I couldn't find this scenario on the forums, so I figured I'd ask. I'm playing a 5E 2024 campaign and I'm playing a monk with the grappler feat. We ran into a scenario where I had an opponent in a grapple and that opponent attacked me with a slashing attack. I opted to use my deflect attacks ability to reduce the damage, and my DM said that I can't deflect an attack while grappling. I believe that's incorrect. The DM asked to see in writing where it says that's allowed. I can't find anything in writing but I still believe that I am correct. I don't see any rule that says I cannot deflect an attack while grappling. Did I miss something in the PHB, and has there been a ruling on this in some fashion?
Your DM has it backwards. There is no restriction under deflect attack, so you are allowed to do it. Rules do only what they say. It doesn’t need to specify every situation where you can, it just says you can generally, so long as there is B/P/S damage involved in the attack. Since there was in this attack, you met the conditions and should have been able to deflect it.
And, there is nothing under the grappling rules that would stop you using the power, either. Grappling just means you have one hand occupied. You still have another hand, both feet, and depending on species, whatever other body parts you might have. So there’s plenty of other ways to deflect.
Moreover, if they want an in-game justification, it doesn’t specify how, exactly, one deflects an attack. It could just as easily be twisting yourself out of the way as actively slapping the weapon to the side.
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Hi All,
I couldn't find this scenario on the forums, so I figured I'd ask. I'm playing a 5E 2024 campaign and I'm playing a monk with the grappler feat. We ran into a scenario where I had an opponent in a grapple and that opponent attacked me with a slashing attack. I opted to use my deflect attacks ability to reduce the damage, and my DM said that I can't deflect an attack while grappling. I believe that's incorrect. The DM asked to see in writing where it says that's allowed. I can't find anything in writing but I still believe that I am correct. I don't see any rule that says I cannot deflect an attack while grappling. Did I miss something in the PHB, and has there been a ruling on this in some fashion?
There is no such restriction. You can deflect attacks while grappling.
Pretty much as long as you have access to your Reaction (you are not Incapacitated, for example) you can use that Feature.
Your DM has it backwards. There is no restriction under deflect attack, so you are allowed to do it. Rules do only what they say. It doesn’t need to specify every situation where you can, it just says you can generally, so long as there is B/P/S damage involved in the attack. Since there was in this attack, you met the conditions and should have been able to deflect it.
And, there is nothing under the grappling rules that would stop you using the power, either.
Grappling just means you have one hand occupied. You still have another hand, both feet, and depending on species, whatever other body parts you might have. So there’s plenty of other ways to deflect.
Moreover, if they want an in-game justification, it doesn’t specify how, exactly, one deflects an attack. It could just as easily be twisting yourself out of the way as actively slapping the weapon to the side.