Hard Knuckle (ハードナックル Hādo Nakkuru) is Hard Man's Special Weapon in the Mega Man series. When he uses it, Mega Man fires his fist from his arm into enemies like a rocket punch. There's a short delay before the it starts moving forward. The Hard Knuckle is rather slow, but it's very powerful. Mega Man can slightly guide the attack up or down after he fires the Hard Knuckle and it starts moving. Hard Knuckle can also be used to break through destructible blocks in Mega Man 3 and Mega Man: The Wily Wars.
Appearances[]
Mega Man 3[]
Mega Man obtains the Hard Knuckle after defeating Hard Man. One Hard Knuckle uses 2 weapon energy units. It can't be used if only one unit is left. With a full weapon energy gauge, it can be used 14 times.
Top Man, Doc Robot (Metal Man and Crash Man), Yellow Devil MK-II, Wily Machine 3, and Gamma's first form are weak to this weapon. It's also one of the weaknesses of Kamegoro Maker and the secondary weakness of the Holograph Mega Mans. All bosses who aren't immune to it take at least 2 damage from it except Doc Robot (Quick Man), who only takes 1 damage.
It is ineffective against Needle Man, Doc Robot (Flash Man), Break Man, and Gamma's second form.
Mega Man II[]
Hard Knuckle is obtained after defeating Hard Man. One Hard Knuckle uses 2 weapon energy units. It can't be used if only one unit is left. With a full weapon energy gauge, it can be used 9 times.
It is the weakness of Top Man and Quint. Needle Man and Wily Machine II are immune to it.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars[]
Besides Mega Man 3, Hard Knuckle is available in the Wily Tower mode. It causes the highest amount of damage against Buster Rod G (both encounters) and the second form from the "Wily Machine". It can also be used to destroy blocks in Mega Water S's stage and Hyper Storm H's stage.
Super Adventure Rockman[]
Hard Knuckle is obtained after Hard Man's defeat in episode 3. It is Top Man's weakness.
Super Smash Bros. series[]
Mega Man using Hard Knuckle against Greninja in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.
Hard Knuckle is used by Mega Man in the fighting games Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as his down air attack. Mega Man fires the Hard Knuckle directly below him. If the opponent gets hit by the attack from the sides, the move inflicts 12% damage and it is sent flying to the side they were hit. However, if the opponent gets hit by the bottom part of the attack, it inflicts 14% damage and functions like a Meteor Smash, knocking it in midair straight down upon contact. This can be deadly if an opponent finds itself in the air without a platform below it, as it can be sent straight down and get KO'd by the attack.
Damage data chart[]
Damage values in units in Mega Man 3.
 Hard Knuckle (HA)
| |
| Boss | Damage |
| Needle Man | 0 |
| Magnet Man | 2 |
| Gemini Man | 2 |
| Hard Man | 4 |
| Top Man | 7 |
| Snake Man | 2 |
| Spark Man | 2 |
| Shadow Man | 2 |
| Doc Robot (Metal Man) | 4 |
| Doc Robot (Quick Man) | 1 |
| Doc Robot (Air Man) | 2 |
| Doc Robot (Crash Man) | 7 |
| Doc Robot (Flash Man) | 0 |
| Doc Robot (Bubble Man) | 2 |
| Doc Robot (Wood Man) | 4 |
| Doc Robot (Heat Man) | 2 |
| Break Man | 0 |
| Kamegoro Maker | 3* |
| Yellow Devil MK-II | 5 |
| Holograph Mega Men | 4 |
| Wily Machine 3: 1st Phase | 7 |
| Wily Machine 3: 2nd Phase | 7 |
| Gamma: 1st Phase | 4 |
| Gamma: 2nd Phase | 0 |
- For Kamegoro Maker, a certain amount of damage will be taken from the health meter for each of the five Kamegoros produced, regardless of which weapon the player uses against them. Each Kamegoro has 3 health.
Other media[]
Mega Man getting Hard Knuckle in the Ruby-Spears Mega Man animated series.
Mega Man (Ruby-Spears)[]
Mega Man used Hard Knuckle in the episode Bad Day at Peril Park. After defeating Hard Man by blowing him up from the inside with a buster shot, Mega Man takes the Hard Knuckle from him, utilizing it to knock Proto Man off a rock he was standing on to fire at the heroes.
Captain N: The Game Master[]
Hard Knuckle was used by Mega Man in episode 32 to defeat Top Man.
Mega Man (Archie Comics)[]
Mega Man using Hard Knuckle in the Mega Man comic.
Mega Man obtained Hard Knuckle after defeating Hard Man in Mega Man #44, later using it against Spark Man (without success despite using both arms), Yellow Devil MK-2 (highly effective), Wily Machine 3, and Gamma.
Gallery[]
See also[]
- Mega Arm from Mega Man V
- Rocket Buster from Mega Man 7
| Mega Man II | |
|---|---|
| Bosses | |
| Metal Man • Air Man • Crash Man • Wood Man • Needle Man • Magnet Man • Hard Man • Top Man • Quint • Wily Machine II | |
| Special Weapons | |
| Metal Blade • Air Shooter • Crash Bomber • Leaf Shield • Needle Cannon • Magnet Missile • Hard Knuckle • Top Spin • Sakugarne | |
| Support Items | |
| Rush Coil • Rush Jet • Rush Marine | |
| Locations | |
| Metal Man Stage • Air Man Stage • Crash Man Stage • Wood Man Stage • Wily Castle Needle Man Stage • Magnet Man Stage • Hard Man Stage • Top Man Stage • Wily Station | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Damage Data Chart • Enemies | |
| Super Adventure Rockman | |
|---|---|
| Characters | |
| Mega Man • Beat • Rush • Dr. Light • Roll • Proto Man • Dr. Wily • Ra Moon Cut Man • Guts Man • Ice Man • Bomb Man • Fire Man • Elec Man | |
| Bosses | |
| Metal Man • Bubble Man • Heat Man • Flash Man • Quick Man • Shadow Man Wood Man • Air Man • Crash Man • Snake Man • Needle Man • Gemini Man Magnet Man • Hard Man • Top Man • Spark Man • Ra Thor • New Yellow Devil | |
| Special Weapons | |
| Metal Blade • Bubble Lead • Atomic Fire • Time Stopper • Quick Boomerang • Shadow Blade Leaf Shield • Air Shooter • Crash Bomber • Search Snake • Needle Cannon • Gemini Laser Magnet Missile • Hard Knuckle • Top Spin • Spark Shock | |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Enemies • Energy Tank • Information Card • Item Box • Lanfront Ruins • Proto Shield | |