Editing Master Hand glitch

[[File:Playable Master Hand SSBM 2.png|thumb|By performing the glitch, Master Hand can be used on any stage.|300px]]

The '''Master Hand glitch''' is a variant of the [[Name Entry glitch]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' that allows the player to use and control {{SSBM|Master Hand}} on any stage. It is  impossible to use any other [[non-playable character]]s through this glitch. Although any player is capable of being Master Hand, only the third player is capable of actually controlling him. Like any other character, Master Hand will appear with a damage percentage meter. Since he takes no knockback at all, he cannot be [[KO]]'d except in [[Stamina Mode]]. Any options that would affect knockback, such as handicap and damage ratio, will not affect Master Hand at all. There is a subglitch that can be done called the [[Master Hand laser glitch]].

This method works on all modes except Tournament, though the game is highly susceptible to freezing after activation.

The player must have a controller in slot 3, or Master Hand cannot be controlled. It is much easier to do if there is only one name entered. Using this controller, place the cursor over the name field on the character selection screen. Now press {{Button|GCN|A}} and {{Button|GCN|B}} at the same time, and the player will come to the name selection. Hold {{Button|GCN|B}}, but release {{Button|GCN|A}}, then go down with the cursor until they are over the "name entry field". Then press {{Button|GCN|A}} at the right time. The game should want to go back to the menu, because the player held {{Button|GCN|B}}, but it should also want go to the name entry screen, because they pressed {{Button|GCN|A}} over "name entry". If performed correctly, instead of going to either of these, the game should go to the stage selection screen (or, in Single Player, straight to the game). After selecting the stage, the player will be playing as Master Hand.

This method is much simpler, but only works in Melee or Special Melee mode. To perform it, simply have two controllers; one as P3 and the second one in any other port. Have the controller that's not player three select a character, and then hover over the back button, while the one in the third port goes to select a name, and have them hover over the name entry button. Both controllers must then hit {{Button|GCN|A}} at the same time, as to select their option, and if done correctly, the stage select screen will appear (there is very little leeway between selection, less than a second). On whatever stage selected, player 3 will be Master Hand.

These move names are not official and the following names are from the game's files. All directions are pressed on the [[D-Pad]], not the [[Control Stick]]. Additionally the player cannot move him; the player can only get around by doing moves.

!width=10%|Debug mode input

!Description

|Master Hand makes a vaguely plane-like shape, then flies into the background. When Master Hand is about to launch, the fire that comes out of his wrist is a meteor smash. He attempts to fly into the player, then flies in from the right.

|Master Hand flies off the screen, then appears in the background as a fist. He attempts to slam into the player, then flies back onto the stage from the top of the screen. As a meteor smash, it cannot KO grounded players until very high percentages.

|Master Hand flies off the top of the screen, then appears in the background. He attempts to flatten the player. A powerful semi-spike if the player is inside of his palm; the ground-only shockwave produced starts with vertical knockback but flattens out with distance.

|Master Hand shoots a laser beam from each of his fingertips.

|Master Hand makes the shape of a gun, and fires pairs of bullets. He fires one pair if he hasn't taken 150% damage yet, and three pairs if he took 150% damage or more.

|Master Hand's [[pummel]]. After 3 squeezes he will move to a throw based on the direction when executed.

|{{Button|GCN|Z|s=32px}} + {{Button|GCN|D-Pad|U|s=32px}}

|Master Hand throws the opponent backwards with decent knockback.

|Master Hand throws the opponent into the ground. High damage and knockback, but cannot KO under normal conditions.

|Master Hand hovers over the target, then quickly punches down with an explosive meteor smash.

|Master Hand slaps the ground. Buries the player.

|{{Button|GCN|R|s=32px}} + {{Button|GCN|D-Pad|L|s=32px}}

|Master Hand pokes the air three times. The third poke is more powerful.

|Master Hand makes a sweeping motion across the platform.

|Master Hand takes a big swipe across the stage.

|Master Hand "walks" using his pointer and middle fingers. When he reaches his opponent, he "kicks" them.

