Trip
A Trip attempt knocks the target to the ground, imposing the prone condition. Prone creatures take penalties to attack rolls and are easier to hit in melee — making Trip a powerful setup maneuver for melee-heavy parties. Be careful: failing badly trips you instead.
Performing a Trip
| Action | Standard action, or in place of a melee attack during a full-attack sequence |
|---|---|
| Provokes AoO | Yes, from the target — unless you have Improved Trip, or are using a weapon with the trip property |
| Size limit | Cannot trip a creature more than one size category larger than you |
| Check | d20 + CMB vs. target's CMD |
Results
Success (CMB ≥ CMD)
- Target is knocked prone.
- With Improved Trip, you immediately gain a +4 bonus on your next attack roll against the prone target this turn.
Failure (CMB < CMD)
- The target is not tripped.
- No effect on either creature.
Fail by 10+ (CMB ≤ CMD – 10)
- You are knocked prone instead.
- This reversal does not apply if you were using a weapon with the trip property — you may release the weapon to avoid falling.
Prone effects at a glance.
A prone creature takes –4 on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon
(except a crossbow). Melee attacks against a prone target gain +4; ranged
attacks take –4. Standing from prone is a move action that provokes AoOs.
See Prone
for full details.
Weapons with the Trip Property
Weapons with the trip property (such as the flail, guisarme, ranseur, and whip) can be used to make Trip attempts using the weapon's normal reach. If the attempt fails by 10 or more, the wielder may release the weapon as a free action to avoid being tripped in return. The weapon then lands in the attacker's space.
Key Feats
| Feat | Benefit | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Improved Trip | Does not provoke AoO; +2 CMB and CMD for Trip; +4 attack bonus on next attack vs. tripped foe this turn | INT 13, Combat Expertise |
| Greater Trip | When you successfully trip a foe, that foe provokes AoOs from all adjacent creatures (not just you) | Improved Trip, BAB +6 |
| Vicious Stomp | When an adjacent foe is knocked prone, make an immediate AoO against that foe using an unarmed strike | Combat Reflexes, Improved Unarmed Strike |
| Sweeping Strike | As a full-round action, attempt to trip every adjacent foe (one CMB check per target) | Improved Trip, BAB +6 |
Related Conditions
- Prone — the condition applied on a successful Trip.