I am looking of the extra rules to clarify when to apply an Escape DC.
Let's use the Giant Squid's tentacle attack from the 2024 Monster Manual for this example:
Tentacle. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Huge or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 16) from one of two tentacles, and the squid can pull the target up to 10 feet straight toward itself.
It is unclear to me if the "(escape DC 16)" as a saving throw at the moment of attack, or as an athletics check to be made on the player's turn. Typically, to escape a grapple, a player must use an action to make a contested Ability Check on their turn.
Depending on how this is interpreted you can have at least two scenarios:
1. When a creature, Huge or Smaller, is hit by the tentacle attack, it is automatically grappled, and must use its action on its turn to escape the grapple with an athletics of acrobatics skill check or 16 or more.
2. When a creature, Hugh of Smaller, is hit by the tentacle attack, it must make a saving throw or contested check (no clear which) or 16 or more, to avoid being grappled. Otherwise it must make a skill check, on its turn, of 16 or more to escape.
While as a DM, I have the option to choose my interpretation, I am looking for a more concrete explanation for fairness and consistency and, as of yet, have not been able to find a clear explanation on how Escape DCs are supposed to be handled.
If there was any saving throw involved the text would explicitly say so. In this case the attack roll mechanic is already being used, so if the attack roll manages to hit then in addition to the resulting damage being dealt the target creature also has the Grappled condition as a consequence of being hit.
Once this happens, you then just refer back to the general rules for grappling:
Many monsters have special attacks that allow them to quickly grapple prey. However a grapple is initiated, it follows these rules . . .
Grappled Condition. Successfully grappling a creature gives it the Grappled condition.
. . .
Ending a Grapple. A Grappled creature can use its action to make a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check against the grapple’s escape DC, ending the condition on itself on a success . . .
In this case, the grapple's escape DC is 16, as indicated in the monster stat block.
[...] It is unclear to me if the "(escape DC 16)" as a saving throw at the moment of attack, or as an athletics check to be made on the player's turn. Typically, to escape a grapple, a player must use an action to make a contested Ability Check on their turn. [...]
I just wanted to add that in the 2024 PHB, there are no Contests as they were known in 2014. Ability checks against DCs are the new trend.
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I am looking of the extra rules to clarify when to apply an Escape DC.
Let's use the Giant Squid's tentacle attack from the 2024 Monster Manual for this example:
Tentacle. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 15 ft. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) Bludgeoning damage. If the target is a Huge or smaller creature, it has the Grappled condition (escape DC 16) from one of two tentacles, and the squid can pull the target up to 10 feet straight toward itself.
It is unclear to me if the "(escape DC 16)" as a saving throw at the moment of attack, or as an athletics check to be made on the player's turn. Typically, to escape a grapple, a player must use an action to make a contested Ability Check on their turn.
Depending on how this is interpreted you can have at least two scenarios:
1. When a creature, Huge or Smaller, is hit by the tentacle attack, it is automatically grappled, and must use its action on its turn to escape the grapple with an athletics of acrobatics skill check or 16 or more.
2. When a creature, Hugh of Smaller, is hit by the tentacle attack, it must make a saving throw or contested check (no clear which) or 16 or more, to avoid being grappled. Otherwise it must make a skill check, on its turn, of 16 or more to escape.
While as a DM, I have the option to choose my interpretation, I am looking for a more concrete explanation for fairness and consistency and, as of yet, have not been able to find a clear explanation on how Escape DCs are supposed to be handled.
If there was any saving throw involved the text would explicitly say so. In this case the attack roll mechanic is already being used, so if the attack roll manages to hit then in addition to the resulting damage being dealt the target creature also has the Grappled condition as a consequence of being hit.
Once this happens, you then just refer back to the general rules for grappling:
In this case, the grapple's escape DC is 16, as indicated in the monster stat block.
I just wanted to add that in the 2024 PHB, there are no Contests as they were known in 2014. Ability checks against DCs are the new trend.