Donkey Kong Bananza – Super Beginner’s Guide with Tips, Strategies, and Essential Skills to Unlock

July 22, 2025 Off By Markus Norat

Everything you need to know to master Donkey Kong’s new super adventure!

Starting on the Right Foot – First Steps and Fundamentals

Donkey Kong Bananza ‘s underground journey may seem simple at first glance, but it quickly reveals its mechanical, strategic, and exploratory depth. If you want to make the most of every layer, chest, and transformation, it’s essential to understand the game’s systems from the start. This section will prepare you to understand the basics and avoid the most common mistakes made by new players.

Reset the Layer, Not Your Sanity

When exploring underground, it’s easy to dig so deep that you get lost or accidentally destroy a crucial path. But don’t worry: Donkey Kong Bananza lets you reset the current layer’s terrain at any time . Simply open the map and press the “+” button to restore everything—including gold deposits, diggable paths, and treasures .

This feature is ideal not only for rearranging terrain when you get lost, but also for strategically farming resources like gold and chests, especially when you’ve already memorized the most profitable spots in the area.

Understand the Types of Terrain

The soil in Bananza isn’t all the same. There are softer layers of earth and others that require several blows to break. There are also indestructible surfaces (“bedrock”) that can’t be dug through, acting as natural barriers.

To identify the type of terrain and its resistance:

Use the ZR button to pick up a piece of ground.
Hold ZR to aim — soil type and hardness will be displayed.

Knowing where and how to dig saves time and prevents wasting temporary transformations or abilities on futile attempts.

Use the Terrain as a Weapon

If you’re facing tough enemies, especially those with tough shells , a great tip is to throw chunks of the scenery at them. Throwing chunks of soil at opponents often deals more damage than regular punches—and can even break through seemingly insurmountable defenses.

Coins, Gems, Fossils, and Other Collectibles

In Donkey Kong Bananza , you’ll find a variety of resources. Here’s what you need to know:

Banandium Gems (Bananas)

They are used to earn Skill Points .
They can be collected in the scenario or exchanged for Banandium Chips at exchange shops.
Bunches are worth more and are delivered at campaign milestones.

Fossils

They are used to buy clothes for DK and Pauline.
Clothing has practical effects , such as the Precious Tie , which increases the chance of finding chests, and the Antidote Trousers , which reduce poison damage.
You can find fossils by:
- Buy Fractôm Trecotom maps ;
- Use Sonar (skill that detects hidden items);
- Break up suspicious areas of the terrain.

Gold

Used to purchase items, maps, clothing and special buildings .
Died? You lose up to 10% of your gold (max 500). To avoid losses, buy Safety Balloons from the Stuff Shop. They save you from falling and prevent penalties.

Vinyl Records

Allows you to change the soundtrack in shelters.
They are rare drops from enemies, but can be farmed from:
- Grumpy Kong Challenges ;
- Using the Diva Dress outfit (amiibo or post-game), which doubles the drop chances.

Invest in Vacation Homes (Getaways)

Starting from the Canyon Layer , you’ll find NPCs who build small houses for DK. Buying multiple houses in a layer brings great benefits :

Bonus hearts when sleeping ;
Access to exclusive shops and amenities ;
Fast travel points , making exploration easier.

Tip: Buy as many houses as possible in each tier. This completely transforms your mobility and survivability.

Go Full Bananza Whenever Possible

The Bananza ability transforms DK into a temporary destruction machine. Don’t skimp: the cooldown is low and the benefits are enormous, especially when digging quickly or facing bosses.

Summary of Essential Tips

Whenever you get lost, reset the terrain.
Use pieces of ground and enemies as projectiles.
Explore everything: chests contain maps, items, and gold.
Clothing has strategic effects — buy and equip.
Use and abuse the Sonar skill.
Always have Balloons in your inventory.
Transformations are powerful — use them without fear.

Master the Skill Tree

In Donkey Kong Bananza , your progression is closely tied to the skill tree. Every five Banandium Gems you collect earns you a Skill Point —and deciding where to spend those points is what separates the good guys from the legends of the dig.

If you’re wondering which skills to prioritize , which to leave for later , or how to combine upgrades with outfits and transformations , you’re in the right place.

The Best Skills to Prioritize

Let’s get straight to the point: here are the essential skills , highlighting the practical impact of each in the early, mid, and late game.

