Smash Melee Has Hit Peak DK

[@arJunebugSmash]

the vibes in that room were truly insane, i've never seen anything like it in the 16 years ive been in this community hope yall enjoyed :)

[@jessyjkn]

can't wait for DK's meta to evolve

[@OmegaGaiden]

You have become one of my favorite players to watch, your play as DK is just such a joy to spectate. Thanks for being you!

[@slowestjabroni]

bro i'm getting my ass handed to me by so many DKs on slippi now. you've changed the whole scene in one tournament man!

[@slowestjabroni]

@@jessyjkn oh it's evolving man. just go on slippi, so many DKs ripping it up now.

[@loganreidy7055]

You are the reason I started playing mid tiers, honestly really fun. Young Link feels doable vs top tiers save for sheik

[@spydar05]

Slippi has had insane ripples to this game over time. This ability for practice and archival of knowledge opened the door for mid-tier mains to surge.

[@justice8718]

Guess why Ultimate’s scene is a mess.

[@RTU130]

Indeed

[@xenobrina7880]

@@justice8718Because Ultimate added multiple characters that specifically do not want to play the game which killed the game for most people. No reason to bother fighting the anti-offense quartet of Steve, Sonic, G&W, and Kazuya

[@lucasblomgren1975]

And everyone and their mother plays fox which is a decent matchup for DK

[@slowestjabroni]

DK doesn't happen without slippi imo

[@Lafenlafen1]

1:43 GAME & WATCH MENTIONED RAHHHH

[@hodstrat3722]

GLOCK MENTION WALMART SHOES MENTION BINGHI MENTION HELLO, THEY ARE AWARE

[@lennyface5314]

WTF IS L CANCELING 🪂🪂🪂🪂

[@KyokujiFGC]

Hungrybox has been saying he's the next character to watch out for.

[@DubYuhGChoppa]

​@KyokujiFGC G&W really has an interesting combo game, playing him isn't as bad as you might expect for real

[@yurimemes6686]

Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that DK out of all characters would climb up the ranks 😭

[@going2021]

Now imagine bowser that would be insane

[@jrodd13]

@@going2021 Bowser lacks the tools that DK has unfortunately. Bowser can't even string together a two piece combo. Whereas DK can take your entire stock off one grab if all goes right. Plus, he's bigger, faster, and stronger too.

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Male wireframe next

[@lguy8476]

10 years ago and up to now, characters like Luigi could barely crack the top 8 at a major only ever happening twice iirc with Abate and Plup, and even characters like Samus/Icies/etc were extremely rare to ever happen and now almost 2 DKs made it to top 8 with one getting to top 3 WF 😂 A Falcon beating one of the gods or being top 10 seemed essentially impossible, Sheik/Falco/etc and a lot of players in general beating Hbox and other players seemed almost unrealistic, and even getting top 100 with many characters (Yink, Link, DK, Roy, Mewtwo, Game & Watch, almost Kirby at some points, Pichu almost upsetting S2J etc, and some characters making resurgences like Doc/Ganon/Samus/Icies) didn't really seem possible

[@NikhillRao27]

@@pinecrustjuise no obviously not

[@cullenhutchison6528]

He's finally here, performing for you...

[@bb010g]

If you know the moves, you can join in too!

[@Punkqurupeco]

COCONUT GUN

[@v0idvice640]

Put your hands together if you wanna clap!

[@lebeniani2293]

As we take you through, this MELEE rap

[@kamicausi]

For Harambe

[@AllBladesCut]

20dk is real

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Galleon will come.

[@eslamvszombies1713]

Next will be the Samus return, the Luigi renaissance, The Ganon Renaissance, the rise of Mr. G&W, and maybe Mario unlocking the undiscovered potential

[@surfingraichu7594]

Metroid II: Return of Samus, years of Luigi, the return of Ganon, new dimensions of Game & Watch and Super Mario 64 wins in a row*

[@Marinealver]

The meta has been mostly around areal style with melee secondary. Projectile style was always expected to be a weaker style and grappling was only viable in the first game when shields actually blocked attacks instead of shattered on the first charged up smash.

