Editing Whirling Fortress

From SmashWiki, the Super Smash Bros. wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Warning You aren't logged in. While it's not a requirement to create an account, doing so makes it a lot easier to keep track of your edits and a lot harder to confuse you with someone else. If you edit without being logged in, your IP address will be recorded in the page's edit history.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 1: Line 1:
{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}
{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y}}
{{Infobox Special Move
{{Infobox Special Move
|name=Whirling Fortress
|name=Whirling Fortress
|image=[[File:Bowser Up B SSBU.gif|300px]]
|image=[[File:Bowser Whirling Fortress.png|250px]]
|caption=Whirling Fortress in ''Ultimate''.
|caption=Whirling Fortress in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''
|user=[[Bowser]]
|user=[[Bowser]]
|user2=[[Giga Bowser]]
|user2=[[Giga Bowser]]
|universe={{uv|Mario}}
|universe=[[Mario (universe)|''Mario'']]
|interwiki=supermariowiki
|interwikiname=Super Mario Wiki
|interwikipage=Whirling Fortress
}}
}}
'''Whirling Fortress''' ({{ja|スピニングシェル|Supiningu Sheru}}, ''Spinning Shell'') is [[Bowser]]'s [[up special move]].
==Overview==
When using Whirling Fortress, Bowser retreats into his shell and spins rapidly while damaging nearby foes. Prior to ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' the grounded version consists of two hits, but after ''Smash 4'' it is a multi-hitting attack, whereas the aerial version has always been a multi-hitting attack in all games. It is similar in execution to [[Donkey Kong]]'s [[Spinning Kong]], being a move that makes the user quickly spin around with a mostly-horizontal recovery, though in later games the two have been somewhat differentiated. The move has very low startup lag in every game (especially compared to the rest of Bowser's moveset), which makes it a notoriously strong [[out of shield]] option in every ''Smash'' title, being a key part of how Bowser gets out of disadvantageous game states.
This special attack is shared by [[Giga Bowser]], both in his boss appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' and in his [[Giga Bowser (Final Smash)|playable appearance]] in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. It grants him multiple frames of [[invincibility]], making it difficult to attack him out of the move. In ''Melee'', Giga Bowser's Fortress also gave him much more vertical [[recovery]] when used in midair, and the ground attack can deliver multiple hits to nearby opponents; in ''Brawl'', however, the ground attack only deals up to two hits, reducing its overall damage output.
==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==
:{{Main|Bowser (SSBM)/Up special}}
[[File:Bowser Whirling Fortress SSBM.png|thumb|Whirling Fortress in ''Melee''.]]
[[File:Bowser Whirling Fortress SSBM.png|thumb|Whirling Fortress in ''Melee''.]]
In ''[[Melee]]'', Whirling Fortress is known for the defensive and maneuvering attributes it adds to Bowser's gameplan, filling several holes in his otherwise slow moveset. As a result, it is widely regarded as one of Bowser’s few saving graces as a character. Several unique properties make it highly beneficial to Bowser's kit;
[[Whirling Fortress]], sometimes shortened to only '''Fortress''', is [[Bowser]]'s [[up special move]] and third jump. Known for the defensive and maneuvering attributes it adds to Bowser's game, it fills several 'holes' in Bowser's otherwise slow [[metagame]], being widely regarded as the only reason Bowser is playable competitively. It is similar to Donkey Kong's [[Spinning Kong]]. Several unique properties make it highly beneficial to play:


*It has very little start-up (4 [[frame]]s), during which Bowser is [[invincibility frame|invincible]], and has relatively little cooldown [[lag]].
*It has very little start-up (5 [[frame]]s), during which Bowser is [[invincibility frame|invincible]], and has relatively little cooldown [[lag]].
*Bowser cannot get [[shield grab]]bed if used in sequence.
*One cannot get [[shield grab|shieldgrabbed]] if one cancels a Fortress directly into another.
*It hits throughout most of its animation (on the ground).
*It hits throughout most of its animation (on the ground).
*It allows Bowser to move quickly and suddenly in one direction, being much faster than his normal movement speed.
*It allows Bowser to move quickly and suddenly in one direction.
*It has high [[knockback]] on the ground, and inflicts high [[damage]] in the air (32% if all hits connect perfectly).
*It has high [[knockback]] on the ground, and inflicts high [[damage]] in the air(32 % if all hits connect perfectly) (though this was reduced in ''Brawl'').
*It can be used to [[edgeguard]] quickly and efficiently. Spinning off the side of a stage leads directly to an [[edgehog]], known as Fortress hogging.
*It can be used to [[edgeguard]] quickly and efficiently. Fortressing off the side of a stage leads directly to an [[edgehog]].
 
