Grab release glitch

King Dedede performing the glitch on Snake. The button inputs shown in the top-left corner shows that the Snake player is pressing up + B, yet nothing happens.

The grab release glitch is a glitch in Super Smash Bros. Brawl that deprives certain characters of their recovery move if they have used it and are released from a grab without touching the ground or flinching. The opponent also cannot be pummeled before the grab release ends or this glitch will not work. The glitch is a result of the programming, which used to allow these characters to act after using their up special move instead of becoming helpless.

In competitive play, the grab release glitch is a viable edge guarding tactic against these characters, most notably against Snake, who must time a precise C4 explosion on himself to recover after being grabbed out of Cypher.

Affected characters

• Mr. Game & Watch - loses his Fire
• Pit - loses his Wings of Icarus*
• Snake - loses his Cypher
• Sonic - loses his Spring Jump

*Pit's form of this glitch may be intentionally programmed, since he normally cannot use his up special move again when hit with an attack until he lands.