Editing Donkey Kong (SSBU)

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==In [[competitive play]]==
==In [[competitive play]]==
===Tier placement and history===
Donkey Kong was met in the E3 demo build with a degree of cautious optimism. Although players could no longer easily perform most of Donkey Kong's throw-based kill confirms from ''Smash 4'', including his infamous "Ding-Dong" combo, Donkey Kong players were willing to do away with this in favor of better frame data, speed, damage, and hitboxes, most notably on his tilts and dash attack, and hoped that he would play differently from {{SSBU|Bowser}}. Though DK was considered one of the worst heavyweights from the demo, thought to be only marginally better than {{SSBU|Ridley}}, players were excited for Donkey Kong's opportunities in competitive play.
Upon the game's release, however, Donkey Kong fell out of favor very quickly, for a number of reasons. The biggest issue is his low-percent safety: many of Donkey Kong's moves are punishable on hit at early percents, making his neutral rather egregious in a meta favoring speed and punish games. His already poor disadvantage state was also made even worse due to his larger hurtbox and his out of shield options remaining poor. Although Donkey Kong has been buffed in patches, none of Donkey Kong's biggest flaws were addressed. As a result, despite efforts from dedicated players such as {{Sm|LeSou}} and {{Sm|YMCA}} pre-pandemic, {{Sm|HIKARU}} briefly post-pandemic, and {{Sm|ChunkyKong}} online, Donkey Kong was mostly used as an occasional counterpick during the early metagame. As such, he is commonly ranked as a low tier, with some players such as {{Sm|Dabuz}}, {{Sm|Maister}} and {{Sm|ESAM}} ranking him as one of the absolute worst characters in the entire game. Regardless, he is ranked 68th on the current tier list.
===Most historically significant players===
===Most historically significant players===
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''See also: [[:Category:Donkey Kong players (SSBU)]]''
''See also: [[:Category:Donkey Kong players (SSBU)]]''


*{{Sm|ChunkyKong|USA}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players of all-time and the only notable Donkey Kong player who solo-mains the character. Initially a Wi-Fi Warrior, he later became known for his performances in the second half of 2022, including placing 17th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2022}} over {{Sm|SHADIC}} and 13th at {{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}} over {{Sm|Kola}} and {{Sm|Aaron|p=Florida}}. Since then, he remains Donkey Kong's primary representative in North America, having defeated {{Sm|MuteAce}} at {{Trn|CEO 2023}} and {{Sm|Light|p=Connecticut}} at {{Trn|MomoCon 2024}}.
*{{Sm|ChunkyKong|USA}} - The current best Donkey Kong player in the world. Placed 13th at {{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}}, 17th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2022}}, 25th at {{Trn|InfinityCON Tally 2021}}, and 33rd at both {{Trn|CEO 2021}} and {{Trn|CEO 2022}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Kola}}, {{Sm|MuteAce}}, and {{Sm|Goblin}}. He is also the best online Donkey Kong player in the United States, placing 2nd at both {{Trn|Get Clipped 3}} and {{Trn|Get Clipped 7}}, 9th at both {{Trn|Frame Perfect Series 3: ONLINE}} and {{Trn|Steal the Show 5: Heist in Smashville}}, and 13th at {{Trn|HABBY Birthday 2020}}. Formerly ranked 44th on the [[Wi-Fi Warrior Rank v6]].
*{{Sm|HIKARU|Japan}} - Although known for using many characters, he has used Donkey Kong extensively in early-''Ultimate'' and as a secondary or co-main from 2022 onward, and is considered one of the best Donkey Kong players of all-time. He is best known for using Donkey Kong for most of {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2022}}, placing 3rd while defeating {{Sm|Glutonny}} and {{Sm|Bloom4Eva}} along the way, marking the best performance for the character at a major. He retired in mid-2023 and has attended a couple of events since.
*{{Sm|Doctor A Ness|Australia}} - The best Donkey Kong in Australia during the early metagame, but has since been banned. Placed 5th at both {{Trn|Battle Arena Melbourne 11}} and {{Trn|BigWinChampionship 2}}, 7th at {{Trn|Phantom 2020}}, and 9th at {{Trn|Sunny Side Up}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Purple~H}}, {{Sm|Sriks}}, and {{Sm|Ben Gold}}. Currently ranked 8th on the [[Australian Power Rankings]].
*{{Sm|Rarikkusu|Japan}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world since 2023, playing the character alongside {{SSBU|Falco}}. He is best known for defeating {{Sm|Sparg0}} at {{Trn|DELTA 8}}, placing 13th overall, and has also placed 5th at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 13.5 "U-22"}} using Donkey Kong to defeat {{Sm|Asimo}} and 9th at {{Trn|Maesuma'U22}}.
*{{Sm|HIKARU|Japan}} - Tri-mains {{SSBU|Sora}} and {{SSBU|Roy}} with Donkey Kong and was the best Donkey Kong player in the world prior to his retirement. Placed 3rd at {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2022}}, 5th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 12}}, 9th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 3}}, 13th at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 4}}, and 17th at {{Trn|EVO Japan 2020}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Glutonny}}, {{Sm|KEN}}, and {{Sm|zackray}}.
 