The above properties make Melee's iteration of Whirling Fortress a versatile move. It can also be used as a damaging and effective replacement to Bowser's quick but laggy roll, [[jump-canceling|jump-canceled]] [[out of shield]] to discourage overly aggressive opponents, and clank with an opponent's move with decent timing. However, the ground attack can only deal up to two hits, and if any of the hits get blocked, Bowser will be highly vulnerable to punishment by his opponents, which includes getting grabbed. As a result, the ground attack is not safe to use against [[shield]]s.
 
===Fortress hogging===
{{YouTube|oGgg8YomIDI|'''Fortress hogging'''}} is a [[:Category:Techniques (SSBM)|technique]] in ''Melee'' and to a lesser extent in ''Brawl'' that allows {{SSBM|Bowser}} to grab onto the edge after simply using his Whirling Fortress on the stage. It was popularised by {{Sm|MagnuM}}. Fortress hogging is performed by timing the Whirling Fortress so that the end of the animation allows Bowser to fall past the stage and in turn, grab on to the edge. However, on stages where there are sloped edges, like [[Yoshi's Story]], Bowser will automatically Fortress hog onto the edge regardless of the position he is facing, given he is not facing away from the stage after falling.
 
Fortress hogging is useful for quickly [[edgehog]]ging a recovering opponent, greatly assisting in his edgeguarding-centric game plan. Quickly reaching the ledge after knocking a foe back, against characters launched lower and forced to go to the ledge, it can be hard to challenge. Naturally, it can also be used defensively, making use of ledge [[intangibility]] to stave off pressure. Using Whirling Fortress for these roles is much, much faster than running or jumping, and the hitboxes can make it somewhat difficult to contest.
 
==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==
:{{Main|Bowser (SSBB)/Up special}}
[[File:Bowser Whirling Fortress.png|thumb|Whirling Fortress in ''Brawl''.]]
 
In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', Whirling Fortress has seen multiple changes, both positive and negative. One negative change with both versions is that the move comes out one frame later on frame 6. This barely affects the move at all. The grounded version has an additional frame of intangibility to make up for its slower startup lag. In addition to this, the move can now be performed on the first frame of Bowser's jumpsquat (rather than the second frame), which means that it can still be performed just as quickly out of shield and, Bowser can now become intangible on frame 1 OoS, rather than frame 2, making it a better escape option OoS. One positive change with both versions is that they have more range. This especially helps the grounded version, as it has more range to punish moves from further away, allowing it to punish even more moves OoS.
 
The grounded version of the move has seen a rather significant nerf. The first hit is considerably weaker, dealing less damage (11% down from 13%) and knockback. It does not KO {{SSBB|Mario}} on Final Destination until 131% without DI, although as the move has vertical knockback, it can KO fast fallers just as, if not earlier than it could before, due to the universally decreased falling speeds and the introduction of the [[gravity]] penalty. As the move has lower base knockback, it can also be unsafe on hit at lower percents in some situations. The second hit has a shorter hitbox duration, which can make it harder to land from far distances.  


The way the grounded version handles momentum has been changed. Previously, it was largely based on stick position, so if the player let go of the control stick, they would stop moving. In ''Brawl'' however, if the player lets go of the stick, they will keep moving. This also makes turning less sharp than it was before.  
The above properties make Whirling Fortress a versatile move. It can also be used as a damaging and effective replacement to Bowser's quick, yet laggy, roll. Can be [[jump-canceling|jump-canceled]] out of a shield to discourage overly aggressive opponents. It can be used to clank just about anything with decent timing.  


The aerial version has seen a few changes of its own. Despite its higher startup lag and slightly larger hitboxes, the hitboxes are largely identical to how they were before, dealing an even higher amount of damage due to the changes to [[stale move negation]]. The aerial version travels slightly higher than it could before and Bowser can now grab ledges while he is rising (at least if he is facing them), which makes it a better recovery move overall. The move still does not go very high however, the multi hits can still easily be avoided and opponents can still easily hit Bowser out of it, so it still remains a poor recovery move overall.  
This special attack is shared by [[Giga Bowser]], both in his boss appearance in ''Melee'' and in his [[Giga Bowser (Final Smash)|playable appearance]] in ''Brawl''. It gives him lots of invincibility frames and it's almost impossible to attack him while he is using this. In ''Melee'', Giga Bowser's Fortress also gave him much more vertical [[recovery]] when used in midair.


