Super Knuckles (2024)

Super Knuckles (スーパーナックルズ Sūpā Nakkuruzu^?) is a transformation that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is the Super State of Knuckles the Echidna, achieved by harnessing the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds.

Appearance[]

When transformed into Super Knuckles in Sonic Heroes, Knuckles' physical traits remain the same, he just gains a simple, pulsating golden energy shield around himself.

In the original Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games however, the Super State was completely different; Super Knuckles' red fur pulses in a bright whitish magenta color and he possesses a magenta colored aura (not seen during gameplay). In Sonic Superstars, the Super form maintains most of its classic look, with the whitish pulse, but it replaces the magenta aura for a goldish one.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles[]

Super Knuckles first appeared in Sonic & Knuckles and the full lock-on game Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The transformation can only be obtained by collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds as Knuckles. The player can then activate Knuckles' Super State by collecting at least fifty Rings and then press the jump button twice in succession. While Knuckles is transformed, the player's Ring count drops by one Ring every second. When the Ring count hits zero, the Act Boss is defeated or if Knuckles enters a Bonus Stage, the transformation ends.

In gameplay, Super Knuckles is invincible and can run, glide, and climb faster. However, he is still vulnerable to drowning and being crushed. In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, should the player enter the Giant Ring in Mushroom Hill Zone, the player will have their Chaos Emeralds turned into Super Emeralds in Hidden Palace Zone, thus preventing Knuckles from becoming Super Knuckles anymore. By collecting all the seven Super Emeralds though, the player is able to transform Knuckles into Hyper Knuckles, an advanced version of this transformation.

Sonic Heroes[]

In Sonic Heroes, Super Knuckles appeared as the Power Type member of Team Sonic, during the final battle against Metal Overlord.^{[note 1]} When Metal Overlord took off, Sonic transformed into Super Sonic and shared his immense chaos energy with Knuckles and Tails, allowing them to achieve their own Super States and face Metal Overlord together. With the power of teamwork, Team Sonic eventually defeated Metal Overlord.

In gameplay, Super Knuckles cannot take damage and he has automatically obtained three red Power Cores. Unique to Super Knuckles, his Volcanic Dunk attack has been changed, enabling him to throw fireballs in front of him over a long range to attack targets for indefinite periods of time. During the final boss battle, the player's Ring count drops by one every few seconds (due to a slower Ring Energy drain pace), and when it runs out, Knuckles and his team revert back to normal which will cost the player a life.

Sonic Mania[]

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, Knuckles can become Super Knuckles after the player collects all seven Chaos Emeralds. To transform into Super Knuckles during an Act, the player must press // in midair while holding at least fifty Rings (prior to Sonic Mania version 1.03, the player had to press the jump button in the middle of a Spin Jump). After transforming, the player's Ring count will begin decreasing by one every second. Like the Genesis/Mega Drive games, when the Ring count hits zero, the Act Boss is defeated or if Knuckles enters a Bonus/Pinball Stage, the transformation ends. In gameplay, Super Knuckles possesses invincibility, increased running speed, heightened gliding and climbing speed for as long as the transformation lasts.

In the Encore Mode of Sonic Mania Plus, Knuckles and his comrades assumed their respective Super States in Titanic Monarch Zone with the Chaos Emeralds in order to escape a space-time rift created by the Phantom Ruby. While escaping, they knocked Dr. Eggman into the rift.

By using Level Select to enter the Egg Reverie Zone as Knuckles, or by reaching the end of an "& Knuckles" playthrough in the No Save campaign with all seven Chaos Emeralds, the player can play as Super Knuckles against the Phantom King and Klepto Mobile. In this Zone, Super Knuckles starts out with fifty Rings. More Rings can obtained throughout the boss battle to compensate for the player's decreasing Ring count. Should Knuckles de-transform here however, the player will lose a life. Also worth noting is that Super Knuckles will lose ten Rings whenever he is hit by the Phantom King's attacks. In the Egg Reverie Zone (and in other acts after activating a feature in the Sound Test), Super Knuckles gains additional abilities: by pressing the jump button during a Spin Jump, Super Knuckles is able to take flight until he touches the ground. Also, by pressing the jump button while in flight, Super Knuckles will burst forward with instantaneous speed while the screen flashes, consuming five Rings in the process.

