Hammer Punch (瓦割り Kawara Wari?, lit. "Tile Splitter") is a move used by Paul Phoenix, Heihachi Mishima, and Prototype Jack from the first Tekken onwards.
Description[]
The user performs an overhead hammer strike.
Usage[]
This move has a guaranteed follow-up on a counter hit, and can be used to stop opponents from tech-rolling and even getting up off the ground in some cases. From Tekken 2 onwards, Paul can also chain his Bone Breaker combo after a Hammer Punch, with the combo being called Hang Over. In Tekken 4 exclusively, Paul could also use Demolition Man after the attack, with this being known as Hammer Punch to Demolition Man.
Heihachi was able to perform a similar string to Paul (originally using the Heavy Power Punch until Heihachi gained a unique animation for the move, the Iron Hand) until Tekken 6, where the move lost its follow-up. It gained a new follow-up in Tekken 7, called the Hammer Beating.
Unique properties[]
In Tekken 2, defeating an opponent with a Hammer Punch will send them straight to the ground, irrespective of their position. Due to a glitch in Tekken and Tekken 2, a Hammer Punch and its follow-ups can be performed while back-turned.
In Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion and Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Heihachi's Hammer Punch can be used to Bound after it was reanimated in Bloodline Rebellion, but he would lose the follow-up to the Hammer Punch.
An enhanced version of this move is known as the God Hammer Punch, and has been exclusive to Paul since Tekken 3. This move can be used to Bound opponents in Tekken 6.
Since Tekken 2, Heihachi has an enhanced, unblockable version of this move called the Lightning Hammer.