Donkey Kong (SSBU)/Side special

Hitbox visualization showing Donkey Kong's grounded side special, Headbutt.

Hitbox visualization showing Donkey Kong's aerial side special, Headbutt.

This article or section may require competitive expertise. You can discuss this issue on the talk page or edit this page to improve it.

Overview

Donkey Kong headbutts to the side of himself. Headbutt is a high-risk, high reward option that buries opponents who are hit, locking them in place for a smash attack or grounded Spinning Kong. Headbutt is ideally used at somewhat high percents, as the bury is susceptible to mashing. The move also has Armor right before Donkey Kong begins to headbutt, which can make the move usable as a landing option. Headbutt is also notable for its tremendous shield damage, with the move being able to break nearly any shield that has been damaged slightly.

However, despite these positives, the move is held back by its sluggish frame data, making the move very committal and leaving Donkey Kong wide open for attack if it misses. Additionally, the armor on the move only lasts for a very specific time in the middle of the animation and isn't very dangerous if it connects in the air, meaning that the move can still be challenged by multi-hit attacks, resulting in the move being used sparingly for landing. Additionally, while the move deals great damage to shields, it isn't a one-hit shield break, and is colossally unsafe at -32 if it doesn't break a shield.

In conclusion, Headbutt is a high-risk, high reward move that can potentially allow Donkey Kong to take a stock early if the bury or shield break connects, and is a niche landing option thanks to the armor. However, the move is used sparingly in competitive play due to its sluggish frame data and unsafety in whiffed.

Update History

9.0.0

• Grounded Headbutt has an additional hitbox against grounded opponents that is placed higher (Y offset: 5u → 13u), increasing its vertical range.

Hitbox Data

ID	Part	Rehit rate	Damage	SD	Angle	Angle type	BK	KS	FKV	Set weight	Radius	Bone	Offset			H×	SDI×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Effect	Type	G	A	Sound	Direct	Hit bits	Hit part	Blockable	Reflectable	Absorbable	Flinchless	No GFX	Heedless
Grounded
0	0	0	10.0%	25.0		Standard	40	40	0		5.0	top	0.0	5.0	19.0 to 7.0	1.0×	1.0×	0%							Kick		All	All
1	0	0	10.0%	25.0		Standard	40	40	0		3.0	top	0.0	13.0	18.0 to 9.0	1.0×	1.0×	0%							Kick		All	All
2	0	0	8.0%	25.0		Standard	15	40	0		10.0	top	0.0	11.0	14.0	1.0×	1.0×	0%							Kick		All	All
Aerial
0	0	0	10.0%	25.0		Standard	30	40	0		6.5	top	0.0	5.0	8.8 to 1.4	1.0×	1.0×	0%							Kick		All	All
2	0	0	8.0%	25.0		Standard	15	40	0		10.0	top	0.0	11.0	14.0	1.0×	1.0×	0%							Kick		All	All

Timing

Hitbox	20-21
Super Armor	5-14
Interruptible	63
Animation length	69

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Vulnerable

Armour

Interruptible

Parameters

Horizontal speed multiplier on startup	0.5 (grounded) 0.67 (aerial)
Vertical speed multiplier on startup	0 (grounded) 0.5 (aerial)
Gravity multiplier	0.5

Donkey Kong's moveset

Neutral attack (1 · 2) · Forward tilt · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Forward roll · Back roll · Spot dodge · Air dodge · Techs
Floor attack (front) · Floor getups (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor getups (back) · Floor attack (trip) · Floor getups (trip)
Edge attack · Edge getups
Neutral special · Side special · Up special · Down special · Final Smash