A rather noticeable nerf the move has received is that it has much more landing lag, going from 10 frames to 50 frames. This makes it much more punishable if Bowser tries to recover high, or even if he just slides off a platform and then lands. Bowser can reduce this lag by landing just before he enters free fall, although he is still in a noticeable amount of lag if he lands before entering free fall. The move also now suffers from [[RCO lag]], so Bowser receives additional landing lag if he hard lands at any point after using the move in the air. Bowser only gets four additional frames of hard landing lag however, and he does not get any extra lag from a soft landing or his aerials, so RCO overall does not hurt Whirling Fortress as much as some other recovery moves.
==Manual Descriptions==


Another nerf the move received is that while Bowser can grab ledges from the front much sooner, he cannot grab ledges from behind until later. While this does hurt his recovery if he is facing away from the ledge, this mainly affects him when trying to perform Fortress Hogging (as the animation now has a fixed point when Bowser can grab ledges from behind). Fortress Hogging does still work if Bowser is facing the ledge, although the altered momentum the move has does make the execution different if he is further away from the ledge. If he is facing away from the ledge however, Bowser has less access to the technique. If he slides off the ledge too early, he will just fall down, often to his death on tournament legal stages. The only way he can grab the ledge is if he falls off late into the animation where it becomes much less useful.  
===''[[Melee]]'' manual description===
''"Spin on the ground to launch opponents skyward, or do it to get back onto the stage."''


Overall, Whirling Fortress on the ground is more versatile yet less rewarding out of shield option. While it is not as strong and Bowser cannot utilise Fortress Hogging as much, the move still has respectable KO power despite its reduced strength and its greater range makes it even easier to land, allowing the move to continue being one of Bowser's best moves. The aerial version is a better recovery move overall with slightly more range and it can grab ledges much earlier, although it still remains a very poor and exploitable recovery move, while also continuing to be a very poor attack on its own.
===''[[Brawl]]'' Manual description===


==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' onwards==
''"Get additional loft while airborne to make recoveries a snap."''
:{{Main|Bowser (SSB4)/Up special}}
:{{Main|Bowser (SSBU)/Up special}}
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', pressing the special move button repeatedly during the move—specifically after the initial rise for best results—will give Bowser marginally more height, somewhat similarly to [[Dr. Tornado]]. It also travels much faster and further than before. As an attack, the ground attack was reworked to deal multiple weak hits—up to 8, with the last hit delivering the most knockback instead of two strong hits—making its use as an out of shield option more reliable. The attack is also safer to use against shields, as the multiple hits make it harder for opponents to punish Bowser; they can still take the full impact of the final hit if they drop their shield too early. This trend continued into ''Ultimate'', though its massive damage in the air was significantly nerfed.
 
==Instructional quotes==
{{InstructionalQuotes
|ssbmchar=Bowser
|ssbmdesc=Spin on the ground to launch opponents skyward, or do it to get back onto the stage.
|ssbbchar=Bowser
|ssbbdesc=Get additional loft while airborne to make recoveries a snap.
|ssb4-3char=Bowser
|ssb4-3desc=Spin inside your shell, and hit foes with your spikes.
|ssbuchar=Bowser
|ssbudesc=Ducks inside his shell and spins. Can be moved sideways while spinning.
}}
 
==Customization==
Special Move customization was added in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. These are the variations:
{{CustomSet|Bowser|Up|name1=Whirling Fortress|desc1=Duck inside your shell and spin. You can move sideways while spinning.|name2=Flying Fortress|desc2=Spins high into the air but doesn't deal damage.|name3=Sliding Fortress|desc3=Spin while sliding quickly to send opponents flying. Less vertical range.}}
# '''Whirling Fortress''': Default.
# '''Flying Fortress''': Has slightly increased startup, making it slightly less effective out of shield, but increases vertical distance, to about twice the regular height, at the expense of horizontal distance and damage dealt. Launches foes sideways, only hitting once for 4% damage clean (contrary to its in-game description saying that it doesn't do any). Synergizes well with [[Flying Slam|Dash Slash]], where the Claw can move Bowser horizontally and then Flying Fortress to go vertically. However, when using this move while taking knockback, it won't rise as high or at all. Bowser also sustains slightly increased landing lag.
# '''Sliding Fortress''': Increased horizontal distance,  going as far as the entire stage of Battlefield on the ground, and 2/3 the length in the air. Only hits once, doing 6% damage and reduced knockback, however possesses a bigger hitbox, especially in the air. Takes longer to start up than the default move, making it less useful as a quick [[out of shield]] option. Also has increased endlag and landing lag as well. Less vertical reach than the standard version.


