diff --git a/src/mattack_actors.cpp b/src/mattack_actors.cpp
index b00d2a5c92cd5..4f7ea3ffba130 100644
--- a/src/mattack_actors.cpp
+++ b/src/mattack_actors.cpp
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ int melee_actor::do_grab( monster &z, Creature *target, bodypart_id bp_id ) cons
     game_message_type msg_type = target->is_avatar() ? m_warning : m_info;
     const std::string mon_name = get_player_character().sees( z.pos() ) ?
                                  z.disp_name( false, true ) : _( "Something" );
-    Character *foe = dynamic_cast<Character *>( target );
+    Character *foe = target->as_character();
     map &here = get_map();
 
     int eff_grab_strength = grab_data.grab_strength == -1 ? z.get_grab_strength() :
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ int melee_actor::do_grab( monster &z, Creature *target, bodypart_id bp_id ) cons
             std::advance( intersect_iter, rng( 0, intersect.size() - 1 ) );
             tripoint target_square = random_entry<std::set<tripoint>>( intersect );
             if( z.can_move_to( target_square ) ) {
-                monster *zz = dynamic_cast<monster *>( target );
+                monster *zz = target->as_monster();
                 tripoint zpt = z.pos();
                 z.move_to( target_square, false, false, grab_data.drag_movecost_mod );
                 if( !g->is_empty( zpt ) ) { //Cancel the grab if the space is occupied by something
diff --git a/src/melee.cpp b/src/melee.cpp
index 2e74ff06172cd..6d7e77e5205b0 100644
--- a/src/melee.cpp
+++ b/src/melee.cpp
@@ -1909,17 +1909,6 @@ void Character::perform_technique( const ma_technique &technique, Creature &t,
                 }
             }
         }
-        // Remove our grab if we knocked back our grabber (if we can do so is handled by tech conditions)
-        if( has_flag( json_flag_GRAB ) && t.has_effect_with_flag( json_flag_GRAB_FILTER ) ) {
-            for( const effect &eff : get_effects_with_flag( json_flag_GRAB ) ) {
-                if( t.has_effect( eff.get_bp()->grabbing_effect ) ) {
-                    t.remove_effect( eff.get_bp()->grabbing_effect );
-                    remove_effect( eff.get_id(), eff.get_bp() );
-                    add_msg_debug( debugmode::DF_MELEE, "Grabber %s knocked back, grab on %s removed", t.get_name(),
-                                   eff.get_bp()->name );
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     Character *you = dynamic_cast<Character *>( &t );
diff --git a/src/monattack.cpp b/src/monattack.cpp
index f890f63877cd9..061e878227947 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -2967,7 +2967,7 @@ bool mattack::nurse_operate( monster *z )
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            z->type->special_attacks.at( "grab" ).operator * ().call( *z );
+            z->type->special_attacks.at( "grab" )->call( *z );
             // Check if we successfully grabbed the target
             if( target->has_effect( effect_grabbed ) ) {
                 z->dragged_foe_id = target->getID();
@@ -4956,7 +4956,7 @@ bool mattack::flesh_tendril( monster *z )
 
     if( ( distance_to_target == 2 || distance_to_target == 3 ) && one_in( 4 ) ) {
         //it pulls you towards itself and then knocks you away
-        bool pulled = z->type->special_attacks.at( "ranged_pull" ).operator * ().call( *z );
+        bool pulled = z->type->special_attacks.at( "ranged_pull" )->call( *z );
         if( pulled && one_in( 4 ) ) {
             sounds::sound( z->pos(), 60, sounds::sound_t::alarm, _( "a deafening roar!" ), false, "shout",
                            "roar" );
@@ -4969,7 +4969,7 @@ bool mattack::flesh_tendril( monster *z )
             g->fling_creature( target, coord_to_angle( z->pos(), target->pos() ),
                                z->type->melee_sides * z->type->melee_dice * 3 );
         } else {
-            z->type->special_attacks.at( "grab" ).operator * ().call( *z );
+            z->type->special_attacks.at( "grab" )->call( *z );
         }
     }