Diddy Kong (SSB4)

Diddy Kong in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Donkey Kong
Other playable appearance	in Brawl
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Rocketbarrel Barrage

Diddy Kong (ディディーコング, Diddy Kong) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. He was confirmed on February 21st, 2014 to correspond with the international release date of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Diddy Kong retains his realistic chimpanzee screeches from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[1]

Diddy Kong dominated early competitive play of SSB4, with a combination of throw combos and powerful aerial attacks, including the notorious down throw to up air combo, were extremely effective at dealing damage and securing KOs. However, following patch 1.0.6, released in April 2015, Diddy Kong received major nerfs to the damage and knockback of several of his most frequently used moves, bringing Diddy's competitive usage more in line with other frequently used SSB4 characters.

Changes from Brawl

Despite his top tier status in Brawl, Diddy Kong has been buffed, but not without nerfs. Although he has received a major nerf to his Banana Peel move, which was previously the key to his past success, and many attacks deal less damage, he has attained many new easily usable combos and various buffs that have addressed his KOing problems.

Aesthetics

• Like Donkey Kong and Fox, Diddy has more stylized fur than he did in Brawl. His proportions have been tweaked to match his more recent appearances in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. For example, Diddy's head is smaller in proportion to his body, and his cap matches the one with the differently-colored Nintendo logo as shown in Tropical Freeze. However, his arsenal of weaponry (namely his Peanut Popgun and Rocketbarrels) are not from these recent installments and remain aesthetically unchanged. Like other veterans, Diddy Kong's pigments are more prominent than they were in Brawl, with the visual sharpness of his red attire and brown fur increased. This coincidentally makes Diddy Kong similar to his appearance in Donkey Kong 64. Diddy's general expressiveness has also been exaggerated, like Donkey Kong. Many of his animations are now accompanied with look of distraught surprise.
• Diddy's teeth are no longer visible while performing his side taunt.

Attributes

• Diddy Kong's more elastic limbs stretch out farther in his attacks, which gives a significant increase in the reach of his attacks.
• Diddy dashes slightly faster (1.721 → 1.824).
• Diddy's air speed is slightly higher (0.82 → 0.88).
• Diddy's falling speed is faster (1.43 → 1.75).

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack hit 3 now transitions into a finisher.
• All of Diddy Kong's standard ground attacks (except down smash's back hit and dash attack's final hit) deal less damage (ranging from a 1-3% decrease).
• Dash attack final hit does more damage, but has more endlag, making the move slightly less reliable for quick setups.
• Forward smash does more knockback (40 base/90 growth → 40 base/116 growth).
• Up smash's last hit has much stronger knockback (70 base/70 growth → 50 base/126 growth).
• Down smash hits are reversed with the front hit being weaker and the back hit being stronger).
• Due to this change down smash's front hit is much weaker, dealing less damage (16 → 12) and knockback (40 base/72 growth → 40 base/69 growth).
• Down smash's back hit does more damage (12% → 15%) and slightly more knockback (35 base/72 growth → 35 base/74 growth).

Aerial attacks

• Forward and down aerials have slightly less ending lag.
• Forward and down aerials have slightly less landing lag (30 → 26, and 30 → 28 respectively) with their knockback compensated.
• Forward and up aerials deal less damage (14/11 → 10/8%, and 11 → 6% respectively).
• Diddy Kong has a new up aerial; he now swings his leg up and halfway across his head.
• New up aerial has much more range, and is much more useful in combos (sending at a 75 degree angle), now being able to rack up damage quickly and reliably set up other aerials out of a down throw or short hop.
• Up air has much more knockback (30 base/90 growth → 65 base/99 growth).
• Down aerial's sweetspot deals slightly more damage (12 → 13%).
• Down aerial now has a sourspot, which deals less damage (10%).

Throws/other attacks

• Grab is slightly quicker and more reliable.
• Forward and back throw's animations are much slower making them easier to DI.
• Forward throw deals 2% less damage.
• Back throw deals 2% more damage.
• Up throw has slightly lower knockback, allowing it to set up aerials more reliably.
• Down throw now sends opponents overhead instead of behind which makes it much more reliable for setting up aerials, now being able to set up any aerial until percentages as high as 120-150% (depending on the opponent's character) and start highly damaging combos.
• Down throw deals 3% less damage and has less hitstun.

