Knuckles the Echidna

Lore & Background

Knuckles was created by Takashi Yuda and Pamela Kelly for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to serve as a new rival for Sonic, designed specifically to break walls. Originally conceived with a 'whirlwind' ability rather than punching, his final design emerged from dozens of animal-inspired concepts. Introduced as an 'intimidator' due to his physical strength, he was intended only as a supporting character but received a headlining role in Sonic & Knuckles, where he first became playable. His story arc involves being tricked by Eggman into opposing Sonic and Tails, only to form a temporary alliance upon learning of the deception. In later games, his relationship with Sonic evolved from ambivalence to an unequivocal partnership, though he still envies Sonic's adventurous lifestyle.

In Their Own Story

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Knuckles fights Sonic multiple times after Eggman tricks him into believing the blue hedgehog seeks the Master Emerald. This deception unravels in Sonic & Knuckles when Eggman steals the Emerald and attacks Knuckles directly, revealing the doctor's true nature. In Sonic Adventure, after Eggman shatters the Master Emerald to free Chaos, Knuckles scours expansive levels for pieces, initially attacking Sonic over a misunderstanding involving two Chaos Emeralds he mistook for shards. He later joins Sonic and Tails aboard the Egg Carrier, finds the final pieces, and defeats Chaos's final form before restoring the gem. In Sonic Adventure 2, Knuckles shatters the Emerald again while arguing with Rouge on Eggman's hovercraft; he spends the game recollecting the shards, saves Rouge from a lava pit, and helps reroute the ARK space station away from Earth.

Reader's Guide

Knuckles serves as the power-based character in Team Sonic alongside Speed (Sonic) and Flight (Tails). His gameplay relies on brute strength to lift heavy objects and smash through barriers, distinct from his ability to glide long distances or climb walls using his spiked gloves. Unlike Sonic, he can swim. He possesses a 'super' form via the Chaos Emeralds and a 'hyper' form via the Super Emeralds. While slower than Sonic, he is one of the series' strongest martial artists. His role expanded beyond the main series to include Knuckles' Chaotix on the Sega 32X, where he rescued friends tethered together in unique two-character gameplay. He also appears in Sonic Heroes, Sonic Riders, and the RPG Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, where a plot involves his kidnapping by the villainous Nocturnus tribe.

Did You Know?

• Knuckles was voiced by Travis Willingham from 2010 until 2018, with his final role being in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• In the live-action subfranchise, Knuckles is voiced by Idris Elba, while the Netflix series Sonic Prime features Adam Nurada as the main Knuckles and Vincent Tong voicing his Shatterverse counterparts.
• During the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the development team considered giving Knuckles a 'whirlwind' ability instead of punching before settling on his wall-breaking design.
• Knuckles is capable of gliding long distances and climbing up walls using the spikes on his gloves, abilities that differentiate him from Sonic who cannot swim.
• In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, it is revealed that other echidnas survive in the form of Shade the Echidna and her tribe, the Nocturnus.