Master Hand
Master Hand SSB4.png
File:SmashBrosSymbol.png

Render of Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. 4

A boss in SSB
Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Universe Super Smash Bros.
Console of origin Nintendo 64
Voice actor Jeff Manning (SSB)
Dean Harrington (Melee)
Pat Cashman (Brawl)
Xander Mobus (SSB4)
Article on WiKirby Master Hand
For details in individual games, see Master Hand (SSB), Master Hand (SSBM), Master Hand (SSBB), and Master Hand (SSB4)

Master Hand (マスターハンド, Master Hand) is a hand-like entity who acts as the main recurring boss in the Super Smash Bros. universe. He is the final boss of the 1P Game in Super Smash Bros. and of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. 4. He appears on Final Destination, where the player must defeat him by taking his HP to 0.

He is only playable in the games through hacking, but in Melee, a glitch exists that makes him playable. Master Hand's corresponding left hand, Crazy Hand, was introduced in Melee.

Despite appearing in all four games of the series, considerable mystery surrounds the character, due to a lack of official explanations. The fact that the intro to Super Smash Bros. has Master Hand appearing to set up a stage and the playable characters has caused some to speculate that the world of Smash and the World of Trophies in the Subspace Emissary are Master Hand's creation, as he is the leader of the latter.[1] Also, his Brawl trophy info (shown below) implies that he is not using his full power against the smashers and is merely toying with them for his own enjoyment. As seen in Super Smash Bros 4, it is possible that his true power is actually Master Core, however, there is little to no information about the relation between the two.

In Super Smash Bros.

 
Official artwork for Master Hand in Super Smash Bros.
Main article: Master Hand (SSB)

  In Super Smash Bros., Master Hand is the final opponent of the 1P Game, acting as a final boss. He resides in Final Destination.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

 
Master Hand's appearance in Melee.
Main article: Master Hand (SSBM)

  Super Smash Bros. Melee sees Master Hand reprising his role as a boss in Classic Mode. He is fought in the final battle on Final Destination. Defeating Master Hand once again causes the screen to fade to white as he explodes into the background.

Master Hand received a multitude of alterations to his overall fighting style when moving on to Melee. His moveset is slightly altered and expanded, he loses the ability to turn around, and his HP is altered based on the difficulty. In addition to this increase in HP, his power increases with each increment in difficulty, with the highest levels giving him a multitude of attacks with OHKO potential. Additionally, instead of appearing as a glove with a "cuff", Master Hand's "wrist" fades into nothingness.

The game also introduced Crazy Hand, Master Hand's left-handed partner. When the two are on the field at the same time, they can perform powerful combination attacks. Crazy Hand appears when set conditions are met. The duo also appear in Event 50: Final Destination Match as boss characters.

Trophy

 
The Master Hand trophy in Melee
Master Hand
The Master Hand awaits anyone who survives the long difficult road to the Final Destination. This symbolic link between the real world and the imaginary battlefields of Super Smash Bros. Melee is quite a handful in battle, and just because he wears a white glove doesn't mean he fights clean. Get ready to get flicked, swatted, punched, and poked like crazy!
  • Super Smash Bros.
    04/99

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

 
Official artwork of Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Main article: Master Hand (SSBB)

Master Hand reprises his role as the final boss of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and once again is fought on Final Destination. His attacks are very similar to that of his Melee form with some changes. The amount of HP he has is still dependent on the difficulty as well. Crazy Hand also returns in Classic Mode, if certain conditions are met.

Role in Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary

 
Master Hand released from his bonds during the Subspace Emissary.

Master Hand also appears in The Subspace Emissary, as the one giving orders to Ganondorf, Bowser and Wario. Soon after a Subspace Bomb is used on King Dedede's castle, Ganondorf receives new orders from Master Hand, which he gets via a TV screen; this leads the player to believe that Master Hand acts as the primary antagonist of the mode.

However, when all of the characters arrive in Subspace, Ganondorf reports to Master Hand after betraying Bowser; when Master Hand shows himself, however, Ganondorf learns that he has actually been under the control of Tabuu via the Chains of Light. Ganondorf attacks Tabuu with his Dark Dive as an act of defiance, but is easily knocked back, though his fall causes him to break the Chains of Light that Tabuu had controlled Master Hand with, thus freeing him. Master Hand too attempts to strike Tabuu, but just like Ganondorf, is defeated with little effort. As he is a different kind of being from the playable characters, he does not change into a trophy, and simply lies motionless on the ground when defeated by Tabuu, appearing to bleed from the areas he was previously attached to; his ultimate fate is never shown. However, it was revealed he somehow escaped Subspace's destruction, as he reapeared in the sequel.

