-wise, I would probably allow the disarmer to make reckless attacks against his opponent. I would give him advantage on all his attack rolls and his opponent advantage on all attack rolls against him. In my experience (mostly from SCA fighting), you devote at least as much attention to avoiding your opponent's strikes/counterstrikes as you do to trying to hit him. If all you opponent has to hit you with is his fist, you can probably take a few punches to the helmet in order to run him through. I would allow the disarmer to continue this reckless attack for as long as he likes. If the opponent attempts to pick up the weapon, I would give the disarmer an opportunity attack and/or a chance to step on the weapon and turn it into an opposed check.