==Origin==
==Origin==
[[File:WhirlingFortressOriginSMW.gif|left|thumb|Ludwig von Koopa's shell move in ''Super Mario World''.]]
In ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', Koopas retreat into their shells when jumped upon, and can be used as an attacking spinning projectile when kicked or jumped upon again. In ''Super Mario Bros 3''. when the player jumps on any [[supermariowiki:Koopaling|Koopaling]], he/she will fly in the air inside his/her shell. [[supermariowiki:Ludwig von Koopa|Ludwig von Koopa]] had a move similar to Whirling Fortress in ''[[Super Mario World]]'', except there was no aerial gain.
While unique to ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Smash Bros.]]'' as a whole move, Whirling Fortress is similar to how [[mariowiki:Koopa Troopa|Koopas]] retreat into their shells when jumped on in the [[Mario (universe)|''Super Mario'' series]], which can be held and thrown or kicked by the {{s|mariowiki|Mario}} [[mariowiki:Luigi|Bros.]] as a spinning attack. {{h2|Koopalings|Ludwig von Koopa}} had a move similar to Whirling Fortress in ''[[Super Mario World]]''. In ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Kart: Double Dash!!}}'', released a few years after ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', a special item called the "{{s|mariowiki|Bowser's Shell}}" was given to [[Bowser]] and [[Bowser Jr.]], featuring a large, spinning Bowser shell vaguely similar to Whirling Fortress.


Despite the above, Bowser himself never used a move remotely like Whirling Fortress outside of ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario's Time Machine}}'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version), where he would perform a move similar to an attack Ludwig uses in ''Super Mario World'' after being attacked, though this was not Nintendo-developed and likely didn't inspire the move. In fact, Bowser was never seen retreating into his shell in any Nintendo-developed game prior to the move's debut in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. Like the [[Egg Roll]] and [[Green Missile]], however, the move's concept later led back into the Nintendo-affiliated ''Mario'' series starting with an appearance as Bowser's defensive power shot in ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Power Tennis}}'', his shell-retreating move in'' {{s|mariowiki|Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time}}'', and Bowser also has used the move in ''{{s|mariowiki|New Super Mario Bros U}}''. In ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Paper Mario}}'', Bowser performs a similar move in one of his {{s|mariowiki|Stylish Move}} animations, and in ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario Sports Mix}}''. In ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle}}'', Bowser (as {{s|mariowiki|MegaDragonBowser}}) uses the Whirling Fortress during the final phase of the final boss fight. Bowser also uses a similar move in ''{{s|mariowiki|Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope}}'' for his dash and spinning animations.
Despite the above, Bowser himself never used this move, and in fact was never seen retreating into his shell in any game prior to the move's debut in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. Like the [[Egg Roll]] and [[Green Missile]], however, the move's concept later bled back into the Mario series starting with an appearance as Bowser's defensive power shot in ''Mario Power Tennis'', and Bowser using shell maneuvers is now a somewhat common occurence.
{{clrl}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<center><gallery>
Whirling Fortress SSBM.jpg|Whirling Fortress in ''Melee''.
File:Whirling Fortress SSBM.jpg|Whirling Fortress in ''Melee''
Bowser Whirling Fortress.png|Whirling Fortress in ''Brawl''.
</gallery></center>
WhirlingFortress3DS.jpg|Whirling Fortress in ''SSB3DS''.
RocketFortress.jpg|Flying Fortress.
FastFortress.jpg|Sliding Fortress.
WhirlingFortressSSB4.png|Whirling Fortress in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''
Bowser SSBU Skill Preview Up Special.png|Whirling Fortress as shown by the Move List in ''Ultimate''.
</gallery>


==Names in other languages==
==See also==
{{langtable
*[[Fortress Hogging]]
|ja={{ja|スピニングシェル|Supiningu Sheru}}, ''Spinning Shell''
|en=Whirling Fortress
|fr=Forteresse toupie
|es=Fortaleza giratoria
|de=Panzerfeste
|it=Vortice di aculei
|nl=Tollend Schild
|ru={{rollover|Крепость-вихрь|Krepost-vikhr|?}}
|ko={{rollover|스피닝 셸|Seupining Syel|?}}, ''Spinning Shell''
|zh_cn={{rollover|刺壳旋转|Cì Ké Xuánzhuǎn|?}}
|zh_tw={{rollover|刺殼旋轉|Cì Ké Xuánzhuǎn|?}}
}}


{{Special Moves|char=Bowser}}
{{Special Moves|char=Bowser}}


[[Category:Attacks]]
[[Category:Special Attacks]]
[[Category:Mario universe]]
[[Category:Mario universe]]
[[Category:Up special moves]]
[[Category:Up Special Moves]]
[[Category:Bowser]]
[[Category:Bowser (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Bowser (SSBB)]]
[[Category:Bowser (SSB4)]]
[[Category:Bowser (SSBU)]]
[[es:Fortaleza giratoria]]

Please note that all contributions to SmashWiki are considered to be released under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license (see SmashWiki:Copyrights for details). Your changes will be visible immediately. Please enter a summary of your changes above.

Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)