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The Hookshot and the Clawshot are grab moves performed by Link and Young Link in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Link and Toon Link Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The hookshot is a recurring item in the Legend of Zelda universe.

Hookshot

The Hookshot is Link's and Young Link's grab in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Toon Link's Grab in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link/Young Link used this to perform the wall-grapple, while in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Toon Link uses his to perform the Tether Recovery and grab. Similar to Link's clawshot, if it misses, Link is left wide open. It also has two hitboxes that follow the same mechanic from Link's Clawshot.

Clawshot

The Clawshot is Link's grab in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Although it's very similar to the the Hookshot in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link's new Tether Recovery now finds and tracks the wall, instead of just latching onto it when it touches. Also, when used in the air to attack, there are two different hitboxes. The first is when the claw is shot out, and hits the opponent. The second hitbox is at the end of the Clawshot, when the claw closes. If the player misses while using this, there is a large ending lag that leaves Link very vulnerable to attack. It should also be noted that if it fails, Link doesn't enter Helpless state. In most cases it's recommended to use the Clawshot for recovery because it helps prevent Link from getting edgeguarded by certain attacks. If used on land, it has an extended reach but if it fails, it leaves Link wide open.

Another new ability gained is its function when used in mid-air. Whilst the grab button in mid-air usually causes a dodge, the Clawshot becomes a decent ranged, fast-acting mid-air attack, with less lag than when used on the ground.

The Clawshot has an invaluable edgehogging property in that it can quickly give Link more invincibility frames by pressing back after Link has grabbed the edge, and immediately pressing "Z" releasing the clawshot, and pressing "Z" again to grab the edge and gain invincibility frames.

The reason that the two are named differently is that Link in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is based off of his "Twilight Princess" model, where the item in the game is called "clawshot" instead of the old "hookshot."

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