Knuckles

Learn how to master Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, including his best zones, how to handle the countdown timer, and tips for achieving top records.

Knuckles is a character best suited for expert players in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. While he is the slowest of the three playable characters and lacks his signature gliding and climbing abilities, his reduced speed can be advantageous for utilizing shortcuts. Knuckles is particularly effective in clearing three specific zones: Azure Lake, Balloon Park, and Endless Mine.

Zone Races:

Upon starting any zone, you must wait for a countdown timer to reach zero. Once the timer hits 0, the word "Go!" will appear, signaling the start of a race. You can compete alone or against a friend. Attempting to start before "Go!" appears results in a "Fault," requiring you to repeat the countdown.

Records:

The following table details best times for different characters and zones:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do I get past the round, red drum in the Carnival Night Zone?
A: Press Up and Down when the drum moves up and down, respectively. Jump down when the gap is large enough. Alternatively, if Debug Mode is unlocked, you can select your Save File, hold the A Button, and begin Carnival Night Zone in Debug Mode to bypass the drum.

Q: After completing the game, can I re-enter the levels to obtain the Chaos/Super Emeralds?
A: Yes. For Chaos Emeralds, start with Angel Island Zone and repeatedly use the first Giant Ring. For Super Emeralds, use the same method in Mushroom Hill Zone. If playing as Knuckles, you can re-enter all his completed levels. If playing as Sonic/Tails, you can re-enter levels up to Death Egg Zone. After collecting all 7 Chaos/Super Emeralds, complete Death Egg Zone to access The Doomsday Zone (for Sonic).

Q: What are the Super Emeralds?
A: Super Emeralds are a transformed state of Chaos Emeralds. After collecting all Chaos Emeralds in Sonic 3 Special Stages and accessing the Emerald Chamber in Hidden Palace Zone, your Chaos Emeralds become grey Super Emeralds. Completing Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages transforms these into colored Emeralds. Collecting all 7 Super Emeralds causes the Master Emerald to shine. The Super Emeralds were introduced because Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were originally one game, leading to two sets of Emeralds. Hyper Sonic/Knuckles and Super Tails were likely intended Super Forms, but development splits led to their current implementation.

Q: When does Knuckles' adventure take place?
A: Knuckles' adventure occurs shortly after Sonic's. Evidence includes the background of Angel Island Zone and Sky Sanctuary Zone showing Angel Island in the sky, the removal of the Death Egg wreckage from certain zones, and an EggRobo from the Death Egg wreckage appearing in Knuckles' intro.