*{{Sm|LeSou|Mexico}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world during the early metagame. Placed 5th at {{Trn|Smash Fest to the Sky}}, 9th at {{Trn|Ragnarok}}, {{Trn|WeTecThose 9}}, and {{Trn|Abierto Guadalajara Ultimo Reto}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 8}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Cloudy}}, {{Sm|Meme}}, and {{Sm|Joker}}.
===Tier placement and history===
*{{Sm|YMCA|USA}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the United States during the early metagame. Placed 9th at {{Trn|SIEGE 2019}}, 13th at {{Trn|DreamHack Anaheim 2020}}, 25th at {{Trn|2GG: Nightmare on Smashville}}, and 65th at {{Trn|EVO 2019}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Klaatu}}, {{Sm|NAKAT}}, and {{Sm|Ignaize}}.
There was some optimism on Donkey Kong prior to the game's release: although Donkey Kong could no longer easily perform most of his throw-based kill confirms from ''Smash 4'', including his infamous "Ding-Dong" combo, many players noted how Donkey Kong received better frame data, speed, damage, and hitboxes in the E3 demo build. However, the optimism faded very quickly upon the game's release. Players pointed out how many of Donkey Kong's moves were punishable on hit at early percents, making his neutral rather egregious in the early metagame, which favored speed and punish games. In addition, his already poor disadvantage state was also made even worse due to his larger hurtbox and his out of shield options remaining poor. Finally, although Donkey Kong saw some early success from {{Sm|HIKARU}}, he eventually dropped Donkey Kong for other characters, and no other Donkey Kong player was able to match HIKARU's success, leaving him with below-average representation. As such, although Donkey Kong received a few buffs in subsequent patches, Donkey Kong was widely considered unviable, with a few even calling him one of the worst characters in the game.
 
2022 became a turning point for Donkey Kong. First, HIKARU began playing Donkey Kong again, and although often only used as a secondary or co-main alongside other characters, it nevertheless gave Donkey Kong some of the best results since the early metagame. Most notable among these results was HIKARU's run at {{Trn|Ultimate Fighting Arena 2022}}, which saw him use Donkey Kong extensively in top 64, defeating several of Europe's best players including {{Sm|Glutonny}} and {{Sm|Bloom4Eva}}, before ultimately placing 3rd. In addition, {{Sm|ChunkyKong}}, initially known for his online performances, began having a bigger impact on the offline metagame with his strong performances at majors, most notably 13th at {{Trn|Let's Make Moves Miami}} defeating {{Sm|Kola}} along the way. With both players ranking in [[OrionRank 2022]]'s top 100, among a few others also ranked with Donkey Kong despite minimal usage, many players began seeing Donkey Kong in a more positive light, and he was no longer considered a candidate for worst character. This was reflected on his placement on the first tier list, where he was ranked 70th as a lower-mid character. His results would remain around the same in the following year: although HIKARU eventually retired and ChunkyKong's results saw a dip, {{Sm|Rarikkusu}} would break out onto the Japanese scene and begin placing well at events. As such, Donkey Kong remained around the same on the second tier list, rising slightly to 68th and ranking in the D+ tier.


=={{SSBU|Classic Mode}}: Journey to New Donk City==
=={{SSBU|Classic Mode}}: Journey to New Donk City==

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