## Despite what the article says, a creature with the special ability [improved grab][1] does *not* also have the unique ability to simultaneously drag away a grappled foe As mentioned, the *Monster Manual* (even the most recent 2012 premium edition) includes in the special ability [improved grab][2] a section saying that > When a creature gets a hold after an improved grab attack, it pulls the opponent into its space. This act does not provoke attacks of opportunity. **It can even move (possibly carrying away the opponent), provided it can drag the opponent’s weight.** (310) Emphasis mine. That a creature can move after having grappled another creature *is* true as per the *Player's Handbook* rules on [grapple][3], but > You [the grappler] can move half your speed (bringing all others engaged in the grapple with you) by winning an opposed grapple check. This requires a standard action, and you must beat all the other individual check results to move the grapple. (156) The *Monster Manual*'s mention of a creature being able to move after having used or while using the special ability improved grab can be safely ignored. It *is* mentioned in improved grab, but the rules for doing so are never made clear for the specific case of the special ability improved grab so, instead, the general rules for moving a creature during a grapple are used. It is likely just leftover text from rules that were considered and abandoned. Just in case this is worrisome, there are at least two other places wherein similar unplayable rules persist in the text. I *know* that it's really difficult to let go of such troublesome artifacts, but the system isn't perfect, and letting some things go is okay. (See this [question][4] about the spell [*major image*][5] and this [question][6] about accidentally activating magic items.) ### On those [Rules of the Game][7] columns... Those columns aren't errata and can't make changes to the text. They carry the same or less weight as the FAQ (and [the FAQ's authority is dubious][8]). Use them with caution, confirming that any strangeness you perceive in the columns also exists within the text. Then go with the text. ### ...And on the *Rules Compendium* The *Rules Compendium* presents the special ability improved grab as follows: > When a creature gets a hold after an improved grab attack, it pulls the opponent into its space. This act doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally or simply use the part of its body it used in the improved grab to hold the opponent. (101) Thus, the *RC* omits the disturbing sentence entirely. (Note that the [*Rules Compendium*][9] is not without issues.) ## "But I *want* monsters to do this!" That's cool. From *Sandstorm* the general feat Scorpion's Grasp mimics much of the special ability improved grab, including giving the DM specific rules he can choose to use if he wants to implement the *It can even move* sentence as originally presented in the special ability [improved grab][10]: > You have the option to conduct the grapple normally, or you may hold a creature one or more sizes smaller than you with your off hand. If you choose to do the latter, you take a −20 penalty on grapple checks against that creature and you cannot deal damage with your grapple checks, but you are not considered grappled yourself. You don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to AC, you still threaten an area, and you can use remaining attacks against other opponents. While maintaining this latter type of hold, you can move normally (possibly carrying your opponent away), provided you can drag the opponent’s weight. (52-3) Were I a player, however, I would want the DM to make such house rules clear *before*, for example, being attacked by an [ankheg][11] (which can, in the same turn, make such an off-hand grapple then [*burrow*][12] away, [my character in its mandibles][13]).<sup>1</sup> --- <sup>**1**</sup> The phrase *house rules* is not in any way used pejoratively here (nor do I use it pejoratively elsewhere ever), but, instead, as an indication that the DM must essentially tell the players, "We're deviating from the text a bit: When a creature has the special ability improved grab, we're using some of the rules from the feat Scorpion's Grasp to complement that special ability." [1]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#improvedGrab [2]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#improvedGrab [3]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#grapple [4]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/36213/8610 [5]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/majorImage.htm [6]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/36281/8610 [7]: https://web.archive.org/web/20200315192408/http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg [8]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/60044/8610 [9]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/37466/8610 [10]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#improvedGrab [11]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ankheg.htm [12]: https://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#burrow [13]: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/56387/8610