Grapple

Grapple is the foundational ability of the Blue Stamina tree's Grapple branch: a standing grab that seizes an enemy and holds them in place. Once initiated, Grapple opens a menu of follow-up options: Throw (launches enemy forward), Restrain (holds enemy down for extended time), Lariat (running clothesline from the grabbed position), Back Hang (positions Kliff behind the enemy for backstab follow-up), and Lariat Follow-up (extends the Lariat chain). Each follow-up has different damage and utility properties.

The Grapple ability can be initiated against most humanoid and medium-sized enemies but is blocked by Super Armor on boss-type enemies except during specific vulnerability windows, typically after a successful Parry, after a stagger from Blinding Flash, or during boss recovery frames after a heavy attack. Learning which windows allow grapple initiation against each boss is one of the key skill-development aspects of the game's progression.

At Stamina Level 16 with the Grapple branch fully invested, a maxed Grapple-to-Body Slam chain is one of the game's most reliable damage sequences: Parry an attack for stagger, Grapple during the stagger window, chain to Lariat for massive knockback damage, then Body Slam the grounded enemy. Against humanoid bosses like the Staglord and Gwen Kraber, this three-step chain after a successful Parry accounts for a significant portion of total fight damage.

Grapple scales particularly well in the late game because each follow-up ability in the chain benefits independently from Abyss Artifact upgrades, meaning a fully invested Grapple chain multiplies its total damage across every link. Pairing Grapple with Fist of Flame before initiating the grab adds fire damage to every subsequent follow-up in the chain, effectively turning a single elemental buff into three or four instances of Burning application. For players focused on unarmed builds, maxing Grapple's upgrade path before branching into other Blue tree abilities is the most efficient progression route, as the Grapple chain alone can carry combat effectiveness through the mid-game and into early Abyss content.

Grapple lets you seize an enemy and throw or slam them, dealing significant damage while repositioning them to your advantage. It is one of the core Unarmed abilities and works wonderfully as a combo starter that leaves enemies vulnerable on the ground. Grapple can also be used tactically to throw enemies into environmental hazards or off ledges for instant kills. Upgrade it to improve throw distance and damage, and pair it with Body Slam for a devastating wrestling-style combo chain.