Editing King Dedede (SSB4)

|name = King Dedede

|image = [[File:King Dedede SSB4.png|250px]]

|game = SSB4

|ssbgame1 = SSBB

|tier = G

|ranking = 51

'''King Dedede''' ({{ja|デデデ|Dedede}}, ''Dedede'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. His return to the series was announced in a [[List of Director's Room Miiverse posts|Director's Room Miiverse post]] on January 10th, 2014, which also commemorated ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby: Triple Deluxe}}'' being released in Japan on the same day. [[Masahiro Sakurai]] reprises his role as King Dedede's voice actor, albeit via a filter being applied to his ''Brawl'' voice clips.

King Dedede is ranked 51st out of 54 on the [[tier list]], placing him at the top of the G tier. This is a significant drop from his high-tier placement in ''Brawl'', where he was ranked 12th out of 38 and is roughly tied with [[King Dedede (SSBU)|his later iteration from ''Ultimate'']] as his worst placement in the ''Smash'' series. Dedede's primary strength is most of his attacks having large, disjointed range, courtesy of his hammer. In addition, he also possesses some very powerful attacks, such as his forward smash, down smash, back aerial and down aerial, with the latter two also functioning as good edgeguarding moves. Dedede also boasts arguably the greatest overall endurance in the game, being the most difficult character to KO vertically, due to having the third highest [[weight]] and the second fastest [[falling speed]], and also very difficult to KO horizontally despite being a fast-falling character with slow [[air speed]], which is also due to his high weight and the fact that he boasts an impressive [[recovery]], due to his multiple [[midair jump]]s and [[Super Dedede Jump]].

However, King Dedede is among the slowest characters in the game, possessing one of the slowest [[walk]]ing, [[dash]]ing, and air speeds in the game. Likewise, his moveset is among the slowest in the game, with only his down tilt, neutral aerial and standing grab being active before frame 9. These traits not only hinder Dedede offensively, but defensively as well; alongside his large size, considerable weight and fast falling speed, Dedede's mobility and frame data issues result in him being among the characters that are most vulnerable to rushdowns, combos, and [[camping]], with only his moderate [[gravity]] enabling him to not be as vulnerable as other heavyweights or fast-fallers would be to them. Dedede is also no longer capable of camping himself due to his new side special, [[Gordo Throw]], being [[reflect]]ed by any attack that deals at least 2%. Finally, Dedede suffers from disproportionately weak strength for a super heavyweight: his fastest moves fail to KO until very high percentages, whereas his slowest moves are among the most punishable in the game.

As a result of his glaring flaws and the weakening or total removal of moves and/or mechanics that were important to his neutral game in ''Brawl'', such as his [[chain grab]] and his old back aerial, King Dedede is widely considered to be nonviable throughout ''SSB4''{{'}}s competitive metagame, with most players considering him one of the worst characters in ''SSB4''. As such, he commands a small playerbase with extremely sparse results, although some King Dedede players such as {{Sm|ZAKI}} have been able to put up some noteworthy performances at superregionals and majors.

King Dedede is the third [[Weight|heaviest]] character and, like {{SSB4|Ganondorf}}, is the epitome of the archetypal heavyweight: he has a large frame, slow [[walking]] and [[dash]]ing speeds (despite them being increased), below average [[traction]], the slowest [[air speed]], one of the slowest [[air acceleration]] values, the second fastest [[falling speed]] and average [[gravity]].

Unsurprisingly, King Dedede's greatest strength is his impressive endurance, which is often considered to be the overall best in the game. His very fast falling speed gives him the best vertical endurance, while his weight and great [[recovery]] makes his horizontal endurance one of the best. In addition, he is notoriously difficult to [[edgeguard]] and [[gimp]]. Despite his very high falling speed and extremely slow air speed, he possesses four [[midair jump]]s. These help him stall his fall and cover long distances, as well as allowing him to edgeguard safely. His [[recovery]] does not end with his midair jumps. His up special, [[Super Dedede Jump]], grants a very large amount of vertical distance and a good amount of horizontal distance. It also has [[super armor]] and can [[meteor smash]], making it extremely dangerous to intercept, especially if the opponent uses an aerial attack.

His potent [[punishment]] game also supplements his great endurance. Most of his attacks deal high amounts of damage and can leave opponents vulnerable to more of his attacks. His most useful moves at that include, but are not limited to, down tilt, down smash and his grab game. The former is also very quick for a super heavyweight, and can help him fend off opponents and set up edgeguards. His [[pummel]] is highly damaging, making it good for adding up damage before throwing the opponent. His forward throw can reliably launch opponents off-stage, while his back throw deals very high damage. Lastly, his down throw can combo into up tilt, up smash and any aerial attack bar his down aerial, making it very reliable for damage racking and giving him combos that most fellow heavyweights do not have. He also has a plethora of very powerful moves, including his forward and down smashes, his up, back and down aerials, and [[Jet Hammer]], all of which are capable of KOing easily if they connect. Because of these advantages, he is also one of the characters to benefit the most from [[rage]], as it allows his powerful moves to put the opponent in a disadvantageous situation most of the time, and can allow him to initiate a comeback, which is further complemented by his endurance.

Another positive King Dedede possesses is his range. Unlike his fellow super heavyweights, his hammer grants a majority of his moves disjointed ranges and enables him to out-space opponents with poor range, such as {{SSB4|Mario}} and {{SSB4|Ness}}. Prominent examples of this are his forward tilt, all of his smash attacks, and all of his aerials except neutral aerial, but said move's poor reach is compensated for, courtesy of its decent KO potential when clean. It should be also noted that moves that do not utilize his hammer also have long duration, such as his up and down tilts, and the aforementioned neutral aerial, which can also make him difficult to punish if the opponent stands too close to him and mistimes its punish.

