How to Play Master in Smash Bros. Melee
Since its release in 2001, Super Smash Bros. Melee has the same static classic roster of 26 iconic Nintendo characters. If you’re a melee fan, you probably know the list by heart. Little did we know, however, that the list does indeed include another iconic member of the Nintendo family: none other than Master Hand himself.
Master Hand, for the uninitiated, is the main enemy of Smash Bros. Even though there is no consistent storyline in all five main games, Master Hand has been there from the very beginning: he is the final boss in the 1P game in the original Smash Bros. , as well as classic mode in Melee , Brawl , Smash Bros. 4 , as well as parts of Ultimate . He also plays a large role in both The Subspace Emissary storyline in Brawl , and World of Light in Ultimate .
In fact, Master Hand is the first character ever featured in a Smash Bros. game. – When you load the original on the N64 (or emulator of your choice), the opening cutscene shows Master Hand placing Yoshi doll and Samus doll on the table, making a scene, then counting backwards before snapping his fingers to officially start the battle.
Although Master Hand has always played a role in the Smash Bros. , he was never a character to fight. No matter how many battles you fight, no matter how many game modes you defeat, Master Hand has never been one of the unlockable characters given out as a reward. However, there were rumors that Master Hand was indeed a hidden character to play as: of course it could have been a myth, just like Mew wasn’t actually hidden under a truck in Vermilion City . But, as it turned out, Master Hand is not such a myth. Melee does have a way to play as a character.
This tip first came to my attention thanks to Moonshine Gaming’s TikTok account. In their TikTok on the subject , they demonstrate exactly how to play Master Hand in hand-to -hand combat . Here’s what you need to do:
You will need two controllers – one connected to player 1 and the other to player 3. Then go to VS. Mode > Melee , select any character for Player 1, then place the cursor on the back button in the upper right corner. For player 3, don’t select a character: select an empty P3 section, then hover over the Enter Name option. Finally, simultaneously press the A button on both controllers: if you can select a level, then you are in it. Select a level and Master Hand will appear as Player 3’s character.
Unfortunately, the control options are limited here. You can’t move the Master Hand too much, but you can use its full range of motion with the D-Pad and various GameCube buttons. The best part, however, is that the Master Hand cannot die, meaning that any match you use it in is essentially a win. This way you won’t be playing Master Hand in Smash tournaments, but you can pit the character against an unsuspecting friend. At first, they are likely to be surprised to learn something new about Hand-to- Hand Combat , before that surprise turns to fury after their inevitable defeat.