Grab is an action that allows one fighter to grab hold of another debuting in Super Smash Bros., but made its way into the Kirby series in Kirby Fighters 2. This action is referred to as a Gobble in the latter for characters who use their mouths to grab instead.
A Gobble/Grab is activated with the press of to a nearby opponent, even if they are guarding. This move also works on Drop Stars. If the move misses, then the initiator is punished with a failing animation making them vulnerable. When an opponent is captured with a Gobble or Grab either by standing still or during a dash, the capturer has a few seconds of invincibility. Utilizing this brief grace period, they can perform a Spit/Throw. A Spit/Throw can only be done in the direction in which the Gobble/Grab is facing, though the capturer can turn around. This launches the opponent in a tumbling state where the thrower’s buddy can hit the opponent in this state to perform a Buddy Juggle. A Buddy Juggle simply deals extra damage to the opponent and continues launching them for a longer period. An opponent can escape a Gobble/Grab by moving in frantic directions before a Spit/Throw happens.
Grabbing has been present in every Super Smash Bros. installation, mainly being used to throw opponents at lower percents to start combos and at higher percents to KO if the throw is strong enough. Grabbing can be done in three ways:
By standing still, introduced in Super Smash Bros.
After doing a pivot, introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (not implemented in Kirby Fighters 2)
Most grabs are a standard motion where a character might grab an opponent with one hand whereas other fighters like Samus have a long-reaching grab that disjoints outward and can also grab ledges. Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight all grab fighters with one hand. Mario and R.O.B. also fall under this motion. The button the player has mapped to their controller to use a grab can also be pressed to grab items in midair.
During a grab, the grabber can either perform a pummel or a throw; the lower the damage percent the grabbed enemy has, the faster they can escape so the grabber must quickly make a choice.
Pummels
A pummel is a light attack where the grabber strikes the captured foe to deal extra damage. Pummels are performed by repeatedly pressing the grab button or the attack button(s) while a opponents has been grabbed. Most pummels are quicker than others allowing for the grabber to rack up even more damage.
Every character has a unique throw for each of the four main directions: a forward throw, a back throw, an up throw, and a down throw. These throws vary in knockback and power allowing for either combo-starting or KOing.
Comparisons between Kirby Fighters 2 and the Super Smash Bros. series
Grabs are able to go through guards and shields
Captured opponents can mash out of a grab command by moving the control stick around
Missing a grab command results in a failing animation, allowing opponents to punish the grabber
When two players grab each other at the same time, they both will clash and slightly be pushed back canceling both grabs
Fighters can initiate a grab while running, however in the Super Smash Bros. series, these grabs have longer range but also slower starting and missing animations unlike Kirby Fighters 2 which remains unchanged in its aspects
In Kirby Fighters 2, a capturer can turn around when a grab command is successful by inputting the opposite direction they are facing whereas this input will initiate a back throw in the Super Smash Bros. series as fighters cannot turn around when grabbing
Thrown enemies in the Super Smash Bros. series cannot damage other fighters unlike in Kirby Fighters 2, though the action and/or collateral of throwing an opponent can deal damage
Related Quotes
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You have to wait at least a second between letting go of opponents and grabbing them again, so be patient!”
If you turn around while running and then grab, your grabbing range will be longer than usual.”
— Turning and Grabbing Tip • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
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Grab opponents and press the attack button to perform a grab attack. You can deal extra damage to the opponent before throwing them, but make sure they don't escape!”
You have to wait a short time between letting go of opponents and grabbing them again, so be patient!”
— Grab Tip • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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After getting out of a grab or immediately after being thrown, you can't be grabbed again by an opponent. Fighters flash yellow when grabs won't work.”
— Grab Resistance Tip • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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Grabs can't be blocked by a shield. However, you're left vulnerable for a while if you miss a grab, so grab smartly.”
— Missing Grabs Tip • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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If you grab an opponent at the same time they grab you, the two grabs may cancel each other out. This can be useful if you can predict the grab.”
— Grab Parrying Tip • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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If you get grabbed, you can shorten the amount of time you're caught by wriggling around. When you start to flash yellow, you'll soon be able to escape.”
— Judging Escape Timing Tip • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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If you get captured by a Gobble or Grab, escape by moving Control Stick around in all directions!”
to a nearby opponent, even if they are guarding. This move also works on Drop Stars. If the move misses, then the initiator is punished with a failing animation making them vulnerable. When an opponent is captured with a Gobble or Grab either by standing still or during a dash, the capturer has a few seconds of invincibility. Utilizing this brief grace period, they can perform a Spit/Throw. A Spit/Throw can only be done in the direction in which the Gobble/Grab is facing, though the capturer can turn around. This launches the opponent in a tumbling state where the thrower’s buddy can hit the opponent in this state to perform a Buddy Juggle. A Buddy Juggle simply deals extra damage to the opponent and continues launching them for a longer period. An opponent can escape a Gobble/Grab by moving 
in frantic directions before a Spit/Throw happens.
