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Diddy Kong (SSB4)

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This article is about Diddy Kong's appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4. For the character in other contexts, see Diddy Kong.
Diddy Kong
in Super Smash Bros. 4
Diddy Kong
Symbol of the DK series.
Universe Donkey Kong
Other playable appearance in Brawl


Availability Starter
Final Smash Rocketbarrel Barrage
Diddy Kong's stock icon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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]

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.

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 widely known as the "Hoo-Hah", 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, particularly the aforementioned "Hoo-Hah" combo, bringing Diddy's competitive usage more in line with other frequently used SSB4 characters. Patch 1.0.8, released in June 2015, only further nerfed Diddy Kong's "Hoo-Hah" combo and his damage-racking ability in general.

Aesthetics

  • Change 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.
  • Change Diddy's teeth are no longer visible while performing his side taunt.

Attributes

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

Ground attacks

  • Buff Neutral attack hit 3 now transitions into a finisher.
  • Nerf 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).
  • Nerf Dash attack final hit does more damage, but has more endlag, making the move slightly less reliable for quick setups.
  • Buff Forward smash does more knockback (40 base/90 growth → 40 base/116 growth).
  • Buff Up smash's last hit has much stronger knockback (70 base/70 growth → 50 base/126 growth).
  • Change Down smash hits are reversed with the front hit being weaker and the back hit being stronger).
  • Nerf 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).
  • Buff Down smash's back hit does more damage (12% → 15%) and slightly more knockback (35 base/72 growth → 35 base/74 growth).

Aerial attacks

  • Buff Forward and down aerials have slightly less ending lag.
  • Buff Forward and down aerials have slightly less landing lag (30 → 26, and 30 → 28 respectively).
  • Nerf Forward and up aerials deal less damage (14/11 → 10/8%, and 11 → 6% respectively).
  • Change Diddy Kong has a new up aerial; he now swings his leg up and halfway across his head.
  • Buff New up aerial sends at a better angle for 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.
  • Buff Down aerial's sweetspot deals slightly more damage (12 → 13%).
  • Nerf Down aerial now has a sourspot, which deals less damage (10%).

Throws/other attacks

  • Buff Grab is slightly quicker and more reliable.
  • Nerf Forward and back throw's animations are much slower making them easier to DI.
  • Nerf Forward throw deals 2% less damage.
  • Buff Back throw deals 2% more damage.
  • Buff Up throw has slightly lower knockback, allowing it to set up aerials more reliably.
  • Buff 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.
  • Nerf Down throw deals 3% less damage and has less hitstun.

Special moves

  • Nerf Peanut Popgun deals 5% less damage when fully charged.
  • Buff Peanut Popgun's explosion from overcharging now has a very powerful hitbox.
  • Buff 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%.
  • Nerf Monkey Flip's 2nd ground attack release deals less damage.
  • Buff Rocketbarrel Boost is now able to move at horizontal trajectories, opening up more recovery options and making Diddy's recovery less linear in general.
  • Nerf Rocketbarrel Boost needs to be charged longer to cover more distance than it did in Brawl.
  • Nerf 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.
  • Buff Rocketbarrel Barrage no longer puts Diddy into helpless upon completion.
  • Nerf 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.
  • Nerf Rocketbarrel Barrage deals less damage.

Moveset

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   1.5% Diddy Kong slaps forward twice, turns around to quickly kick the foe, and proceeds to repeatedly whip them with his tail. The attack finishes with an upward lash.
1.5%
2%
0.6% (infinite), 3% (last hit)
Forward tilt   10% (clean), 7% (late) Diddy Kong leans to the side and thrusts both of his arms forward in a double punch. 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, claps 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 and slaps forward, then swings his fist immediately after. 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 swings both arms downward in a double axe-handle 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   1% (hit 1), 4% (throw) Diddy Kong throws his opponent up and handstand 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.
Floor attack (front)   7% Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Floor attack (back)   7% Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Floor attack (trip)   5% Diddy Kong gets up and kicks on both sides.
Edge attack   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 and very fast, 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. This is a reference to his winning 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 out of a DK Barrel and briefly strikes a pose.

Idle Poses

  • Looks around and briefly twitches. This is a reference to his idle animation in 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 Popguns.
  • Scratches his rump and shakes his fur.

In Competitive Play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character Custom sets available
Diddy Kong's stock icon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Diddy Kong 1121 1123 1113 1131 1133
1211 3111 1213 1112 3121

Trophies

Diddy Kong
Ntsc 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!
Pal 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.
SNES: Donkey Kong Country (11/1994)
SNES: 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.
SNES: Donkey Kong Country (11/1994)
SNES: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (11/1995)
Rocketbarrel Barrage
Ntsc 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!
Pal 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!

Update History

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS 1.0.4

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

Super Smash Bros. 4 1.0.6

  • Nerf Up air damage: 8% → 6%
  • Nerf Up air's knockback is also significantly weaker, no longer killing until well beyond 150%
  • Nerf Forward air damage: 12/10% → 10/8%
  • Nerf Forward air is weaker.
  • Change 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.
  • Nerf Down throw damage: 7% → 6%. Its hitsun is also reduced.
  • Buff Monkey Flip (kick) now has an extra hitbox that deals 10% damage near the end of the kick.
  • Nerf Monkey Flip (grab) damage: 12% → 10%
  • Nerf Monkey Flip (jump) damage: 10% → 8%
  • Nerf Forward smash's ending lag increased.

Super Smash Bros. 4 1.0.8

  • Buff Jab improved; it transitions through to the second hit 2 frames faster, to the third hit 1 frame faster, and to the rapid-hitting portion 7 frames faster. The rapid hits additionally have reduced SDI capacity, and the final hit of the jab has increased reach, increased base knockback, and 4 less frames of ending lag.
    • Nerf The complete jab deals marginally less damage.
  • Nerf Down tilt's damage was reduced by .5%
  • Nerf Up aerial's startup was increased by 1 frame, and can no longer hit opponents below and horizontal to Diddy. Its knockback was additionally decreased, weakening its KOing capabilities, and it autocancels 12 frames later.
  • Nerf All of Diddy's grabs have 3 more frames of ending lag.
  • Nerf Up throw's damage was reduced by 3%, and its knockback was increased, reducing its followup capabilities.
  • Nerf Down throw's damage was increased by 1%, with increased knockback scaling and a very slightly more diagonal knockback trajectory, reducing its followup capabilities.

Technical changelist

Alternate costumes

Diddy Kong Palette (SSB4).png
Diddy Kong's stock icon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. DiddyKongHeadWhiteSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadPinkSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadPurpleSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadGreenSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadBlueSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadYellowSSB4-U.png DiddyKongHeadCyanSSB4-U.png

Gallery

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.
  • Before update 1.0.6, 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.
  • If Diddy Kong uses a fully charged Rocketbarrel Boost into a wall that has a black space on both sides in a custom stage, Diddy Kong will get stuck.