However, King Dedede has numerous weaknesses, to the point where they significantly outweigh his strengths. His most prominent one is his underwhelming frame data, which is among the worst in the game. This makes Dedede prone to punishment, and due to his vulnerability to combos and juggles, he will have to [[read]] his opponents more often than not to safely land a move. However, it should be noted that his moveset is among, if not the overall, weakest of the super heavyweights; very few of his moves are capable of reliably KOing before 80%, with such moves being nearly limited to back aerial, [[Jet Hammer]], and forward smash, all of which are easily telegraphed and highly punishable, despite back aerial being able to [[autocancel]] from a short hop. His fastest moves are incapable of KOing until very high percentages, and his slowest moves are among the most predictable and most punishable in the game, with notable examples being forward smash and up tilt. These factors make said moves being easy to punish before or after they connect. While the fastest of his moves, his down tilt and neutral aerial, come out on frame 6, repeated use of them can render him a predictable opponent.

His special moveset also faces some issues, as it is riddled with significant drawbacks. Gordo Throw is often considered his best special move, as it can be used for a KO option at high percents, can grant strong stage control if spaced and timed correctly, and can be used as a set-up into many other options if the opponent is sent toward Dedede. It can also aid his edgeguard attempts if the Gordo gets stuck on a wall or edge, allowing him to score a KO. Finally, it can be used to edge trap the opponent, giving them few options to retaliate and get back to safety. However, it has one major flaw, arguably enough to counterbalance all of the Gordo's benefits: it can be [[Reflection|reflected]] by any attack that deals at least 2%, which can limit its otherwise great utility and stage control potential and renders it a risky move, even when used from a safe distance. As a result of this, King Dedede's [[neutral game]] is risky due to being committal.

Super Dedede Jump is an amazing recovery move due to its distance and super armor, but its use is almost limited exclusively to recovering. However, the move's landing induces high shield damage, average [[shieldstun]], and emits stars upon meeting the ground, which can make the move surprisingly difficult to punish, despite the move's high endlag. Inhale can be used to pressure the opponent and possibly score a [[sacrificial KO#Grab-based sacrificial KOs|Dededecide]], but it is telegraphed, laggy, and unsafe due to the removal of grab armor. Lastly, [[Jet Hammer]] is best used only when trying to punish an unsafe get-up attempt or when breaking a shield.

King Dedede benefits a fair bit from his [[Character customization|custom moves]]. Topspin Gordo has consistent power and moves much faster, which allows King Dedede to force the opponent to react with little risk of his Gordo being used against him, due to its high speed. However, it does not last as long, and it removes almost all combos with the Gordo itself, as it cannot be used for traps, and moving the control stick barely changes its trajectory. Bouncing Gordo is considerably weaker, but it lasts much longer, and enables King Dedede to apply stage control and gives him more time to use Gordo combos. The Gordo's trajectory changes greatly when the player tilts the control stick. Rising Dedede covers more vertical distance, maintains the default's super armor, and can even function as an (albeit risky) out of shield option due to its hitbox while ascending. However, it cannot meteor smash, as King Dedede becomes helpless at the apex of its jump, which also makes it less safe, especially if King Dedede tries to land on the stage. Dash Jet Hammer does far less damage, but King Dedede dashes forward when he attacks, enabling it to function as a mindgame tool. It can also function as a viable horizontal recovery option, which can ameliorate his glacial air speed.

All of his other custom moves have very situational advantages and are overshadowed by their disadvantages, with Dedede Storm, Taste Test, and Armored Jet Hammer being the most notorious examples. Dedede Storm has much slower start-up and ending lag than [[Inhale]], removes Dededecide, is a multi-hitting move that cannot connect after 100%, and lacks strong hitboxes, preventing it from KOing even well beyond 200%. Taste Test spits opponents out instantly, preventing Dedede from sending the opponent off-stage, which allows them to exploit his vulnerability. Armored Jet Hammer offers super armor on charge, but causes [[recoil damage]] faster, is drastically weaker to the point where a fully charged blow is weaker than an uncharged hit by the default, and has severe ending lag to the point where one can jump from the top of {{SSB4|Battlefield}} and use it and then be unable to move until Dedede lands on the main platform.

Overall, King Dedede's weaknesses heavily outweigh his strengths. Due to his very sluggish frame data, risky neutral game and poor approach, his optimal playstyle is a defensive combination of zoning as well as baiting and punishing.  

==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

The most notable positives that these changes bring are his new [[down tilt]], new side special [[Gordo Throw]], and his down special, [[Jet Hammer]]. Dedede's new down tilt has faster start-up and travels a long distance, making it one of his best defensive moves (out of shield, after a smash attack, etc) at the cost of its spacing potential. Unlike [[Waddle Dee Toss]], Gordo Throw deals a consistent amount of damage, fairly high knockback, and can even be used to "pinball" opponents by using their tumbling momentum to Dedede's advantage by trapping them between a Gordo and Dedede due to the ability to angle a Gordo's trajectory, which improves his neutral game. Lastly, Jet Hammer has been noticeably buffed in terms of range and the recoil damage, and due to the addition of [[rage]] combined with his high endurance and weight, it is a much better move both onstage and for edge-guarding. As a result, these moves are more versatile than their previous iterations in ''Brawl''. Some of the gameplay changes brought about by ''SSB4'' have also helped Dedede. He is now less susceptible to projectile camping due to the universal nerf to projectile camping (although he still arguably has the hardest time against camping), and he can utilize the rage mechanic very effectively due to his considerable weight, which supplements his high power.

However, the aforementioned new move alterations and changes to gameplay mechanics have also brought drawbacks that drastically outweigh the aforementioned positives, despite having a less polarized moveset than ''Brawl''. The most significant of these came with his new [[down throw]]. Dedede's grabs are slower and have less range making it harder for him to land a grab and when he does, the reward he receives has been greatly decreased. One positive change down throw received is that it now launches opponents vertically which gives it greater followup potential however, down throw no longer has [[set knockback]] making its followups percentage dependent and the removal of [[chain grab]]bing has heavily harmed down throw as it can no longer be used to (infinitely depending on the character) chaingrab opponents. While it is still a decent throw overall, it is nowhere near what his ''Brawl'' down throw was which was so powerful that it alone completely nullified certain characters.

