Donkey Kong (SSB4): Difference between revisions

|ranking = 22

}}

Donkey Kong retains his outstanding power, deceptively fast mobility, and great [[spacing]] options, but has also been improved both directly and indirectly. Donkey Kong now boasts great combo potential thanks to his "cargo up throw", which has been re-purposed into a very reliable combo starter that boasts guaranteed and extremely damaging follow-ups at varying percentages, alongside [[Combos#Types of combos|KO confirm]]s into his up aerial at a wide range of percents. Changes to game mechanics have also improved DK: the removal of both [[chain grab]]bing and [[edge-hogging]] drastically improve his endurance and recovery, respectively, whereas [[rage]] supplements his power, granting him an effective advantage state.

==Attributes==

As expected, Donkey Kong's greatest asset is his power. In typical heavyweight fashion, Donkey Kong has a plethora of reliable kill moves (his [[sweetspot]]ted up tilt, smash attacks and aerials, regular back throw, [[Giant Punch]], and grounded [[Spinning Kong]] being the best examples) and excellent endurance thanks to his extremely high weight and above average falling speed. However, his fast mobility and frame data gives him an effective approach and makes it easier to land his attacks, which is further complemented by his above average reach. Conversely, his moves that lack KO potential are effective for set-ups, thanks to their high speed, low knockback, and favorable launch angles. Thanks to these attributes, Donkey Kong can rack up damage and KO his opponents not only quickly, but safely compared to most heavyweights. Donkey Kong also has the second best vertical and horizontal endurance in the game, being surpassed by only {{SSB4|King Dedede}} vertically and {{SSB4|Bowser}} horizontally.

Finally, [[Spinning Kong]] can be used as an [[out of shield]] option, thanks to its super armor and high damage output. As a recovery, it lets Donkey Kong move horizontally quickly and for a long time, giving him a very long horizontal [[recovery]]. Spinning Kong also retains its ability from ''Brawl'' to completely negate all momentum, against both horizontal and vertical knockback however, this is considered impractical and nearly impossible to utilize due to the changes to [[hitstun canceling]].

Despite being very fast in terms of start-up, Donkey Kong's moveset is slow in regard to ending lag, making him susceptible to [[punishment]] without careful spacing. Finally, his vertical recovery is almost nonexistent, due to Spinning Kong's vertical distance being considerably low. This also makes it extremely difficult for him to survive even the weakest meteor smashes.

Custom moves can give Donkey Kong considerable benefits, more so than most other characters. Kong Cyclone is often considered to be Donkey Kong's most valuable move, as well as the best custom in the game: it grants super armor, has a suction effect, can be auto-canceled, and possesses greater power, maneuverability and speed compared to Spinning Kong. Altogether, these traits enable Kong Cyclone to significantly improve DK's [[neutral game]].

Overall, Donkey Kong is a potent character; with speed, power, range, endurance, and easy-to-use combos, there are very few matchups he cannot overcome. As a result, DK is, alongside {{SSB4|Bowser}}, one of the two most effective super heavyweights in the game. This, in turn, is reflected in his presence in the competitive scene, as he has average tournament representation and above average results, the latter of which has been thanks to the likes of {{Sm|HIKARU}}, {{Sm|Tweek}}, {{Sm|Konga}} and {{Sm|DKwill}}.

Donkey Kong has seen a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4'', but was noticeably buffed overall. As for his buffs, the most noticeable improvement has been to his overall speed. His already solid movement speed has also been greatly increased although this is the case for a majority of returning veterans. Donkey Kong has received some new attacks which help him out overall including a new dash attack which covers much more distance and has much less ending lag and an aerial variant of [[Hand Slap]] which gives him a new landing option and edgeguarding tool. He also has additional [[intangibility]] on a variety of his moves. His grab game is significantly more effective as his grabs have more range and his dash grab is less laggy. All variants of his Cargo Throw have been altered and improved but the most significant variant of Cargo Throw which was improved was his up throw. His Cargo up throw has altered knockback which when combined with the removal of [[hitstun canceling]] and the changes to [[DI]], gives it much better combo potential and at certain percents, it can lead into an up aerial for a guaranteed kill at very low percents especially with [[rage]]. Donkey Kong has received many benefits from the game's new mechanics. Donkey Kong heavily benefits from the introduction of [[rage]] as his increased [[weight]] enables him to live for a long period of time and build up rage, which makes his already solid power becoming even more effective and allows his "Ding Dong" (Cargo up throw up aerial) to kill opponents at obscenely early percents. Donkey Kong also benefits from the removal of [[chain grab]]bing as it improves his endurance against certain characters although he lost a couple of chain grabs of his own. Finally, DK benefits considerably from the removal of edge hogging and the introduction of edge stealing, which prevents his poor vertical recovery from being edge-hogged.

