Escape Artist

(Dexterity; Armor Check Penalty)

Use this skill to slip out of bonds or manacles, wriggle through tight spaces, or escape the grip of a monster that grapples you.

Check

Ropes: Your Escape Artist check DC is equal to the binder's CMB + 20. Manacles and Masterwork Manacles: The DC for manacles is set by their construction. A normal set of manacles has a DC of 30, and a masterwork set has a DC of 35. Nets and Certain Spells: The DC to escape a Net, an Animated Rope, and Controlled or Commanded Plants is 20. The DC to escape an Entangle spell is equal to the save DC of the spell. Tight Space: The DC noted on the table is for getting through a space where your head fits but your shoulders don't. If the space is long you may need to make multiple checks. You can't get through a space that your head does not fit through. Grappler: You can make an Escape Artist check instead of a Combat Maneuver Check to get out of a Grapple or out of a Pinned condition (so that you're only Grappled). Extremely Tight Space: This is the DC for getting through a space when one's head shouldn't even be able to fit; this can be as small as 2 inches square for Medium-size creatures. Halve this limit for each size category less than Medium-size; double it for each size category greater than Medium-size. If the space is long, such as in a chimney or inside a creature's intestines, multiple checks may be called for. Pass through Wall of Force: This allows you to find a gap of weakness in a Wall Of Force (or similar force effect) and squeeze through it. Quick Escape: Making a quick Escape Artist check increases the required DC by 10. Escaping from rope bindings, manacles, or other restraints (except a grappler) takes only 5 rounds of work. Escaping from a net or an Animate Rope, Command Plants, Control Plants, or Entangle spell with the quick escape option is a Standard Action. Escaping from a Grapple or pin with the quick escape option is a Move Action. Squeezing through a tight space takes half the time that it normally would (DM's discretion, at least 5 rounds).

Action

Making an Escape Artist check to escape from rope bindings, manacles, or other restraints (except a grappler) requires 1 minute of work. Escaping from a net or an Animate Rope, Command Plants, Control Plants, or Entangle spell is a Full-Round Action. Escaping from a Grapple or pin is a Standard Action. Squeezing through a tight space takes at least 1 minute, maybe longer, depending on how long the space is.

Try Again

Varies. You can make another check after a failed check if you're squeezing your way through a tight space, making multiple checks. If the situation permits, you can make additional checks, or even take 20, as long as you're not being actively opposed.

Special

Skill Unlock

A character who selects this skill for the Signature Skill feat or a Rogue who selects it for their Rogue's Edge class ability gains the following abilities when they reach the designated number of ranks in this skill:

5 Ranks: If you take a –10 penalty, the time required to use this skill is halved; escaping a Grapple or pin is a Move Action or attack action, and escaping a net, Animate Rope, Command Plants, or Control Plants spell is a Standard Action.
10 Ranks: You can attempt to escape from any entangling effect as a Standard Action with an Escape Artist check (DC = the effect’s save DC + 10). You can attempt an Escape Artist check as a Move Action to set the DC for a creature to escape from ropes or bindings; you gain a +10 bonus on the check if you instead attempt it as a Full-Round Action.
15 Ranks: You can escape any entangling effect (as above) as a Move Action or attack action. As a Standard Action, you can attempt an Escape Artist check (DC = the effect’s save DC + 20) to suppress a Slow or Paralysis effect for 1 round, plus 1 round for every 5 by which you exceed the DC. This action counts as purely mental for the purpose of being able to take it while Paralyzed.
20 Ranks: You can escape being Entangled, Grappled, or Pinned as an Immediate Action with an Escape Artist check (DC = the effect’s DC + 10 or the attacker’s CMB + 10). You can attempt to suppress a Slow or Paralysis effect as a Standard Action (increasing the DC by 10), a Move Action (increasing the DC by 15), or an Immediate Action (increasing the DC by 20).