"Ground Slap" redirects here. It is not to be confused withGround Pound.

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

TheHand Slap, also called theground pound^[1][2] (alternativelyGround Pound),^[3]Ground Slap,^[4][5] andPound,^[6] is one ofDonkey Kong's attacks in theDonkey Kong Country games and theSuper Smash Bros. series.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

Artwork of Donkey Kong performing a Hand Slap forDonkey Kong Country

The Hand Slap is a move inDonkey 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 freebanana for each enemy beaten. In the Japanese version, Donkey Kong is rewarded aBanana Bunch for every third enemy that he Hand Slaps, includingKrushas, even though it does not defeat them. A Hand Slap can also defeat inactiveRock Krocs in original Japanese releases and theGame 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 anExtra Life Balloon. In theGame Boy Color remake, the Hand Slap is required to unearth aDK Sticker Pack in each level. In the Game Boy Advance remake, some boss arenas have a buriedphotograph, which Donkey Kong can unearth with his Hand Slap.

Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D /HD)[edit]

The Hand Slap, referred to as the ground pound, reappears inDonkey Kong Country Returns, itsNintendo 3DS port, and itsNintendo Switch port. It has different controls in this game, being done by shaking theWii Remote orJoy-Con, or pressing certain buttons of the controller in the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch ports. Ground pounding can only be done while standing still: the same inputs while moving perform aBarrel Roll and the same inputs whileCrouching cause the player toblow. Ground pounding is no longer a method of attacking enemies, though it does temporarily stun many kinds of grounded enemies. Stunned enemies have stars circling their heads, do not move, and do not inflict damage on contact. Enemies get stunned if they are near the Ground Pound; they do not necessarily have to be on the same platform as the Ground Pound. Certain durable enemies, likeTiki Tanks,Pinchlies, and the members of theScurvy Crew, are flipped over when they are stunned by the Ground Pound. This makes them vulnerable to attacks they otherwise block.

Ground pounds can openitem containers, crackblocks, pushtrapdoors, openRambi'scrates, and triggerDK Plates. If Donkey Kong is covered intar, Ground Pounding will restore him to normal. However, Donkey Kong cannot ground pound while standing in atar pit, the primary source of tar.

Ground pounding is one of the two actions available whenclinging ontogreen surfaces, angling the move into the surface being clung to. If Donkey Kong is on a wall or ceiling, he uses one hand to grip the surface and the other to pound. This functionality is necessary to defeatMangoruby andColonel Pluck.

While mounted, Rambi can also ground pound. His version has him stomps the ground with his front feet, and has the additional effect of destroying stone blocks depicting Rambi's emblem. In Multiplayer mode,Diddy Kong can perform his own variation, thePopgun Pound. This version has him firepeanuts from thePeanut Popguns into the ground, which bounce forward to stun or distract enemies from afar. With Dixie becoming available in the Nintendo Switch version's Ver 1.1.0 update, her own ground pound fromTropical Freeze returns as well.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]

The Hand Slap, referred to as the Ground Pound, reappears inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the same role as inDonkey Kong Country Returns. This time,Dixie Kong andCranky 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. Blowing is not an action in this game. In the Nintendo Switch version,Funky Kong performs the move by pounding the ground with both hands simultaneously unlike Donkey Kong who alternates hands.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Donkey Kong performing the Hand Slap inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl

Hand Slap is Donkey Kong's down special move inSuper Smash Bros. and every following game within theSuper 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. UntilSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS andSuper 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 ameteor smash. Additionally, the move can now break shields quite effectively, being able to break a full shield in 3 hits.

The Hand Slap has setknockback inSuper 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[edit]

While absent fromthe original, the Hand Slap is added inNew 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 asitem containers.

Mario Golf: World Tour[edit]

InMario 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[edit]

Main section:List of weapons in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle § DK Ground Pound

The Hand Slap, referred to as DK Ground Pound, appears in theDonkey Kong Adventure DLC ofMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle as Donkey Kong's secondaryweapon. 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 theBounceSuper Effect.

Dr. Mario World[edit]

InDr. Mario World, Dr. Donkey Kong's skill in versus mode is to slam the ground twice, adding a row ofViruses to the bottom of the opponent's stage. Some portions may not have a Virus. This skill is improved with Dr. Donkey Kong's skill level, with one of the improvements being making the attack add a second row of Viruses.

Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]

Donkey Kong performing the Hand Slap inDonkey Kong Bananza

The Hand Slap reappears inDonkey Kong Bananza, acting differently from previous games. It is performed with, and can be used to collect nearby items likegold andRed Balloons, and also acts as a sonar, allowing Donkey Kong to detect hidden items likefossils andtreasure chests. These two aspects are able to be upgraded in the "Skills" screen.

The action used to perform the move depends on what Donkey Kong is doing. He slaps the ground or wall once if on the ground or climbing a wall respectively. If midair or swimming, he claps his hands together, and if traversing a hangable surface (e.g. at Orangu-Hang Highway in theLagoon Layer), he claps his feet together. He cannot perform the Hand Slap while holding achunk, as pressing will simply cause him to drop the chunk.

Profiles[edit]

Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]

• Nintendo Today! description:
  • French:
    Ramassez les objets autour de vous et révélez les objets cachés dans le terrain environnant.^[7]
    (Translation:Pick up the objects around you and reveal the objects hidden in the surrounding terrain.)

Gallery[edit]

• 

  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[edit]

References[edit]

Hand Slap coverage on otherNIWA wikis:

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SmashWiki

• Donkey Kong moves
• Donkey Kong Bananza moves
• Donkey Kong Country
• Donkey Kong Country Returns
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
• New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
• Super Smash Bros. special moves
• Super Smash Bros. Melee special moves
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl special moves
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U special moves
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate special moves

• Articles that need more images
• Articles with unsourced foreign names