Monkey robot

Monkey robots refer to various enemy Donkey Kong toys. They first appear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis and have shown up in all subsequent games in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. Like Mini Donkey Kongs, they are based on the character Donkey Kong, who appears as the main antagonist in most of the games in the series.

Unlike other enemies, monkey robots do not harm the Minis directly when they come into contact with them. Once they catch the Minis, monkey robots perform a certain action on the toys which can help or hinder them, depending on the context. For example, Circus Kongs juggle the Minis up and down, enabling them to reach higher platforms in some cases, but keeping them in mid-air perpetually if no platforms are present above. Most monkey robots cannot be destroyed, but can instead be stunned and neutralized temporarily by using a form of attack on them. Doing this also releases any Mini currently under their control. Exceptions include Cool Kongs and Kongā, which cannot be harmed in any way, as well as the monkey robot controlling a Cursed Mini Mario, which is destroyed upon being attacked.

Throughout the series, only Circus Kongs, Capture Kongs, and Cannon Kongs have made recurring appearances.