Hand Slap

This article is about Donkey Kong's special move. For the recurring special move, see Ground Pound.

Donkey Kong performing a Hand Slap in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

The Hand Slap, also called ground pound (alternatively Ground Pound) or Ground Slap, is one of Donkey Kong's attacks in the Donkey Kong Country games and the Super Smash Bros. series.

History

Donkey Kong Country series

Donkey Kong Country

Artwork of Donkey Kong performing a Hand Slap for Donkey Kong Country

The Hand Slap is a move in Donkey Kong Country that can be used by Donkey Kong only, by pressing and //. The move can defeat most regular enemies, and it even rewards a free banana for each enemy beaten. In the Japanese version, Donkey Kong is rewarded a Banana Bunch for every third enemy that he Hand Slaps, including Krushas, even though it does not defeat them. A Hand Slap can also defeat inactive Rock Krocs in original Japanese releases and the Game Boy Advance version. If he uses a Hand Slap in certain areas on the ground or on tree tops, Donkey Kong can unearth a Banana Bunch or even an Extra Life Balloon. In the Game Boy Color remake, the Hand Slap is required to unearth a DK Sticker Pack in each level. In the Game Boy Advance remake, some boss arenas have a buried photograph, which Donkey Kong can unearth with his Hand Slap.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

The Hand Slap, referred to as the ground pound, reappears in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, though it is performed differently from other games. This time, the ground pound is done by shaking the Wii Remote, or pressing the X button on the Nintendo 3DS. It can open item containers, crack blocks, push trapdoors, open Rambi's crate, and stun enemies. Ground pounding is also possible when clinging onto grass ceilings and walls. While mounted, Rambi can also use this move; he instead stomps the ground with his front two feet.

In Multiplayer mode, Diddy Kong can perform his own variation, Popgun Pound, a move which he can additionally use to stun or distract enemies from afar.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

The Hand Slap, referred to as the Ground Pound, reappears in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the same role as in Donkey Kong Country Returns. This time, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong can also perform the move. Dixie's version involves her pounding the ground with her ponytail and Cranky with his cane. Unlike the other Kongs, Dixie's Ground Pound covers both sides.

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros. Brawl screenshot

Hand Slap is Donkey Kong's down special move in Super Smash Bros. and every following game within the Super Smash Bros. series. It is executed by pressing the special move button while pressing the Control Stick or Circle Pad down. By performing the move, Donkey Kong rapidly slaps the ground, generating a small shockwave around him. This causes nearby opponents to get knocked upward and be damaged. The attack is very useful in the Multi-Man modes when Donkey Kong is surrounded by opponents, letting him launch all of them away, but it has no effect against aerial targets. The attack does take a while to use, but once used, all the player must do is hold the Control Stick or Circle Pad down and continuously tap the special move button. Donkey Kong will keep using the attack until the special move button stops being tapped, or Donkey Kong is hit by an opponent. Until Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Donkey Kong could not execute the move in mid-air. Though the move is not as useful in the air, it can still serve as a meteor smash. Additionally, the move can now break shields quite effectively, being able to break a full shield in 3 hits.

The Hand Slap has set knockback in Super Smash Bros. Melee, although in subsequent installments, it can send opponents with low damage high into the air, but the Hand Slap's low knockback scaling at higher percentages prevents it from being effective at KOing an opponent.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U also introduces two custom variants of Hand Slap:

• Focused Slap sacrifices attack range, but the shockwaves can stun and deal greater damage to opponents who are hit.
• Hot Slap creates a series of flame pillars in front of Donkey Kong, which can damage even airborne targets, but it has less range, and does not cover Donkey Kong's back. The attack deals more damage and knockback, and sends opponents flying sideways instead of upwards.

New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

While absent from the original, the Hand Slap is added in New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, where several gimmicks make use of it, such as breakable floors, platforms that act as switches, and underground seeds that act as item containers.

Mario Golf: World Tour

In Mario Golf: World Tour, if Donkey Kong loses a hole or gets a bogey or worse, he performs a Hand Slap in anger.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

The Hand Slap, referred to as DK Ground Pound, appears in the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as Donkey Kong's secondary weapon. This move deals damage to nearby enemies, with more damage being dealt to closer enemies. Once used, it cannot be used again for the following turn. The DK Ground Pound can be upgraded via Battle HQ, with each upgrade treated as a stronger weapon, and can deal additional damage to certain types of enemies and may inflict the Bounce super effect.

Gallery

• 

  Donkey Kong Country screenshot

• 

  Super Smash Bros. artwork

• 

  Super Smash Bros. screenshot

• 

  Super Smash Bros. Melee screenshot

• 

  Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS screenshot

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ハンドスラップ[?] Hando Surappu	Hand Slap
Italian	Forza bruta	Brute force
	Schiaffo	Slap
	Manata[?]	Handslap	Super Smash Bros. series
	Scouti la terra/Scuotere la terra	Shake the ground
	Schianto a terra DK[?]	DK Ground Pound	Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Russian	Лапошлеп[?] Laposhlep	Paw Slap