Sonar Upgrade

Importance: VERY HIGH | Priority: IMMEDIATE

The Sonar skill allows you to locate hidden items, chests, fossils, and bananas much more efficiently.

At level 1 , it reveals nearby secrets when hitting the ground.
At level 3 , the range increases by 160% , allowing you to find items even behind thick walls.

Strategic Tip: Combine Sonar with the Precious Tie (level 3) to maximize hidden chest discovery, especially in the mid and high tiers.

Punch Power

Importance: HIGH | Priority: MEDIUM/HIGH

Increasing your punch damage reduces the number of hits needed to break through hard terrain. This speeds up your digging , saves time, and leaves you less vulnerable to enemies while digging.

Ideal for impatient gamers (and who isn’t?).
Essential for rock and lava layers.

Banana Energy (Bananagery)

Importance: VERY HIGH | Priority: MEDIUM

This ability extends the time of Bananza transformations — which are DK’s moments of greatest offensive and excavation power.

At max level , your transformation lasts 120% longer .
Affects all transformations, including those unlocked post-game.

Pro player tip: Combine Banana Energy with Surf or Vacuum to clear entire layers in record time.

Better Collecting

Importance: HIGH | Priority: HIGH

Each time you slam the ground, DK emits a shockwave that collects nearby items. This ability increases the radius of this pickup .

Prevents you from losing items in difficult or trap-filled terrain.
Allows for more efficient gold and banana farming.

Combine with Sonar to see and capture everything in one move.

More Life and Apple Juice

Importance: HIGH in END GAME | Priority: LOW in early game

The tree offers health upgrades (hearts) and also Apple Juice stock , which saves you from death once.

Apple Juice fully heals DK when he takes a fatal blow.
It starts to become ESSENTIAL in bosses and advanced challenges.
There are seven levels of life and four levels of juice .

Advanced tip: In the post-game, there are challenges that require six hearts and at least two Apple Juices to complete safely.

Jump Shot (Powerful Jump)

Importance: MEDIUM | Priority: SITUATIONAL

Allows for an extra jump if there is a ceiling above — useful for reaching high areas without using platforms.

Good for mobility and vertical exploration.
Works well with specific transformations.

Surf Surf + Better Turf Surfing

Importance: MEDIUM for mobility | Priority: MEDIUM

These skills allow you to:

Running on water (Surf Surf);
Glide for longer on blocks (Turf Surfing).

Combined, they make DK more agile when crossing rivers, lava, and thorny areas.

Strategies for Point Distribution

Now that you know the best skills, here’s how to organize them by game phase :

Early game (tiers 1–300)

Sonar level 3
Level 2 collection
Punch Power Level 1

Mid-game (tiers 300–700)

Level 3 collection
Banana energy level 2
Punch Power Level 3
Apple Juice Level 1

Endgame and postgame (tiers 700–1000+)

Apple Juice Level 4
Life level 5+
Banana energy level 4
Punch Power Level 4
Jump Shot and Turf Surfing (as needed)

Gold, Fossils, Special and Post-Game Clothing

If in the previous parts you learned to navigate the underground and evolve intelligently, now it’s time to play like a veteran , mastering the game’s loot, economy, customization and final challenge systems.

This is the part where you really start getting rich , collecting the 777 hidden bananas, and building the most powerful Donkey Kong on the planet. Let’s take it step by step.

Farming Gold the Smart Way

Gold is one of the most valuable resources in the game. It’s used for:

Buy clothes and upgrades;
Build rest houses (Getaways);
Acquire maps, balloons and rare items;
Buy bananas and slices post-game.

The question is: how to accumulate a lot of gold quickly?

Method 1: Aspiration with the Elephant Ancestor

Upon reaching Storm Layer (900) , you unlock a powerful transformation through the Elephant Ancestor . One of this transformation’s abilities is Aspiration , which at level 2 allows you to suck up large areas of terrain with ZR .

This speeds up collecting chests and gold nuggets;
Ideal for layers rich in metallic deposits.

Method 2: Pauline Miner on Ingot Island

In the post-game, you unlock Pauline again on Ingot Island . With her, you can use the Mining Outfit , which doubles the value of gold obtained from golden items .

Ultimate Combo: Use DK with Aspiration + Pauline Mining to form a deluxe digging duo . Switch between the two depending on the area and defeat challenges with ease.

