It’s been roughly four years since the series’ last entry, but Super Smash Bros. is finally back again. And Smash Ultimate is exclusive to Nintendo’s hybrid handheld console, the Switch. So you don’t need to decide between a handheld version on the 3DS and a home console version on the big screen. This is truly the complete package, no matter where you choose to play. And we really do mean “complete.”
Smash Ultimate contains 74 different playable fighters at launch. That includes every single previous character from previous Smash games and a bunch of fresh faces — including the long-awaited Ripley and the pre-order bonus Piranha Plant. That’s not even including the slew of upcoming DLC characters, assist trophies, random Pokemon, and more. There’s so much that no normal person could possibly keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a guide to every single character in Smash Ultimate!
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This particular guide, if you didn’t already suspect, is all about the great ape Donkey Kong. He’s… not all that different from his incarnations previous to Smash Ultimate. He’s still a bruiser with incredible damage. In fact, his biggest change involves a particularly devastating Final Smash.
According to Donkey Kong’s official Nintendo description…
His charged punch is one of the strongest attacks in the game! In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, his Final Smash has been updated from Konga Beat to a flurry of punches!
Moves
Giant Punch (B) – Charges up a punch that can keep charging after dodging or shielding.
Headbutt (Side + B) – Buries opponents when they’re hit on the ground. Can’t be interrupted by weaker attacks.
Spinning Kong (Up + B) – Spins with a whirlwind of punches. Can shift left or right while airborne and forward while grounded.
Hand Slap (Down + B) – Sends out shock waves by slapping the ground, sending foes into the air. Has a meteor effect while airborne.
Jungle Rush (Final Smash) – Donkey Kong pummels opponents with a flurry of punches before launching them with a finishing uppercut. If the first hit doesn’t make contact, the whole attack fails, so make sure to get that in.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
DK brings the pain in Ultimate with a tried-and-true arsenal of powerhouse moves. The ground pound, the swing-for-the-fences haymaker, the ding-dong, it’s all here. If you have ever wanted to literally clap fools, Donkey Kong is your boy.
Weaknesses
Being the big boy has its downsides, though. You are a much larger target, especially in frantic multi-person melees, and he has some issues with getting back on the stage once he’s been knocked off. A DK player wants to be in control of the match, so don’t let the speedsters set the tempo on you.
Changes
Donkey Kong has a new final smash! Jungle Rush throws a single punch. If that lands, DK will follow up with a flurry of faster punches before launching the opponent with one final smack.
Outfits
And that’s all we know about the king of the jungle, for now! Of course, how well you actually handle Donkey Kong in battle is up to you. Just pounding the ground and charging up super punches will only take you so far.
Meanwhile, there’s still quite a lot to learn about the ins and outs of Smash Ultimate beyond this single character. So be sure to check out the rest of Fanbyte’s Smash Ultimate guides and walkthroughs— from single-player hints to vital multiplayer tactics. More than anything else, though, make sure you play the characters you enjoy the most.
All of our Smash Ultimate guides created with the help of Eric Van Allen.