Another one of Dedede's best moves which was changed for the worse was his [[back aerial]]. The move went from a fast, powerful, disjointed [[sex kick]] to a more powerful but much laggier and more difficult to land backward hammer swing. While the move is still decent, it is no longer one of the best back aerials in the game and one of Dedede's best moves. [[Up tilt]] was also noticeably nerfed as it is laggier, lingers for less time and has much less KO power. His new moves, despite bringing nice buffs, have also brought some drawbacks as well, such as his down tilt losing its KO power and having worse spacing capabilities, his new forward aerial no longer auto-canceling in a short hop (despite its faster start-up lag and more favorable hitbox placement) and being weaker and Gordo Throw being able to be reflected by any hitbox that deals at least 2%, which also hurts the previous anti-camping abilities the Waddle Dee Toss had in ''Brawl''. Dedede's already terrible air speed was decreased even further which is especially poor as most other returning veterans had their air speed increased. Altogether, all of these changes have nerfed Dedede's approach potential. Lastly, the changes to [[hitstun canceling]] also significantly harm Dedede, as they weaken his endurance despite his increased weight and make him an easy victim of combos.

As a result of these changes, King Dedede is significantly worse than he was in ''Brawl'' as his overall frame data was nerfed and a lot of his moves were completely changed with his two best moves (back aerial and down throw) being changed for the worse and he is one of the few characters who suffered more from the changes to ''Smash 4''{{'}}s mechanics than he benefited from them. He is arguably the most severely nerfed character in his transition from ''Brawl'', and despite having never been considered a strong character, Dedede was directly nerfed in patches receiving nerfs to his forward aerial, down throw, Gordos and his air speed. While this was somewhat balanced out with other top tiers receiving nerfs, other lower tiered characters had been buffed and DLC characters such as {{SSB4|Cloud}} and (more importantly) {{SSB4|Bayonetta}} were added to the game, further worsening his matchup spread. Due to this, Dedede went from a polarizing high tier who heavily struggled against some of the top tiers but completely annihilated many mid and low tiers to a non-viable bottom tier character who loses to almost every character ranked above him and only slightly beats some of the characters ranked below him.

*{{change|Due to the aesthetic used in ''SSB4'', King Dedede has a sleeker design, his overall color scheme is more vibrant, and his attire's fur trim is of a significantly higher visual quality than in ''Brawl''. His pupils are also smaller. Altogether, these changes make King Dedede appear more in line with his official artwork for ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby Super Star Ultra}}'' and ''{{s|wikirby|Kirby Mass Attack}}''.}}

*{{change|King Dedede is more expressive.<ref name="Direct">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUWnQu2Grs Super Smash Bros. Direct 4.8.2014]</ref>}}

*{{change|Up taunt's voice clip is now in sync with its animation, regardless of the direction he is facing.}}

*{{change|Like other large characters, such as {{SSB4|Donkey Kong}} and {{SSB4|Bowser}}, King Dedede's general size in proportion to the other playable characters is also greater than in previous installments. This improves his [[range]], but makes his hurtbox larger.}}

*{{change|King Dedede is [[Weight|heavier]] (112 → 119). This improves his endurance, but makes him more susceptible to combos.}}

*{{buff|King Dedede [[walk]]s faster (0.95 → 0.98).}}

*{{nerf|King Dedede's [[air speed]] which was already the slowest in the game by a considerable margin is even slower (0.658 → 0.63). This is especially poor as most other veterans had their air speed increased.}}

*{{buff|As with almost all returning veterans, King Dedede's [[fast fall]]ing speed is faster (2.73 → 3.12), improving his air game and making him less susceptible to juggling.}}

*{{change|King Dedede's [[gravity]] is higher (0.0837 → 0.087885). This improves his aerial mobility, but hinders his endurance and makes him more susceptible to combos.}}

*{{buff|[[Air dodge]] has decreased ending lag (FAF 40 → 35) although relative to the cast, it has gone from one of the fastest air dodges to one of the slowest as its intangibility was unchanged.}}

*{{buff|Soft landing is faster (5 frames → 2).}}

*{{buff|[[Item throw]] is stronger (1 → 1.063).}}

*{{change|The removal of [[chain grab]]bing both helps and hinders King Dedede. It significantly improves his endurance, but removes his own chain grabs.}}

*{{nerf|The changes to [[hitstun canceling]] significantly hinder King Dedede. They make him very susceptible to combos and remove his ability to momentum cancel,hindering his endurance in spite of his heavier weight. However, he still has the best vertical endurance among the cast. The only moves that benefit from the changes to hitstun canceling are down throw and to a lesser extent up tilt and up throw.}}

**{{buff|Neutral attack's first hit has decreased start-up lag (frame 12 → 10). Its neutral infinite has also received a finisher, an upward hammer swing.}}

**{{buff|The weakening of [[Smash directional influence|SDI]] makes neutral infinite significantly more difficult to escape from.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral attack deals less damage (6% → 4% (hit 1), 5% → 4% (hit 2), 2% → 1% (loop)) and has smaller hitboxes (6u/3.5u → 2.5u (hits 1-2), 4u/5u/7u → 2u/3u/7u (loop)). The second hit can also no longer [[Tripping|trip]] opponents.}}

**{{change|Neutral attack has altered knockback (20/25/35 (set)/100 (scaling) → 50/48 (base)/25 (set)/10/100 (scaling) (hit 1), 20 (base)/50 (scaling) → 50/30 (base)/10/45 (scaling) (hit 2), 30 (base)/20 (scaling) → 60/20/2 (set)/100 (scaling) (loop)) and altered angles ([[Sakurai angle|361°]]/80° → 75°/105°/361° (hit 1), 85° → 115°/105°/100° (hit 2), 30° → 70° (loop hits)). This makes the first hit connect into the second hit more reliably but makes it harder to [[jab lock]] with.}}

*[[Forward tilt]]:

**{{buff|Forward tilt deals more damage (6%/4% → 11%) due to consisting of five hits instead of one. Additionally, it has a much larger hitbox (4.5u → 8u) and a slightly longer duration (frames 12-22 → 12-23). Lastly, its last hit has increased knockback (20 (base)/80/100 (scaling) → 30/190), granting it KO potential at high percentages.}}

