Donkey Kong (SSBM): Difference between revisions
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'''Donkey Kong''' ({{ja|ドンキーコング|Donkī Kongu}}, ''Donkey Kong''), shortened as '''DK''' on the [[victory screen]] and [[character select screen]], is a [[default character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He returns from the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', but with faster moves and agility, as well as an improved recovery. | '''Donkey Kong''' ({{ja|ドンキーコング|Donkī Kongu}}, ''Donkey Kong''), shortened as '''DK''' on the [[victory screen]] and [[character select screen]], is a [[default character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He returns from the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', but with faster moves and agility, as well as an improved recovery. | ||
Donkey Kong's voice consists of modified stock animal grunts and roars, similar to his sounds in ''Super Smash Bros.'' Newcomer {{SSBM|Bowser}} also uses stock sounds, but they are different from Donkey Kong's. | |||
He is currently 16th out of 26 on the tier list, placing him in the C- tier. This is a | He is currently 16th out of 26 on the tier list, placing him in the C- tier. This is a moderate improvement to his previous placement in ''Smash 64'' where he was ranked 9th out of 12. Donkey Kong, true to being a heavyweight, is difficult to KO, and this is aided by his fast [[falling speed]]. Donkey Kong also has powerful attacks, and he has excellent range to boot. For a heavyweight, Donkey Kong is unusually agile; most of his attacks are executed swiftly, he has high [[air speed]], and his jumping prowess is solid. His mobility facilitates combos, and this is further aided by his remarkable [[grab]] range. However, Donkey Kong himself is vulnerable to combos due to his large size and high falling speed, and his recovery, while covering a significant amount of horizontal distance, fails to cover much height. | ||
==Attributes== | ==Attributes== | ||
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Due to being a heavyweight with a high falling speed, Donkey Kong owns a below-average recovery. While these traits make Donkey Kong highly resilient to the upper blast line, Donkey Kong's survivability on all other blast lines is poor. [[Spinning Kong]] grants above average horizontal distance, but poor height, making [[meteor smash]]es and [[spike]]s extremely powerful against him. Owing to a lack of other options concerning his recovery, this also means that he has very poor recovery options compared to other characters; none of his specials can reduce his falling speed, and he cannot wall-jump or use any other tactics in conjunction with Spinning Kong, and as such, he is simple to edgeguard. | Due to being a heavyweight with a high falling speed, Donkey Kong owns a below-average recovery. While these traits make Donkey Kong highly resilient to the upper blast line, Donkey Kong's survivability on all other blast lines is poor. [[Spinning Kong]] grants above average horizontal distance, but poor height, making [[meteor smash]]es and [[spike]]s extremely powerful against him. Owing to a lack of other options concerning his recovery, this also means that he has very poor recovery options compared to other characters; none of his specials can reduce his falling speed, and he cannot wall-jump or use any other tactics in conjunction with Spinning Kong, and as such, he is simple to edgeguard. | ||
Much like fellow heavyweight Bowser, Donkey Kong's various attributes also make him very easy to combo. In addition to having among the largest raw hurtbox sizes in the game, Donkey Kong's high falling speed and weight make it easy for characters to [[chain throw]] him, as well as combo him in the air. Compounding this is Donkey Kong's poor defensive game; a large hurtbox causes him to have a small [[shield]] that can easily make him vulnerable to [[shield stabbing]], and his lack of a projectile can discourage him from approaching enemies that own one. | Much like fellow heavyweight Bowser, Donkey Kong's various attributes also make him very easy to combo. In addition to having among the largest raw hurtbox sizes in the game, Donkey Kong's high falling speed and weight make it easy for characters to [[chain throw]] him, as well as combo him in the air. Compounding this is Donkey Kong's poor defensive game; a large hurtbox (including a tie hurtbox) causes him to have a small [[shield]] that can easily make him vulnerable to [[shield stabbing]], and his lack of a projectile can discourage him from approaching enemies that own one. | ||
==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''== | ==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''== | ||
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**{{change|Donkey Kong's [[short hop]] is catastrophically lower (34.15533 (1024.66) → 13.6), improves his ability to hit opponents low on the ground with short hop aerials, as well as his ability to quickly land and continue aerial pressure, but also hinders his ability to [[auto-cancel]] his aerials.}} | **{{change|Donkey Kong's [[short hop]] is catastrophically lower (34.15533 (1024.66) → 13.6), improves his ability to hit opponents low on the ground with short hop aerials, as well as his ability to quickly land and continue aerial pressure, but also hinders his ability to [[auto-cancel]] his aerials.}} | ||
