[RPG] Does Improved Grapple’s bonus to CMD apply to preventing escapes from the grapple

featsgrapplepathfinder-1e

I am aware that there are ways to get out of a grapple.

  1. use the escape artist skill
  2. break free rolling CMB vs. CMD

I have the improved grapple feat which states:

You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when performing a grapple combat maneuver. In addition, you receive a +2 bonus on checks made to grapple a foe. You also receive a +2 bonus to your Combat Maneuver Defense whenever an opponent tries to grapple you.

My question is, do I get that +2 bonus to CMD if my enemy is trying to break free from my grapple? He's simply trying to break free, he's not trying to reverse the grapple and become the primary grappler (in which case I suspect I would get the +2 bonus to CMD).

Best Answer

Yes, it does.

All attack bonuses that you gain on your grapple checks are applied to your CMD against grapples. That includes the CMD to escape your grapples.

The check to escape a grapple is also a grapple check:

If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent's CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent's CMD). If you succeed, you break the grapple and can act normally.

This can be easily seen on any bestiary creature that has improved grapple, also on nearly all npcs from the npc codex that got improved grapple as a feat.

Example: the Trox (B4):

Base Atk +1; CMB +9 (+11 grapple); CMD 18 (20 vs. grapple)

Feats Improved Grapple B, Power Attack

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