**{{nerf|Forward tilt has increased ending lag (FAF 43 → 49).}}

**{{change|Forward tilt's final hit has an altered angle (65° → 50°).}}

*[[Up tilt]]:

**{{buff|Up tilt has noticeably increased horizontal range (6u → 8u) and considerably more combo potential due to its altered knockback combined with the changes to hitstun canceling/DI. Its intangibility also has a longer duration (frames 7-8 → 9-15).}}

**{{nerf|Up tilt has received a sourspot that deals 2% less damage (12% → 10%) and the hitbox on Dedede's lower body has been removed. It also has increased startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 7-17 → 9-15) and has more ending lag (FAF 40 → 44) and it only grants intangibility to Dedede's head and left arm as opposed to his whole body. It also has significantly decreased knockback (30 (base)/120 (scaling) → 50/80) greatly hindering its KO potential.}}

**{{change|King Dedede has a new down tilt, a cartwheeling tackle. Compared to the previous down tilt, it deals different knockback (20/10 (base)/100 (scaling) → 60/75).}}

**{{buff|Down tilt has larger hitboxes (6u/4u → 7u/5u) and slightly less startup lag (frame 7 → 6).}}

**{{change|New down tilt moves Dedede forwards, significantly increasing its range and allowing Dedede to pseudo-[[crawl]] but hindering its spacing potential and making it much easier to punish.}}

**{{nerf|Down tilt launches opponents at a higher angle (361° → 45°), making it less effective at KOing at very high percentages compared to the previous down tilt. It also has a shorter duration (frames 7-18 → 6-13), has more ending lag (FAF 36 → 38), and can whiff if used too close to the opponent.}}

*[[Dash attack]]:

**{{buff|Clean dash attack now deals consistent damage as the body hitbox was removed (16%/14% → 16%) and it has increased knockback (35 (base)/95 (scaling) → 40/100) improving its KO potential. It also has larger hitboxes (5u → 7u/6u).}}

**{{nerf|Dash attack has received a late hitbox that deals slightly less damage (14% → 13%) compared to the previous body hitbox although its knockback scaling was compensated (95 → 100). Dash attack can now also whiff if used too close to the opponent as the body hitbox was removed, hindering its safety.}}

**{{nerf|Dash attack has increased [[Freeze frames|hitlag]] (1× → 1.2×). This makes it easier to DI while not improving its safety on shield due to the changes to hitlag.}}

*[[Forward smash]]:

**{{buff|Sourspotted forward smash deals slightly more damage (13% → 15% (early), 5% → 6% (late)) and the early hit has increased knockback scaling (90 → 93), though they are still drastically weaker than the sweetspot. Sweetspotted forward smash also has a slightly larger hitbox (5.7u → 6u).}}

**{{nerf|Sweetspotted forward smash has more startup lag (frame 44 → 45) and reduced knockback (55 (base)/90 (scaling) → 30/93), hindering its KO potential. However, it is still the strongest forward smash in the game. The late hit also has a shorter duration (frames 47-55 → 48-49).}}

**{{change|Late forward smash has an altered angle (80° → 60°).}}

*[[Up smash]]:

**{{buff|Up smash has decreased startup lag with a longer duration (frame 20-24 → 17-24).}}

*[[Down smash]]:

**{{buff|Down smash has altered angles (105°/80°/50° → 30°/361°), making it capable of [[semi-spike|semi-spiking]] opponents. This grants it edgeguarding potential.}}

**{{nerf|Down smash deals 2% less damage (15% → 13%), making it weaker despite its increased base knockback (50 → 60). It also has a slightly shorter duration (10 frames → 9).}}

*[[Neutral aerial]]:

**{{buff|Neutral aerial has increased knockback (30 (base)/85 (scaling) → 40/95 (clean), 30 (base) → 40 (late)) and slightly larger hitboxes (9u → 10u (clean), 5u → 6u (late)).}}

**{{nerf|King Dedede has a new forward aerial, a downward hammer swing. Compared to the previous forward aerial, it deals 3% less damage (15% → 12%) hindering its KO potential, has more ending lag (FAF 37 → 42) and [[auto-cancel]]s later (frame 34 → 40). This results in it being unable to auto-cancel in a short hop.}}

**{{buff|Forward aerial has less startup lag (frame 16 → 13) and increased range (7.5u/4u → 8u/5u) making it easier to land.}}

**{{change|King Dedede has a new back aerial, an upward hammer swing.}}

**{{buff|It deals 3% more damage (13% (clean), 9% (late) → 16%) and has increased vertical range (8.5u/7u → 10u), making it better for KOing compared to the previous back aerial despite its lower knockback (20 (base)/100 (scaling) → 30/88).}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has significantly more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 6-8 (clean), 9-25 (late) → 17-19), ending lag (FAF 33 → 38), and auto-cancels later (frame 26 → 33). It also cannot trip opponents due to its increased strength and it has lost its 30% extra trip chance. This makes it much less versatile compared to the previous back aerial. Additionally, it has much less horizontal range and far less disjointed hitboxes, hindering its spacing potential.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has increased hitlag (1× → 1.2×), making it easier to DI.}}

*[[Up aerial]]:

**{{nerf|Up aerial's loop hits deal 1% less damage (2% → 1%), which decreases its overall damage output by 7% (19% → 12%).}}

**{{buff|Up aerial's last hit has significantly increased knockback scaling (130 → 150), improving its KO potential. Its loop hits also have altered angles (60°/120°/95° → [[Autolink angle|366°]]/90°), which makes them connect together better.}}

**{{buff|The weakening of SDI makes up aerial significantly more difficult to escape from.}}

*[[Down aerial]]:

**{{nerf|King Dedede has a new down aerial, a downward hammer swing. Compared to the previous down aerial, it deals 2% less damage (17% → 15%) due to consisting of one hit instead of seven, has significantly increased startup lag, a shorter duration (frame 9-27 → 22-23), and has a sourspot at the hammer's handle that deals 9% less damage (17% → 8%). Altogether, these changes make it much worse at pressuring and anti-juggling compared to the previous down aerial.}}

