Editing Donkey Kong

:''For fighter info, see [[Donkey Kong (SSB)]], [[Donkey Kong (SSBM)]], [[Donkey Kong (SSBB)]], [[Donkey Kong (SSB4)]], and [[Donkey Kong (SSBU)]]''.

|image = [[File:SuperMarioParty DonkeyKong.png|350px|Donkey Kong]]

|caption = [[File:DKSymbol.svg|50px]]

Official artwork of Donkey Kong from ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario Party|Super_Mario_Party}}''.

|firstgame = ''{{b|Donkey Kong|game}}'' (1981) (original)<br/>''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}'' (1994) (current)

|lastappearance=''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario Party}}'' (2018)

|console = Arcade

|artist = Kevin Bayliss

'''Donkey Kong''' ({{ja|ドンキーコング|Donkī Kongu}}, ''Donkey Kong''), often shortened to '''DK''', is the main protagonist of the {{uv|Donkey Kong}} series, and a recurring character in the {{uv|Mario}} series. The original Donkey Kong was an antagonist for [[Mario]], but in later games it was established to be Donkey Kong's grandfather, {{s|mariowiki|Cranky Kong}}. The current Donkey Kong is the main protagonist of the ''[[Donkey Kong (universe)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' series, first appearing in ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}''. However, he also appears as a featured character in {{uv|Mario}} spinoff games. As a member of the "[[List of Super Smash Bros. series characters#"Perfect-attendance crew"|perfect-attendance crew]]", Donkey Kong has been featured as a playable character throughout the entire [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'']] series.

A character named Donkey Kong made his first appearance in the [[Donkey Kong (game)|arcade game of the same name]]. Here, he was [[Mario]]'s first enemy who held his girlfriend, {{s|mariowiki|Pauline}}, captive over a construction building. Mario had to make his way to the top of the tower to rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong would later return in ''[[mariowiki:Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' which saw his [[mariowiki:Donkey Kong Jr.|young son]] rescuing him from Mario. He would once again be featured in ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong 3}}'' which saw him go up against {{s|mariowiki|Stanley the Bugman}}.

For a time, Donkey Kong seemed to be largely forgotten in the video game industry aside from remakes of the arcade classics, until Rareware released ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}'' for the Super Nintendo. ''Donkey Kong Country'' saw the debut of Donkey Kong's new supporting cast, including characters such as [[Diddy Kong]]—Donkey Kong's "little buddy"—and {{s|mariowiki|Cranky Kong}}, who claims to be the original Donkey Kong from the ''Donkey Kong'' arcade games. The current Donkey Kong appearing from ''Donkey Kong Country'' onwards is the original Donkey Kong's grandson. ''Donkey Kong Country'' depicted Donkey Kong's first battle with his arch-enemy [[King K. Rool]], and was such a massive success that it helped the SNES take the lead in the 16-bit console war.

''Donkey Kong Country'' was followed by two sequels in which Donkey Kong was kidnapped by King K. Rool; as a result, he was not playable. However, Donkey Kong would be featured in ''Super Smash Bros.'', which marked his first appearance in a fighting game. Afterwards, he would finally be featured once again as a playable character in ''[[Donkey Kong 64]]'' for the Nintendo 64. Following his appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', the ''Donkey Kong'' series remained dormant for several years, other than spin-offs such as ''Donkey Konga'' and ''Donkey Kong Jungle Beat''. The ''Donkey Kong Country'' series eventually received new installments after the release of ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', including ''[[mariowiki:Donkey Kong Country Returns|Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'' and [[mariowiki:Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D|its 3DS remake]], as well as ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze}}''.

Additionally, Donkey Kong remains a part of the {{uv|Mario}} universe, appearing in many of the ''Mario'' spinoff games since ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Kart 64}}''. Donkey Kong also appeared as a [[mariowiki:Baby Donkey Kong|baby]] in ''{{s|mariowiki|Yoshi's Island DS}}'', and as a major character in the [[mariowiki:Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series]].

Donkey Kong's hallmark is his incredible strength; in most games, he is able to take out powerful enemies and carry heavy objects that other characters cannot. He is most consistently depicted as a laid-back, simple-minded character who only retaliates when slighted by others. While he varies between protagonist and antagonist depending on the game, his intentions are rarely portrayed as bad-natured. Even in his antagonistic roles, such as ''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'', he is generally depicted as more of a friendly rival to Mario rather than a true nemesis.