Overall, the general changes to ''Smash 4''{{'}}s mechanics benefit him more than they hinder and some of his buffs benefit him quite a bit resulting in him being considered to be more viable than he was in ''Brawl'' despite the various downgrades his ground moves and aerials received. He was initially considered to be much worse in earlier versions of the game although update [[1.1.0]] gave him multiple beneficial changes most notably his "Ding Dong" resulting in players having a much higher opinion of him with most professionals consider him being a high tier character.

===Aesthetics===

*{{change|Donkey Kong is significantly more expressive. He now scowls during certain attacks, his up [[taunt]], and while hanging from an edge; he appears confused during his down taunt and while [[teeter]]ing; his irises shrink when he is hit, [[grab]]bed, [[screen KO]]'d, and when an opponent escapes his grab; his eyes comically bulge outward when he is launched;<ref>[https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAABnUYnjrQ_heQ Pic of the Day: February 12, 2014]</ref> he sports a toothy grin during his side taunt, backflipping and chest-beating [[victory pose]]s, and standing and pivot grabs; and he {{GameIcon|ssb4-u}}smiles with his lips pursed during his self-congratulatory victory pose. The majority of Donkey Kong's animations are also more fluid.}}

*{{change|[[Idle pose]]'s animation has slightly changed. Donkey Kong now purses his lips, instead of slightly baring his teeth.}}

===Attributes===

*{{buff|Donkey Kong [[walk]]s slightly faster (1.2 → 1.3).}}

*{{buff|Donkey Kong [[dash]]es slightly faster (1.622 → 1.7031).}}

*{{buff|Donkey Kong's [[air speed]] is faster (1.081 → 1.15).}}

*{{change|Donkey Kong's [[gravity]] is slightly higher (0.081 → 0.08505).}}

*{{nerf|The removal of [[glide toss]]ing significantly hinders Donkey Kong's approach with [[item]]s.}}

*{{buff|[[Roll]]s have less landing lag (FAF 32 → 30).}}

===Ground attacks===

*[[Neutral attack]]:

**{{change|The far hit's knockback (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 45/25) and angle (140° → 130°) have also been altered.}}

***{{nerf|However, this hinders its jab canceling potential at higher percents no longer being able to reliably lead into a down smash at realistic percents.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral attack's first and second hit have shorter durations (frames 5-7 → 5-6 (first hit), frames 6-11 → 6-7 (second hit)).}}

*[[Forward tilt]]:

**{{buff|Forward tilt has increased [[intangibility]] on its non angled and angled down versions (frames 8-11→ 1-25). The up angled version also gains intangibility earlier (frame 8 → 7).}}

**{{nerf|All variants have more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 8-11 → 9-11), more ending lag (FAF 34 → 38) and have smaller hitboxes (5.5u/5u/4u/3.5u → 5u/4.5u/3.2u).}}

*[[Up tilt]]:

**{{nerf|Down tilt has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 6-9 → 7-9). It also has smaller hitboxes (4.8u/4.8u/5.28u/6.4u → 4.4u/4.4u/5.5u).}}

*[[Dash attack]]:

**{{nerf|Dash attack deals 1% less damage (11% (clean)/9% (late) → 10%/8%).}}

*{{buff|All smash attacks now have [[transcendent priority]], improving their reliability.}}

**{{nerf|It has increased landing lag (15 frames → 17).}}

*[[Forward aerial]]:

**{{buff|It has slightly decreased landing lag (30 frames → 29).}}

**{{buff|The late sweetspot has higher knockback scaling (85 → 100) improving its KO potential.}}

**{{nerf|It no longer has hitboxes which deal extra shield damage (0 (hand/arm)/1 (shoulder) → 0 (all)).}}

*[[Back aerial]]:

**{{nerf|It has has increased landing lag (15 frames → 18).}}

*[[Up aerial]]:

**{{buff|Donkey Kong's head is now intangible while performing up aerial.}}

**{{nerf|It has a smaller hitbox (8u → 7.5u).}}

**{{nerf|It has increased landing lag (22 frames → 25).}}

**{{buff|Down aerial has decreased start-up lag (frame 18 → 14) and landing lag (31 frames → 24).}}

**{{change|Due to its angle being altered (270° → 361°), the sourspot is no longer a [[meteor smash]].}}

**{{nerf|The sweetspot has decreased base knockback (38 → 30).}}

===Throws/other attacks===

*[[Pummel]]:

