Jab grab

Pikachu performing a jab grab on Captain Falcon. Captain Falcon can be seen obtaining an extra 2% damage before he is grabbed.

The jab grab (abbreviated "JG") is a character-specific technique performable by Pikachu, Mario, Ness, and Fox in Smash 64, done by abusing the shield stun of a jab. It is performed by jabbing, and then using a grab instantly afterwards. The jab cancel must be done fast enough to grab the enemy while he/she is still in shield stun. Additionally, performing the grab too late will just perform another jab instead. It is a simple form of shield pressure, and is easier to perform with Mario and Pikachu than Fox. This is because performing the technique with Fox requires the grab to be inputted slightly faster. Unlike with Mario and Pikachu, performing the jab grab with Fox doesn't give any indication that the jab was performed just before, though if the grab was performed first, pressing A (for the jab) would cause a forward throw, which isn't the case when a successful jab grab is done.

Level 8-9 computer opponents occasionally use this technique as well, more often with Mario.

This technique is highly useful in competitive play, and it is one of the key reasons why certain characters are considered better at pressuring, as not having this technique highly limits shield pressure.

Character differences

Jab grabbing requires different timings against certain characters due to their varying OoS options:

• This technique has to be inputted with perfect timing against Pikachu, or it will be able to use Quick Attack to escape, due to the move's invincibility frames.
• Similar to Pikachu's case, it is also quite hard to do this technique against Samus, as she can use Screw Attack OoS very quickly, though it doesn't have invincibility frames like Quick Attack does. It is also slightly harder to do so vs. Fox due to his Shine.
• It is somewhat hard to perform against Jigglypuff due to the timing having to be more precise, as Jigglypuff has a very large shield, though it is definitely easier than against Samus or Pikachu.
• It is easiest to do against Donkey Kong due to his slow and poor OoS options, followed by Link, Yoshi, and Captain Falcon for similar reasons.

Certain characters cannot perform this technique and must use other setups instead.

• The same idea of jab grab applies to Jigglypuff, Luigi, and Kirby, but it is much less common due to their slow jabs and movement speed.
  • Instead, Jigglypuff uses n-air, f-air, or d-air into grab
  • Instead, Luigi uses n-air, d-air, or fireball into grab
  • Instead, Kirby can use an aerial, forward smash, or up tilt into grab, though there are usually better options.
• Captain Falcon has potential to use this technique, as well as the characters who can perform it properly. However, this is not considered true shield pressure - rather, it is a mindgame, as a grab cannot be performed immediately after the jab, meaning the user must read the opponent in order to land the grab. It is a common technique used in Falcon dittos, and against Donkey Kong and Link, for reasons mentioned above, though it is impossible for Falcon to use the technique against Pikachu and Samus, as explained above.
  • Instead, Falcon can use any of his aerials. This makes the inability to jab grab not as detrimental as with many other characters.
• Link has enough shield pressure to easily use this technique, but his grab is too slow.
  • Instead, Link must aerial into grab or use a projectile.
• DK cannot use this technique due to his jab being so slow (slowest in the game).
  • Instead, DK can use aerials such as f-air and moves such as down b into grab. The inability to setup grabs easily is one of the main reasons why DK is considered to be lower tier if not bottom.
• Yoshi and Samus cannot perform this technique efficiently at all as they have incredibly slow grabs and somewhat slow jabs. In the earlier tier lists, this was one of the main reasons why Yoshi and Samus, though more so Samus, were considered to be low tier as they had bad out of shield options.
  • Yoshi instead has to use an aerial into grab. As Yoshi's grabs are not powerful nor do they combo well, this is a rarer option however instead of normal aerial combos. It is much more common to see a parry into a grab instead.
  • An alternative to this for Samus is to instead uses a partially or fully charged charge shot into a grab. The inability to properly pressure shields without this rare option is one of the reasons why Samus is considered to be bottom tier.