Editing Bowser (SSBB)

:''This article is about Bowser's appearance in [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]].  For other uses, see [[Bowser]].''

 

|name         = Bowser  

|image       = [[Image:Bowser.jpg|250px|Bowser]]

|caption      = [[Image:MarioSymbol.svg|50px]]

|games        = ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|SSBM]]''<br/>''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|SSBB]]''

|firstgame    = ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' (1985)

|homestage = ''[[Final Destination (SSBB)]]''

|tier         = E

|ranking     = 32

'''Bowser''' ('''Koopa''' in Japanese) ({{ja|クッパ}}, ''Kuppa'') is the primary antagonist of the "Super Mario" series. His SSB debut was in [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]] and he returns in [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]].

Currently, he is 32nd on the [[tier list]] in the "E" for ''Brawl'', improving a bit from his bottom tier position in ''Melee''. Although he has recieved some good [[buff]]s, his mediocre tournament results, very low vertical recovery, vulnerability to infinite chain grabs, and very poor match-ups clocks him at the bottom of the E Tier.

In addition to being the largest character model in the game, Bowser is the heaviest playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This makes him difficult to KO, yet an easier target to hit. Because of his heavy weight, Bowser's recovery has significant horizontal range but marginal vertical movement. He has very poor ground shield game, second slowest roll and slowest spot dodge. He also has the ability to [[crawl]], but due to his large size, it is very inefficient in avoiding incoming projectiles or other attacks. As with other large characters, Bowser's strengths lie in his KO ability and not his speed. He sports a wide variety of powerful attacks both in the air and on the ground. For example, Bowser's forward smash is the strongest smash attack with a high-priority KO move that has such high knockback that it is able to eat through almost any [[super armor]] frames save for Wario's Forward Smash, [[Pikmin Order]] or Donkey Kong's fully-charged [[Giant Punch]]. However, this KO ability comes at the price of high lag, both on startup and ending. Due to his average speed and reliance on power KOs, Bowser can struggle somewhat in the low damage game as he lacks diverse ways of racking up damage on the opponent. This can be remedied with his neutral special, [[Fire Breath]] and his advantage of 10 frames when ground releasing and 30 frames when air releasing makes him able to do great chain grabs or combos into his strongest attacks. He can also regrab anyone by ground releasing except Donkey Kong (because of Donkey Kong's unusual short ground release animation). The Fire Breath serves the multiple roles for Bowser such as racking up damage on the opponent as well as preventing an opponent's approach and a functional [[Edge-guarding|edge guard]]. Bowser also has a potent [[Sacrificial KO]], the [[Flying Slam]]. This move allows Bowser to grab an opponent, then leap into the air and fall back to the ground with Bowser on top of them. Thus, the opponent will always be KOed first. If this move is used through a [[Blast Line]], both Bowser and the opponent will be KOed. It's also useful in the [[Classic]] and [[All-Star]] Modes, making for an easy KO when only one opponent is left. Given Bowser's difficulty racking up damage, this can be a useful move when the opponent is far ahead of Bowser in the damage count. However, opponents can control Flying Slam when Bowser is at higher or even equal damage, preventing "Bowsercide", or forcing it. Bowser's standard attack can even cancel out incoming projectiles, including Samus' and Lucario's standard specials. This is effective as it allows the player to conserve Bowser's shield as well as provide quicker reaction times after blocking enemy projectiles.

However, given Bowser's extreme heavy weight and decent falling speed it makes him also open for infinite chain grabs like Wario and Dedede's infinite chain grab due to his extremely large size and [[weight]]. His horizontal recovery, [[Whirling Fortress]], is worse than Donkey Kong's [[Spinning Kong]] and it also gives poor vertical distance.

===Changes from [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|'''''Melee''''']] to ''Brawl''===

Bowser has been buffed from ''SSBM'' to ''SSBB''. He is about the same in speed and slightly stronger. His up aerial is faster, but shorter ranged. His side tilt and up smash both have more range. His side smash now hits twice as well as doing 14% more damage. On the downside, its knockback has decreased slightly, and it does very little damage or knockback if hit from very close or from very far. Bowser's air speed and jump height have both increased. His down smash is much easier to trap with. Bowser is lighter than he was in ''Melee'' (so it's easier to move him), but he is still by far the heaviest character in the game. As for specials, Bowser Bomb hits while leaping upwards and has faster falling speed. Whirling Fortress goes higher in midair, and Fire Breath can be aimed up and down. Lastly (in terms of special moves), Bowser has a new side special move, the Flying Slam.  