[[File:Donkey Kong SSB.png|thumb|Official artwork of Donkey Kong in ''Super Smash Bros.'']]Donkey Kong makes his first appearance in a fighting game as a starting playable character in the original ''Super Smash Bros.'' His appearance on his profile icon is based on his appearance from ''Donkey Kong Country'' and his model is based on his appearance from ''Donkey Kong 64''. DK is surprisingly fast for his size and is one of the strongest characters in the game. His [[neutral special move]] is [[Giant Punch]], which becomes stronger depending on how long the player lets DK charge it before using it. His [[up special]] is [[Spinning Kong]], which causes DK to spin around wildly with his arms striking anyone nearby. His [[down special move]] is [[Hand Slap]], which allows DK to pound the ground with his fists repeatedly creating a small earthquake. He is ranked 9th out of 12 on the current [[tier list]].

{{clear}}

Donkey Kong returns in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' as a starting playable character. His appearance is still based off his ''Donkey Kong Country'' appearance, ableit with a yellowish skin tone. He remains mostly the same from the original, but his new [[side special move]], [[Headbutt]], allows DK to embed his opponents into the ground giving him some free hits. Donkey Kong is known for his incredible strength -- he is capable of walking and jumping while carrying [[Crate]]s, [[Barrel]]s, and [[Party Ball]]s, items that normally decrease a character's walking speed and cause them to become unable to jump. He is also no longer the heaviest ''Super Smash Bros.'' character; the newcomer {{SSBM|Bowser}} surpassed him. Donkey Kong is now ranked slightly higher, but still low-mid tier, being ranked 17th out of 26 on the current [[tier list]] in E tier.

As a playable character, Donkey Kong has three trophies, a normal trophy acquired by beating the {{SSBM|Classic Mode}} with Donkey Kong on any difficulty, and "Smash Red" and "Smash Blue" trophies won by beating the Adventure and All-Star Modes, respectively.

His normal trophy reads:

'''Donkey Kong'''<br>

''While he now prefers the laid-back jungle lifestyle to construction site mischief, DK is often forced back into action by the Kremling Krew. The great ape is quite fast despite his burly physique, and he keeps his strength up with a steady diet of his favorite food: bananas. His one extravagance (and only piece of clothing) is a monogrammed necktie.''

Donkey Kong Trophy Melee.png|Classic Mode trophy

Donkey Kong Trophy (Smash).png|Smash [Adventure Mode] trophy

Donkey Kong Trophy (Smash 2).png|Smash [All-Star Mode] trophy

Donkey Kong returns as a starting playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. He is no longer the sole representative of his series, as [[Diddy Kong]] appears alongside him as well. His appearance is based on his current design from the ''Mario'' spin-off games and the later ''Donkey Kong'' games. With new physics in the game, Donkey Kong can no longer be comboed as easily, like in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', and his power, range, recovery and speed stats have slightly improved and is no longer in top falling speed. His [[Final Smash]] is the [[Konga Beat]] in which DK takes out the Bongos and plays them. By timing their button presses, the attack power can be increased. During this move, DK is invincible, but it is more risky when playing on a moving stage like [[Rumble Falls]]. Though, the screen scrolls much more slowly while the Final Smash is in action. He also appears as a stage hazard along with [[spring]]s in the [[75m]] stage. He is now ranked around the middle of the [[tier list]], placing 21st out of 38 in the D tier.

Donkey Kong has a trophy that is awarded each time the {{SSBB|Classic Mode}} is completed with Donkey Kong on any difficulty. See [[Konga Beat]] for the trophy description of Donkey Kong's [[Final Smash]]:

[[File:Donkey Kong - Brawl Trophy.png|left|thumb|100x200px|The Donkey Kong trophy in ''Brawl''.]]

;Donkey Kong

:''A carefree jungle dweller with the charisma of a natural leader. He keeps busy by foiling the plans of the Kremlings and their boss, King K. Rool. As his physique suggests, this ape is a powerhouse. He's got speed to match too, and his love for bananas is second to none. His famous necktie is adorned with his initials, DK.''

{{Trophy games|console1=SNES|game1=Donkey Kong Country|console2=N64|game2=Donkey Kong 64}}

! Name  

! Game  

! Effect  

! Character(s)  

| [[mariowiki:Donkey Kong|DK]]

| {{SortKey|DK Diddy}}{{Head|DonkeyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Donkey Kong (SSBB)}}{{Head|DiddyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Diddy Kong (SSBB)}}

| {{SortKey|AttackSpecialsDirect+015}}[[Image:SpecialsDirect.png|16px|link=Specials: Direct]] Attack +15

| {{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong}}

| {{SortKey|DK Diddy}}{{Head|DonkeyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Donkey Kong (SSBB)}}{{Head|DiddyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Diddy Kong (SSBB)}}

| {{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong}}

| {{SortKey|DK Diddy}}{{Head|DonkeyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Donkey Kong (SSBB)}}{{Head|DiddyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Diddy Kong (SSBB)}}

| {{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong}}

| {{SortKey|DK Diddy}}{{Head|DonkeyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Donkey Kong (SSBB)}}{{Head|DiddyKong|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Diddy Kong (SSBB)}}

