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"Enguarde the swordfish will help you get straight to the point!"
Cranky Kong in the game Donkey Kong Country
Enguarde
EnguardeArtworkCountry
Enguarde's artwork from the game Donkey Kong Country.
Gender Male
Species Swordfish
Homeland Donkey Kong Island
Powers/Abilities Swimming,
Standing still or moving towards any direction underwater,
Possessing a very sharp bill,
Executing a short charge attack,
Attacking enemies automatically when they are directly in front of him,
Executing a special supercharge attack
Allies Kong Family
Donkey Kong
Diddy Kong
Dixie Kong
Kiddy Kong
Lanky Kong
Enemies Kremling Krew
King K. Rool
Game(s) Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Land 2
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Donkey Kong Land III
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong Racing (canceled)
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (cameo)
First Appearance Donkey Kong Country (for SNES) (1994)
Latest Appearance Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) (cameo)

Enguarde the Swordfish is a long-time recurring Animal Buddy that has aided the Kongs in almost all their underwater adventures. Enguarde has been around since the original Donkey Kong Country game and has returned in the rest of the trilogy, as well as in many games after it.

Enguarde possesses the ability to stab an underwater foe, which greatly aids exploration of underwater areas, as primates cannot hurt underwater foes regularly. In some later games, Enguarde can charge up its stab and release to open secret entrances to Bonus Rooms or just to travel a great distance, defeating enemies directly in front of it. Enguarde can also swim more precise than the heroes.

History[]

Donkey Kong Country[]

Enguarde debuted in the first water stage of Donkey Kong Country, Coral Capers, and most of the water stages after. Enguarde is the Kong's only means of attacking underwater enemies, by thrusting his very reliable bill (though note some enemies, such as Clambos, are completely immune to his attacks), otherwise they will have to riskily swim and avoid enemies. Enguarde swims with ease, being a fish, and faster than the primates. Because of this, Enguarde is considered a very useful asset to the team. Enguarde can charge himself forward to hurt any foes. He can also take a hit for the heroes like the other Buddies, but note he'll try to run away, in most cases out of reach unless he hits a wall and turns around. He can also simply continuously charge to swim faster than a normal Kong.

Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Land 2[]

Enguarde's role remains unchanged from the previous game in Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Land 2, except he now can charge his attack, allowing him to charge suddenly forward, defeating underwater enemies in his path, or simply getting through a straight area quicker. This charge ability can also be used to get secret underwater bonus areas, the said areas usually indicated by bananas leading into them. Also, he is not seen in as many underwater stages compared to his Donkey Kong Country appearance due to the introducing of other aquatic Buddies, Clapper and Glimmer. In this game the primates can transform into Enguarde via an Animal Barrel. Lastly, in Donkey Kong Country 2, there is an Enguarde's segment in the stage Animal Antics of the Lost World.

Donkey Kong Country 3 and Donkey Kong Land III[]

Enguarde returns in the game Donkey Kong Country 3. His powers and purpose are exactly the same of what they were in Donkey Kong Country 2. He also is featured in the boss stage against Barbos, where he must charge into the boss's weak spot after exposing it.

Enguarde also reappears in the game Donkey Kong Land III. He acts the same, but unlike the three previous games, Enguarde has lost his Supercharge ability.

Donkey Kong 64[]

In the game Donkey Kong 64, Enguarde is found in the Gloomy Galleon, marking his only appearance, and only Lanky Kong can use him. He is used to break treasure chests  and to unlock an area for Tiny Kong to get the mermaid's pearls back. Like Rambi (whom Donkey Kong transforms into), a red "no"-sign will appear and revert him back to Lanky Kong if going beyond the boundaries.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[]

His latest appearance was in the racing game Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, being a rideable Animal Buddy. He is only rideable in underwater stages after being freed from the Animal Crate.

Other[]

Club Nintendo comic[]

Enguarde appeared as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's Animal Buddy in the third part of Club Nintendo's comic Donkey Kong Country. The primates ride him through water and get attacked by several underwater enemies. An exploding TNT Barrel pushes them out of the water and onto King K. Rool's ship Gangplank Galleon, marking his last appearance in the comic.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]

Enguarde-Trophy

Enguarde's trophy as seen in the game Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii.

Enguarde appears as a collectable trophy in the game Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

  • Trophy description: "A swordfish animal buddy. Enguarde always appears on water stages where he can loyally help Donkey Kong around. Much appreciated, right, DK? Complementing his cute, round eyes, Enguarde's pointed bill proves to be a powerful weapon. One thrust from it will easily down most underwater opponents."

The character also has a sticker in the same game which adds 15+ damage to [Spin] Attacks.

Stages[]

Donkey Kong Country[]

Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Land 2[]

Donkey Kong Country 3[]

Donkey Kong Land III[]

Gallery[]

Artwork[]

Screenshots[]

Sprites[]

Trivia[]

  • "Enguarde" is a name taken from the French word "engarde", meaning "on guard" in English. This word is commonly used before sword fights/when fencing, and Enguarde got this name likely because of being a swordfish, given his large sword-like nose.
  • Enguarde along with a pink-colored version appeared in a trailer for the now canceled game Donkey Kong Racing (see Screenshots in the Gallery section above).[1] His skin has gained a few more colors. Tiny Kong is seen riding him, in of course an underwater environment, and Diddy Kong can be seen on a pink colored one. Whether the pink version is a female version or an entirely new character is unconfirmed.
  • Enguarde is nowhere to be found in the game Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, despite water levels being present.

References[]

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