**{{buff|Down aerial [[meteor smash]]es aerial opponents if the hammer's whole head lands (70°/80° → 270°) and launches opponents at the [[Sakurai angle]] otherwise. As it only has one powerful hit, this makes it a very powerful edgeguarding option and a strong, albeit situational, on-stage KOing option compared to the previous down aerial. It also has larger hitboxes (4u/5u/6.5u → 5.5u/6u/8.5u).}}

**{{nerf|Sweetspotted down aerial has increased hitlag (1× → 1.5×), making it easier to DI.}}

*{{nerf|All grabs have decreased ranges. Standing and pivot grabs are larger (4u → 4.5u) but their Z positions have been moved (18/13/8 → 5 (standing), -22/-15/-8 → -6 (pivot) giving them less range. Dash grab is smaller (4u → 3.6u) and its Y and Z position have been moved (9/(15/10/5) → 7/4). Lastly, all three grabs only have one grab box instead of three.}}

*{{nerf|Standing and pivot grabs have increased start-up lag (frame 6 → 7 (standing), frame 7 → 10 (pivot)) and all grabs have increased ending lag (FAF 30 (standing), 40 (dash), 36 (pivot) → 36/45/40).}}

*{{change|Dash grab's animation has changed. King Dedede no longer stumbles over when he misses it.}}

**{{nerf|Forward throw deals less damage (12% → 10%).}}

**{{buff|Back throw has increased knockback scaling (65 → 79).}}

**{{nerf|Back throw deals less damage (6% (hit), 10% (throw), 16% (total) → 4%/9%/13%).}}

**{{change|Back throw has an altered angle (45° → 60°).}}

**{{buff|The changes to [[hitstun]] canceling improve up throw's combo potential into up aerial at low percentages.}}

**{{buff|King Dedede has a new down throw, a one-handed body slam. Compared to the previous down throw, it launches opponents at a vertical angle (20° → 80°) and Dedede releases the opponent later (frame 23 → 26), making it better for combos from low to medium percentages and overall functioning better with ''Smash 4''{{'}}s mechanics.}}

**{{nerf|Down throw does not have set knockback like the previous down throw (80 (set)/100 (scaling) → 70 (base)/82). While this allows the throw to lead into up aerial at certain percents, this removes the throw's ability to have consistent followups at all percents and every character is put into [[tumble]] at 0% allowing heavier characters to DI the throw.}}

**{{nerf|The removal of chain grabbing combined with the throw's altered knockback significantly hinders down throw as it removes Dedede's infinite chaingrab on most characters.}}

**{{nerf|Down throw deals less damage (4% (hit and throw), 8% (total) → 6%).}}

*[[Floor attack]]:

**{{buff|Floor attack deals 1% more damage (6% → 7%), though its knockback scaling was compensated (50 → 48).}}

**{{change|Floor attack has an altered angle ([[Sakurai angle|361°]] → 48°).}}

**{{nerf|King Dedede has lost his [[intangible]] and long-ranged 100%+ edge attack, leaving him with a significantly inferior edge attack at high percentages.}}

**{{buff|Edge attack no longer has set knockback (110 (set)/100 (scaling) → 20 (base)/90 (scaling)).}}

**{{nerf|The removal of grab armor hinders Inhale's utility as a defensive landing option, as trades will now result in Dedede getting hit instead of Inhaling the opponent.}}

**{{buff|King Dedede has a new side special, Gordo Throw. Compared to [[Waddle Dee Toss]], Gordo Throw is much more consistent both as a projectile and in regard to power.<ref name="Direct"/> Additionally, Gordo Throw's ability to bounce the Gordos in different trajectories also make it better at trapping. The hammer swing used to perform the move also produces a hitbox on the hammer that deals 12%, which can also hit opponents into the subsequently tossed Gordo. Lastly, Gordo Throw can hit twice, depending on the opponent's position.}}

**{{nerf|Gordo Throw deals less damage (22% → 14% (clean)/12.5% (mid early)/11% (mid late)/9.5% (late)), less knockback (65 (base)/70 (scaling) → 70/66) and launches opponents at a less favorable angle (70° → 60°) significantly hindering their KO potential compared to Waddle Dee Toss' Gordos. Unlike Waddle Dee Toss, Gordo Throw lacks anti-camping potential, due to its Gordos being reflected by any hitbox that deals at least 2%.<ref name="Direct"/>}}

**{{buff|King Dedede can now grab edges during Super Dedede Jump's ascent as long as he is facing the stage, improving its safety. Super Dedede Jump's descent can also now [[bury]] grounded opponents.}}

**{{buff|The 19% damage increase to shields and the increase to shieldstun significantly improve Super Dedede Jump's shield pressuring potential, although its landing hit's [[shield damage]] was compensated (3 → 0).}}

**{{change|Due to King Dedede's faster fast falling speed, Super Dedede Jump descends faster. It is also now canceled by tilting the [[Control stick|control stick/circle pad]] up, instead of down.}}

**{{nerf|As it buries opponents, Super Dedede Jump has less KO potential against grounded opponents and the landing hit's knockback scaling wasn't fully compensated (70 → 100/80).}}

*[[Jet Hammer]]:

**{{buff|Jet Hammer has a larger hitbox (7u → 7.5u). Uncharged Jet Hammer has increased base knockback (20 → 30) and decreased start-up lag (frame 29 → 27).}}

**{{buff|Fully charged grounded Jet Hammer deals 8% more damage (30%/20% → 38%/28%), although its knockback was compensated (30 (base)/80 (scaling) → 5/66).}}

**{{nerf|Sweetspotted fully charged aerial Jet Hammer deals 1% less damage (28% → 27%) and has decreased knockback (30 (base)/80 (scaling) → 10/70), hindering its KO potential.}}

**{{buff|The changes to edge mechanics improve [[Jet Hammer]]'s edgeguarding potential.}}

**{{buff|Fully charged Jet Hammer's [[recoil damage]] caps earlier (150% → 100%). When coupled with the introduction of [[rage]], its recoil damage is now a double-edged sword, instead of solely being a hindrance.}}

**{{change|Jet Hammer's animation has changed. King Dedede grimaces while using it, and will visibly sweat while holding it when it is fully charged. He also swings it lower when using it on the ground, and swings it in a more exaggerated motion when it is fully charged.<ref name="Direct"/>}}