Bowser's purely cosmetic changes are a new voice actor (Eric Newsome) rather than having recycled voice clips from Super Mario 64, different sounds in his tilts and jab, and more realistic roars (as opposed to his usual cartoonish roars). He also has two new palette swaps: brown and a combination of black and white.

|-style="background:#007f00;border-bottom:solid #ff7f00 2px;"

|<span class="explain" title="90=straight up, 180=behind">'''Angle'''</span>

|<span class="explain" title="Knockback growth">'''KBG'''</span>

|<span class="explain" title="Weight-based knockback">'''WBKB'''</span>

|colspan="2"|<span class="explain" title="Other data">'''Type'''</span>

|-

|rowspan="4"|Neutral||rowspan="4"|Double Claw||rowspan="4"|Two quick claw swipes. Relitively safe move, as the arm Bowser is swiping with is intangible while the hitboxes are out.||rowspan="3"|Hit 1||Hand||rowspan="3"|5%||30||rowspan="3"|6||rowspan="3"|8||rowspan="3"|0||rowspan="3"|100||45||rowspan="4"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=4}}

|-

|Arm||50||30

|-

|Shoulder||83||18

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 2||5%||*||18||20||50||100||0

|F-tilt||Backhand Knuckle||colspan="3"|Bowser gives a backhanded punch while leaning his body forward. Can be aimed up or down. Has decent KO potential at later percentages. If angled down, has a decent chance of tripping (40%). Bowser's lower arm is intangible while the hitboxes are out.||11%||*||10||14||45||83||0||{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|U-tilt||Vertical Claw||colspan="3"|Swats the air above him. A decent juggling move. This is also a very powerful KO move and can KO lightweights very early given its surprising speed. Like his f-tilt, Bowser's lower arm cannot be injured while the hitboxes are out.||12%||100||8||13||55||97||0||{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=1}}

|rowspan="2"|D-tilt||rowspan="2"|Claw Trip||rowspan="2"|Claw swipes while crouched. Does two hits; unlike most multi-hit moves, the first hit is the stronger one. High knockback for its kind with speed make this another speedy KO move. Like his neutral combo, the active arm cannot be injured.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||14%||rowspan="2"|*||10||12||20||rowspan="2"|100||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 2||11%||20||22||12

|-

|rowspan="2"|Dash||rowspan="2"|Dashing Headbutt||rowspan="2"|Running headbutt. Has good vertical knockback. Horrid ending lag makes this move easily [[punish]]able.||colspan="2"|Clean||11%||rowspan="2"|80||10||13||120||rowspan="2"|30||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=2}}

|colspan="2"|Late||8%||14||19||80

|-

|rowspan="5"|U-smash||rowspan="5"|Shell Slam||rowspan="5"|Bowser hunkers down on all fours and jumps straight up, hitting with his shell. Hitting with the sides of the attack does less damage. Opponents who only shield his jump may be hit by him landing (this hit cannot touch aerial opponents). Very high knockback.||rowspan="3"|Hit 1||Shell||{{DamageWhenCharged|20}}||90||rowspan="3"|17||rowspan="3"|22||rowspan="3"|23||80||rowspan="5"|0||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Body|effect=Slash|t=3}}

|Head||rowspan="2"|{{DamageWhenCharged|15}}||70||rowspan="2"|90

|-

|rowspan="2"|Hit 2||Shell||{{DamageWhenCharged|12}}||90||rowspan="2" colspan="2"|32||rowspan="2"|60||rowspan="2"|100||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Body|effect=Normal|t=2}}

|Head/Tail||{{DamageWhenCharged|10}}||74

|rowspan="3"|D-smash||rowspan="3"|Shell Blender||rowspan="3"|Bowser retracts into his shell and spins around. Multi-hit attack that does up to seven hits. Very high knockback.||rowspan="2"|Hits 1-6||Edge||rowspan="2"|{{DamageWhenCharged|2}}||150||rowspan="2" colspan="2"|15-16, 18-19, 21-22, 24-25, 27-28, 30-31||rowspan="3"|40||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="3"|0||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Slash|t=3}}