Special moves

• Peanut Popgun deals 5% less damage when fully charged.
• Peanut Popgun's explosion from overcharging now has a very powerful hitbox.
• Monkey Flip now allows Diddy to pummel the opponent once he grabs onto them. The launch is also more powerful and can now KO at around 200%.
• Monkey Flip's 2nd ground attack release deals less damage.
• Rocketbarrel Boost is now able to move at horizontal trajectories, opening up more recovery options and making Diddy's recovery less linear in general.
• Rocketbarrel Boost needs to be charged longer to cover more distance than it did in Brawl.
• Diddy can now only have one Banana Peel out at a time, significantly reducing Diddy's ability to control the stage, and completely removing the double banana lock and the move's ability to 0-death opponents in Brawl. In addition, Banana Peels can now be destroyed by opponents and will disappear after touching the ground twice.
• Rocketbarrel Barrage no longer puts Diddy into helpless upon completion.
• The peanuts fired from the Peanut Popgun and Rocketbarrel Barrage no longer breaks into pieces, making the peanuts no longer consumable. It also hinders Diddy's potential of recovering damage this way.
• Rocketbarrel Barrage deals less damage.

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			1.5%	Diddy Kong swats his hand twice, turns to quickly kick his foot, and proceeds to repeatedly hit with his tail.
			1.5%
			2%
			0.6% (infinite), 3% (last hit)
Forward tilt			10% (clean), 7% (late)	Diddy Kong leans to the side and flings both of his arms forward. This attack can be tilted upwards or downwards.
Up tilt			6%	Diddy Kong swats in the air above him with a slap and looks similar to an uppercut.
Down tilt			6%	Diddy Kong, while crouching, slaps forward.
Dash attack			2% (hits 1-2) 3% (hit 3)	Diddy Kong performs a cartwheel from Donkey Kong Country, and ends it with a ground-slap with both hands.
Forward smash			5% (hit 1), 11% (sweetspot hit 2), 9% (sourspot hit 2)	Diddy Kong spins, slapping forward twice. The first hit has no knockback.
Up smash			2.5% (hits 1-2), 6% (hit 3)	Diddy Kong hops briefly and performs a stationary cartwheel. The attack's vertical reach is greater and his hands now form a punch.
Down smash			12% (front), 15% (back)	Diddy Kong performs a sweeping kick. It has less knockback than his forward smash.
Neutral aerial			6%	Diddy Kong does an aerial cartwheel similar to his dash attack.
Forward aerial			10% (clean), 8% (late)	Diddy Kong kicks both feet forward while spinning, similar to Mario and Luigi's old forward aerial in Super Smash Bros..
Back aerial			9%	Diddy Kong thrusts his leg backward and spins it behind him.
Up aerial			6%	Diddy Kong performs an overhead kick.
Down aerial			13% (clean), 10% (late)	Diddy Kong thrusts both arms in a downward punch. A strong meteor smash.
Grab			—	Diddy Kong grabs his opponent in a bear hugging style.
Pummel			2%	Diddy Kong headbutts his target, angled from the side of his body.
Forward throw			9%	Diddy Kong tosses his opponent forwards. The throw is based on Diddy Kong's barrel toss animation from Donkey Kong Country".
Back throw			12%	Diddy Kong tosses his opponent backwards.
Up throw			4% (hit 1), 4% (throw)	Diddy Kong throws his opponent up and kicks them.
Down throw			6%	Diddy Kong throws the opponent downward and hops over them. Can combo into aerials, such as the infamous link into up air.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%	Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%	Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Edge attack Edge getups			7%	A spinning tail slap.
Neutral special	Default	Peanut Popgun	3-12% (Peanuts), 23% (explosion)	Diddy Kong shoots a peanut from his Popgun. The longer Diddy charges the attack, the farther and quicker the peanut will fly. If Diddy overcharges the attack, however, it will cause a very powerful explosion.