**{{change|Jet Hammer's visual effects have changed. It now produces more intense lighting that brightens the surrounding area, and emits a [[wind]] effect.}}

**{{buff|The 19% damage increase to shields and the increase to shieldstun significantly improve fully charged Jet Hammer's shield pressuring potential.}}

**{{buff|Fully charged Jet Hammer now has a consistent angle (361°/80° → 361°), improving its edgeguarding potential.}}

**{{change|King Dedede has a new [[Final Smash]], Dedede Burst. Compared to [[Waddle Dee Army]], it is a trapping Final Smash with average initial range and KO potential of a standard Final Smash, making it significantly more reliable at KOing. Unlike Waddle Dee Army, Dedede Burst deals a fixed amount of damage, making it less damaging overall.}}

**{{nerf|Unlike other trapping Final Smashes, it is possible to escape Dedede Burst.}}

Despite his poorly regarded status, King Dedede has been nerfed in game updates. Update [[1.0.4]] weakened Dedede's forward aerial, which made the move even more punishable than already was. This update also strengthened his down throw, which makes follow-ups harder to perform, but adjusted its angle in order to make it less susceptible to DI. The most infamous of his nerfs, however, are to [[Gordo Throw]]. The Gordos have now become slightly smaller, and require even less damage to be reflected, which is now 2%. With this change, even rapid jabs and neutral attacks are capable of reflecting Gordos. [[Dedede Burst]] was tweaked to the point that it can now be avoided by [[Air dodge|air dodging]].

On the other hand, King Dedede indirectly benefits from the changes to shield mechanics brought by update [[1.1.1]], as his moves are safer on shield due to their high damage outputs, high [[hitlag]], and/or multi-hitting properties. Additionally, with the use of certain Gordo Throw setups or his fully charged forward smash, King Dedede can break shields or wear them down quickly. However, this does not properly compensate for his previously received nerfs.

Lastly, King Dedede was nerfed once again in update [[1.1.4]], with his air speed having been reduced to the point that it is now slower than [[Monado Arts|Shield]]-boosted {{SSB4|Shulk}}. As a result, King Dedede is noticeably worse than at the game's release, due to the large majority of the cast receiving major beneficial changes, while King Dedede has not received any similar changes.

|neutraldesc=A pair of hammer swings, followed by thrusting his hammer forward while twirling its head, followed by an upward swing. Due to coming out on frame 10, it is the second slowest neutral attack in the game, being surpassed only by {{SSB4|Zelda}}'s by 1 frame. However, King Dedede's has a largely disjointed range, with jab 2 reaching quite far and being relatively safe (although jab 1 doesn't true combo into jab 2 up close, making it unsafe on hit). It can also be jab canceled and reliably followed up with a grab, down tilt. forward tilt, and even another jab, which can all be escaped by jumping. However, Dedede can also jump and follow up with an aerial. Unlike most neutral infinites, its finisher launches opponents at a nearly vertical trajectory and has KO potential, as it KOs around 150%.

|ftiltdesc=Thrusts his hammer forward while twirling its head. Very good range, though its fourth hitbox can only connect if the move lands at the tip of the hammer. However, its rather long ending lag makes this move unsafe if it does not connect at its farthest range. Is very useful for Dedede's ledge traps as it's speed, range, and long lasting hitbox allows it to trap rolls and neutral get ups, but this is less rewarding than using his smash attacks. Also good for catching landings when reversed out of a run, and can stuff out punish attempts for landed back air.

|utiltdesc=An upward headbutt. King Dedede's head and upper body are [[Intangibility|intangible]] while its hitbox is active. Good for reflecting Gordos back at the enemy, as the intangibility makes a trade less likely.

|dtiltdesc=A cartwheeling tackle. Dedede's fastest move, coming out on frame 6. It is capable of being used after most defensive options and attacks, as a good out of shield option, or for disrupting opponents. Can also lead into itself and other attacks if the opponent doesn't tech.

|dashdesc=His signature [[wikirby:Head Slide|belly flopping tackle]]. A slow and powerful KOing option, it is the strongest dash attack in the game and is even stronger than some of the cast's smash attacks, KOing at around 80% near the edge due to its exceptionally high knockback. Can hit every character on the ledge after their [[Edge|ledge invincibility]] has ended. Originates from ''Kirby's Dream Land''.

|fsmashdesc=Rears his hammer back and slams it down. The strongest and second most damaging forward smash in the game, with equal KO power to match, and only being surpassed by {{SSB4|Lucario}}'s forward smash with max [[Aura]]. It has the slowest start-up of any smash attack, however, but also good shield damage and rather low ending lag for its power, making it more difficult to punish head-on than expected. The late hitbox is a small ground shockwave. It also has [[Priority#Transcendent priority|transcendent priority]]. Originates from ''Kirby's Dream Land''.

|usmashdesc=An upward hammer swing. Relatively slow compared to his up tilt, but less situational than in ''Brawl''. Great vertical knockback if hit by the hammer's head, KOing at around 115% (same as Mario's). However, it can miss against short characters during the move's start-up, as the attack does not possess a hitbox directly in front of him. It also has transcendent priority.

|dsmashdesc=A spinning hammer swing around himself. It has more reach behind Dedede. King Dedede's fastest kill move, although it is his weakest smash attack it makes up for it in it's uses at the ledge, Sends at a low angle and can KO around 100%. Best used for catching rolls as well as ledge attacks. It also has transcendent priority. Appears very similar to the Giant Dedede Swing from ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land''.

|nairdesc=King Dedede [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Splash|splashes]] with his belly. Dedede's fastest aerial, coming out on frame 7. Functions like a [[sex kick]], but unlike the majority of them, it has transcendent priority. When coupled with a fast fall, its late hit has follow-up potential, most notably a grab at 0%, up tilt at low percents, neutral, forward or back air at mid percents, and up air at higher percents. The latter works until high percents, making it one of Dedede's only guaranteed kill combos.