|colspan="2"|Hit 7||{{DamageWhenCharged|9}}||65||colspan="2"|32||140

|rowspan="3"|F-smash||rowspan="3"|Horn Lunge||rowspan="3"|Bowser rears back and then performs a very strong headbutt. This is the most damaging forward smash in the game. If used correctly, the second hit can prevent shield grabbing, as it has 20% extra hitstun.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||{{DamageWhenCharged|10}}||60||colspan="2"|27||30||130||rowspan="3"|0||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=3}}

|rowspan="2"|Hit 2||Body||{{DamageWhenCharged|23}}||*||rowspan="2"|29||rowspan="2"|32||rowspan="2"|25||rowspan="2"|81

|Head||{{DamageWhenCharged|21}}||60

|-

|rowspan="2"|Nair||rowspan="2"|Shell Spin||rowspan="2"|Bowser spins around inside his shell. Low knockback and very low KO potential.||colspan="2"|Clean||13%||rowspan="2"|*||8||13||rowspan="2"|20||rowspan="2"|80||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Normal|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Late||9%||14||23

|-

|rowspan="3"|Fair||rowspan="3"|Air Claw||rowspan="3"|A rather quick slash forwards. Decent knockback with surprising speed.||colspan="2"|Hand||13%||rowspan="3"|*||rowspan="3"|8||rowspan="3"|11||rowspan="3"|40||rowspan="3"|80||rowspan="3"|0||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=3}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|Bair||rowspan="2"|Shell Bulge||rowspan="2"|Bowser thrusts out his shell behind him. High knockback. High ending lag if not auto-cancelled.||colspan="2"|Clean||15%||35||9||11||25||83||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Body|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Late||7%||*||12||15||35||100

|Uair||Upper Headbutt||Bowser swings his head upward with a little but noticable startup lag but little ending lag in the air. Very high damage and knockback make it one of the best up airs in the game power-wise.||colspan="2"|Head||17%||85||16||20||35||93||0||{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|rowspan="3"|Dair||rowspan="3"|Inverted Spin||rowspan="3"|Bowser retracts into his shell and spins himself into the ground. Limited shockwave if hits the ground. The last hit can Meteor Smash, but it's weak and overall not recommended.||colspan="2"|Hits 1-8||rowspan="2"|3%||80||colspan="2"|14-15, 17-18, 20-21, 23-24, 26-27, 29-30, 32-33, 35-36||0||100||10||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Slash|t=3}}

|colspan="2"|Hit 9||270||colspan="2"|38||10||100||rowspan="2"|0

|colspan="2"|Landing||2%||20||1||3||60||30

|Pummel||Headbutt||colspan="3"|Hits foe with his head. Very slow pummel.||3%||80||9||10||0||100||30||{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|F-throw||Big Heave||colspan="3"|Launches foe forward using his head. Decent knockback, but will rarely KO.||10%||45||colspan="2"|36||60||50||0||{{AttackType|type=Throwing|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|B-throw||Big Hurl||colspan="3"|Exactly identical to Bowser's forward throw, but has a faster execution.||10%||45||colspan="2"|19||60||50||0||{{AttackType|type=Throwing|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|U-throw||rowspan="2"|Spike Slice||rowspan="2"|Bowser tosses foe upwards, retreats into his shell, and spins, damaging the foe with his spikes. Decent but set knockback.||colspan="2"|Hits 1-8||1%||0||colspan="2"|21-24, 25-28,<br>29-32, 33-36,<br>37-40, 41-44,<br>45-48, 49-53||0||100||0||{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Slash|t=1}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Throw||2%||70||colspan="2"|53||0||100||120||{{AttackType|type=Throwing|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|D-throw||rowspan="2"|Flatten||rowspan="2"|Sets opponent on floor, then flings himself forward, performing a body slam on his opponent. Low knockback even with scaling. The full damage of the attack is also applied to bystanders; the throw itself does no damage.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||12%||0||colspan="2"|45||0||100||rowspan="2"|0||{{AttackType|type=Body|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|colspan="2"|Throw||0%||50||colspan="2"|56||75||30||{{AttackType|type=Throwing|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|Floor (back)||rowspan="2"|Claw Spin||rowspan="2"|Bowser gets up while swinging his hand around.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||rowspan="2"|6%||rowspan="2"|*||18||19||rowspan="2"|80||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Normal|t=2}}

