Grab

A grab is any attack that cannot be blocked. The vast majority of 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. All throws grant 8 frames of good invincibility when started.

Some B attacks are specialized grabs. These are:

Some grabs also function as a recovery technique when used in midair. By pressing Z 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 Z again 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:
 * Bowser's forward B in Melee (can grab in the air or at close range on the ground, can only throw forwards or backwards. No invincibility)
 * Bowser's forward B in Brawl (can grab and suicide kill opponents)
 * Yoshi's Neutral B (traps opponent in an egg, opponent takes half damage until they escape)
 * Kirby's Neutral B (traps opponent in Kirby, opponent can wriggle to affect Kirby's movement)
 * Captain Falcon's and Ganondorf's up Bs (grabs opponent in air and propels them away, can be done repeatedly if connects the first time)
 * Ganondorf's side B in Brawl (grabs opponent and hit them to the ground)
 * Wario's Neutral B (Wario bites his opponents several times, then throw them out).
 * King Dedede's Neutral B (Works much like Kirby's Neutral B).
 * Lucario's Side B is an energy attack at long range and is an Aura-powered grab at close range.
 * Diddy Kong's Side B latches onto an opponent and has the option to start pummeling or to let go.


 * 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.
 * Olimar's Pikmin, which dash forward and do the grabbing and throwing for him
 * Zero Suit Samus' 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
 * Roy
 * 1) Yoshi
 * 2) Kirby
 * 3) Sheik
 * 4) Zelda
 * 5) Falco
 * 6) Jigglypuff
 * 7) Mewtwo
 * 8) Peach
 * Fox
 * 1) Luigi
 * DK
 * 1) Ice Climbers
 * 2) Mr. Game & Watch
 * 3) Ganondorf
 * 4) Captain Falcon
 * 5) Dr. Mario / Mario
 * 6) Bowser
 * 7) Pichu
 * 8) Ness
 * 9) Pikachu