Editing Diddy Kong (PM)

{{ArticleIcons|pm=y|p+=y}}

|name = Diddy Kong

|image = {{tabber|title1=Diddy Kong (PM)|content1=[[File:Diddy Kong SSBB.jpg|250px]]|title2=Diddy Kong (P+)|content2=[[File:PPlus Diddy.png|250px]]|title3=Hooded Diddy (P+)|content3=[[File:PPlus Hooded Diddy.png|250px]]}}

|mod = Project M

|base = SSBB

|moveset1 = Diddy Kong (SSBB)

|altcostume = Hooded Diddy (''[[Project+]]'')

'''Diddy Kong''' is a playable character in the ''[[Brawl]]'' mod ''[[Project M]]''. He is currently ranked 4th out of 41 on the [[Project M#Tier list|official]] [[tier list]], a slight improvement where he is ranked 4th out of 38 in ''Brawl''. However, in ''Project+'', Diddy Kong ranks 18th on the {{h2|Project+|official tier list}} in the A tier, a stark drop from both ''Brawl'' and ''Project M'', but nonetheless remaining a high tier character.

Diddy Kong is a quick, unwieldy fighter, able to rack up quick damage, [[combo]] well and make use of setups with his [[Banana Peel (move)|bananas]]. The ability to produce banana peels unlocks many techniques with Diddy Kong. The peels cause opponents hit by them or who walk over them to trip, making them fantastic tools for approaching, heckling, or setting up traps to extend combos. Diddy Kong can use his jab combo to transition into other moves or aerial combos. He is adept at [[gimp]]ing opponents with his refined [[Monkey Flip]], his [[dash attack]], and his down air. [[Peanut Popgun]] can now be used more liberally, as the gun shoots further and is stronger. Diddy's aerials are solid for comboing, and the same stands for his tilts and up smash.

However, Diddy Kong lacks ways to quickly and reliably finish off opponents. This can lead to opponents surviving much longer, and makes gimping opponents almost a necessity. In addition, his [[recovery]] options are somewhat limited. [[Rocketbarrel Boost]] flies in a mostly linear fashion, making it easy to disrupt for some characters.

 

Regarding item play, Diddy Kong has a ridiculously deep and distinct tool kit with which he can outwit his opponents.

Diddy Kong received some [[nerf]]s mostly noticeably to his {{b|Banana Peel|move}} which was the key part to his success in ''Brawl''. Diddy can only have one [[banana peel]] out at a time and the changes to [[Tripping]] in ''Project M'' hinder their utility. Diddy Kong's endurance is also significantly worse due to his lower weight and he is much more vulnerable to combos due to his higher fall speed and gravity.

 

Besides the nerfs to his Banana Peels, he mostly gained noticeable [[buff]]s from ''Brawl'' to ''PM'' to fit with the ''Melee'' physics. His mobility, combo and edgeguarding game has been significantly improved and his damage output/kill power has increased. His grab game is also significantly stronger due to the physics changes as well as his up and down throws being altered. His recovery is also a lot better due to his higher air speed as well as having more options out of his side and up specials.

 

Overall despite his nerfs, Diddy remains a threat in ''PM'''s meta due to his buffs. He still remains one of the strongest characters in the game.

===Aesthetics===  

*{{change|His up [[taunt]] has been replaced with a juggling animation, as a reference to his idle animation in ''Donkey Kong Country 2''. Diddy will continue to juggle as long as the taunt button is held. His previous up taunt is moved to his down taunt.}}

*{{change|One of Diddy's victory poses now involves him wearing sunglasses while dancing around to the music playing on his beatbox, similar to his victory animation in ''Donkey Kong Country 2''.}}

*{{change|Diddy no longer makes a noise when performing a [[jump|full hop]].}}

*{{buff|Diddy Kong now benefits from the addition of aerial glide tossing, both in his approach, combo, and movement options, and in his recovery.}}

*{{buff|Diddy [[dash]]es faster (1.721 → 1.9)}}

*{{buff|Diddy's [[air speed]] is faster (0.82 → 1.0).}}

*{{change|Relative to the cast, Diddy's falling speed was drastically increased (1.43 → 2.55), going from the 15th fastest faller out of 39 characters to the 5th fastest faller out of 41. While this dramatically increases his vertical endurance, it makes him more susceptible to combos despite being a small lighter-middleweight.}}

*{{change|Diddy's gravity is higher (0.092 → 0.12) which improves his endurance but makes him more susceptible to combos.}}

*{{nerf|Diddy can no longer [[DACUS]] removing a potential mixup/mind game he had with his dash attack/up smash}}

===Ground attacks===

*{{buff|Jab combo does more damage (7% → 9%) and as with {{PM|Captain Falcon}}, the third hit of Diddy's [[neutral attack]] is now always separated from the rapid hits, so he can either launch foes with the third hit to then [[jab cancel]] and follow up, or rack up damage with the rapid hits against enemies at low percentages.}}