*{{change|Donkey Kong [[falling speed|fall]]s significantly faster (1.867 (56) → 2.4). This improves his vertical endurance and with the introduction of the SHFFL technique, he can make strong use of the technique due to his falling speed, but also makes him considerably more vulnerable to combos and worsens his already poor vertical recovery.}} | *{{change|Donkey Kong [[falling speed|fall]]s significantly faster (1.867 (56) → 2.4). This improves his vertical endurance and with the introduction of the SHFFL technique, he can make strong use of the technique due to his falling speed, but also makes him considerably more vulnerable to combos and worsens his already poor vertical recovery.}} | ||
**{{nerf|However, Donkey Kong's [[fast fall]]ing speed has been unchanged (2.967 (89) → 2.96). | **{{nerf|However, Donkey Kong's [[fast fall]]ing speed has been unchanged (2.967 (89) → 2.96). The difference between his falling speed and fast falling speed is much lower (increase: 58.9% → 23.3%), which makes it more predictable when landing and gives him fewer options in the air.}} | ||
**{{nerf|Considering that Donkey Kong's vertical endurance hasn't significantly improved from ''Smash 64'' due to his significantly lighter weight in ''Melee'', this falling speed increase hurts him overall.}} | **{{nerf|Considering that Donkey Kong's vertical endurance hasn't significantly improved from ''Smash 64'' due to his significantly lighter weight in ''Melee'', this falling speed increase hurts him overall.}} | ||
*{{nerf|Donkey Kong's landing animation is longer (4 frames → 5).}} | *{{nerf|Donkey Kong's landing animation is longer (4 frames → 5).}} | ||
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**{{nerf|Back aerial deals less damage (15% → 13% (clean), 10% → 9% (late)).}} | **{{nerf|Back aerial deals less damage (15% → 13% (clean), 10% → 9% (late)).}} | ||
*[[Up aerial]]: | *[[Up aerial]]: | ||
**{{buff|Donkey Kong has a new up aerial: a swinging headbutt | **{{buff|Donkey Kong has a new up aerial: a swinging headbutt. This new up aerial has less ending lag (FAF 60 → 38).}} | ||
**{{buff|Up aerial has less landing lag (41 frames → 25).}} | **{{buff|Up aerial has less landing lag (41 frames → 25).}} | ||
**{{buff|Up aerial hits above DK sooner.}} | **{{buff|Up aerial hits above DK sooner.}} | ||
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**{{buff|DK's opponent will now take 10% if they escape from his forward throw.}} | **{{buff|DK's opponent will now take 10% if they escape from his forward throw.}} | ||
***{{nerf|However, Donkey Kong himself will also take 10% damage if the opponent escapes from his forward throw.}} | ***{{nerf|However, Donkey Kong himself will also take 10% damage if the opponent escapes from his forward throw.}} | ||
**{{nerf|Due to DK's worse grab combined with the universally increased falling speeds, DK's | **{{nerf|Due to DK's worse grab combined with the universally increased falling speeds, DK's [[Infinite throw trap]] has effectively been removed.}} | ||
**{{buff|DK has received a (separate) back throw, an up throw and a down throw from his forward throw, giving DK more options to combo or KO.}} | **{{buff|DK has received a (separate) back throw, an up throw and a down throw from his forward throw, giving DK more options to combo or KO.}} | ||
**{{nerf|The introduction of wall [[tech]]ing has significantly hindered forward throw's stage spiking capabilities.}} | **{{nerf|The introduction of wall [[tech]]ing has significantly hindered forward throw's stage spiking capabilities.}} | ||
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*{{Sm|Bum|USA}} - Gathered notoriety as one of the first strong Donkey Kong players. His 4th place run at {{Trn|MLG Long Island 2007}} marks the strongest placement for the character during the MLG era. At the same tournament, he also garnered multiple wins over {{Sm|Isai}} and {{Sm|ChuDat}}. | *{{Sm|Bum|USA}} - Gathered notoriety as one of the first strong Donkey Kong players. His 4th place run at {{Trn|MLG Long Island 2007}} marks the strongest placement for the character during the MLG era. At the same tournament, he also garnered multiple wins over {{Sm|Isai}} and {{Sm|ChuDat}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Green Ranger|USA}} - Previously considered the best Donkey Kong player in the world. He placed 9th at {{Trn|Fight Pitt V}} | *{{Sm|Green Ranger|USA}} - Previously considered the best Donkey Kong player in the world. He placed 9th at {{Trn|Fight Pitt V}} while making an upset over {{Sm|Duck}}, and made decent placements at other tournaments, such as 25th at {{Trn|Super Nebulous 3}} and 49th at {{Trn|Royal Flush}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Junebug|USA}} - Mid-tier specialist and widely seen as the current best Donkey Kong player in the world. His local win at [[Tournament:Xanadu Legends - Xanadu 500 Edition|Xanadu Legends 500]], and major placements such as 13th at {{Trn|The Big House 11}} and 17th at {{Trn|Collision 2023}}, started a major discussion for Donkey Kong's viability as a character. He has taken a few sets over top 100 players such as {{Sm|Magi}}, {{Sm|Polish}}, and {{Sm|Ginger}}. He became the first Donkey Kong player to be ranked top 50 in the world on [[SSBMRank Summer 2023]], and currently sits at 40th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]]. | |||
