If a target is already prone and then you try to grapple them do you get advantage on the roll? I realize it's a contest and not an attack roll so it's different in that regard but you are standing over them which would make it physically easier to subdue them. I didn't see anything specifically about this in the PHB but if anyone has seen an official answer I'd like to see it.
Just in case it wasn't clear for everyone: a grapple attempt is used as part of the attack action, but it does not involve a melee attack roll (which gets advantage against prone targets due to the prone condition) the attack and target both make skill checks and are treated as such (for example, if target was poisoned, he would have disadvantage).
Just in case it wasn't clear for everyone: a grapple attempt is used as part of the attack action, but it does not involve a melee attack roll (which gets advantage against prone targets due to the prone condition) the attack and target both make skill checks and are treated as such (for example, if target was poisoned, he would have disadvantage).
Thanks for pointing this out. Mearl's tweet is wrong.
To be super clear:
Grappling is a melee attack (the rules explicitly refer to it as such.) It benefits from anything that grants advantage on melee attacks, such as a Monk's Shadow Step.
Grappling is special in that it doesn't involve an attack roll. It doesn't benefit from (or get penalized by) anything that modifies attack rolls. That means no advantage on the Athletics check to grapple a prone opponent.
Because it doesn't involve an attack roll, it doesn't result in a hit or miss. That means it doesn't trigger a Cleric's Wrath of the Storm, for example.
Grappling a prone creature has its own benefits. A prone creature needs to expend movement to stand up. Grappling reduces the creature's speed to 0, which prevents them from standing up.
If a target is already prone and then you try to grapple them do you get advantage on the roll? I realize it's a contest and not an attack roll so it's different in that regard but you are standing over them which would make it physically easier to subdue them. I didn't see anything specifically about this in the PHB but if anyone has seen an official answer I'd like to see it.
You can disregard...found my answer after posting, yes you would as grapple is part of the Attack action.
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/07/15/grappling-a-prone-creature/
Just in case it wasn't clear for everyone: a grapple attempt is used as part of the attack action, but it does not involve a melee attack roll (which gets advantage against prone targets due to the prone condition) the attack and target both make skill checks and are treated as such (for example, if target was poisoned, he would have disadvantage).
http://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/06/08/shove-grapple-attacks/
The Forum Infestation (TM)