On the current ''SSB4'' [[tier list]], Donkey Kong ranks 22nd out of 55 characters, placing him in C tier. He has been [[buff]]ed overall, with faster attacks and improved combo ability, especially with his cargo up throw. The new [[rage]] mechanic benefits Donkey Kong very well, which when combined with his heaviness, allows him to deliver greater knockback at higher damage percents. Donkey Kong's trademark power and speed are retained from past games too. Although he is regarded as one of the game's best super heavyweights along with {{SSB4|Bowser}}, he still suffers from common weaknesses that plagued him in the past, such as vulnerability to combos due to his [[weight]] and size, and his recovery in [[Spinning Kong]] still gaining little vertical distance. Nonetheless, Donkey Kong's strengths have allowed him to secure decent tournament representation and above average results.

===Trophies===

:'''Donkey Kong'''

:{{Flag|North America}} ''This king of the jungle really, really loves bananas. His adventures usually start with people stealing his hoard of them. In Smash Bros., he's known for his incredible strength and long reach. Despite his size, he's still pretty quick. He can even jump carrying heavy items! Use this knowledge well.''

:{{Flag|Europe}} ''With help from Diddy Kong and his Animal Friends, this banana-loving king of the jungle will take on anyone causing trouble on his turf. The best things about him in this game are his colossal strength, his speed, his long reach and the fact that he can jump while holding heavy items. Make sure you use all that to your advantage!''

:'''Donkey Kong (Alt.)'''

:{{Flag|North America}} ''Donkey Kong pulls no punches when it comes to fighting. Or headbutts, as it turns out. His Headbutt special move will bury anyone on the ground who gets hit, leaving them open to some serious damage. If Donkey Kong strikes an airborne foe with this move, they'll go crashing downward.''

:{{Flag|Europe}} ''Donkey Kong's always been one to use his head. Anyone who's been on the receiving end of his Headbutt special will tell you that. If they're on the ground when it hits them, they'll get buried, leaving them open to a serious walloping. If they're in the air, though, they might find themselves being knocked down. Either way, it's going to hurt.''

:'''Donkey Kong + Barrel Train'''

:{{Flag|North America}} ''This mean machine may look like it was meant for the tracks, but really it was made to soar. That fine wood finish isn't so great in the water, though. I bet more than a few players have fond memories of the Barrel Train and its first driver, Diddy Kong.''

:{{Flag|Europe}} ''This kart might look like it needs to be on rails, but it's actually great in mid-air. Like any barrel, though, it has a tendency to float. In a race that comes down to speed in water, it'll get left behind. The name "Barrel Train" might ring a bell for Mario Kart veterans - it was Diddy Kong's kart!''

DonkeyKongTrophy3DS.png|Classic (3DS)

DonkeyKongTrophyWiiU.png|Classic (Wii U)

DonkeyKongAltTrophy3DS.png|Alt. (3DS)

DonkeyKongAltTrophyWiiU.png|Alt. (Wii U)

BarrelTrainTrophy3DS.png|Donkey Kong + Barrel Train

==In [[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']]==

:''Main article: [[Donkey Kong (SSBU)]]

Donkey Kong returns in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' as one of the few characters available from the beginning.

Spirits donkey kong.png|134. '''''Donkey Kong'''''

*Unlike in most ''Donkey Kong'' games and ''Mario'' spin-offs, where Donkey Kong has a cartoonish voice, voiced by {{s|mariowiki|Takashi Nagasako}}, the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series has him using more realistic, gorilla-like roars. This also applies to [[Bowser]], with realistic roars instead of {{s|mariowiki|Kenneth W. James}}, Bowser's current voice actor in most ''Mario'' games, [[Diddy Kong]], who uses realistic chimpanzee screeches instead of using voice clips from his current voice actor {{s|mariowiki|Katsumi Suzuki}}, and [[King K. Rool]], who uses grunts and roars instead of his current voice actor in the ''Donkey Kong'' games, {{s|mariowiki|Toshihide Tsuchiya}}.

*Despite being able to [[crawl]] in ''Donkey Kong Country'', Donkey Kong has been unable to do so in any ''Super Smash Bros.'' game.

*Donkey Kong himself is the only character in the {{uv|Donkey Kong}} series to be created in Japan.

*Donkey Kong is the only {{uv|Donkey Kong}} character to be a [[starter character]] in every ''Super Smash Bros.'' game he appears in.

*Donkey Kong is the heaviest out of all heroic characters.

*Donkey Kong is one of two charcters to be listed by abbreviations on the [[victory screen]], [[trophies]], and [[character select screen]] (being listed as D K in ''Super Smash Bros.'' and ''Melee''), the other being [[Captain Falcon]]