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Grab release glitch

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Move.png It has been suggested that this article should be moved to TBD.
The reason given for the move is: No evidence that this is a glitch. New name suggestions appreciated. (Discuss)
King Dedede performing the glitch on Snake. The button inputs shown in the top-left corner shows that the Snake player is pressing up + B, yet nothing happens.

The grab release glitch is a glitch in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. 4, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that deprives certain characters of their recovery move if they have used it and are released from a grab without touching the ground or flinching. As a result, grabbing and releasing the character without pummelling or throwing will leave them with no recovery move, effectively guaranteeing a KO if they've already used their double jump.

The glitch occurs because of the behaviour of each character's up special move. Most characters regain their up special move when they exit their helpless state in any way. But for characters that do not become helpless upon using their up special move, the restoration has to be done in a more case-by-case way. The glitch is a result of the situation "grabbed and released without being pummeled, being thrown, or landing" not being recognized as a way to interrupt recoveries, and so was not coded to restore recoveries in such situations.

In competitive play, the grab release glitch is a viable edge-guarding tactic against these characters, most notably against Snake in Brawl, who must use C4 as a bomb recovery after being grabbed out of Cypher. As a result, characters must be careful when recovering low or aiming for the edge, as a single grab against a wary opponent will instantly gimp them.

Affected characters[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

Note: Barring Mii Brawler, the custom variants of the specified special moves are also affected by the glitch.

* Will lose the move only if the jump is used.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

* Will lose the move only if the jump is used.
** May be intentional, as the user now cannot reuse the move even if they are hit.