Editing Knuckle Joe

{{ArticleIcons|ssbb=y|ssb4=y}}

|image= [[File:Knuckle Joe.jpg|250px]]

|caption=[[File:KirbySymbol.svg|50px]]

Official artwork of Knuckle Joe in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.

|games= ''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''

|lastappearance=''{{s|wikirby|Kirby: Triple Deluxe}}'' (2014)

|englishactor = Alesia Glidewell

|japanactor = Minami Takayama

'''Knuckle Joe''' ({{ja|ナックルジョー|Nakkurujō}}, ''Knuckle Joe'') is a minor character from the {{uv|Kirby}} universe.

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==

[[File:Knuckle Joe SSBB.jpg|thumb|left|Knuckle Joe attacking in ''Brawl''.]]

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', Knuckle Joe is one of the supporting characters that spawns from the [[Assist Trophy]] [[item]]. When Knuckle Joe is summoned, he uses his "Vulcan Jab" technique, which is a series of rapid punches, on the nearest foe. Afterwards, he finishes the opponent off with one of two "finisher" attacks: the strong, short-ranged "Smash Punch", or the electricity-charged uppercut known as the "Rising Break" technique. The finisher he uses is chosen at random. He will use the finisher either the second or third time he did the Vulcan Jab. He could be considered the most powerful Assist Trophy character, because if he manages to trap an opponent in his initial barrage, he can [[One-hit KO|KO them from 0%]].

For this game, Knuckle Joe is peculiarly voiced by Alesia Glidewell. She is the same actress who provided the voices for {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} and [[Krystal]].

===Trophy description===

[[File:Knuckle Joe - Brawl Trophy.png|thumb|left|110px|The Knuckle Joe trophy in ''Brawl''.]]

''A martial artist known for amazing attacks like the Vulcan Jab. With his bandana, he looks and fights the part of a Muay Thai boxer. When [[Kirby]] copies Knuckle Joe, he gains the fighting techniques of a hand-to-hand-combat expert. Knuckle Joe also engages in friendly block-breaking competitions with Kirby. His other famous techniques are the Smash Punch and Rising Break.''

{{Trophy games|console1=SNES|game1=Kirby Super Star {{Flag|North America}}, Kirby's Fun Pack {{Flag|Europe}}}}

Knuckle Joe reprises his role as an Assist Trophy in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. He is functionally identical to his ''Brawl'' appearance, but the overall power of his Vulcan Jab and Rising Break have been considerably reduced, and neither attack can reliably OHKO opponents. As a trade-off, he now performs his attack pattern twice (a series of Vulcan Jabs then finishing with a Smash Punch/Rising Break) as opposed to once in ''Brawl'', making him much more effective. He can also be defeated this time around.

Also, Knuckle Joe is one of the very few trophies (along with [[Shadow the Hedgehog]], Timmy & Tommy, {{SSB4|Master Hand}}, and {{SSB4|Crazy Hand}}) to be a [[Challenge]] unlock in both versions of [[SSB4]]. In ''[[List of challenges (SSB4-3DS)|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', it is obtained by playing 10 collective hours of [[Versus Mode|Smash]]. (Total gameplay x participants.) In ''[[List of challenges (SSB4-Wii U)|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', it is obtained by clearing {{SSB4-Wii U|Classic Mode}} at intensity 9.0 without any customizations.

===Trophy description===

[[File:KnuckleJoeTrophyWiiU.png|thumb|100px|left]]

[[File:KnuckleJoeTrophy3DS.png|thumb|100px|right]]

{{flag|ntsc}} ''A martial-arts master, Knuckle Joe can be inhaled by Kirby and his Fighter ability copied. If you summon him, he'll leap toward the enemy nearest you and unleash his powerful Vulcan Jab attack. He'll then finish off his target with a devastating Smash Punch or Rising Break.''

{{flag|pal}} ''When Kirby copies this expert in all martial arts, he becomes a pro at hand-to-hand combat. Release Knuckle Joe in this game, and he'll jump towards the enemy nearest to you and unleash his mighty Vulcan Jab, then finish them off with a devastating Smash Punch or Rising Break!''

{{Trophy games|console1=SNES|game1=Kirby Super Star (08/1996)|console2=Wii|game2=Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)}}

==Origin==

[[File:KnuckleJoeKSS.png|thumb|left|Knuckle Joe's helper sprite in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]''.]]

[[File:Knuckle Joe enemy.png|thumb|right|Knuckle Joe's enemy sprite in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]''.]]

Knuckle Joe debuted as an enemy in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' (''Kirby's Fun Pak'' in PAL regions): he is the source of the Fighter ability, as well as the Helper (an ally character who fights alongside Kirby throughout the levels) created with it. Knuckle Joe's attacks in ''Kirby Super Star'' usually consist of punches. He can do Vulcan Jabs (punching rapidly), a Smash Punch, and an uppercut. If Kirby copied the Knuckle Joe, he gets the same abilities as him, but the Smash Punch is much more powerful. Kirby is also now able to perform Rising Breaks, which involves jumping up and doing an uppercut to an enemy. In ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4'', Knuckle Joe appears as an assist trophy and performs Vulcan Jabs. His finishing attack can either be a Smash Punch or a Rising Break. In ''Kirby Super Star'', Knuckle Joes are red with white hair, but when Kirby copies a Knuckle Joe and turns him into a Helper ally, the Knuckle Joe turns blue and has blond hair. The Knuckle Joe's design in ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4'' is based on the Helper ally version of Knuckle Joe in ''Kirby Super Star''.

{{clear}}

*In ''Brawl'', his official artwork has his mouth wide open when his trophy has his mouth shut.