*{{change|Diddy no longer make noises when performing tilts.}}

*{{buff|Forward tilt deals more damage when not angled or angled up (8%/10%/11% → 9/12% (not angled), 10/13% (angled up)) has more knockback, especially at its sweetspot, and up tilt and down tilt do slightly more damage (7% → 8%).}}

*{{nerf|Up tilt has its IASA frames later (frame 25 → 31).}}

*{{nerf|Down tilt has more startup lag and has a shorter duration (frames 4-7 → 5-6)}}

*{{buff|Dash attack has less startup lag (frame 9 → 7) does more damage (9% → 14%), and hits connect more smoothly at lower percents as the move only has two hits instead of three. The second hit has a longer duration (frames 14-18 → 12-22) and the whole move has a longer duration of 1 frame. Like {{PM|Donkey Kong}}'s, his dash attack now can move off ledges, setting up offstage KOs. It also has increased speed for longer range, improving his ground game.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack has more end lag when used on stage (FAF 25 → 39) and the first hit has significantly increased knockback hindering its combo potential while still being too weak to kill until very high percents.}}

*{{nerf|The first hit of forward Smash deals less damage (5% → 4%) and has more startup lag (frame 12 → 14). The second hit also has a shorter duration (3 frames → 2)}}

*{{buff|Up smash links much better and is a stronger KO move. It also has a longer duration (frames 5-22 → 5-25).}}

*{{nerf|Up smash deals slightly lower damage (16% → 15%) and has more end lag (FAF 50 → 53).}}

*{{buff|Down smash has slightly stronger knockback and the back hit deals more damage (12% → 13%). It also has less end lag (FAF 52 → 44).}}

===Aerial attacks===  

*{{change|All of Diddy's aerials now have sourspots as opposed to just his forward air.}}

*{{buff|Neutral aerial is considerably stronger, dealing twice the former damage (6% → 13% (clean), 9% (late)). It also has less startup lag (frame 6 → 4).}}

*{{nerf|Since neutral aerial now has a sourspot, the sweetspot has a shorter duration (frames 6-20 → 4-7). It also has more landing lag (13 frames → 16).}}

*{{buff|Forward air has more knockback less landing lag (30 frames → 22), and nows sends opponents in the [[Sakurai angle]]. The sweetspot also deals more damage (14% → 15%).}}  

*{{nerf|Forward aerial has a shorter duration (frames 6-9 (clean), 10-16 (late) → 6-7/8-14).}}

*{{buff|Back aerial does more damage (9% → 12% (foot) 11% (leg)).}}

*{{nerf|Back aerial has less KO power and more landing lag (12 frames → 16). He can also no longer perform two back aerials in a short hop due to his higher fall speed.}}

*{{buff|Up aerial does slightly more damage (11% → 12%).}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial's new sourspot deals less damage (11% → 8%). It also has more startup lag (frame 3 → 5) and the sweetspot has a shorter duration (5 frames → 3).}}

*{{change|Up aerial has weaker but more horizontal knockback now sending opponents in the Sakurai angle (100° → 361°). This hinders its juggling potential but makes it more useful for [[edgeguarding]].}}

*{{buff|Down aerial has faster start-up (frame 13 → frame 10), less landing lag (30 frames → 25) and does more damage (12% → 15% (fists), 14% (arms)), making the meteor smash stronger.}}

*{{buff|Up throw does more damage (9% → 10%). The changes in ''Project M's'' physics also allows Diddy to [[chain grab]] with up throw.}}

*{{change|Up throw has altered knockback improving its combo potential at lower percents and improving its KO potential (although it is still too weak to reliably KO) however, these changes also hinder its combo potential at higher percents.}}

*{{nerf|Up throw has more ending lag.}}

*{{buff|Pummel does slightly more damage (2% → 3%).}}

*{{nerf|Down throw does slightly less damage (9% → 8%).}}

*{{buff|Down throw has altered knockback (85 (base), 40 (scaling) → 60/105). This makes it easier to combo with at lower percents although it doesn't grant it any extra KO potential.}}

*{{change|Diddy has a different voice clip when performing Monkey Flip (his old full hop voice clip).}}

*{{nerf|Monkey Flip's attack (15% → 12%) and kick (14% (clean) 10% (late) → 12%/7%) both do less damage. Diddy can also only throw out the kick at the beginning of the move rather than the entire duration.}}

*{{nerf|Diddy can no longer reuse Monkey Flip if he is hit out of it by {{PM|Mario}}'s cape.}}

*{{buff|Diddy can now use [[Rocketbarrel Boost]] out of Monkey Flip if he uses the kick improving his recovery.}}

