Grab

File:Grab.jpg

A grab is not an attack, but the action of grabbing and holding an opponent. Regular grabs are performed by pressing Z, R+A or L+A. Once grabbed, a character can be pummeled with A or Z and thrown by tilting the stick in one of the four standard directions. A grabbed character will automatically escape after a certain amount of time depending on their damage; higher damaged characters will be held longer. Damage inflicted upon the grabbed character will increase grab time, and any button input by the grabbed character will decrease grab time.

Once a throw is begun, the character cannot escape, with the exception of Kirby's forward and back throws in Melee. All throws grant 8 invincibility frames when started.

Grabs cannot be shielded; attempting to do so has no effect. This means that grabs cannot be Perfect Shielded. Grabs also ignore launch resistance.

Some special attacks are specialized grabs. These are:

• Bowser's Koopa Klaw in Melee (can grab in the air or at close range on the ground, can only throw forwards or backwards. No invincibility frames)
• Bowser's Flying Slam in Brawl (can grab and suicide kill opponents)
• Yoshi's Egg Lay (traps opponent in an egg, opponent takes half damage until they escape)
• Kirby's Inhale (traps opponent in Kirby, opponent can wriggle to affect Kirby's movement)
• Captain Falcon's and Ganondorf's up specials (grabs opponent in air and propels them away, can be done repeatedly if connects the first time)
• Ganondorf's Flame Choke in Brawl (grabs opponent and throws them into the ground)
• Wario's Chomp (bites opponent several times, then throws them out).
• King Dedede's Inhale (same as Kirby's).
• Lucario's Force Palm (grabs and throws forwards after about a second, cannot grab in air or at long range)
• Diddy Kong's Monkey Flip (latches onto an opponent, can either pummel to release or let go)

Some grabs also function as a recovery technique when used in midair. By pressing the grab button in midair, certain characters will extend a long-range grappling item. When used on the ground, these grabs have the longest range, but a lot of lag if the grab does not connect. In Melee, if the grab connects with a wall, the character will hang from that wall and can press a button to be pulled up to where the end of the grab connected, allowing for second and third jumps to recover, known as wall-grapple. In Brawl, they will be shot to the nearest edge, making them Tether Recoveries. These include:

• Link, Toon Link and Young Link's Hookshot (and Link's Clawshot in Brawl)
• Samus' Grapple Beam
• Lucas's Rope Snake

In addition, there are several other ranged grabs, although they cannot be used as Tether Recoveries:

• Yoshi's tongue (the only character with a ranged grab without a Tether Recovery).
• Olimar's Pikmin, which dash forward and do the grabbing and throwing for him (one special is already a Tether Recovery)
• Zero Suit Samus's Paralyzer whip. (two of her specials are already Tether Recoveries)

Initial Grab Range

Melee grab ranges by character according to Mew2King's webpage

1. Samus
2. Link
3. Young Link
4. Marth
5. Roy
6. Yoshi
7. Kirby
8. Sheik
9. Zelda
10. Falco
11. Jigglypuff
12. Mewtwo
13. Peach
14. Fox
15. Luigi
16. DK
17. Ice Climbers
18. Mr. Game & Watch
19. Ganondorf
20. Captain Falcon
21. Dr. Mario / Mario
22. Bowser
23. Pichu
24. Ness
25. Pikachu

Grabs in the original Super Smash Bros.

While the physics of grabbing remain much the same between Melee and Brawl, they were heavily altered between SSB and Melee. In SSB, a grab always lasts the same amount of time. Once the time is up, a forward throw automatically takes place. Grabs cannot be escaped unless someone is hit hard enough, and only two throws (forward and back) are available. Pummeling does not exist; pressing any button results in a forward throw.