Grappling and Shoving in D&D 5e (Explained): Contests, Prone Combos, and Tactics

1 April 2026

Not every problem is a fireball problem. Some problems are “this jerk tries to run to the archers every round.” Grappling and shoving are the Attack action’s special melee maneuvers that trade a hit’s damage for a contest that can delete an enemy’s plans, or set your party up for advantage like you planned it.

Condition references if you need the exact words: grappled and prone.

The setup: these cost an attack, not “a free bonus”

When you take the Attack action, one attack in that action can be a special melee attack to grapple or shove instead of a normal weapon strike (unless features change this pattern).

Grapple requirements (baseline):

• Target must be no more than one size larger than you.
• You need at least one free hand.

Shove uses the same size constraint.

Grappling (the contest)

You attempt to grab; resolve with a contest:

• Your Strength (Athletics)
• vs. their Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) (their choice)

You win → the target has the grappled condition (speed becomes 0).

Escape later uses similar contests or breaking the grapple per rules if you’re moved away.

Shoving (the contest + the payoff)

Same contest structure. If you win, choose one:

• Push the target 5 feet away, or
• Knock the target prone

Shove does not automatically grapple, that’s a separate special attack.

The classic duo: grapple + prone (meat grinder etiquette)

The “meme combo” is legal because of movement math:

1. Grapple (speed → 0).
2. Shove prone (still in reach, still contesting safely if your DM enforces repeatability).

Prone usually means melee attacks have advantage against them; ranged attacks from nearby often suffer disadvantage, signal your archer to back up or accept the trade.

Standing from prone costs half speed. With speed 0 from grappled, they can’t pay that movement to stand, so they’re stuck prone until something breaks the grapple or speed lock.

When not to pick a fight with physics

• Huge+ brutes when you’re not size-enabled by a feature. Your baseline shove/grapple simply doesn’t qualify.
• When your party needs clean ranged lanes, prone can anger the archer who already had LOS issues.
• When you could delete the enemy faster with damage this round, control is time you’re buying for someone.

Related rules once you like controlling space

Opportunity attacks punish runners. You already have that lever: opportunity attacks. Help makes the advantage spikes reliable: Help.