Grapple feat must-haves?

[magnusmalkus]

What are some of the Greatest Grapple feats and in what sourcebooks can you find them?

I'm looking to create the greatest grapple fighter/monk ever!

 

[Starbuck_II]

What are some of the Greatest Grapple feats and in what sourcebooks can you find them?

I'm looking to create the greatest grapple fighter/monk ever!

Are you fighting unarmed?
Scorpian's Grasp (Sandstorm): If strike with unarmed strike, or light otr one-handed weapon and hit: you can attwnmpt to start a grapple as a free action.
Improved Grapple is useful.
Close Quarters Wrestling: useful.

 

[Shin Okada]

Grapple check is based on BAB. So if you wants to be the greatest grappler, monk is not the best choice. Take some full-BAB class(es), maybe Barbarian, then proceed to Reaping Mauler　prestige class.

 

[Runestar]

There is a regional feat in PGTF that lets you use a light weapon in a grapple, IIRC.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Grapple check is based on BAB. So if you wants to be the greatest grappler, monk is not the best choice. Take some full-BAB class(es), maybe Barbarian, then proceed to Reaping Mauler　prestige class.

Reaping Mauler is pretty awful, IMO.

Full BAB and Imp. Grapple are the basics. Being as large as possible really helps. The PGtF has a regional feat (Jotenbrund?) that lets you count as a size larger for many things. Goliath (RoS) and Half-Giant (XPH) races get powerful build, also counting as a size larger (both +1 LA). Or just play a Half-Ogre (RoD, +2 LA) and be large, reach included. Alternatively, be a druid. You get medium BAB, but a form w/ huge str and largest size possible (look to bears and dinosaurs, generally) more than make up for it. Also, with Spell Compendium, unless your DM (justifiably) rules no, you can stack wildshape with "bite of the x" spells. I recall the level 5 version is bite of the weretiger and gives something like +16 str.

Getting Enlarge Person potions or tattoos of Expansion (depending on if you're humanoid or not) give you +5 on grapple checks each time, well worth it.

The feats named already are pretty good, can't really think of many feats for grappling. It's mostly the class, race, and items you choose. MIC has some good items to add to your grapple modifier.

With Tome of Battle, you could either play as a Warblade and learn Tiger Claw and Stone Dragon maneuvers or take them as feats, but those disciplines have some nice things for grapplers. Namely, stances. TC has wolverine's stance, which lets you use any one-handed or light weapon in a grapple and w/o the -4 penalty. SD has a stance called crushing weight of the mountain, which gives you a constrict attack for 2d6 +1.5x str mod. Taken as feats, both would require knowing a maneuver from the discipline first and 10+ HD.

 

[Shin Okada]

If somehow, an item based on Giant Size spell of cater level 19+ is available, you can become Colossal and get +32 to strength. That spell is Wujen 7.

 

[akbearfoot]

Monk2 Psi War18 = a highly independant extremely effective grappler.

Monastic training + Tashalatora(SoS) is the basics.
From there you take Imp grapple, Imp natural attack, superior unarmed strike, and get a monks belt. You'll be doing many many d8s of unarmed strike damage with Psionic expansion in play. Mix with the Vampiric Weapon power for easy self healing. In the unlikely event you get grappled by something that is mroe dangerous in a grapple than youself, you simply dimension leap to safety.

Monk AC stacks nicely with Inertial Armor and Force screen.

Doesen't require any special considerations form the DM, other than allowing access to 1 Bo9S feat, and 1 amazingly overpowered feat from the Secrets of Sarlona book (Ebberon setting)

 

[Thanael]

There is a regional feat in PGTF that lets you use a light weapon in a grapple, IIRC.

That would be Knifefighter, a 1st level only FR regional feat.

 

[blargney the second]

I've been contemplating making a grappler for a while, and here's what I've come up with:
- as much BAB and Str as possible
- get improved grab from a level of barbarian with the alternate class feature
- get constrict from the Stone Dragon stance as mentioned above
- powerful build or size large
- pop a few feats on improved unarmed strike, improved grapple, and superior unarmed strike
- potions of enlarge person or tattoos of expansion

 

[the Jester]

Clever Wrestling and Close-Quarters Fighting are must haves imho.