[@GygasDistruttore]

You forgot Kirby's return to Dreamland, where Kirby Mains figure out how to unlock the potential of 64 Kirby in Melee.

[@sandycoin]

unfortunately for ganon, only racists and bigots seem to play the character so the meta for him will never develop /j

[@shadoninja]

I still miss the days when Abate had a chance to go deep in a bracket

[@ferasnarf2132]

the name "glock in my toyota" goes hard

[@tremen151]

glock isn’t just a cracked gnw either, he’s also a top level super monkey ball speedrunner. dudes a legend

[@notlucas6859]

@@tremen151 seriously?? thats so cool dude smb is impossible and i love that game

[@reilly5005]

This was prophesied in the DK Rap They literally said “Donkey Kong is here”

[@wusstunes]

Noastradamus could never

[@陳嘉宇-y4q]

As it was written !!

[@user-wn7ko1uu3b]

5:13 I was one of the pikas he practiced with, I don’t have a very good pika but I play it on unranked sometimes so I volunteered, across like 10 games I got 4 stocked almost every game except 1 where I took 2 stocks and that is the highlight of my career lmaooo

[@PrincessMatrix]

I appreciate Junebug willing to help Cody Schwab practice against DK, even if it led to his loss. I'm so used to hearing how players try to hide tech or refuse to help others practice against certain match ups at high levels. Shows he has a nice spirit of comradery.

[@jonfro-mez]

To be fair, junebug gets to also practice against one of the best players in the world. It's not like he gets nothing out of it.

[@newchallengers9420]

Yeah it's a weird calculus with Hbox on one extreme and June on another, and pros and cons of each. Con is Hbox looks like a greedy pissy Beeyotch, but pro is nobody gets experience. Con for June is Cody learns the MU, pro is he's not a little B, and he also gets #1 best Fox practice, while only allowing one Fox to learn him well. Eventually long term ppl get Hbox exp in bracket too. IDK what's the best choice honestly. But I think Junes way has more benefits

[@karxx000]

Me personally, I wouldn't. He gets practice, but every fox main is more likely know what to do, so it hurts dk players more so. But also it forces dk players to have to play better. Still would rather see a major win on a mid or low tier even if ,hypothetically, they cheesed his entire way there.

[@hardnewstakenharder]

Nah it was dumb. Melee and its community is already so centered around Fox and its optimization, why give tier whores even more advantages? I respect HBox refusing to play friendlies.

[@ByrneBaby]

@@newchallengers9420 def June's approach. Like, I can see why the Box does it, since Puff's biggest shortcoming is how badly she can be punished by everyone, so if more and more people start to learn, understand, and adapt to her, she will literally drop a few spots on the tier list since punishing her will get easier and easier for everyone else, and that is her Achilles heel. ...But if that's the way of the meta, then c'est la vie, I say. I think seeing the game grow and evolve is way more valuable than ensuring consistency.

[@zcriq1372]

SHOUTOUTS TO CHRISTOPHER BINGHI

[@KyokujiFGC]

The fact that he only lost to Mango (who won the tournament) and Cody (who people considered #1 for a long time) is pretty crazy in and of itself. I think those SDs really hurt him though. He was doing amazing against Mango until they started happening, and it seemed to shake his confidence.

[@collinleger9546]

HINDAWG WAS RIGHT

[@temp1534]

better buy some PVC pipe

[@squatchjosh1131]

He shoulda been called Foredawg

[@paulmann8570]

@@squatchjosh1131Good one.

[@scrundle8489]

D. K. DONKEY KONG

[@lguy8476]

D. K... DONKEY KONG IS HERE

[@jammyman7085]

It will be curious to see now DK is offically on the map we will likely see anti DK tech be implemented how DK will respond to that. ZST bair seems like the next major step for DK at a high level. My hope is that were seeing the devlopment of DK's craft at a high level rarther than the apex who will eventually fizzle out.

