Command Grab

A Command Grab is an attack that does not simply strike the opponent; if the attack finds the opponent and the opponent is in a state that is considered "grabbable" by the given command grab, the opponent will be caught in a hold and damage will be inflicted. The attack is similar to a regular Throw, but usually requires directional input, cannot be escaped by also inputting a throw, cannot be teched if thrown, and different command grabs possess different properties.

Some command grabs such as the Spinning Piledriver cannot be blocked and have a different startup and range than a regular throw, but cannot be performed on an airborne opponent. Others such as the Oil Dive can also be used on an airborne opponent, while others again such as the Siberian Blizzard can ONLY be performed on airborne opponents.

Command grabs usually inflict severe damage and in games such as Street Fighter IV they also initiate a short cinematic when successful. Most command grabs require a full-circle directional input or a half-circle backward input. Characters who possess command grabs are often referred to as "grapplers" (such as with Zangief or Hakan), but not always (such as with Ibuki or Guy).