Collecting Fossils Like a Real Paleontologist

Fossils are essential for buying clothes and cosmetics , which in addition to visual, offer functional advantages .

Ways to find fossils:

Fractôm Trecotom Maps
- In each layer, Fractôm sells maps with the location of fossils and bananas;
- Some maps require challenges to access.
Strategic terrain destruction
- Chests containing fossils are often hidden in specific blocks;
- The Precious Tie (level 3) increases the chance of finding them when digging by 30%.
Sonar Usage (Level 3)
- Reveals hidden areas and secrets in the terrain;
- Facilitates collection with precision and speed.

Clothes with Special Abilities

Each piece of clothing in Donkey Kong Bananza has a practical and powerful effect , especially when evolved to level 3 .

Check out some of the most useful clothes and where to wear them:

Clothing	Benefit	Where is it useful?
Precious Tie (Lv.3)	+30% chance to find chests	Layers with many fossils and treasures
Antidote Pants (Lv.3)	Reduces damage from poisonous rivers by 40%	Forest Layer
Mining Suit	Double the value of the gold obtained	Post-game on Ingot Island
Rodela Tie (Lv.3)	+40% chance to get twice as many Banana slices	Post-game and Ancestor Challenges
Diva Dress	Double chance of vinyl record drops	Grumpy Kong’s Post-Game and Challenges

Collecting Vinyl Records

Swapping out the game’s soundtrack in the dugouts is a treat for fans — but getting the records is a challenge in itself.

How to increase your chances:

Grumpy Kong Challenges : Increased Disc Drop Rate;
Diva Dress : Doubles the drop chance when defeating enemies;
Complete the five ancestors’ challenges to unlock this amiibo-free outfit.

Banana Slices: The New Premium Currency

In the post-game, you will need Banana Slices to buy the bananas you need to reach 100%.

How to farm better:

Rodela Tie (Lv.3) : Increases the chance of receiving twice as many rings by 40%;
Combine with the gold strategy to buy rare maps and complete the final objectives.

Post-Game Challenges and the Return of Grumpy Kong

After completing the main campaign:

Ingot Island Cave reopens ;
Grumpy Kong becomes an ally;
It offers three secret challenges , with unique rewards — but you’ll need to:
- Have up to 200,000 gold accumulated;
- Having collected between 300 and 700 bananas to release the tests of the five ancestors.

Advanced Movement, Secret Tricks, and Efficient Combat Techniques

Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t just about digging and punching everything in sight. True mastery comes when you understand how to move masterfully , take advantage of the game’s physics , use enemies to your advantage , and explore secrets with creative techniques .

Here are the most powerful tips for anyone who wants to navigate the layers like a master , win without taking damage , and discover areas that seem inaccessible .

Roll + Jump: The Combo That Changes Everything

Inspired by the classics of the Donkey Kong Country trilogy and the dynamism of Super Mario Odyssey , the game allows for a powerful movement combo:

How to do it:

Run and press the Roll button;
When you get close to the edge of a platform, jump — you’ll get a bonus mid-air jump ;
When you fall, you can repeat the process.

Master tip:

Combine this combo with suspended platforms to access places that don’t have stairs or ramps nearby ;
With practice, it is possible to reach hidden chests on isolated platforms .

Use Enemies as Weapons

Yes, Donkey Kong is strong. But you know what’s even better than punching an enemy? Throwing an enemy at another enemy.

How to do it:

Face lesser enemies with confidence;
A well-timed punch launches them across the map;
Aim them to hit other enemies, fragile blocks, or hidden areas .

This technique is effective and comical — and it saves you energy in repetitive confrontations.

Everything becomes a weapon, even the ground

Don’t underestimate the environment: chunks of terrain can do more damage than your standard punches , especially against armored enemies (like skeletons or robots).

How to use:

Press ZR to grab a piece of ground;
Aim and throw at the enemy (or weak wall).

It could be the difference between losing a heart or eliminating an entire group in one hit.

Advanced Exploration:

The game hides hundreds of chests, secret paths, and invisible platforms . To find them:

Use Sonar (level 3)

When hitting the ground, pay close attention to the waves emitted;
Areas that “shimmer” or glow are indicative of secrets below or behind the wall .