|fairdesc=Somersaults to perform a downward hammer swing. Is unsafe on hit at lower percents. This move does not auto cancel in a short-hop and has more landing/ending lag than his back aerial, but starts much earlier. Is capable of performing a pseudo [[wall of pain]] while edgeguarding. It can also [[lock]].

|bairdesc=An upward hammer swing behind himself. One of Dedede's best moves for spacing and KOing, doing so reliably below 130%. Can be auto canceled in a short-hop, and, if [[Buffer|buffered]], can be double jumped out of before Dedede lands, which can be used for tricky mix-ups. Is also relatively safe on shield when spaced at max range.

|uairdesc=Thrusts his hammer upward while twirling its head. Has tremendous reach above Dedede beating out most down airs, most notably [[Cloud (SSB4)|Cloud's]]. It is quite strong for a multiple hitting move, being able to KO below 130%. It can drag opponents down, similarly to {{SSB4|Greninja}}'s up aerial, however it is unreliable for mix-ups since the opponent can act before Dedede can. It is also useful for fending off edgeguard attempts while recovering.

|dairdesc=A downward hammer swing. The sweetspot is a very powerful [[meteor smash]] only on aerial opponents. On grounded opponents, it deals high horizontal knockback, KOing at around 100% near the edge.

|grabdesc=Reaches out. Unlike in ''Brawl'', where it was notoriously long ranged, King Dedede's overall grab range is roughly average.

|fthrowdesc=Strikes the opponent forward with his hammer. Can be used to set up an edgeguard or launch the opponent into a [[Gordo Throw|previously thrown Gordo]].

|bthrowdesc=Strikes the opponent backward with his hammer. King Dedede's strongest throw, but due to the fact it launches at a very high angle, it does not KO until very high percentages, depending on the opponent's weight and DI. It is better at damage racking due to these factors. Like forward throw, it can be used to launch the opponent into a previously thrown Gordo.

|uthrowdesc=A jump set, a technique used in volleyball. Can lead into up aerial at low to medium percentages, but down throw is generally more rewarding and consistent. Like forward throw, can be used to launch the opponent into a previously thrown Gordo.

|dthrowdesc=A one-handed [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling throws#Body slam|body slam]]. King Dedede's best combo starter, it can initiate true combos into a neutral or forward air at very low percents and back air at low to mid percents. At medium percentages, down throw to up air is a KO combo if the opponent DI's incorrectly.

|nsdefdesc={{s|wikirby|Inhale}}s the opponent into Dedede's stomach. While they have been Inhaled, King Dedede can then walk around and spit them out as stars to inflict damage. Can also can also be used to [[Item-swallowing|swallow]] projectiles and items, but unlike {{SSB4|Kirby}}'s [[Inhale (Kirby)|Inhale]], Dedede will not be healed upon Inhaling non-explosive items, but will still take damage for eating explosive ones. This can be a good landing mix-up to catch [[Sidestep|sidesteps]] and shields. Inhaled opponents instead take minor release damage if Dedede is struck by an attack, or no damage if they break free. Like Kirby, the star’s damage depends on the inhaled opponent’s weight.

|nsc1desc=Instead of Inhaling opponents, King Dedede will vacuum the opponent toward him, which hits multiple times, before exhaling them upward with the last hit. Will stop connecting reliably around the 100% range on most characters and usually cannot KO until the 200% range due to its lack of strong hitboxes throughout its duration.

|nsc2desc=Inhales faster and the spit deals slightly more damage, allowing it to be used slightly more effectively as a command grab. However, opponents are spit out immediately instead of being kept inside King Dedede's mouth.

|ssdefdesc=Hits a bouncing {{s|wikirby|Gordo}} with his hammer. Gordo damage decreases the longer it’s out. Its trajectory can be angled upward, forward, or downward, which can be used for [[mindgames]]. By extension, his forward and back throws can be used to launch the opponent toward a previously thrown Gordo. The Gordos disappear after almost 3 seconds, or faster if they strike something. An upward-angled Gordo has the most vertical and least horizontal bounces, and can be used to deny most options at the ledge or even all when combined with an attack. Forward angled Gordos cover the most horizontal and least vertical distance, while downward angled Gordos are moderate of each. Gordos can also stick to any surface that allows [[wall jump]]ing, though this is completely random, and will not immediately vanish upon striking something in this state. It is possible for them to still latch onto walls after striking something before they disappear. They can also be reflected by any attack dealing at least 2%. Of further note is that Dedede can hit opponents with the hammer swing used to serve the Gordo, potentially leading into a hit by both the hammer and Gordo for a considerable amount of damage.

|ssc1desc=Throws a Gordo that can’t be angled and does not go far initially, but flies forward upon bouncing. Disappears shortly after striking something or immediately upon the second bounce. Similar to [[Egg Roll|Light Egg Roll]], the Gordo bounces much higher if dropped from high above the ground.

|ssc2desc=The Gordo is weaker albeit electrified and bounces back and forth a few times, still disappearing if it strikes something. Angling the move changes the Gordo's trajectory significantly. Unlike the default, Bouncing Gordos are guaranteed to stick to walls.

|usdefdesc=His signature jump. It concludes with a [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving double foot stomp|diving double foot stomp]] that buries grounded opponents and meteor smashes aerial ones. It has [[armor]] all throughout the move, except during a canceled descent. Like [[Yoshi Bomb]], it emits stars on both sides after the diving double foot stomp hits the ground, striking anyone not in range of the landing, which can make it difficult to punish, especially against characters that lack a projectile. While it cannot grab edges during its descent, it can do so upon being canceled. However, if it is canceled too late before landing, Dedede will endure landing lag that lasts for more than a second.

|usc2dmg=10% (drop), 6% (landing), 5% (stars)

|usc2desc=Jumps faster, but the diving double foot stomp is weaker and lower than the default.

|dsc1dmg=9% (uncharged grounded), 8% (uncharged aerial), 24%/20% (fully charged grounded), 22%/15% (fully charged aerial)

|dsc1desc=Grants armor while charging. However, King Dedede does not get any super armor if he's falling, and the swing is significantly weaker, not KOing until 150%, while also having longer start-up lag, and dealing recoil damage faster.

