Natual Weapons and Imrpoved Grab / Grappleing

[Lord Zardoz]

I was just wondering about something after running a fight with an Ankheg today.

The Ankheg has improved grab and an awesome grapple check. So obviously, its a one of its worthwhile attacks.

Now, as I understand the rules, the Ankheg can use its natural weapons in such a grapple at a -4 penalty.

Is the only benefit for a grapple with a creature like an Ankheg that it can keep its opponent from running away? Taking a -4 to hit seems counter productive.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[stonegod]

Nope, it does damage as the bite:

Improved Grab

...A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Is the only benefit for a grapple with a creature like an Ankheg that it can keep its opponent from running away? Taking a -4 to hit seems counter productive.

Then instead just use the "damage your opponent" or "pin" options of the grapple. The ankheg then doesn't suffer the -4 penalty on the bite, gets a decent grapple bonus (depending on the opponent of course) and does pretty darn well.

 

[frankthedm]

I was just wondering about something after running a fight with an Ankheg today.

The Ankheg has improved grab and an awesome grapple check. So obviously, its a one of its worthwhile attacks.

Now, as I understand the rules, the Ankheg can use its natural weapons in such a grapple at a -4 penalty.

Is the only benefit for a grapple with a creature like an Ankheg that it can keep its opponent from running away? Taking a -4 to hit seems counter productive.

END COMMUNICATION

Once an Ankheg grabs someone, the party has, at most, 1 round to drop the thing. The Ankheg can move away on its turn, with the improved grabbed victim! [provided it can drag the opponent’s weight]. Considering Ankhegs burrow, that is really bad for the smaller party members.

Improved Grab (Ex): If a creature with this special attack hits with a melee weapon (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. No initial touch attack is required. Unless otherwise noted, improved grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on grapple checks, but is not considered grappled itself; the creature does not lose its Dexterity bonus to AC, still threatens an area, and can use its remaining attacks against other opponents. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature’s descriptive text). When a creature gets a hold after an improved grab attack, it pulls the opponent into its space. This act does not provoke attacks of opportunity. It can even move (possibly carrying away the opponent), provided it can drag the opponent’s weight.