Grab

The Grab is a move used by all characters in the Super Smash Bros. series. Samus, Zero Suit Samus, Ridley, and Dark Samus each have their own Grabs.

A Grab is performed by pressing the assigned button (usually Z or a shoulder button by default), and it is used to grab an opponent and render them unable to move or attack. The grabbed opponent suffers no damage and can easily break free if they have a low damage percentage. However, the Grab can be followed up by an Upward Throw, Downward Throw, Forward Throw, or Backward Throw, each of which deal damage and knockback.

Grabs may also be used to pick up items. When an item is held, using a Grab will drop the item. Holding the control stick in a particular direction will throw the item instead.

Some characters have long-reaching Grabs that are considered tethers, and therefore can be used to grab a ledge and assist in offstage recovery in Super Smash Bros. Melee onward. For most characters, attempting to use a Grab in midair will instead result in an airdodge; however, characters with tether grabs can use their Grab as a weak aerial attack, which does not grab the opponent but does deal a small amount of damage.

Samus
Samus's Grab is the Grappling Beam (グラップリングビーム) or Grapple Beam, based upon the beam of the same name from the Metroid series. She fires an electric beam from her Arm Cannon that latches onto opponents at a medium range and draws them in if it makes contact. However, it is a risky move because it has long ending lag when it misses.

Samus's Grab functions as a tether, and therefore can be used in the air as a Midair Grapple Beam, which can grab onto ledges or be used as a weak aerial attack. In Melee, the Midair Grapple Beam can attach to walls in addition to ledges; this was removed in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

In Melee (except for the PAL version), inputting a specific button combination allows Samus to fire a Grappling Beam that extends three times its normal length. Since it was removed in later titles, it was most likely a glitch rather than a deliberate easter egg.

Zero Suit Samus


Zero Suit Samus's Grab uses the same Plasma Whip employed in her Side Special Move. It is also executed in a similar fashion as the latter, with Zero Suit Samus kneeling as she swings the electric whip from her Paralyzer toward her opponent. However, while the Plasma Whip normally deals damage when used as an attack, here it deals no damage unless used in midair.

Zero Suit Samus's Grab functions very similarly to Samus's Grappling Beam in Brawl onward. Since it is a tether, it can grab opponents from a medium range; has a long ending lag if it misses; and can be used for tether recovery.

Every copy of Brawl comes pre-loaded with a sample snapshot, which depicts Zero Suit Samus using her Grab on Wario in Delfino Plaza.

Dark Samus


As an Echo Fighter of Samus, Dark Samus's Grab is virtually identical to the Grappling Beam. While she canonically mimics Samus's form, Dark Samus is not known to use the Grapple Beam in either of her appearances in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes or Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, making this a new addition to her moveset in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Smash Tips

 * Samus : Midair Grapple Beam:"Hop backward with a small jump, and then fire the Grapple Beam by using a grab in midair. Retreat while keeping your foes at bay!"


 * Zero Suit Samus : Plasma Whip:"If you try to grab in midair, you'll attack with the Plasma Whip instead. If the whip reaches an edge, you'll grab on to it. Handy!"