**{{nerf|Pummel deals 1% less damage (3% → 2%).}}

**Cargo down throw:

***{{buff|Cargo down throw deals 1% more damage (6% → 7%), and knockback (65 (base), 26 (scaling) → 50/80) improving its KO and stage spike potential.}}

****{{buff|This allows it to chain grab opponents on moving platforms.}}

****{{nerf|However, this hinders its edgeguarding potential.}}

***{{nerf|However, this also removes its ability to cancel out projectiles.}}

**{{buff|The 19% damage increase to shields and the increase to shieldstun significantly improve fully charged Giant Punch's shield pressuring potential despite no longer dealing extra shield damage (2 → 0).}}

**{{nerf|The early hit was removed for grounded fully charged Giant Punch increasing its startup lag (frame 18 → 19).}}

**{{nerf|Giant Punch has a shorter duration (frames 18-22 → 18-20 (uncharged/aerial fully charged), 19-20 (grounded fully charged)).}}

**{{buff|Aerial Spinning Kong has increased intangibility (frames 4-6 → 3-6).}}

**{{nerf|Grounded Spinning Kong's loop hits deal 1.7% less damage (3% → 1.3%) significantly reducing its maximum damage potential (35% → 18%).}}

***{{nerf|However, the new animation is longer without full compensation on its interruptibility (FAF 85 → 93). The move's longer duration also fails to compensate for its increased ending lag.}}

*[[Hand Slap]]:

{{MovesetTable

|game=SSB4

|neutralcount=2

|neutral1dmg=4%

|neutral2dmg=6%

|neutraldesc=A hook followed by an uppercut. At very low percentages, it can combo into itself or work as a fairly reliable set-up for a fully charged [[Giant Punch]]. However, its first hit can also be [[jab cancel]]ed into forward tilt, down tilt or a grab, which is further supplemented by the first hit's tip launching the opponent towards Donkey Kong instead of away from him.

|ftiltangles=3

|ftiltupdmg=11%

|ftiltdowndmg=9%

|ftiltdesc=A backhanded slap. Can be angled, with the upward angle dealing the most amount of damage and the downward angle dealing the least.

|utiltdmg=11% (arm), 10% (elbow), 9% (hand)

|utiltdesc=An overhead arcing swipe. It has a very reliable range and deals more damage and knockback if the target is hit near DK's shoulder.

|dtiltdmg=7% (arm), 6% (hand)

|dtiltdesc=A crouching swat. Slightly less powerful around his fingers. In addition to its great speed and range, it has a chance to [[Tripping|trip]] opponents, allowing for guaranteed follow-ups such as itself, a [[Pivoting|pivoted]] up tilt, forward smash, Giant Punch, [[Headbutt]], [[Hand Slap]] or a grab.

|dashdmg=10% (clean), 8% (late)

|dashdesc=The {{s|mariowiki|Roll Attack}}, his signature attack from ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong Country}}''. It deals less damage towards its end.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|20}} (hands), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|19}} (arms)

|fsmashdesc=A lunging {{s|mariowiki|clap}}. It deals slightly less damage if it hits with Donkey Kong's arms. KOs at 92% uncharged and at 54% fully charged without rage.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|18}}

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}} (arms), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|17}} (early, fists), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|18}} (late, fists)

|dsmashdesc=Raises his arms overhead and then quickly swings them downward to perform [[Wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Forearm club|forearm clubs]]. It has decent range, fast start-up for a smash attack, and deals great vertical knockback. It KOs starting at 101% when sweetspotted, it is especially good for punishing rolls and laggy attacks, and is a reliable [[out of shield]] option. It could arguably be considered one of the best down smashes in the game, despite its fair amount of ending lag.

|nairdmg=11% (clean), 8% (late)

|nairdesc=Quickly spins around to perform [[Wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Clothesline|discus clotheslines]] with both arms, similarly to [[Spinning Kong]]. It is not the fastest of DK's aerials, but has the longest lasting hitbox and the lowest amount of ending lag. Additionally, its late hit has excellent combo potential when SHFF'd, but it requires good timing due to its hitbox not being optimally positioned compared to his other aerials.