[@gomjabbar6246]

I think dk's recovery in particular is is going to get much worse with labbing akin to marths having to figure out counterplay to marth-killer.

[@Supertaldo916]

Unfortunately, these characters are mid-tiers for a reason. Top players know how to quickly implement counterplays that exploit mid tiers’ lack of options. When you think about it, it happened to Pikachu, it happened to Yoshi, it’s been happening to Sheik to an extent. Slippi really allowed for Mid tiers to start coming and going in and out of “tippy top meta” results a lot quicker than before.

[@jammyman7085]

​@@Supertaldo916 I think in comparison to these it's important to remember that DK has still has only had a year and a half of geninuly serious development I think there is still alot of room to grow for the 3 kinda styles of DK that are starting to form and how thoes styles could combine together thoes styles being Traditional zoner / grappler DK Neutral based CC bully style DK Technical speed based DK Consider me hopeful I guess but 100% DK has a target on his Tie hurtbox now.

[@chwgwm]

20+ years later melee is still evolving. Greatest game ever.

[@davispo7550]

The hell? I just finished rewatching the DK Renaissance and Giant Melee vids

[@rosheafan]

I can't believe he's come this far. My relationship with Donkey Kong has become a meme in the Roy discord, too... ~Roshea Fan and Donkey Kong~

[@juanpetersburgo6467]

5:53 you got to love the songs display XD

[@AlphaBeticallyCorrectness]

I remember watching your video on DK about a year ago. I loved it, but I brushed it off because I had simply fell out of the scene for a little bit. Next thing I knew. DK was popping off and everyone was talking about it. All I thought about was your video!

[@hart7668]

This has the feeling of Nidoqueen making OU in Gen 4 likez 10+ years after the release of HGSS

[@chermal7311]

Wait REALLY?? Let's frickin go!!! haven't been keeping up with gen 4, i'm a gen 1 pu sorta fellow

[@KevinOnEarth_]

1:04 the vowel stress in Chantilly is on the “i” making the pronunciation more akin to “Shan-TIL-ee.” (For us locals anyway.)

[@wusstunes]

interesting

[@javajav3004]

yeah thats how we locals pronounce it, completely different to the native french pronunciation

[@KevinOnEarth_]

@@javajav3004 I mean, yeah, just about everything gets anglicized in majority English speaking countries. The same phenomenon happens in virtually every country in the word (very noticeable in Japan where English words are often used but changed to flow with the Japanese language better). No one (unless you’re Spanish) is pronouncing Los Angeles natively like "Los AHN-he-les.” Same thing with Chantilly but I was just offering how us locals pronounce it versus its French origin pronunciation of "Shan-tee-yee.”

[@javajav3004]

@@KevinOnEarth_ I believe its really pronounced "Shit traffic" lmao

[@wusstunes]

​@@javajav3004lol

[@noobtuber10]

Shoutouts house of Cracks very own BUM, the og Dk, This years been a big year for his crew, they took two evos this year haha poetic tbh

[@gorg9928]

The 20DK is real while the 20XX is dead.

[@javajav3004]

what is 20dk

[@moddedpan4252]

Honestly I think the thing that carries DK as a character is his mobility. His ground speed, jump height, and air mobility are all unexpectedly good for a character in his weight class. He has a lot of bad traits but the fact that he can at least move means he has some flexibility. Also helps that he has a pretty explosive punish game

[@Sreeeeets]

🐒 Leader of the bunch, spaceys hes gotta wail, he's finally meta, and gonna kick some tail 🐒

[@austin_f]

Me when zains seed is up for grabs 🥵

[@MrKyle700]

As primarily a melee spectator at this point, I absolutely LOVE seeing donkey kong beat up these little fucking spacie players. I LOVE that cody said it was auto combo on twitter. its all just so fucking funny

[@SlimSKim13]

He's finally here, performing for you.

[@malaflub5545]

Let’s just say Melee is going to the bananas‼️

[@gameboy3d943]

We haven’t seen a character redemption arc in Melee since Yoshi This is awesome!