|dsc2desc=Charging pushes King Dedede backward, while unleashing it propels him forward at the expense of damage. However, while it is the least damaging Jet Hammer variant, it deals better knockback than Armored Jet Hammer.

|fsdesc=Inhales the opponent into place, strikes them three times with his hammer aflame, then fires a bomb out of it, launching the opponent diagonally in a spray of fireworks. It can KO at 47%, however, this Final Smash can be escaped with an [[air dodge]] halfway through, making it unreliable to use on low-damage opponents.

|desc=Gets carried onto the stage via a [[wikipedia:Litter (vehicle)|palanquin]] held by four [[Waddle Dee]]s, then jumps off, scattering them.

|desc-1=Slaps his belly three times with the sound of a bongo drumbeat as he leans on his hammer with one arm and a Waddle Dee stands nearby. Afterward, he continues to rub his belly with his free hand as he laughs gloatingly.

|desc-2=Slams his hammer down on both sides of him, then smiles while looking towards the screen.

|desc-3=Spins his hammer into the air while sporting a strained expression and then strikes a pose while sporting {{GameIcon|ssb4-3ds}}an angry expression that quickly adjusts to a tense expression, or {{GameIcon|ssb4-u}}an angry expression.

===Most historically significant players===

<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->

''See also: [[:Category:King Dedede players (SSB4)]]''

*{{Sm|Andy|Mexico|p=Mexico}} - The best King Dedede player in Mexico. Placed 5th at {{Trn|True Combo}} and 17th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 5}} with a win over {{Sm|Regi Shikimi}}. Formerly ranked 19th on the [[Mexican Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Big D|Canada}} - One of the best King Dedede players during the first few years of ''Smash 4'', but has since relegated the character to a rare secondary pick. Placed 3rd at both {{Trn|Northwest Majors: Drop Zone}} and {{Trn|Cascade 2}}, 7th at {{Trn|Northwest Majors VIII}}, and 17th at {{Trn|Paragon Los Angeles 2015}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Larry Lurr}}, {{Sm|Mew2King}} and {{Sm|Tyrant}}. Ranked 1st on the [[British Columbia Smash 4 Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Bryce|USA}} - The best King Dedede player in the United States. Placed 13th at both {{Trn|Olympus}} and {{Trn|Smashadelphia 2017}} as well as 25th at both {{Trn|KTAR XX}} and {{Trn|Royal Flush}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Shoyo James}}, {{Sm|Vivid}}, and {{Sm|The Great Gonzales}}. Formerly ranked 11th on the [[New Jersey Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|El_Bardo|Spain}} - Co-mains King Dedede with {{SSB4|Sonic}} and is considered the best King Dedede player in Europe. Placed 9th at {{Trn|ICARUS III}} and 13th at both {{Trn|Tech Republic 2}} and {{Trn|B.E.A.S.T 7}}. Ranked 12th on the [[Spanish Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|ZAKI|Japan}} - The best King Dedede player of all-time and the only King Dedede player who made any major impact on the global scene. He is best known for his 2018 tour in the United States, especially his performance at {{Trn|2GG: Hyrule Saga}}, where he upset {{Sm|MkLeo}} to place 17th; he also placed 17th at {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 4}} and 33rd at {{Trn|MomoCon 2018}}, some of the best major results for King Dedede.

===Tier placement and history===

Upon the game's release, players quickly noticed King Dedede's nerfs in the transition from ''[[Brawl]]'', most notably the loss of [[chain grab]]bing, though some players argued that his buffs, as well as new and improved moves such as forward aerial, Gordo Throw, and down tilt, would compensate the nerfs in the long run. However, as the metagame progressed, King Dedede's weaknesses became more apparent, and players realized the changes to game mechanics not only significantly hurt the character, but that he had indeed lost more than what he gained from the transition. Despite good results from players such as {{Sm|Big D}} and {{Sm|El_Bardo}}, with the former notably placing 17th at {{Trn|Paragon Los Angeles 2015}}, expectations of him worsened as time passed. As a result, King Dedede was ranked 46th on the first [[tier list]], confirming his status as a bottom-tier character.

Despite the great advancements brought to his metagame as well as decent results, King Dedede's air speed was nerfed in update [[1.1.4]]. Although the nerf seemed minor, it made King Dedede the slowest character in the air, worsening both his neutral game and recovery. As a result, opinions on him declined even further, with many players considering him one of the worst characters in the game. This negative reputation led to a drop to 52nd on the second and third tier lists. Although due to the bottom-tier being abolished in the third tier list, he has since been reassessed as a low-tier character. He would see a slight rise to 51st on the fourth and final tier list.

It wasn't until the final year of ''Smash 4''{{'}}s active competitive lifespan when opinions on King Dedede finally saw a shift. {{Sm|ZAKI}}, a King Dedede player from Japan, made his debut outside of his country, placing 17th at both {{Trn|Smash 'N' Splash 4}} and {{Trn|2GG: Hyrule Saga}}, notably defeating {{Sm|MkLeo}} in the latter. Although it may be the result of matchup inexperience, as ZAKI performed worse back in Japan, his results convinced several players such as {{Sm|Raito}} that King Dedede was not the worst character in the game, due to King Dedede's improved representation compared to other low- and mid-tier characters. Nevertheless, King Dedede is seen as a shell of his former ''Brawl'' self and is considered non-viable in the competitive metagame.

In All-Star Mode, King Dedede is fought in Stage 4 in both versions alongside {{SSB4|Kirby}}, {{SSB4|Fox}}, {{SSB4|Falco}}, {{SSB4|Meta Knight}}, {{SSB4|Wario}}, and {{SSB4|Sonic}}.

==={{GameIcon|SSB4-U}}[[Event Match]]es===

====Solo Events====

====Co-op Events====

|{{Head|King Dedede|g=SSB4|s=50px|cl=Grey}}

King Dedede Dash Attack.png|Using his dash attack on {{SSB4|Little Mac}}.

Smash.4 - The Elf Princess and The Cute Penguin King 02.jpg|"''Ah--soft and squishy.''"

[[Category:King Dedede (SSB4)| ]]