|fairdmg=16% (early), 15% (meteor smash), 13% (late)

|fairdesc=A [[Wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Double axe handle|double axe handle]]. If [[sweetspot]]ted, the opponent is [[meteor smash]]ed. Like many other moves, its early hitbox is weaker than its meteor smash hitbox, to the point that it is even weaker than the late sourspot despite dealing more damage. However, the early hitbox launches opponents away by dealing extreme horizontal knockback, making it more effective for KOing horizontally. It appears similar to his midair attack from ''{{s|mariowiki|Donkey Kong 64}}'', which itself was inspired by this attack due to ''SSB'' debuting before ''Donkey Kong 64''.

|bairdmg=13% (clean), 8% (late)

|bairdesc=A back kick. A useful move courtesy of its decent power, large, lingering hitbox and minimal start-up, ending and landing lag. Its low ending lag allows it to initiate a [[wall of pain]].

|uairdmg=13%

|uairdesc=An upward headbutt. DK's head is intangible as soon as the attack begins. Its high damage output and knockback make it a viable KOing option and the most potent follow-up from "cargo up throw". It also autocancels in a SHFF, making for an excellent juggling option and frame traps landing air dodges with ease.

|dairdmg=16% (sweetspot), 13% (sourspot)

|dairdesc=A stomp. Its sweetspot is a strong [[meteor smash]], while its sourspot, which is close to Donkey Kong's chest, deals diagonal knockback. However, it is a rather laggy attack despite its fairly quick start-up.

|grabdesc=Reaches out. Donkey Kong's overall grab range is the second longest in the game, being surpassed only by {{SSB4|Greninja}}'s.

|pummeldmg=2.1%

|pummeldesc=A slap. A fairly fast pummel.

|fthrowdmg=10% (forward), 12% (backward), 10% (upward), 7% (downward)

|fthrowdesc=Cradles the opponent on his back, allowing him to move and jump around while still holding the opponent. This gives him access to forward, back, up, and down throws that are distinct from his normal grabs.

When the opponent is too damaged to escape in time, all of these throws allow for easy [[stage spike]]s. Donkey Kong can simply walk off the edge, pull back and throw them against the underside. However, this carries significant risk, as the opponent can [[tech]] it and thus result in DK ending up too far below the edge to recover if his timing is off.

|bthrowdmg=11%

|bthrowdesc=Flings the opponent backward. DK's most damaging throw, it KOs even the heaviest characters in the game below 170% near the edge without [[rage]].

|uthrowdmg=9%

|uthrowdesc=Heaves the opponent upward with one arm.

|dthrowdmg=7%

|dthrowdesc=Shoves the opponent into the ground with one arm. It has rather weak knockback and launches opponents horizontally in front of DK.

|usc1name=Chopper Kong

|usc1dmg=—

|usc2name=Kong Cyclone

|usc2dmg=4% (grounded hit 1), 3% (aerial hit 1), 15% (grounded hit 2), 12% (aerial hit 2)

|dsdefname=Hand Slap

|dsdefdmg=14%

|fsdesc=Takes out the {{s|mariowiki|DK Bongos}} and begins to play them to the beat of "DK Island Swing", which emits shockwaves in the process. The song is accompanied by an indicative bar that will appear above DK, signaling the player when to press the attack button in sync with the beat. The attack’s range and power is determined by the player's input, with successful inputs having the greatest range and power. If the player hits all beats correctly, DK will give a thumbs up at the end of the song.

}}

===[[On-screen appearance]]===

{{Idle

|desc-1=Leans forward curiously while pursing his lips.

|image-1=DonkeyKongIdlePose1WiiU.jpg

|image-2=DonkeyKongIdlePose2WiiU.jpg}}

|set10=1333

}}

===Tier placement and history===

As a result, Donkey Kong was ranked 27th on the first ''4BR'' [[tier list]], then rose to 25th on the second tier list, and then dropped to 28th on the third tier list, losing his title of the best super-heavyweight character to {{SSB4|Bowser}}. Even so, the improved results of players like HIKARU, {{Sm|Konga}} and {{Sm|Tweek}} have allowed Donkey Kong to rise to 22nd on the fourth and current tier list; since the tiers were expanded, Donkey Kong has now become a high-tier character, in addition to recovering his status as the best super heavyweight once again from Bowser. As such, despite him remaining slightly rare in competitive play, his results by the players who use him have been sufficiently high enough to secure his current tier placement with some smashers claiming that he and Bowser should rise up the tier list even more as {{Sm|ZeRo}} has the characters among the top 15 characters in the game also claiming that "they have top-tier potential" while other smashers like {{Sm|Dabuz}} believe that they cannot be ranked any higher due to their many disadvantageous matchups and poor time landing.

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==[[Alternate costume (SSB4)#Donkey Kong|Alternate costumes]]==