I have to make a level 5 character for a one shot and I was thinking of making a Dragonborne monk. I have a friend who plays a monk who grapples a whole lot and I was thinking about that in terms of the Dragonbornes breath weapon.
Are there any specific rules with that such as like the creature does not get a save since it is grappled?
I would also be open to suggestions on feats or abilities to take to make it more optimal
The creature would still get a save as normal. The only effects of the grappled condition are:
A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed.
The condition ends if the grappler is incapacitated (see the condition).
The condition also ends if an effect removes the grappled creature from the reach of the grappler or grappling effect, such as when a creature is hurled away by the thunderwave spell.
None of these effects would change how the breath weapon of a dragon born effects the grappled creature.
If your Monk character could also pin down the grappled creature, then the Restrained condition also applies, in which case your opponent suffers both disadvantage to attack rolls and disadvantage on DEX saving throws. However, in order to impose this condition through grappling, your own character would become easier to hit - others get advantage to hit You while you are devoting your strength to pinning someone down.
This might not be mechanically advantageous, but the RP flavor of grabbing an enemy and then unleashing your breath weapon right in their face is pretty cool!
Another fun twist could be taking the Dragon Fear feat from Xanathar's Guide, which gives you the option to use a roar instead of your breath weapon to strike fear into your enemies!
Maybe talk with your DM about ways to use that tactic that can be both cinematic and tactical. For example as a DM I might let the player give disadvantage to the creature you're grappling but you will take half damage from your breath weapon splashback. After all, you're unleashing right into another creature.
What if the Dragonborn Monk had an upcast Absorb Elements cast on them before unleashing the breath weapon? So if there is splashback, they get to use that to add to their own next round's attack against the presumably still-restrained opponent? 2d6+Monk unarmed strike damage. Perhaps not very powerful, but definitely an interesting "tag team" combo.
You would probably want to get a level or two in Rogue or Bard for their core class boosts that you would direct towards Athletics checks, which you want in order to reliably grapple. Restraining an opponent, if you go that route, requires another Athletics check on top of that.
I've heard that some players prefer taking a level in Barbarian for rage. I don't feel that would be better than going Rogue or Bard, though.
Out of curiosity, how does your friend's Monk manage to grapple so well/often? Did they invest heavily in Strength (normally a "dump stat" for Monks)? (Just curious, really!)
Regarding grappling and breath weapons, bear in mind grappling does not imply pinning down (that's something you can do with the Grappler Feat, tho), even though we usually think of it as grabbing the target double-nelson style. It's actually closer to grabbing their wrist, or the scruff of their neck/shirt, or something similar. All it really does is lower their movement to 0. So think of it as grabbing them in such a way as to only prevent them from changing their location or standing up (since it takes half your movement to stand up), and not something that prevents them from moving entirely. You can achieve something similar by grappling and then shoving, which makes the target prone. It won't help much with breath weapons (which are area effects and require saving throws rather than attack rolls), but it will make attack rolls easier for your allies within 5' (Advantage), while making the target's attack rolls harder (Disadvantage), without allowing the target to stand up and remove the prone condition (because of being grappled).
In terms of building the character, with the feedback I have received here (And thank you all so much for it) I am instead opting to make a Dragonborne Fighter, as it would be easier to make the charcter im envisioning. With further research I was thinking of taking the Grappler feat to help with grappling
In terms of building the character, with the feedback I have received here (And thank you all so much for it) I am instead opting to make a Dragonborne Fighter, as it would be easier to make the charcter im envisioning. With further research I was thinking of taking the Grappler feat to help with grappling
The Grappler Feat is actually not as good as it may seem, at first, especially since you can get most of its benefits by simply shoving the target once it's grappled, and since pinning the target makes you bothrestrained. I'm not saying it's useless, or you should definitely not take it, but take that into consideration, since it doesn't actually help you grapple.
Link is broken (it tacked on a non-breaking space at the end, use this one).
Might want to swap Strength and Dexterity, since your weapons are all Strength-based, and Grapple (initiating) is also Strength-based. Your armor is Heavy, so you're not getting any AC from Dexterity, too. You might consider getting rid of the greatsword if you're gonna be grappling often, since you'd have to drop it anyway, and your longsword, when wielded with both hands, is already doing comparable (if not quite as good) damage, anyway, and can still be used (at lower damage) one-handed when grappling.
