Lesser known game knowledge

This wiki article highlights elements of Donkey Kong 64 which aren't as well known which might help you with your seeds

Items

Secondary Fungi Dirt Patch

There is a dirt patch that is hiding under a section of grass near the mill in Fungi Forest that is very well hidden. This is raised with a quality of life option, however, this is optional so it might be in the lower position if you have this option disabled.

Homing Wind Tower

The Wind Tower at the top of Creepy Castle has 3 switches which are intended to be shot using Sniper Scope. However, these can be shot using homing ammo instead.

Completing Diddy's Lower Cabin in Caves without Rocketbarrel

Diddy's Lower Cabin in Caves (where you have to defeat an enemy gauntlet) is intended to require Rocketbarrel. That being said, the ledges of the platforms around the room are low enough that Diddy can backflip up and grab a ledge, completely skipping Rocketbarrel.

Underwater Kasplats

With Kasplat Location Rando, some Kasplats may appear underwater. Whilst you cannot kill them with anything whilst swimming, you can shoot them from the surface or play your instrument to kill them, then swim down to obtain the reward once killed.

Kong-Specific Elements

Speeds

Kongs have varying speeds in various mediums. As such, you will find certain timed challenges easier by using certain kongs and certain movement options

On Ground

Ordered from fastest to slowest

DK: Rolling
Krusha: Skating *
Diddy: Cartwheel Jumping
Lanky: Long Jumping **
Chunky: Long Jumping
Tiny: Long Jumping

(*) Krusha being second fastest is a rando change for balancing. If you are playing vanilla, he's roughly the same speed as Tiny/Chunky

(**) Lanky has a faster movement style with repeatedly entering Orangstand and jumping as soon as possible. This isn't very friendly for newcomers or on hands in general, so I wouldn't recommend doing it

Underwater

Ordered from fastest to slowest. All kongs use the "hold A" swimming as their fastest, so this is purely a list of who is the fastest kong underwater.

Diddy
Lanky (Difference to Diddy is 0.0005%, so don't focus too much on Lanky being second)
Chunky
DK
Tiny
Krusha *

(*) Krusha's speed underwater varies with the kong he replaces. In general though, he's pretty bad.

Pellet Damage

The projectiles that kongs shoot from their guns has differing damage values:

Coconuts: 2 dmg
Peanuts: 2 dmg
Grapes: 1 dmg
Feathers: 1 dmg
Pineapples: 3 dmg
Limes (Krusha): 3 dmg

Moves

Orangstand Sprint

Despite the name and the similarities to another move ("Orangstand"), usage of Orangstand Sprint does NOT require having regular Orangstand.

The Game Environment

Alternate way to beat Tiny Phase

Tiny Phase is intended (and logically required) to be beaten with Feather Bow. However, firing oranges at K. Rool's toes also works as opposed to feathers

Breaking the Rambi door in Japes

There is a stone door which blocks a few checks in Japes with Rambi's face on it. This normally requires Rambi's Z+B attack in order to destroy. There is a setting (Misc Changes > Vanilla fixes) which also allow's Rambi's B attack to work on this, however this is worthwhile knowledge for those who have this setting off.