Knuckles (SSBU)

This article is about Knuckles' appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the character in other contexts, see Knuckles.

Knuckles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Universe	Sonic the Hedgehog
Availability	Released

“	Knuckles Runs it Back!	”
—Introduction tagline

Knuckles (ナックルズ, Knuckles) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the fourth fighter from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. He was released on July 15th, 2025.

Dan Green, who voiced Knuckles starting in Sonic X and continuing until Sonic and the Black Knight, reprises his role as Knuckles, using voice lines recycled from various Sonic games.

Moveset

Note: All numbers are listed as base damage, without the 1v1 multiplier.

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack		—	3%	Jabs straight forward, performs an uppercut, and then swings his fist down. Can also lead into a rapid jab, in which Knuckles rapidly punches forward with one hand. The finisher has him deliver a final punch to the opponent's chest.
			4%
			5%
Forward tilt		—	11%	Delivers a backhanded punch forwards. Can be angled up or down.
Up tilt		—	9%	A simple uppercut. Combos into itself at low percentages, and into aerials at higher percentages.
Down tilt		—	8%	Sweeps his fist down at the ground, popping the opponent into the air.
Dash attack		—	12%	Dropkicks the opponent. On the slower side of dash attacks, as Knuckles cannot act until he begins to get up off of the ground.
Forward smash		—	12% (punch), 10.6% (projectile)	Jumps forward while delivering a powerful straight punch to the opponent, with his fist covered in flame. If fully charged, this move also fires a flaming projectile in the shape of Knuckles' fist straight forward.
Up smash			15.2%	Delivers a jumping, spinning uppercut with his fist covered in flame.
Down smash			12.2%	Curls up into a ball and burrows into the ground, jumping out at the end of the move. The player can hold left or right as Knuckles is jumping out to affect where he lands at the end of the move. Knuckles is invulnerable while he is underground.
Neutral aerial		—	9% (clean), 7% (late)	A Sex kick, angled slightly downwards. Has all the same properties of a usual sex kick.
Forward aerial		—	15%	Swings his fist downwards with a fire effect. Has a sweetspot that spikes.
Back aerial		—	12%	Jabs his elbow behind him. The move has a bigger hitbox than the small size of the elbow jab would suggest.
Up aerial		—	10%	Headbutts the air directly above him.
Down aerial		—	11.5%	Swings both of his fists downwards. Spikes the opponent at higher percents.
Grab			—	Reaches forward with both hands, holding his opponent in his grip.
Pummel			1.3%	Knees the opponent in the chest.
Forward throw			10.9%	Reels his head back, and then headbutts the opponent.
Back throw			10%	Turns around, spins the opponent in the air for a moment, and then throws them behind him.
Up throw			11%	Jumps into the air with the opponent still in his grasp, and then flies straight downward, slamming the opponent's head into the ground.
Down throw			1.5% (initial hits), 8% (final hit)	Lays the opponent on the ground, then begins to pummel them with his fists covered in flame before delivering a final punch that launches them outwards.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			6%	Curls into a ball and spin dashes in a circle around him.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Curls into a ball and spin dashes in a circle around him.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			7%	Curls into a ball and spin dashes in a circle around him.
Edge attack Edge getups			9%	Pulls himself back up onto the stage with a spin dash.
Neutral special		Dig	14.4% (uppercut), 1.2% (per hit, Drill Claw)	Knuckles burrows into the ground, where he is able to move left or right freely. Upon releasing the button, or after approximately 3 seconds have passed, Knuckles will leap out of the ground with a spinning rising uppercut, dealing damage to anyone above him when he re-emerges. In the air, Knuckles will perform Drill Claw instead. Knuckles will pause for a moment, and then begin to head directly towards the ground while spinning. Any opponents he hits will be dragged down with him until he goes underground, taking damage all the while. Upon reaching the ground and burrowing underground, the move functions the same as it does on the ground.
Side special		Meteor Punch / Glide	5% (aerial hit), 16% (landing hit) (Meteor Punch) / N/A (Glide)	On the ground, Knuckles will leap up into the air, pausing for a moment before falling downwards at an angle with his fist outstretched. He can do damage to opponents while he's falling, and upon landing he will generate a shockwave at his landing spot which knocks opponents away. In the air, Knuckles will instead begin to glide forward. He can remain gliding for approximately 2 seconds, and is capable of changing direction while he does so. If Knuckles comes into contact with a wall whilst gliding, he will stick to it for a moment, and can climb up or down the wall while he is attached to it.
Up special		Spring Jump	N/A (jump), 4% (spring)	Bounces off of a Spring. When used on the ground, it remains in place for a few seconds, allowing Knuckles and any other character to keep bouncing off of it until it vanishes. When used in the air, the spring will tumble downwards, during which it can hit an opponent.
Down special		Spin Dash	1.5%-2.4% (loop), 4% (last)	Begins charging up a Spin Dash. The player must mash the button after inputting down special to continue charging. Upon release, Knuckles dashes forward quickly, dragging any opponents that he hits with him until he comes to a stop, at which point they are launched away.
Final Smash		???

Alternate costumes

Default	Knuckles' default appearance in "modern" Sonic games since Sonic Adventure.
Green	No reference, although it does appear to be an inversion of Knuckles' color scheme.
Light blue	References Hydrocity Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
White	References Mecha Knuckles, from Sonic Advance.
Black
Riders	Based on Knuckles' appearance in the Sonic Riders series of spinoffs.
Cowboy	Based on Knuckles' appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, a two-episode anime OVA released in 1996. Additionally, this version of the costume comes from the interpretation in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle.
Adventure 2	Based on Knuckles' appearance upon gaining all of his upgrades in Sonic Adventure 2.