Master Hand glitch: Difference between revisions

[[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|Master Hand Laser glitch]].

This method works on all modes except Tournament, but many things freeze the game.

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 the [[A button|A]] and [[B button]]s at the same time, and the player will come to the name selection. Hold the B button, but release the A button, then go down with the cursor until they are over the "name entry field". Then press the A button at the right time. The game should want to go back to the menu, because the player held the B button, but it should also want go to the name entry screen, because they pressed the A button 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 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.

!width=10%|Move

!Notes

|Master Hand makes a vaguely plane-like shape meteor smashing a target if in the middle of short hop or recovering (It can be meteor cancelled), then flies into the background. He attempts to fly into the victim, then flies in from the right. 10-30%

|Master Hand flies off the screen, then appears in the background as a fist. He attempts to slam into a target, then flies back onto the stage from the top of the screen. If a player is in the middle of their jump, they will be meteor smashed, therefore the ram attack cannot KO a grounded player unless the player is at a very high percentage. 34%

|Master Hand flies off the top of the screen, then appears in the background. He attempts to flatten the player(s). His palm can semi-spike a player powerfully. Any character who is close to the thumb will be sent upward. 30%

|Master Hand shoots a laser beam from each of his fingertips. Only the endpoints do damage. 9% each

|Master Hand makes the shape of a gun, and fires sets of bullets. He fires 1 set if above 100 HP, and three sets if below. 10% (one set) 6% (three sets). {{SSBM|Ness}} can [[PSI Magnet|absorb]] while {{SSBM|Fox}} and {{SSBM|Falco}} can [[Reflector|reflect]] the attack.

|Master Hand grabs his opponent and begins to crush them. They can escape by button mashing, but, if they fail to do so, Master Hand will toss them away. 13% crush, then 18-20% afterwards. Depending on the direction pressed with Z, Master Hand will throw the opponent differently. If up is used, he will throw them upward behind him. If right, he will slam them into the ground.

|{{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. 7-34%

|Master Hand hovers over the target, then quickly punches down. 24%

|Master Hand slaps the ground. 26%

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

|Master Hand flies up, then slams down while spinning in a drill-like fashion. Almost no knockback if a player doesn't utilize DI. If the victim utilizes DI, they will be sent sideways with decent horizontal knockback. 1-48%

|Master Hand makes a slapping motion across the platform. 25%

|Master Hand "walks" using his pointer and middle fingers. When he reaches his opponent, he flicks them. 10-30%

|Master Hand makes a large sweep across the stage.

|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, causing the player using the glitch to lose in most rulesets, and a TO may ban the glitch at their discretion even if it is not mentioned in the rules (for example, due to it dragging out match length or character selection). There is also a theoretical conflict if two people attempt to pick Master Hand, which may theoretically be resolved by ruling that only the player deliberately selecting port 3 may pick Master Hand.

If the standard tournament ruleset is interpreted literally and Master Hand is allowed, then 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 the full eight minutes 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. Master Hand's lack of competitive viability was referenced in [[List_of_SSBM_tier_lists_(NTSC)#Original_tenth_tier_list_.28September_14.2C_2010.29|the tenth ''Melee'' tier list]]; released shortly after the Master Hand glitch was discovered, he was placed in his own tier below all other characters, in a "{{pkmn|Gengar}}" tier.

Since the Master Hand glitch most often causes a major disadvantage to the player using it, it is prevented from being a competitive issue.

Master Hand's presence in doubles is more dubious; for example he can give his partner three free [[Share stock]]s, and his partner may prevent an opponent from dodging a Master Hand attack, but he has difficulty avoiding [[friendly fire]] in that case, and cannot target the opponent whose [[port priority|port number]] is higher.

*[[Metal Box]]es, [[Super Star|Starmen]], and [[Lip's Stick]] all work on Master Hand without freezing the game. {{b|Screw Attack|item}}s can also be thrown at him, but they have no special effect. Any other item also works, with the exception of Mushrooms: they mostly freeze the game when they make contact with Master Hand on certain stages. Also, if this happens, the GameCube controller for Master Hand may rumble indefinitely until the console is turned off.

**As Master Hand cannot receive knockback, being giant, tiny or metal won't affect him at all, other than size/physique changes.

*On {{SSBM|Mute City}}, attacks where Master Hand dives into the background (either Ram or Jet) can destroy the F-Zero machines in the background during the move.

**Similarly, when [[Lugia]] is summoned, its Aeroblast can still damage him during the background portion of these moves.

**Similarly, on Princess Peach's Castle, Master Hand will spawn inside the castle.

*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). However, they don't move Master Hand.

*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. Interestingly, a CPU Master Hand will attack players even if he isn't Player 3. Also, it will always behave the same way even if the CPU Level is changed, as Master Hand only has one AI code.

**Also, it's not possible to have only Master Hand CPUs on a battle, as the player cannot execute the glitch with CPU ports.

*When viewing detailed information of Master Hand on the [[results screen]], none of his attacks will be counted, so all attempted attacks and grabs will have a zero. It will also count him as staying all time in the air, due to him being a floating character. Other records, such as maximum knockback achieved and peak damage, will still be counted.

*In [[World of Light]] in ''Ultimate'', Master Hand becomes legitimately playable in a challenge where the player defeats many Puppet Fighters on [[Final Destination]], which could possibly reference this glitch.