Specific Characters Match-up: Pikachu vs Diddy Kong

[Felth]

I know that there's a Matchup Thread. But I don't like that the information is spread among different pages because the discussion can be changed to different characters and that could be a little messy. To avoid this, I suggest the following idea: one post for each character. Following some general points I'll organize all the post in a very simple way.

I propose to study in this post the Diddy MU. If you want to discuss other Matchup and you liked my idea just write a post following this idea. Suggestions of any type are welcome (I'm not an expert of Smash so it's probably that you know more than me about this).

Diddy Kong:

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• Neutral Game:

• Stage selection and Ban:

• Specific Situations:
  • Ground - Ground:
  • Ground - Air:
  • Air - Air:
  • Off Stage:
  • Some situation to punish or to look (Situations that are advantageous to pikachu vs this character)
  • Situations to avoid?

Extra information:
​

• I don't want to lose all the information that the community has discovered at this point. Most of this theory it's in the MU Thread.

• You can read the document made by the User Umbreoff which summarizes the previous post. Click here to see the document. I'm transcribing this document into a pdf version with access to new options. If you want to check the progress of this document I'll invite you to see the PDF Online Version.

• With respect to the Killing Section: add Good Set-ups to perform the killing (not just the final attack). Set-ups performed in specific Stages are also welcome.

• With respect to the Stage Selection Section: we should discuss what stages to avoid and what stages are good for Pikachu. The Smash Player Esam made a Depth Analysis on each Stage. Recall that some stages could be good for Pikachu but are even better for other character that's the reason for why we should discuss this kind of things here (one example is Halberd: IMO is good for Pikachu but not against Meta Knight).

• With respect to the Difficulty Section we should discuss how difficult is this MU for Pikachu. If it's possible it would be good to associate a measure to this difficulty. I think that this section should be completed once we developed a lot of theory in the corresponding MU, otherwise is just speculation.

• With respect to the Specific Situations Section we should discuss what to do in both scenarios.

 

[The_Devious]

just a heads up - the matchup info on diddy in the pika matchup thread is outdated because the diddy posts were written before he was nerfed. He still has a good banana game though.

 

[Felth]

Yeah you are right but maybe some of the details are preserved.

 

[NobleClamtasm]

I just wanna mention how important it is to use Diddy's banana against him. Pikachu's main flaw is finding opportunities to kill, and in this matchup one of the best kill setups in the game is right there for you to take. Bananas can be safely picked up from the ground using a simple dash attack. They can also by picked by using a short hopped aerial if you're close enough. Use whichever method depending on the situation.

 

[w0ah]

Bananas can be safely picked up from the ground using a simple dash attack. They can also by picked by using a short hopped aerial if you're close enough. Use whichever method depending on the situation.

Dash attack isnt safe lol. Jumping air dodge is better then using an ariel unless hes approaching then just short hop fair. Fair will beat out hos banana and maybe hit diddy. His fair will beat Pika's but a diddy wont banana into fair.

 

[Tankendog]

This match up is all about banana control, and spacing.

When Diddy pulls a banana, he has limited options, including the following:
1) Throw Banana (includes Z drop)
2) Shield
3) Run around
4) Monkey Flip
5) Peanut gun

2-5 are all looking to get number 1 to connect. If you can shut number 1 down, very few Diddy's can stand out a slug fest without banana.

Notes:

• Diddy has amazing aerials. His FAir, Up Air, Nair, Bair are all fast, and can combo into each other.
• DI is very important in this match up to avoid getting juggled. Know Diddys Set Ups, Throw combos, and best way to DI.
• Thunder and Nair can break combos. If you are getting juggled, think its vs shiek and try to break it.
• Dash dancing is really strong. Baiting a banana throw is a great. By doing this, you can also dash back out of a Monkey Flip and punish accordingly. Example: Fox trot it, double back 2 fox trots, Punish.
• Fight Diddy off stage. Thunder jolt will gimp barrels, Back air, Nair. Don't be afraid to challenge the Monkey flip if he doesnt kick out of it.

It should be noted that Diddy does have arguably the best neutral in the game. If you let him get momentum, and you are afraid of the banana, you are playing right into his game. Pikachu has the speed and mobility to rush down Diddy and punish, as well as avoiding banana set ups.

 

[Felth]

Anyone has other good information about this match up? What stages do you recommend to ban and choose?

 

[w0ah]

Anyone has other good information about this match up? What stages do you recommend to ban and choose?

Ban Town and City, and FD. Try to pick Battlefield. He likes stages with less platforms because of how good his neutral game is.

Edit: He can kill off the top early in dreamland so be careful if you take him there.