Ninja tip:

False platforms: some walls can be crossed, revealing secret rooms ;
Try rolling against “strange” surfaces — if DK goes straight through, you’ve found something special.

When in Doubt, Teleport!

Getting stuck in a hole with no way out is common. But there’s a simple trick:

Use the fast travel system

If you have built Getaways , you can teleport back to them via the map;
Also works with checkpoints.

This saves time and frustration , especially when testing new routes or farming strategies.

Balloon Rescuers: The Best Buy in the Game

There’s nothing more frustrating than dying, losing 10% of your gold, and then restarting far from where you started, right? The solution is simple:

Buy balloons at Stuff Shop

Each balloon saves you from falling into holes;
You avoid gold losses and return to the previous platform;
They are cheap and should be purchased in bulk .

They are essential for those who take risky routes, explore aggressively or try to access suspended areas.

Mini Checklist for Efficient Exploration

Before you go digging aimlessly, do this quick check:

Do you have Sonar level 3 activated?
Have you equipped clothing with useful bonuses (chests, gold, resistance)?
Do you have at least 3 balloons in your inventory?
Have you unlocked enough resting places for teleportation?
Did you charge your Bananza gauge before starting?
Do you have at least one transformation unlocked for combat or digging?

100% Completion, Ultimate Combos, and Final Checklist

How to achieve 100% in Donkey Kong Bananza

The game features a series of progress indicators per tier , which add up to the total game count. To reach the coveted 100%, you need to:

Complete the following objectives across all tiers:

Collect all visible and hidden Banandium Gems ;
Find and open all secret chests and safes ;
Buy and use all Fractôm Trecotom maps ;
Collect all fossils of each type;
Build all Getaways in the layer;
Defeat all bosses and minibosses ;
Buy or unlock all available clothes and accessories ;
Complete all three Grumpy Kong challenges in the post-game ;
Obtain all Vinyl Records to unlock the complete soundtrack;
Complete the five Ancestors’ challenges , with at least:
- 300 bananas for the first,
- 400 for the second,
- 500 for the third,
- 600 for the room,
- 700 for the fifth.

Secret and extra achievements:

Collect the 777 bananas (not all are in layers, some are acquired with gold and slices);
Buy all cosmetic variations of DK and Pauline ;
Unlock all achievements and status menu icons ;
Complete the game with less than 5 deaths (secret challenge).

Combos and Techniques for Speedruns and Quick Exploration

If you want to speed up your journey or compete with friends to see who can get the furthest, fastest, here are the most effective combos and tricks:

Roll-Jump-Roll Combo

Roll towards a ledge, jump at the last moment and follow it with another roll right after landing;
Used to cross wide gaps , escape from fights, or gain momentum on vertical trails.

Banana + Aspiration

Activate Bananza form with DK and use the Aspiration transformation to suck up terrain on a large scale;
Ideal for clearing entire areas in seconds , revealing multiple chests and gold nuggets.

Apple Juice + Powerful Hits

Using 2 or more Apple Juices with the Power Strikes skill level 4 allows you to:
- Face bosses with confidence;
- Eliminate armored enemies without needing transformations;
- Ensure a clean route to the core of the layer.

Final Checklist for 100% Completion :

Before you say you’ve “finished the game,” make sure you’ve done all of these:

Sonar level 3 unlocked and used on all tiers
All Fractom maps purchased and explored
Outfits like the Precious Tie, Antidote Pants, and Diva Dress obtained and used
Outfits upgraded to level 3 whenever possible
Maxed out scavenging
All rest houses built on each tier
All transformations unlocked (including Elephant and post-game)
All Vinyl Records obtained (via drop or challenge)
All gold chests opened
All Banana Rings used to purchase post-game bananas
All Ancestors challenges completed
Grumpy Kong challenges beaten
Completed the main campaign and Ingot Island extra content
Achieved 100% in the progress menu

Final tips to get the most out of the game

Play at your own pace. Exploration is part of the fun. Not everything has to be rushed.
Experiment with different combinations of DK and Pauline. Each has unique abilities that can complement each other.
Return to the old layers. With new skills and outfits, previously inaccessible places become possible.
Use the fast travel system wisely. It’s your best ally for optimizing routes and farming.
Enjoy the soundtrack. Personalize the shelters with different records—it’s a charming and relaxing touch.
Keep balloons in stock. Always.