Knowing that he would be able to use Master Hand to recruit fighters to aid him in his goals, Tabuu enslaved Master Hand with the Chains of Light some time before the plot of the Subspace Emissary begins.

Trophy

 
The Master Hand trophy in Brawl
Master Hand
A being tied to the link between this world, where trophies fight, and the world beyond. The meaning of his existence is unknown, as are his goals, but he seems to have obtained (and kept hidden) a power that borders on absolute. He also seems to feel a certain joy in challenging chosen warriors who've claimed many victories. He waits even now in Final Destination.
 : Super Smash Bros.
 : Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. 4

 
Master Hand in SSB4
Main article: Master Hand (SSB4)

Master Hand reprises his role as the final boss of Classic Mode in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, at least at the lower intensities. In higher intensities, he is fought along with Crazy Hand and after taking a certain amount of damage transforms into a dark mass named Master Core. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, he also has his own mode named Master Orders.

Unlike the previous games, Master Hand and Crazy Hand share a HP meter. They also have multiple new attacks, such as tossing energy balls to one another and opening a rift that sucks in characters that get caught inside.

Trophy

 
The Master Hand trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS
 
The Master Hand trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Master Hand
The mysterious Master Hand is the source of creation in the Smash Bros. universe. He appears in Final Destination when all other rivals are defeated. He fights with a diverse move set and only grows stronger if you make him angry. If you know when to fight and when to dodge, you'll take him down!
 : Super Smash Bros. (04/1999)
 : Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Other appearances

File:KatAMHand.png
Master Hand's artwork in Kirby and the Amazing Mirror.
File:Master crazy hand.jpg
Master Hand and Crazy Hand in Kirby and the Amazing Mirror.

Master Hand appears in the Game Boy Advance game Kirby and the Amazing Mirror as a mini-boss. Vacuuming him up will give Kirby the Smash ability, an ability that gives Kirby some of his moves from Super Smash Bros. Melee (though in a slightly altered state). Master Hand and Crazy Hand are also the bosses of the Candy Constellation stage.

HP

 
HP Values          
SSB 300 300 300 300 300
Melee 150 250 300 330 360
Brawl (Classic) 150 250 300 330 360
Brawl (Boss Battles) ? ? ? ? ?
Intensity 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0
for 3DS 110 148 190 261 269 280 303 334 368 410
for Wii U (Classic, solo) 110 148 190 261 269 280 303 334 344 380
for Wii U (Classic, co-op) 580

Origin

 
Wham Bam Rock as it appears in Kirby Super Star.

While Master Hand originated in the Smash series, his attacks are very similar to those of Wham Bam Rock in Kirby Super Star (Kirby's Fun Pak in the PAL regions).

Wham Bam Rock attacks using its hand, made out of rocks. One similar move is that Wham Bam Rock and Master Hand point at the player like a gun; however, Wham Bam Rock proceeds to make rocks fall, while Master Hand shoots out bullets. Both Wham Bam Rock and Master Hand perform a move that involves "walking" across the stage to flick the player. They both will also try to grab on to the player and crush them.[2]

Playability

In Melee, the Master Hand glitch, a particular application of the Name Entry glitch, allows a player to control Master Hand. Aside from this, the only other methods of controlling Master Hand are by hacking with a cheating device such as GameShark or Action Replay. Several rumors exist of being able to control Master Hand in other games, particularly the original Super Smash Bros., all currently are false.

Trivia

  • Master Hand has shared his voice actor with the announcer of each Smash Bros. game to date, as well as Crazy Hand in all games that include him.
  • Both the 3DS and Wii U versions of Super Smash Bros. 4 are the first installments since the original Super Smash Bros. to show a VS. screen when the player reaches Master Hand in Classic Mode.
    • This is also the first time an announcer call is used in-game for Master Hand, along with Crazy Hand.
  • In all games except Super Smash Bros., Master Hand has an idle pose, but it is never seen in normal gameplay because the AI never allows enough time between his attacks. The idle pose can, however, be seen using the Master Hand glitch in Melee, or using Boss control codes in Boss Battles mode in Brawl; for his idle pose, he simply clenches his fist.
    • However, in the 3DS and Wii U versions, there is a chance that Master Hand would not attack for a while, resulting in him doing the idle pose, as Crazy Hand sometimes attacks by himself.
  • Smash 4 is the only game where Master Hand has his own distinct theme.

See also

References

  1. ^ Masahiro Sakurai (10th April, 2008). Mysteries of The Subspace Emissary (text). Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Retrieved on 24th June, 2011. “Master Hand is the master of our world.”
  2. ^ CrappyCaptureDevice (3rd February, 2008). Master Hand's Moves - History Behind Super Smash Bros. Melee (video). YouTube. Retrieved on 24th June, 2011. “Shows where a few of the Master Hand's moves come from.”