Super Smash Bros. Melee player Kevin “PewPewU” Toy’s latest labbing venture has led him to discover two different “grab states”: aerial and grounded. The grab states are most easily distinguished by the grabee’s animations (flailing legs vs. planted feet) and can be character-dependent. For example, Marth’s victims are about evenly split between aerial and grounded states while Fox’s are only grounded.
The implication is that grab state tech is applicable primarily in team battles. It might be useful in singles for Ice Climbers and characters who can throw projectiles, grab their opponent, and then have said projectile hit the opponent. Such characters include Peach, Link, Young Link, and Samus.
These grab states affect scenarios’ outcomes because of different hitboxes reacting to the grabbed character’s position. Consider Captain Falcon’s stomp-knee sequence in a team battle. If he tries to use it to combo someone his partner has grabbed in the aerial state, it will fail. The character will merely be hit to the ground. If they’re in the grounded state, however, the combo is possible, as the character will be launched into the air rather than just hit the ground.
Somewhat surprisingly, a character’s damage percentage is irrelevant when determining if they are hit out of a grab. PewPewU’s findings have led him to believe it’s dependent entirely upon base knockback and move staling. He says that oftentimes, attacks that normally release the grab will not after becoming stale by just one move. Watch his video explanation below:
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