*{{Sm|Junebug|USA}} - Mid-tier specialist and widely seen as the current best Donkey Kong player in the world | *{{Sm|ckyulmiqnudaetr|USA}} - Formerly a Fox and Ice Climbers player who switched to Donkey Kong. He eventually became the second Donkey Kong player to be on a global ranking, with 77th on the [[SSBMRank 2023]]. He placed 33rd at {{Trn|Get On My Level 2023}}, where he made an upset over {{Sm|Soonsay}}, and 49th at {{Trn|GENESIS 9}}, where he beat both {{Sm|bobby big ballz}} and {{Sm|Kalvar}}. | ||
*{{Sm|ckyulmiqnudaetr|USA}} - Formerly a Fox and Ice | *{{Sm|Moe|Denmark}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world later in the game's lifespan. He has shown the best Donkey Kong placements in Europe, with 17th at {{Trn|Valhalla III}} and {{Trn|Fête 3: By the Sea}}. He has been the best player in Denmark for years, being ranked first in the country from 2019 to 2022. | ||
*{{Sm|Moe|Denmark}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world | *{{Sm|Phish-It|USA}} - Previously considered the best Donkey Kong player in the world during the early 2010s. He made great major placements such as 9th at {{Trn|Zenith 2014}} and supermajor placements of 33rd at both {{Trn|EVO 2013}} and {{Trn|The Big House 4}}, which were considered some of the best supermajor results of the character at the time. | ||
*{{Sm|Phish-It|USA}} - Previously considered the best Donkey Kong player in the world. | *{{Sm|Ringler|USA}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world. He came to prominence with his 25th at {{Trn|Mainstage}} with a notable upset over {{Sm|La Luna}} in his bracket. While he is more inactive in the post-Slippi era compared to other Donkey Kong players, he has placed 17th at {{Trn|Wavedash 2022}}, 25th at {{Trn|Mainstage 2021}}, and 33rd at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2022}}, and has beaten players such as {{Sm|KoDoRiN}} and {{Sm|Shroomed}}. | ||
*{{Sm|Ringler|USA}} - One of the best Donkey Kong players in the world. | |||
===Tier placement and history=== | ===Tier placement and history=== | ||
Donkey Kong is currently ranked as 16th on the tier list in the C- tier, making him a situational character in high-level tournament play at first glance. This tier placing, however, is significantly better than his initial tier placings; Donkey Kong was initially viewed as a low-to-bottom tiered character in the early ''Melee'' metagame, placing at 20th/21st with Roy on the first tier list. In | Donkey Kong is currently ranked as 16th on the tier list in the C- tier, making him a situational character in high-level tournament play at first glance. This tier placing, however, is significantly better than his initial tier placings; Donkey Kong was initially viewed as a low-to-bottom tiered character in the early ''Melee'' metagame, placing at 20th/21st with Roy on the first tier list. In the next few tier lists, Donkey Kong would frequently appear at this rank, with his lowest ranking being 22nd on the sixth tier list. Much like Bowser, Donkey Kong was often derided for his large hurtbox and high falling speed, making him an easy target for combos and attacks in general, and despite his superior base speed compared to Bowser, he was regarded as too slow to keep up with many characters that were higher-tiered than him. | ||
However, devoted Donkey Kong mains began to improve the character’s metagame, notably by demonstrating that his supposed speed issues were inaccurate; players have demonstrated Donkey Kong had a surprisingly fast and powerful aerial game, and that his dash-dance was also effective, especially when compounded with his unforgiving punish and throwing game. Thanks to the efforts of players like {{Sm|Phish-It}} and {{Sm|Green Ranger}}, Donkey Kong would jump to 16th on the seventh tier list, formally entering the middle tiers, and would maintain similar rankings on future tier lists. | |||
In 2022 and 2023, another “Donkey Kong renaissance” would occur thanks to a massive upswing in Donkey Kong's usage and a stronger level of consistency at higher level tournaments. 2023 saw the character’s strongest year yet; three Donkey Kong players placed in the top 100 of the [[SSBMRank 2023|2023 SSBMRank]], spearheaded by {{Sm|Junebug}}, who was ranked 40th due to performances such as his 13th-place finish at {{Trn|The Big House 11}}, the best Donkey Kong placement in over a decade. As a result of these considerable metagame developments, Donkey Kong has become a more respected presence in high-level play, and his current tier placement has become debatable. | |||
==In 1-P Mode== | ==In 1-P Mode== | ||