*{{buff|Rocketbarrel Boost has its distance increased. Furthermore, Diddy has more control over both its arc and launch angle allowing for better and trickier recoveries. It can do 21% at full charge and its power is very dramatically increased, making it a viable combo finisher.}}  

**{{nerf|Diddy Kong can no longer infinite trip opponents with his {{b|Banana Peel|move}}s, as tripping can now be [[tech]]ed removing their inescapable [[0-death]] potential. These changes significantly hinder Banana Peel's utility.}}

**{{nerf|Only one banana can be out at a time rather than two. They also have a shorter duration.}}

*{{buff|Down aerial's upper (sourspot) hitbox deals slightly more damage}}

*{{bugfix|Fixed a bug where the sound effect for Diddy's shades breaking would play whenever he was hit after the shades were already broken}}

Up to date as of version 3.6.

! colspan=2| !!Name!!Damage!!Description

! colspan=2 rowspan=4 | Neutral attack

| rowspan=4 | || 3% || rowspan=4 | Diddy Kong slaps forward twice, turns around to quickly kick the foe, then proceeds to repeatedly whip them with his tail. The first hit can set up a grab if [[Jab cancel|jab-canceled]], or even a [[Buffer|buffered]] down smash.

|2%

|4%

! rowspan="3" | Forward tilt || ↗

| rowspan="3" | || 13% (arms), 10% (body) || rowspan="3" | Diddy Kong leans to the side and thrusts both of his arms forward in a double punch. This attack can be angled up or down.

| || 8% || Diddy Kong swats in the air above him with a slap. Quick and can combine with other attacks. This move can be used to [[juggle]] an opponent at low percentages.

| || 8% || Diddy Kong claps forward while crouching. Extremely useful for racking up damage at low percentages.  

! colspan=2| Dash attack

| || 9% (clean), 5% (late) || Diddy Kong performs a cartwheel spin, resembling the one from the ''Donkey Kong Country'' games. A great move due to having almost absolutely no ending lag and combines well with his up smash or up tilt. This attack can also go off edges and platforms.

! colspan=2| Forward smash

| || {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|4}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (hit 2) || Diddy Kong spins and punches forward, followed by a second punch. The first hit deals no knockback, which makes it easier to land the second hit. When fully charged and both hits connect, it can KO at 85% on lightweights and 92% on heavyweights.

! colspan=2| Up smash

| || {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|2}} (hits 1-2), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|11}} (hit 3) || Diddy Kong sops a little and does a sort of cartwheel, hitting three times with extremely low knockback that doesn't KO until 115%. Fills in combos and can rack up damage easily.

! colspan=2| Down smash

| || Front: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (body) {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}} (leg)<br/>Back: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}} (body), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}} (leg) || Diddy Kong performs a sweeping kick. It has less knockback than his forward smash and sends enemies at a more horizontal angle.

! colspan=2| Neutral aerial

| || 13% (clean), 9% (late) || Diddy Kong does an aerial cartwheel similar to his dash attack. Has decent knockback.

! colspan=2| Forward aerial

| || 15% (clean), 11% (late) || Diddy Kong kicks both feet forward while spinning. Diddy Kong's strongest aerial, a great [[edge-guarding]] option, and a good move to use in a short hop (though a bair is quicker and better for [[spacing]]). On the edge at above 100%, edge drop -> jump -> fair is considered one of the best options available.

! colspan=2| Back aerial

| || 12% (foot), 11% (body) || Diddy Kong thrusts one leg backward and performs a single spin. His fastest aerial, being a great option for spacing whether a short hop is used or not.  

! colspan=2| Up aerial

| || 12% (clean), 8% (late) || Diddy Kong does an overhead flip kick. Decent knockback, fairly fast.

! colspan=2| Down aerial

| || 15% (fists), 14% (arms) || Diddy Kong swings both his arms downward in a double axe-handle punch. A powerful [[meteor smash]].

! colspan=2| Grab

| || &mdash; ||

! colspan=2| Pummel

| || 3% || Diddy Kong headbutts his target, angled from the side of his body. Hits almost instantly.

! colspan=2| Forward throw

| || 11% || Diddy Kong tosses the opponent forward. Based on how Diddy Kong would throw barrels in ''Donkey Kong Country''. Best used to get opponents offstage to set up an edgeguard. This throw can also combo into a f-air.

! colspan=2| Back throw

| || 10% || Diddy Kong tosses the opponent backward, very similar to his forward throw in that it is useful for getting opponents offstage.  

! colspan=2| Up throw

| || 3% (hit 1), 7% (throw) || Diddy Kong throws the opponent up and kicks them. This throw is a decent option for getting opponents into the air.

! colspan=2| Down throw

| || 5% (hit 1), 3% (throw) || Diddy Kong throws the opponent onto the ground and hops over them. Deals fair backwards knockback. This throw can be followed up by multiple moves and is a great combo starter.

