[RPG] Can a harpoon grapple at a distance

combatpathfinder-1eweapons

The Harpoon has the grapple weapon quality. Does this allow the user to throw the harpoon and make a grapple attempt of a critical hit?

Best Answer

Yes, that is what the weapon special quality grapple does:

On a successful critical hit with a weapon of this type, you can grapple the target of the attack. The wielder can then attempt a combat maneuver check to grapple his opponent as a free action. This grapple attempt does not provoke an attack of opportunity from the creature you are attempting to grapple if that creature is not threatening you. While you grapple the target with a grappling weapon, you can only move or damage the creature on your turn. You are still considered grappled, though you do not have to be adjacent to the creature to continue the grapple. If you move far enough away to be out of the weapon’s reach, you end the grapple with that action. (Source: D20PFSRD)

This says the weapon will give you a free CMB check to attempt to grapple on a critical hit.

Grapple says:

... If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails)... (Source: D20PFSRD)

So, in effect, when you make a successful critical hit with a harpoon, then succeed on the subsequent CMB check, you grapple the target and move it to an adjacent open space.

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