[@JigChu7]

Thanks zain for giving me top 64 :)

[@elfrangofrito]

Did bro literally train his own demise in finals

[@hardnewstakenharder]

"Hbox sucks for not playing friendlies."

[@carsthatdrive1891]

gotta feel good to have made the kong vid abt a year ago into seeing these incredible kong runs happening back to back to back

[@Nick_Scribner]

2:12 I really appreciate the Etrian Odyssey Tumult Orchestral in the background

[@hexry1139]

The official tierlists should really be remade by this point

[@EmeraldZion]

This still feels surreal.

[@artyparty8166]

Zain's seed was up for grabs.

[@RedXLink]

Let's go oooooh Junebug and DK!!! So happy to see another char in melee proven to be viable. Let's get all the cast up there! Great video thank you

[@fraggnum__9660]

WOOOOOO I have been waiting for YEARS for donkey kong to see actual tournament runs! I’ve wholey believed his poke tools and combo game should be enough to net him genuine tournament play, and it’s a joy to me that it is finally the case. My favorite funni monki is officially a threat as of 2024. I am so proud of this community.

[@HoodBodega]

DK's relevance now is crazy bc I could barely remember his Melee model before this video

[@JodaroKujo]

“Insert his melee victory theme”

[@alwade24]

Sick work putting this together so quickly after smash con (this is like the twitter/x thing for me lol) Really well done in a short amount of time! Even knowing all the lore already, it was a good watch!

[@rorbee]

thank you official donkey kong news channel for your timely donkey kong news!!

[@helmerdekker2517]

I started watching in 2019 at the peak of the 'metagame is solved' discussion. This video still feels like insane satire to me even though it is entirely true.

[@Hoenn101]

You really cashed out on this DK thing and I’m happy for you lmfao

[@Kawaiilolrofl]

Wonder if anybody else noticed the etrian odyssey music. Best game series ever.

[@Ravagethem]

Super Nova was such a sick event dude, the renaissance continues and the apes climb to yet higher heights 🔥

[@baileyayyy5085]

I swear to god this community is just going to keep going "ah yes it was every single mid/low tier except THIS new specific one someone just showed can be played viably" until the end of time...

[@Fireluigi1225]

Its a matter of time until someone finds some insane bowser playstyle and he becomes at least mid tier

[@kevinthebluehedgehog]

Great vid. Also thank you for the songs list at the end :p

[@agentblackbird9435]

So cool to know a major Smash tournament took place in my state!

[@ByrneBaby]

Jeez, man, this has been amazing to watch evolve over time... What's next, the rise of the Mario Bros? I feel like anything is possible rn in Melee.

[@airship_elyta]

spectacular video. also, ETRIAN ODYSSEY MUSIC?? LET'S GOOOOO

[@AGameGem]

Can't wait till we get a "The Donkey Kong That Could Do It" documentary.

[@invalidssb]

float 3 footage used wahoo

[@SaddieMoon]

2:39 When I saw June’s face on the thumbnail, I thought it was Jirard the Completionist.

[@baconultimate6045]

I MUST know the members of that secret society of melee dk mains

[@armorbearer9702]

That DK up air is insane.

[@spiralflame88]

I've been out of the scene for a decade and it's nice to see how the meta has evolved since then.

[@GamerLMA]

Insane how new characters are still coming out for this old gamecube game, legendary

[@johnlesher3001]

i can't wait for when they put Mario in the game

[@michaellee7630]

dk was always my pocket to pull out on people to mix them up as they don't know the match up, now people gotta figure it out

[@WhensMahvel]

The title of the video should be "Lucario player revolutionizes the DK meta. "

[@SMALLSandJOE]

Melee is a beautiful thing. I've been saying recently btw, game and watch stock is going up! He just might be the next weird low tier to rise up some....

[@wusstunes]

It is currently the year of game & watch

[@MordredArkwright]

Now it’s your turn… Luigi.

