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Zangief-piledriver-art

Zangief's Spinning Piledriver, an example of a Command Grab

A Command Grab is a Special Attack that functions similar to a throw, being an unblockable attack that grabs the opponent. Unlike regular throws, command grabs often require a command motion, cannot be teched if thrown, and cannot be recovered from with a backwards roll.

Command grabs come in various types, often depending on character archetype. Characters that specialize in command grabs are known as grapplers, often divided between "pure" grapplers, such as Zangief and Hugo that have an extremely powerful command grab with high damage and extremely fast startup, and mobile grapplers, such as Abel and Alex that sacrifice certain traits in their 'primary' command grab in favor of having other special attacks to supplement their gameplan. Other characters such as Vega and Abigail have command grabs but are not considered grapplers, using them as a secondary mixup option.

Aside from the standard grounded command grab, various other versions with unique properties exist. Some command grabs move forward to catch opponents backing away, such as Meat Squasher, while others are built to catch opponents that jump away anticipating a command grab, such as the Wingless Airplane. Certain command grabs deal little to no damage, but are designed as combo starters with variable followups, such as Tenshin.

Ibuki Raida Xiaoyu small

Ibuki's Raida

Some moves are considered "hit grabs", attacks with regular hitboxes that lead into an animation. Examples of this attack include Ibuki's Raida, Oro's Niou Riki, and Seth's Tanden Engine Though they are blockable, they have some benefits associated with command grabs, namely an inability to be recovered backwards or an inability to be parried.

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