	Custom 1	Exploding Popgun	1% (Shot), 25% (explosion)	Diddy Kong charges his Popgun, solely for exploding, and it charges faster. If released early, Diddy Kong will then do a shot without a Peanut firing and it will hurt when up close.
	Custom 2	Jumbo Peanuts	7-11% (Peanuts), 18% (explosion)	Diddy Kong shoots a giant peanut from his Popgun. The peanuts don't fly as far, but are more powerful than normal.
Side special	Default	Monkey Flip	14% (clean midair kick), 12% (mid midair kick), 10% (late midair kick), 1% (pummel), 3% (grab attack hit 1), 7% (grab attack hit 2), 3% (jump attack hit 1), 5% (jump attack hit 2)	Diddy Kong performs a sideways hop that has the potential to launch Diddy onto an opponent's face if timed correctly. Can perform a flying kick with another button press.
	Custom 1	Back Flip	17% (clean), 12% (mid), 8% (late)	Diddy Kong hops backwards, and can perform a flying kick forwards with another button press. Can't grab however.
	Custom 2	Flying Monkey Flip	10% (clean midair kick), 8% (late midair kick), 1% (pummel), 3% (grab attack hit 1), 5% (grab attack hit 2), 7.5% (jump attack hits 1-2)	Diddy Kong jumps higher, but his flying kick and regular grab attack is weaker. The jump attack, however, is a much stronger meteor smash.
Up special	Default	Rocketbarrel Boost	10% (launch explosion), 6-8% (collision with opponent)	Diddy Kong charges his rocketbarrels from Donkey Kong 64 in a powerful attack. Can potentially fly very far, but hitting a surface will make Diddy Kong lose his rocketbarrels and will fall helplessly. Diddy Kong will gain 5% damage for hitting a surface.
	Custom 1	Rocketbarrel Attack	18% (launch explosion)	A more powerful attack than Rocketbarrel Boost, but has less maneuverability.
	Custom 2	Rocketbarrel Kaboom	7% (launch explosion), 6-8% (collision with opponent)	Charges faster and controls better than Rocketbarrel Boost, but will explode if Diddy Kong hits any terrain during the move.
Down special	Default	Banana Peel		Diddy Kong tosses a banana peel into the air to have it fall onto the ground. Opponents who touch the peel will slip and trip. Unlike in Brawl, only one banana peel can exist at one time, and it disappears when hit by an opponent.
	Custom 1	Shocking Banana Peel		Diddy Kong tosses a banana peel into the air to have it fall onto the ground. Opponents who come in contact with the peel will be stunned momentarily. The stun time is longer if the opponent steps on the peel as opposed to getting hit by it.
	Custom 2	Battering Banana Peel		Diddy Kong tosses a banana peel straight up. Opponents who come in contact with the peel will be launched upwards as well.
Final Smash		Rocketbarrel Barrage	5-10% (Peanuts), 12% (collision)	Diddy Kong flies around on his rocketbarrels, shooting peanuts everywhere. Has greater movement speed than it does in Brawl, but is even harder to control. Does not put Diddy Kong into a helpless state when ended in the air.

Taunts

• Tosses his cap in the air and has it land on his head. It is his victory pose from Donkey Kong Country.
• Claps his hands above his head four times, switching feet in the process.
• Does a playful fighter's stance and cackles.

On-Screen Appearance

Diddy Kong bursts from a DK barrel and briefly strikes a pose.

Idle Poses

• Looks around and briefly twitches. (a reference to Donkey Kong Country)
• Jumps in place.
• Scratches his rump and shakes his fur.

Victory Fanfare

A flourished remix directly from Brawl based on the jingle that would play whenever Diddy Kong completely cleared a bonus room or defeated a boss in Donkey Kong Country. He shares this with his uncle/best friend, Donkey Kong.

Victory Poses

• Does a little dance and claps his feet while standing on one hand.
• Shoots the camera lens with his Peanut Popgun.
• Scratches his rump and shakes his fur.

