Overview

Diddy Kong is an agile middleweight fighter with a versatile move set. Although you can play Diddy Kong in a variety of styles, Diddy Kong specializes in stage control, trapping, and grapple setups. While most speedy, ground-based fighters have bait-and-punish- and hit-and-run-focused playstyles, Diddy Kong is most effective when he’s controlling his opponent’s mobility and using his agility and quick attacks to capitalize on the enemy’s positioning.

Your primary objective with Diddy Kong is to create and earn space to set up Banana Peel traps. You want to maneuver around your enemy and try to score any kind of launch, knockback, or grapple. Diddy Kong has all the tools to do so effectively, thanks to his outstanding overall attributes on most of his moves (they’re all quick, relatively safe, and have solid hit coverage). In conjunction with his versatile aerial attacks, Diddy Kong’s impressive mobility makes him one of the kings of the neutral game. He has a fast dashing speed, a fast falling speed, above-average jump height, and the ability to wall-cling.

Once you subdue your opponent long enough to generate a Banana Peel on the stage, you can follow up with a flowchart-like approach depending on how your opponent moves and reacts to your Banana Peel. A prime example of Diddy Kong’s strength is his edge-guarding Banana Peel game; if you can knock an opponent off a ledge (with an attack like forward air attack, front/back throw, or Monkey Flip), you can toss out a Banana Peel near the ledge to cordon off that ledge area, forcing your foe to recover differently than they normally would. This gives you an advantage in predicting their movement, then capitalizing on it with your superior attacks.

Further complementing his stage-control game is Diddy Kong’s combo and juggle-trapping ability. Up air and up tilt are quick, have low lag, and pack enough launch power to either extend combos or inflict guaranteed follow-up damage. While most of his smash attacks are fast, his up smash is remarkably so, allowing you to finish off foes with your many juggle and trap setups.

Diddy Kong has a solid recovery game on top of a powerful edge-guarding one. His Rocketbarrel Boost is a flexible gap-closer with a unique explosive trait allowing you to deal damage while recovering back onstage. His Monkey Flip can be used as a horizontal midair leap, potentially letting him jump over edge-guarding foes too close to the edge.

Diddy Kong Vitals

Movement Options

Movement Ranks