|Occasionally freezes in the middle of the event for no real reason, especially on All-Star Matches. As Master Hand cannot be [[KO]]'d, he is useful for completing difficult matches. However, he is not as useful on timed matches. Also, there are some events such as [[Event 7: Pokémon Battle]] that are more difficult to complete, as they require items or specific goals. It is possible to use the glitch on the event [[Final Destination Match]], resulting in two Master Hands and one [[Crazy Hand]]. Once Master Hand defeats the CPU Master Hand, the player can use moves in conjunction with Crazy Hand, by inputting the D-Pad either up or right and pressing the Y Button. This will only be possible on certain moments, when Crazy Hand's fingertips are sparkling, while in his idle animation. This signals Master Hand the possibility for a team-attack. While in this state, Crazy Hand will not perform any attacks and simply stay idle for a short period of time. The player (as Master Hand) can trigger this team-attack state by flicking the C-stick in any direction, While Crazy Hand is present. Causing the latter to enter this state immediately after completing his current attack animation.  However, Crazy Hand will still see the human Master Hand as an enemy and his moves in will raise Master Hand's damage percentage but won't lower Crazy Hand's stamina.

The Master Hand glitch and Name Entry glitch are not explicitly mentioned in most [[Tournament legal (SSBM)|tournament rulesets]], which technically makes Master Hand legal for competitive play sometimes. However, the Name Entry glitch may still freeze the game, and since the glitch has to be done intentionally, this can constitute as attempting to disrupt gameplay, which is considered [[cheating]] in most rulesets and the [[tournament organizer]] can punish said player in whatever way they see fit even if there is no direct mention of the glitch in the rules.  

 

There is also a potential conflict of two people wanting to be Master Hand, as only one player can control Master Hand at a time. This alone is typically enough for Master Hand to be banned to avoid any conflict and hassle in deciding who gets to use a character.

If Master Hand is allowed in a game, he may at first appear to have a considerable advantage, as he does not take [[knockback]] and thus cannot be [[KO]]ed at all. This means that the only way to win against Master Hand is to survive until the timer runs out while taking less [[damage]] than him and never losing a single [[stock]]. However, even with these advantages, Master Hand's competitive viability is considered to be worse than any regular character in the game.<ref>[https://smashboards.com/threads/should-master-hand-be-tourney-legal.237539/ Early discussion about Master Hand legality]</ref><ref>[https://smashboards.com/threads/the-official-master-hand-guide.278836/ In-depth discussion about Master Hand]</ref> As typical of [[boss]]es, all of Master Hand's moves have both extremely long startup lag and ending lag, and he is unable to block or dodge opponents' attacks. This allows a skilled opponent to easily dodge all of Master Hand's telegraphed attacks, while using Master Hand's unavoidably large vulnerable periods to inflict damage, including slow high-damage attacks that would almost never successfully connect in a usual match.

Since the Master Hand glitch most often causes a major disadvantage to the player using it, few players even consider the option, preventing the situation from being a competitive issue.

Master Hand's presence in doubles is more uncertain; for example he can give his partner three [[Share stock|extra live]]s (but no longer has the single-KO win condition), and his partner may prevent an opponent from dodging a Master Hand attack (but he has difficulty avoiding [[Team Attack|friendly fire]] in that case). He also has difficulty targeting the opponent whose [[port priority|port number]] is higher.

*[[Metal Box]]es, [[Super Star|Starmen]], and [[Lip's Stick]] all have their unique respective effects work on Master Hand. {{b|Screw Attack|item}}s can be thrown at him, but they have no special effect when hitting him and so will only deal damage. Master Hand can additionally utilize the effect of [[Super Mushroom]]s and [[Poison Mushroom]]s, but Master Hand making contact with them on certain stages will [[crash]] the game.

*This glitch is the only way to normally see Master Hand's [[idle pose]], which is never seen in regular gameplay. For Master Hand's idle pose, he simply clenches his fist. This is because when the AI controls him, he'll never stay idle long enough for the animation to play.

*Whenever Master Hand doesn't have a target to use his moves on, the only moves he can use without the game freezing are the laser move (^B), the sweep move (^L), and the smack move (>L).

*It is possible to have a computer player Master Hand if the player has one with no selected character while using the name entry glitch.

*When viewing detailed information of Master Hand on the [[results screen]], none of his attacks will be counted, resulting in the records always stating that the player used each type of attack zero times. Other records, such as maximum knockback achieved and peak damage, will still be recorded as usual.