In Competitive Play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character	Custom sets available
Diddy Kong	1121	1123	1113	1131	1133
	1211	3111	1213	1112	3121

Trophies

Diddy Kong

Donkey Kong's trusty partner. He sports his signature look: red hat, red shirt, Rocketbarrel Pack. In Smash Bros., he's incredibly agile. Charge the Rocketbarrel Pack by holding down the button before launch, and you can steer with left and right. Don't forget to drop banana peels—enemies love it!

Red cap? Red T-shirt? Rocketbarrel Pack? Yep, it's Diddy Kong. His agility lets him get attacks in quickly in this game. Fire up his Rocketbarrel Pack and keep the button held down to fly further. You can even steer him in the air! Tip: If you don't mind fighting dirty, make you opponent slip on a Banana Peel, then hit 'em while they're down.

: Donkey Kong Country (11/1994)

: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (11/1995)

Diddy Kong (Alt.)

The Banana Peel Diddy throws when you use his down special can be picked up and used against you, so be careful. His Monkey Flip side special is a rolling leap followed by a grab (or a kick if you press the button again midjump). If you grab someone, press the button again to attack or jump off them to go high into the air.

: Donkey Kong Country (11/1994)

: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (11/1995)

Rocketbarrel Barrage

Diddy Kong's Final Smash is an attack on all fronts! Diddy takes to the air with his Barrel Jet, tackling opponents as he fires explosive shots from his Peanut Popguns. His Final Smash is nearing its end when he begins flashing, so get as close to your foes as you can-the Barrel Jet will explode at the end of this Final Smash!

With a Peanut Popgun in each hand, Diddy showers his foes with a hail of explosive destruction. This Final Smash lets him fly freely through the air, dealing damage to anyone in his way. When his body starts to flash, that means the Final Smash is about to end, so try to catch your foes in the Rocketbarrel Pack's explosion!

• Diddy Kong Trophy.png

  Classic (3DS)

• Diddy Kong All-Star Trophy.png

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

• 

  Rocketbarrel Barrage

Update History

1.0.4

• Range at end of rapid jab: 4 → 5
• Fixed bug where Diddy could use Peanut Popgun to cancel hitstun.
• Certain special attack properties have been removed and adjusted.

1.0.6

• Up air damage: 8% → 6%
• Up air's knockback is also significantly weaker.
• Forward air damage: 12/10% → 10/8%
• Forward air is weaker.
• Up throw deals less damage (from 10% to 8%), but it also has less knockback, which allows Diddy Kong to combo into up aerial more efficiently.
• Down throw damage: 7% → 6%. Its hitsun is also reduced.
• Monkey Flip (kick) now has an extra hitbox that deals 10% damage near the end of the kick.
• Monkey Flip (grab) damage: 12% → 10%
• Monkey Flip (jump) damage: 10% → 8%
• Forward smash's ending lag increased.

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Diddy Kong in the Nintendo Direct from April 8th, 2014.

• 

  Diddy Kong's amiibo.

• 

  The pic of the day shown during Diddy Kong's reveal.

• 

  Forward tilt on Mario.

• 

  With Donkey Kong.

• 

  Rocketbarrel Boost.

• 

  Diddy hitting Villager and Little Mac with Rocketbarrel Boost.

• 

  Up smash with Little Mac.

• 

  Looking at Pikmin.

• 

  Peanut Popgun overloading.

• 

  Back air with Lucario and Samus.

• 

  Teching or rolling with Fox and Wii Fit Trainer.

• 

  Up taunt in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

• 

  Down taunt with Fox and a Banana Peel.

• 

  Damaging Bowser with an overcharged Peanut Popgun.

Trivia

• Diddy Kong's confirmation was the first time a character was revealed for an international release of a game as opposed to just the Japanese release.
• The elastic quality of Diddy Kong's limbs is similar to another Donkey Kong character, Lanky Kong.
• Diddy Kong's down-throw to up-air combo has quickly gained notoriety as a quick KO string. It gained the name "Hoo-Hah" after StaticManny interrupted a set between Hungrybox and Player-1.