Hi, kinda new, on my first campaign. I'm playing a tiefling paladin, and I was wondering if a weapon can be used in a grapple (not attacking mid grapple)? An example would be having a one bladed weapon (think samurai sword), blade pressed to the target attempting to possibly dismember the enemy. We are running on a homebrew campaign, so some rules are bent in favor of flavorful fights or story. I understand that the grapple would then occupy both hands, not allowing further attacks until the grapple is released. And also, since I'm playing a paladin, if the weapon grapple is allowed would Divine Smite be applicable to the melee damage?
You only need a free hand to grapple mechanically, so narratively you should be able to accomplish your goal with a one-handed weapon. You can use the grappler feat to restrain your target with a grapple, and you are able to attack a target that is grappled. Using your weapon in the attack would make it smite eligible. Action economy wise, this will probably take two turns to accomplish, but is mechanically feasible.
One handed weapons, one-handed (or no-handed) natural weapons, unarmed strikes… all viable attacks to use while maintaining a grapple.
SAC guidance that a melee weapon, rather than a melee weapon attack, are needed for Divine Smite is un-RAW b.s. Any of the above will work if you’d like to Smite your grappled foe.
Hi, kinda new, on my first campaign. I'm playing a tiefling paladin, and I was wondering if a weapon can be used in a grapple (not attacking mid grapple)? An example would be having a one bladed weapon (think samurai sword), blade pressed to the target attempting to possibly dismember the enemy. We are running on a homebrew campaign, so some rules are bent in favor of flavorful fights or story. I understand that the grapple would then occupy both hands, not allowing further attacks until the grapple is released. And also, since I'm playing a paladin, if the weapon grapple is allowed would Divine Smite be applicable to the melee damage?
Unless noted otherwise, you need a free hand to grapple
You only need a free hand to grapple mechanically, so narratively you should be able to accomplish your goal with a one-handed weapon. You can use the grappler feat to restrain your target with a grapple, and you are able to attack a target that is grappled. Using your weapon in the attack would make it smite eligible. Action economy wise, this will probably take two turns to accomplish, but is mechanically feasible.
One handed weapons, one-handed (or no-handed) natural weapons, unarmed strikes… all viable attacks to use while maintaining a grapple.
SAC guidance that a melee weapon, rather than a melee weapon attack, are needed for Divine Smite is un-RAW b.s. Any of the above will work if you’d like to Smite your grappled foe.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Grapples are not melee weapon attacks, and also don't do damage, so Divine Smite doesn't apply.