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I have to make a level 5 character for a one shot and I was thinking of making a Dragonborne monk. I have a friend who plays a monk who grapples a whole lot and I was thinking about that in terms of the Dragonbornes breath weapon.
Are there any specific rules with that such as like the creature does not get a save since it is grappled?
I would also be open to suggestions on feats or abilities to take to make it more optimal
The creature would still get a save as normal. The only effects of the grappled condition are:
None of these effects would change how the breath weapon of a dragon born effects the grappled creature.
If your Monk character could also pin down the grappled creature, then the Restrained condition also applies, in which case your opponent suffers both disadvantage to attack rolls and disadvantage on DEX saving throws. However, in order to impose this condition through grappling, your own character would become easier to hit - others get advantage to hit You while you are devoting your strength to pinning someone down.
This might not be mechanically advantageous, but the RP flavor of grabbing an enemy and then unleashing your breath weapon right in their face is pretty cool!
Another fun twist could be taking the Dragon Fear feat from Xanathar's Guide, which gives you the option to use a roar instead of your breath weapon to strike fear into your enemies!
Maybe talk with your DM about ways to use that tactic that can be both cinematic and tactical. For example as a DM I might let the player give disadvantage to the creature you're grappling but you will take half damage from your breath weapon splashback. After all, you're unleashing right into another creature.
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What if the Dragonborn Monk had an upcast Absorb Elements cast on them before unleashing the breath weapon? So if there is splashback, they get to use that to add to their own next round's attack against the presumably still-restrained opponent? 2d6+Monk unarmed strike damage. Perhaps not very powerful, but definitely an interesting "tag team" combo.
Re: feats, etc.
You would probably want to get a level or two in Rogue or Bard for their core class boosts that you would direct towards Athletics checks, which you want in order to reliably grapple. Restraining an opponent, if you go that route, requires another Athletics check on top of that.
I've heard that some players prefer taking a level in Barbarian for rage. I don't feel that would be better than going Rogue or Bard, though.
Out of curiosity, how does your friend's Monk manage to grapple so well/often? Did they invest heavily in Strength (normally a "dump stat" for Monks)? (Just curious, really!)
Regarding grappling and breath weapons, bear in mind grappling does not imply pinning down (that's something you can do with the Grappler Feat, tho), even though we usually think of it as grabbing the target double-nelson style. It's actually closer to grabbing their wrist, or the scruff of their neck/shirt, or something similar. All it really does is lower their movement to 0. So think of it as grabbing them in such a way as to only prevent them from changing their location or standing up (since it takes half your movement to stand up), and not something that prevents them from moving entirely. You can achieve something similar by grappling and then shoving, which makes the target prone. It won't help much with breath weapons (which are area effects and require saving throws rather than attack rolls), but it will make attack rolls easier for your allies within 5' (Advantage), while making the target's attack rolls harder (Disadvantage), without allowing the target to stand up and remove the prone condition (because of being grappled).
In terms of building the character, with the feedback I have received here (And thank you all so much for it) I am instead opting to make a Dragonborne Fighter, as it would be easier to make the charcter im envisioning. With further research I was thinking of taking the Grappler feat to help with grappling
His monk is from a 3.5e campaign and a Half-Orc, so theres other factors there but I was curious to see If I could do some sort of grappler in 5e
I have made the character here if anyone is interested, any and all feedback is welcome
https://ddb.ac/characters/14172497/eRZfup
The Grappler Feat is actually not as good as it may seem, at first, especially since you can get most of its benefits by simply shoving the target once it's grappled, and since pinning the target makes you both restrained. I'm not saying it's useless, or you should definitely not take it, but take that into consideration, since it doesn't actually help you grapple.
Link is broken (it tacked on a non-breaking space at the end, use this one).
Might want to swap Strength and Dexterity, since your weapons are all Strength-based, and Grapple (initiating) is also Strength-based. Your armor is Heavy, so you're not getting any AC from Dexterity, too. You might consider getting rid of the greatsword if you're gonna be grappling often, since you'd have to drop it anyway, and your longsword, when wielded with both hands, is already doing comparable (if not quite as good) damage, anyway, and can still be used (at lower damage) one-handed when grappling.