|colspan="2"|Hit 2||23||24

|rowspan="2"|Floor (front)||rowspan="2"|Worm||rowspan="2"|Bowser leaps forward to strike with his head, then back to kick behind, and finally up into a standing position.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||rowspan="2"|6%||rowspan="2"|*||10||11||rowspan="2"|80||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="2"|0||{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|colspan="2"|Hit 2||26||27||{{AttackType|type=Foot|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|rowspan="2"|Floor (trip)||rowspan="2"|Floor Spin||rowspan="2"|Bowser gets up while facing backwards, and does a claw swipe that brings him facing forward.||colspan="2"|Hit 1||rowspan="2"|5%||rowspan="2"|*||19||20||rowspan="2"|60||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 2||23||24

|Edge (<100%)||Quick Spin||colspan="3"|Quickly spins onto the stage, then retreats back a bit.||8%||*||8||17||0||100||110||{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|Edge (100%+)||Slow Swipe||colspan="3"|Slowly climbs onto stage, and does a quick claw jab.||10%||*||46||50||0||100||110||{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|rowspan="2"|[[Neutral special]]||rowspan="2"|[[Fire Breath]]||rowspan="2"|Bowser takes a short breath and lets loose with a stream of fire.||colspan="2"|Near||2%||rowspan="2"|55||1||7||9||30||rowspan="2"|0||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Typeless|effect=Flame|t=2}}

|colspan="2"|Far||1%||colspan="2"|8||5||20

|-

|rowspan="3"|[[Side special]]||rowspan="3"|[[Flying Slam]]||rowspan="3"|Bowser snatches the opponent and done a massive flying suplex. Enemies in the [[Subspace Emissary]] get slashed. Can be used to commit Bowsercide.||colspan="2"|Slam (after grabbing)||18%||60||colspan="2"|&nbsp;||80||50||rowspan="3"|0||{{AttackType|type=Throwing|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|colspan="2"|SSE slash (ground)||rowspan="2"|13%||70||8||10||rowspan="2"|60||rowspan="2"|80||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Hand|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|SSE slash (air)||*||17||19

|rowspan="6"|[[Up special]]||rowspan="6"|[[Whirling Fortress]]||rowspan="6"|Bowser gets into his shell and helicopters around. One of the best out-of-shield moves in the game.||colspan="2"|Hit 1 (ground)||11%||80||6||7||70||80||rowspan="3"|0||{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 2 (ground)||5%||90||8, 12, 16, 20||rowspan="2"|39||80||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|colspan="2"|Hit 3 (ground)||3%||70||24, 28, 32, 36||50

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 1 (air)||10%||80||6||7||80||60||rowspan="3"|0||{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 2 (air)||3%||rowspan="2"|84||colspan="2"|8-11, 12-15, 16-19, 20-23, 24-27||rowspan="2"|50||rowspan="2"|20||rowspan="2"|{{AttackType|type=Spin|effect=Slash|t=2}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Hit 3 (air)||2%||colspan="2"|28-31, 32-35, 36-39, 40-43, 44-47

|-

|rowspan="4"|[[Down special]]||rowspan="4"|[[Bowser Bomb]]||rowspan="4"|Bowser leaps into the air and plummets downwards.||colspan="2"|Ground hop||4%||85||colspan="2"|11||0||100||110||{{AttackType|type=Head|effect=Normal|t=1}}

|colspan="2"|Drop (from ground)||rowspan="2"|20%||rowspan="3"|76||38||&nbsp;||rowspan="2"|45||rowspan="2"|75||rowspan="3"|0||rowspan="3"|{{AttackType|type=Body|effect=Normal|t=3}}

|-

|colspan="2"|Drop (from air)||32||&nbsp;

|-

|colspan="2"|Landing||11%||1||2||60||72

|[[Final Smash]]||[[Giga Bowser (Final Smash)|Giga Bowser]]||Bowser turns into [[Giga Bowser]].||colspan="4"|&nbsp;||colspan="2"|60||colspan="5"|&nbsp;

|}

===On-screen appearance===

*Emerges from a wall of flames.

===Taunts===

*'''Up''': Throws his head back and roars.

*'''Side''': Snaps furiously forward five times.

*'''Down''': Balances precariously on one leg.

