Chain grab

A chain grab (also chain throw) refers to a series of grabs and throws that the victim cannot escape. Generally, a player throws the opponent a specific direction (most commonly down or up), chases the enemy's directional influence, and grabs the opponent while he is still in mid-air and before he can tech. Sheik and the Ice Climbers are examples of characters who rely heavily on chain grabs.

Controversy

Chain grabbing is a controversial technique within the community. Many players consider it an unsportsmanlike move because it can be inescapable when perfected by the grabber. However, tournament players generally see it as a valid technique which characters like Sheik, Marth, and the Ice Climbers need to overcome other deficiencies.

Examples

Characters with well-known chain grabs include:

• Sheik: can chain most characters to medium percents with her down throw
• Marth: his up throw can be used against Fox and Falco, while his forward throw can be used against lighter characters like Peach and other Marths.
• Ice Climbers: through desynching, an Ice Climber player can acheive devastating chain grabs against a large portion of the SSBM cast. Popo alone can chain grab people at lower percentages with his down throw.
• Captain Falcon: can chain throw characters of medium to low falling speed with his down throw and can tech-chase fastfallers into another grab after an up throw, creating a de facto chain throw. Captain Falcon can also use his up throw to chain grab medium to fast falling characters at low percentages.
• Peach, Pikachu, Pichu, Fox and others: many characters can use chain grabs against the fast-fallers.