Grappling Casters


Rules Questions


if you grapple a spell caster can he still cast spells? is it possible to muffle a caster so he cant talk (use verbal components) completely preventing a spell caster to cast spells.

a friends monk wants to completely shut down an enemy caster


The short answer is go read the rules... as this is explicitedly covered in them.

The Concentration DC for casting while grappled is rather high... but you have to of course get to the mage and grapple him in the first place -- but I will warn you, my wizards typically have still spell, silent spell, eschew materials, and a couple of spell mastery feats going for them, as well as a contingency spell for such situations.


northbrb wrote:

if you grapple a spell caster can he still cast spells? is it possible to muffle a caster so he cant talk (use verbal components) completely preventing a spell caster to cast spells.

a friends monk wants to completely shut down an enemy caster

A caster that is grappled can still cast, but he has to make a concentration check. If the caster is grappled you can make another grapple check to pin him so he can't speak. That takes away all spells with a verbal component.

Most casters think like this.
1. Stay out of melee.(stay in the back behind meat shields) The fly spell helps.
2. If I do get into melee be hard to hit. invisiblity, mirror image, displacement etc.
3. Create distance so I can be safe again. (Haste, expeditious retreat, , and so). Withdrawing also helps.


well my friend wants to plan ahead when dealing with an NPC caster, we don't know anything about him other than that he is a caster.

so he wants to no in regards to grappling a caster other than those feats how it would work


thanks that helps so much


Something to keep in mind is that both D-Door and Teleport are verbal only, which means that as long as he makes his concentration check he can escape with those spells.


northbrb wrote:

if you grapple a spell caster can he still cast spells? is it possible to muffle a caster so he cant talk (use verbal components) completely preventing a spell caster to cast spells.

a friends monk wants to completely shut down an enemy caster

Yes, a grappled mage can still cast spells, but it would require a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), which in the case of your friends monk could be quite high.

On the monk's second successful grapple attempt (either the second round or second check if he has Greater Grapple) he can pin the mage. A pinned creature can take verbal and mental actions, but cannot cast any spells that require a somatic or material component.

That's the rules as written.

The 3.5 ruleset allowed you to prevent a pinned character from speaking. You could house rule that you could prevent a pinned character from speaking (and casting verbal only spells), but I would then allow that pinned character to use one hand (to cast a somatic only spell or wield a light weapon).


i thought i saw some where that you can use a combat maneuver to silence some one


northbrb wrote:
thanks that helps so much

If the caster is a melee focused cleric or druid your friend might get his arse handed to him. That does not meant dont try, but it does mean be careful.


northbrb wrote:
i thought i saw some where that you can use a combat maneuver to silence some one

Pinned: A pinned creature is tightly bound and can take few actions. A pinned creature cannot move and is flat-footed. A pinned character also takes an additional –4 penalty to his Armor Class. A pinned creature is limited in the actions that it can take. A pinned creature can always attempt to free itself, usually through a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check. A pinned creature can take verbal and mental actions, but cannot cast any spells that require a somatic or material component. A pinned character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level) or lose the spell. Pinned is a more severe version of grappled, and their effects do not stack.

edit: I guess they took the non-speaking part away. I stand corrected.


but cannot cast any spells that require a somatic or material component.

that does not include verbal components


northbrb wrote:

but cannot cast any spells that require a somatic or material component.

that does not include verbal components

I know, but it still takes a lot of spells away. He now has to hope he has the right spells prepared, and most likely he will unless the DM runs caster directly from modules, and hope he can make the check which is a feat unto it self.


I think initiative order is something to take into account. Even if the caster is going to escape on his turn he will take a -4 to dexterity (-2 to AC) until then so with a little luck other party members are going to get some hits in before his turn comes up. Furthermore any action/spell used escaping is not used buffing/de-buffing/attacking.


A somewhat related question: Blink does make you impossible to grapple, right?


HaraldKlak wrote:
A somewhat related question: Blink does make you impossible to grapple, right?

Only half the time. If you are grappled you can try to move through the grappler with a 50% chance of success, but even then you'll just take 1d6 damage and get shunted, so, win win.

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