Sonic Frontiers[]

In Sonic Frontiers, Knuckles mentions Super Knuckles namely while telling Super Sonic that he would have defeated Wyvern faster if he had been in his Super form.^[1]

Sonic Superstars[]

In Sonic Superstars, Knuckles can use "Super Powers" after collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds. After transforming, the player's Ring count will begin decreasing by one every second. In gameplay, Super Knuckles possesses invincibility, increased running speed, jump higher, heightened gliding and climbing speed for as long as the transformation lasts.

Other game appearances[]

Knuckles in Sonic 2[]

In Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic 2, Knuckles is able to transform into Super Knuckles by collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds. In gameplay, Super Knuckles' abilities are identical to that in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Like before, the player's Ring count drops by one for every second Super Knuckles is active. When it reaches zero or the player finishes an Act, Knuckles reverts back to normal.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood[]

In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Super Knuckles was referenced in the Chaos Emeralds' entry in the codex, where it is stated Knuckles is among many of the people who have used the Emeralds to attain a Super State.^[2]

Sonic the Hedgehog (2013)[]

In the 2013 remaster of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Knuckles can be unlocked as a bonus feature in gameplay for Knuckles. On the Level Select menu, the player must change the Max Emeralds setting from 6 to 7 to allow all seven Chaos Emeralds to be collected, as the original Mega Drive release had only six. Once finished, the player can use Super Knuckles in any of the Zones after collecting fifty Rings as Knuckles. His appearance is almost identical to his original one from Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Super Knuckles' abilities in this game are the same as in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Like before, the player's Ring count drops by one for every second Super Knuckles is active. When it reaches zero, Knuckles reverts back to normal.

Powers and abilities[]

Due to being infused with the seven Chaos Emeralds' power, Super Knuckles accordingly commands ultimate power and has access to unlimited energy.^[3] As Super Knuckles, Knuckles' innate abilities far surpasses his normal ones. His trademark super strength has been enhanced to the point where he can easily smash a ship from the Egg Fleet with a single strike and throw punches so powerful that he creates fireballs which explode upon impact. Knuckles also becomes fast enough to keep up with Super Sonic who can move at approximately the speed of light.^[4][5] His reflexes are also improved, allowing him to keep up with his increased movements. Like any traditional Super State, Knuckles gains new abilities in this form as well, including high-speed run-flight and virtual invulnerability to harm.

Weakness[]

Super Knuckles can only stay transformed for a short time without sustainment from Ring Energy, as a Super State consumes tremendous amounts of energy.

In other media[]

Books and comics[]

Archie Comics[]

Main article: Hyper Knuckles (Archie)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Knuckles' Super State was dubbed Hyper Knuckles despite not actually being in his respective Hyper transformation. This was because he was set up to battle Super Sonic, and the writers wanted to avoid the monotony of two supers against each other.^{[citation needed]}

This form would be referred to as "Super Knuckles" as well later on. Knuckles' first known transformation was when he went head-to-head with Super Sonic in a battle for the Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles would later turn into Hyper Knuckles again to battle Master Mogul and Hunter.

Quote[]

Trivia[]

• Knuckles' All-Star Move in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and its sequel - "Emerald Power" - causes Knuckles to use the power of the Master Emerald to take on a powered up state similar to how Super Knuckles appeared in Sonic Heroes, albeit with a green energy shield instead of a yellow one, and a green energy trail.
• Prior to Sonic Heroes, Super Knuckles, unlike most other Super States, did not have a golden glow. He had a magenta-colored one instead.
• According to the official Japanese guide of Sonic Heroes, Sonic, Knuckles and Tails entered a "Hyper Mode" during the Metal Overlord fight, though its usage is not completely clear.^[6]
• Super Knuckles' golden shielded appearance in Sonic Heroes was criticized by fans who were familiar with the older Genesis/Mega Drive games where Knuckles had his own unique transformation. Despite this, the original form would return in modern games focused on 2D gameplay such as Sonic Mania or the 2013 remaster of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Sprites and models[]

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Notes[]

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