Garrote (3.5e Equipment)

The garrote is a weapon composed of thin metal wire between two wooden spools. Its not a traditional weapon, you cannot make normal attacks with it. Instead you wrap it around an opponent's neck and tighten to strangle them to death. It can only be done against when the target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC or when flanking against opponents no more than two size categories larger than you. In order to attack with a garrote you must move into their space (provoking an attack of opportunity) and make a special touch attack. The creature's natural armor applies to this touch attack, as does half their armor bonus if they are wearing heavy armor. If successful you can make a grapple check as a free action using either your strength or dexterity, as it is a matter of getting it into the right position. Improved Grapple doesn't stop the provoking for moving into their space, but it does help with the subsequent grapple check. You deal damage each time you maintain the grapple, including Strength bonus, weapon enhancement, or sneak attack.

When grappled by a garrote, the victim cannot speak or use vocal components, as they barely are able to breathe. Removing a garrote is difficult. Beyond breaking the grapple (which takes a -4 penalty when grappled with the garrote) they can attempt to sunder the garrote. Regardless if they are successful at the sunder or not, they deal their weapon damage to themselves. They can take a -4 penalty on the sunder attempt to try and remove the garrote without injuring themselves.

You can get a locking garrote for an additional 100 gp. You can lock it into position as a move action and release the grapple. The garrote will continue to grapple its victim once a round using your last grapple check and dealing damage as if you were using the garrote yourself.

Garrotes don't function on creatures without necks, for obvious reasons. Creatures that don't breathe can be garroted, but do not take the -4 penalty for trying to remove the garrote safely. Though it is a light weapon, it requires two hands to use correctly.

You get a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal a garrote on your body.