Power Attack/Grappling?

[Hannibal Barca]

Can power attack be used when grappling?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I would think not.

In order to Power Attack, you need to make an attack roll.

If you're trying to do damage in a grapple, you make a grapple check, not an attack roll.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I would think not.

In order to Power Attack, you need to make an attack roll.

If you're trying to do damage in a grapple, you make a grapple check, not an attack roll.

Can't you still make natural attacks (at -4)? I think this would allow Power Attack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Yes.

The question is whether it makes any difference

The relevant questions are "Does an opposed grapple check count as a melee attack roll?" and "Does the 'damage your opponent' option use a melee damage roll?"

(The answers to these two questions could conceivably be different.)

The Sage made mention of the -4 penalty a prone attack receives to attack rolls affecting grapple checks in the FAQ. But not everyone agrees with him

-Hyp.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Can't you still make natural attacks (at -4)? I think this would allow Power Attack.

True. I hadn't considered that angle. I was assuming the player / creature in question was attempting to do damage through grappling.

If, in fact, you are already grappled, and wish to use Power Attack to beat up on the creature that is grappling you, then yes, you could use it.

With a couple caveats...

While grappling:

Attack Your Opponent: You can make an attack with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light weapon against another character you are grappling. You take a –4 penalty on such attacks.

You can’t attack with two weapons while grappling, even if both are light weapons.

And re: Power Attack:

Special: If you attack with a two-handed weapon, or with a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls. You can’t add the bonus from Power Attack to the damage dealt with a light weapon (except with unarmed strikes or natural weapon attacks), even though the penalty on attack rolls still applies. (Normally, you treat a double weapon as a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. If you choose to use a double weapon like a two-handed weapon, attacking with only one end of it in a round, you treat it as a two-handed weapon.)

Therefore, you could Power Attack while grappling, but the only way you'd get any benefit from it is if you were using an unarmed strike or a natural weapon.

Good catch!