! colspan=2| Floor attack (front)

| || 6% || Diddy Kong gets up and slaps on both sides.

! colspan=2| Floor attack (back)

| || 6% || Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.

! colspan=2| Floor attack (trip)

| || 5% || Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.

! colspan=2| Edge attack (fast)

| || 6% (tail far), 8% (tail close) || Diddy Kong quickly climbs up and does a spinning tail slap.

! colspan=2| Edge attack (slow)

| || 10% || Diddy Kong slowly climbs up and sticks his left foot out.

! colspan=2| Neutral special

| [[Peanut Popgun]] || 5-18% (peanuts), 20% (explosion) || Diddy Kong pulls out his peanut popgun and fires a peanut. This move can be charged, but charging it too long will cause the popgun will explode, dealing 5% [[recoil damage]], and will stun Diddy Kong for a second.

! colspan=2| Side special

| [[Monkey Flip]] || 12% (midair kick clean), 7% (midair kick late), 5% (grab & jump attack hit 1), 7% (grab & jump attack hit 2), 5% (release) || Diddy Kong performs a sideways hop that can latch him onto an enemy's face if timed correctly. If the attack button is pressed once Diddy Kong has grabbed onto an enemy, he will perform a double chop attack that deals vertical knockback, which can lead into aerials at higher percents. If the jump button is pressed, he will instead jump on the enemy's head and push them downwards, which is a [[footstool jump]]. Finally, pressing the attack button before the jump will cause Diddy to attack with a flying kick that deals strong knockback. This move can be used to gain some extra  recovery distance horizontally.

! colspan=2| Up special

| [[Rocketbarrel Boost]] || 11-20% (launch), 10% (flight early), 8% (flight late), 1-3% (explosion) || Diddy Kong charges up his Rocketbarrel Pack and launches himself upwards. While charging, it's possible to change the direction Diddy will be launched by holding the control stick/pad left or right. This method can also be used to control the arc Diddy flies in once he starts flying, making it a great recovery move, especially when fully charged. If someone attacks Diddy Kong when he's wearing his Rocketbarrel Pack, it'll break free and fly around aimlessly.

! colspan=2| Down special

| [[Banana Peel_(move)|Banana Peel]] || 3% (hand) || Diddy Kong tosses a [[Banana Peel]] into the air to have it fall onto the ground. Opponents who come in contact with the peel will slip and [[trip]]. Only one banana peel can be thrown at a time.

! colspan=2| Final Smash

| [[Rocketbarrel Barrage]] || 8% (peanuts), 15% (peanuts explosion), 18% (contact), 20% (ending explosion) || Diddy Kong flies around on his Rocketbarrel Pack, shooting explosive peanuts everywhere. Puts Diddy Kong into a [[helpless]] state when ended in the air.

===Most historically significant players===

 

*{{Sm|Aero|USA}} - Formerly ranked as high as 5th on the SoCal ''Project M'' Power Rankings. Ranked 27th on [[PMRank 2016]].

*{{Sm|BaconPancakes|USA}} - The best Diddy Kong player in the world during 3.6; ranked 4th on [[PMRank 2017]].

*{{Sm|Junebug|USA}} - Was widely considered to be the best Diddy Kong player in the world from 2014-2016. Ranked 27th on [[PMRank 2017]].

*{{Sm|Luck|USA}} - Ranked 32nd on  [[PMRank 2018]].

*{{Sm|SipMastah|USA}} - Considered the best current Diddy Kong player. Won {{Trn|Against All Odds}} and placed 3rd at {{Trn|Warp Zone 2}} using primarily Diddy Kong.

*{{Sm|Sneez|USA}} - R.O.B main with a Diddy Kong secondary. Ranked #32 on [[PMRank 2023]].

Diddy Kong's alternate costumes remain unchanged from ''Brawl'', except for a new orange costume that makes him look like [[mariowiki:Funky Kong|Funky Kong]] in the ''[[mariowiki:Donkey Kong Country (television series)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' TV series.

|colspan=8|[[File:Diddy Kong Palette (PM).png|frame|center|Diddy Kong's alternate costumes in PM]]

*Diddy Kong was the only character in ''Project M'' that didn't have an alternate costume or any new recolorings prior to the 3.6 Beta.

**This still applies to {{PM|Wario}} in PM, as the masquerade code to break his 12 costume limit had not been invented

*Diddy Kong's peanuts have 1 hp, and thus can be broken by {{PM|Fox}}'s lasers.

*[https://pmunofficial.com/en/characters/diddy-kong/ Diddy Kong's page at the Project M website]

*[https://www.reddit.com/r/SSBPM/comments/b172ge/labbing_discord_results_diddy_kong/ Labbing Discord Tech Post]