[@paulmann8570]

We had “You, but worse” Roy. We had Yoshi the Tax Evader. Now DK mains are Expanding to the Heavens.

[@Ellesenzacognome]

When a dk wins a supermajor, the hero of time will born...

[@turndownforwalt]

Good 🅱ideo

[@gustavochavarria8161]

Over the past several years that I've played DK, I'm really surprised that he's getting some recogision he would've had all those years ago when Melee was at it's peak.

[@mightywaranvil2912]

Melee's finally gotten its own Expansion Pak (Geddit?) after 22 years plus change. Damn, does it feel good to be a Donkey Kong fan who plays Smash.

[@Lackingagoodname]

I love DK in all the smash games he’s always been the best heavyweight I’m so happy that he’s now being respected and feared at a top level.

[@supershadow125]

20XX is over. Here comes 20BC

[@FloetryFox88]

For over 20 years since 2002, I have BEEN saying that DK was a really good character!! I was a DK solo main in in Melee from 2006 to 2011 and was one of the first few people praising the character as a secret high tier for YEARS! Now that people are finally seeing DK's true potential like I have, it truly brings a smile to my face! 😂💯🙌🏿

[@COlimar788]

I hope they do Ness next

[@seanobrienplays688]

My favorite DLC character, Melee Donkey Kong.

[@fidel_soto]

Finally a DLC for Smash Brothers Melee

[@DDGAG]

I was at day three. Otherworldly experience standing in the crowd for junebug’s matches. 20DK is real.

[@DDGAG]

*not day three, Sunday.

[@Ragelikesdubs]

That commentator crying and losing his mind was the worst part of the June bug sets

[@plushgray]

I cannot believe Mang0 is still one of Melee's brick walls.

[@SymboliNegative]

I like how Melee is actually becoming a very balance game where more than half of the characters will become viable at some point, hope G&W will be next tho

[@Marinealver]

DK is probably the best grappler, although the meta has been mostly around the areal style thanks to blocks being so weak in latter titles.

[@bananabolt9098]

If this doesn't get Nintendo's attention to make a new Donkey Kong game then I don't know what will

[@davidgreen1236]

When is it bowsers turn

[@wusstunes]

2025

[@BagelEnjoyer]

project 2025 but good (making bowser good in melee)​@@wusstunes

[@kacecrimson8297]

whens the next solar eclipse

[@Excellsion]

Yo the Game and Watches out of nowhere with the steel chair.

[@alexanderlane7863]

I wish at the end instead of saying "you should learn how to fight him", you said "you should, learn to play as him"

[@wusstunes]

thats a personal choice

[@k1j1j1j]

zain's WHAT was up for grabs???!??!!??

[@memeboi69-k3v]

This proves any character can be viable, you just need good execution.

[@drcheerioshehehe]

Mr game and watch is next.

[@timmaia5082]

HEY! D. K., DONKEY KONG

[@jumpmadmadness1222]

If DK can make a comeback, what stops every other character to come back

[@lightningkitten]

lack of tools or bad tools

[@tflp1950]

The main thing I've learned from this is that no one knows what renaissance means.

[@bigblargh]

ooh oooh oohh OOOHH AAAHH AAAHH AHHH!!!!!!

[@carlosm7067]

You get it

[@dabsol9137]

calling bing “previously unknown” is crazy

[@Shellboi-j6n]

We're so backong

[@tVichi]

I pray that one day someone will win a major with Luigi

[@CornLink09-15]

DK Should Now Be Officially High Tier!

[@Sol_Calibre]

I remember it was Amsa with Yoshi and now Junebug and others are doing the same with DK. Who's next??

[@Rudepetsclub]

This is the greatest timeline

[@foggy8298]

The year is 2035. Game and Watch has won 3 supermajors. Sheik/Zelda players are now called Sheik/Zelda players and not Sheik players. Pichu and Pikachu are now even on the tier list. Kirby bottom 1.

[@wusstunes]

Bowser not worst let's go