[RPG] Can you Grapple a Creature that has already Grappled you

dnd-5egrapple

Suppose an ettercap sneaks up on Bob the Barbarian whom is trailing his group and attacks him with a web garrote, inflicting Bob with the Grappled condition. Normally this is to the ettercap's advantage, but Bob is fine with grappling and feels the scenario is closer to the ettercap being trapped with him.

In order to ensure that this sneaky enemy can't escape, Bob wants to turn around and grapple the ettercap, to force it to hold still while Bob's allies rain pain on it from afar.

Can Bob do this without breaking the original grapple? If so, are both creatures considered to have the Grappled condition and thus have a speed of 0?

Best Answer

Yes, you can try to grapple an enemy who is grappling you.

The rules for grappling are...

The target of your grapple must be no more than one size larger than you, and it must be within your reach. Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a Strength (Athletics) check[...]

PHB195

The effect of a Grapple is...

  • A grappled creature's speed becomes 0, and it can't benefit from any bonus to its speed
  • [Rules on how to get out]

PHB290

There's nothing in here that prevents you from counter-grappling, as long as you have a free hand and can reach your target. In which case you are both subjected to the Grappled condition, and now neither one of you can move without breaking the grapple first.