==Bowser's [[Match-up]]s==

{{SSBBMatchupTable|bowser=yes}}

==Role in the [[Subspace Emissary]]==

Bowser first appears after [[Donkey Kong (SSBB)|Donkey Kong]] and [[Diddy Kong (SSBB)|Diddy Kong]] chase down his troops, who had stolen their bananas in order to lure them to him as a trap. Bowser confronts the two and transforms DK into a trophy with a [[Dark Cannon]], but not before DK punches Diddy away. Bowser chases him down, and has a Shadowbug clone of himself fight Diddy and [[Fox McCloud (SSBB)|Fox]]. After defeating the clone, the real Bowser attempts to turn them into trophies, but they manage to dodge the shot. Although Diddy is [[Image:Subspace_bowser.PNG|frame|Bowser in the ''[[SSE]]'']]eager to fight Bowser, Fox knows that they're no match, so he grabs Diddy and makes their escape. While continuing his chase, he is told by [[Ganondorf (SSBB)|Ganondorf]] to hunt down [[King Dedede (SSBB)|King Dedede]], who had stolen Wario's trophies. He also transforms Zelda/Peach into a trophy, and after having another Shadowbug clone of him copy her, orders her Shadowbug clone to attack Mario and Pit/Link and Yoshi. Bowser and his troops attack King Dedede's castle, where Dedede is hiding but when they broke the roof a stone fell on Dedede's head, knocking him out. Bowser steals Peach/Zelda's trophy and evades Mario and Pit's attacks, but when he dodges Pit's arrow he falls off a cliff, but is shown to be unharmed after he landed in his Clown Car. After this, he returns to the jungle and transforms Diddy into a trophy and sends his Shadowbug clone to clone the trophy. He flees after Falco Lombardi attacks him and destroys his [[Dark Cannon]]. He is next seen with Ganondorf on the Subspace Gunship. They destroy the Halberd, but fail to stop Kirby from destroying the Gunship with a Dragoon. Fleeing into the Subspace, Bowser is betrayed by Ganondorf and turned into a trophy by a suprise blast by a dark cannon. He is eventually brought back to life, and after being defeated by King Dedede, beats up Ganondorf's trophy for revenge. Bowser then notices the downed Master Hand and decides to help the heroes take down Tabuu. The sight of Master Hand lying on the ground seems to trouble Bowser, probably because Bowser was really the only smasher accomplice who was loyal to Master Hand, unlike Ganondorf (who planned to betray him to take control of the Subspace Army) and Wario (who did it just to enjoy himself).

===Exclusive Stickers===

These stickers may be used by only Bowser or a select few including Bowser:

*Lakitu (''Mario Kart Super Circuit''): [Leg] attack +13

*Luigi (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga): Launch power +23

*Peach (''Mario Superstars Baseball''): [Slash] attack +5

*Yoshi (''Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door''): [Throwing] attack +5

==[[Palette swap (SSBB)#Bowser|Palette Swaps]]==

[[image:alt-bowser2.jpg|frame|center|Bowser's palette swap in SSBB]]

===Cheer===

*Several deep male voices chanting "Bowww-serrr..."

===Trophy Description===

''The king of the koopas and Mario's eternal rival. He breathes fire, hurls hammers, attacks from vehicles like the Koopa Clown Car, and uses all sorts of weapons in hopes of destroying Mario. As his size suggests, he's immensely powerful. His son Bowser Jr. is a chip off the old block who spends his time creating trouble for Mario.''

*''Super Mario Bros.'' (Nintendo)

*''Super Mario Sunshine'' (Nintendo Gamecube)

*Bowser and Marth are the only characters without a new piece of music used for the [[Character Roll Call|Credits]]; Bowser has Giga Bowser's battle theme, while Marth uses the Fire Emblem theme in Melee.

*Bowser's voice clip for his Wii Remote selection is a roar he from the end of a cut scene in Super Mario Sunshine.

*For reasons unknown, when certain characters grab Bowser and attempt to pummel attack him while he is on a slope above him/her, the pummel does not hit him and deals him no damage.

*Bowser is the only non-human character that is a representative of the main ''Mario'' series (in contrast to [[Wario (SSBB)|Wario]]).

*Bowser, [[Link (SSBB)|Link]], [[Luigi (SSBB)|Luigi]], [[Toon Link (SSBB)|Toon Link]], and [[Yoshi (SSBB)|Yoshi]] are the only characters to wear their default costumes in team battles when they are on the green team.

*Bowser is currently the lowest ranked Mario character in ''Brawl''. This was also the case in ''Melee''.

*[http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html Bowser's page at Smash Bros. DOJO!!.]

*[http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=156448 Bowser character guide at SWF]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkMlsPV_p-8&feature=related Bowser's hitbox size of each of his moves]

[[Category:Characters (SSBB)]]

[[Category:Mario universe]]

[[Category:Subspace Army]]