Clown Kart Dash

Clown Kart Dash
Bowser Jr. using Clown Kart Dash in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
User	Bowser Jr.
Universe	Mario

“	Speed forward with a kart. Change direction to spin.	”
—Super Smash Bros. for Wii U's Quick Guide

Clown Kart Dash (カートダッシュ, Kart Dash) is Bowser Jr.'s side special. When used, the Junior Clown Car gains wheels and drives forward, similar to the Wario Bike.

Overview

Upon using this move, there will be a small delay where the vehicle activates the wheels, and then boosts forward. If no further button presses are made, the move will inflict 4% damage on contact with opponents. However, if a direction is held on the control stick, the Kart will drive faster, and will inflict 6% damage to anyone it hits along the way at first, gradually growing to 7% after a longer drive. The Kart will eventually spin out, where the spin out inflicts 12% damage. While driving, Bowser Jr. can jump out and do an aerial, or force a spin out by pressing an attack button or if the opposite direction is inputted. At lower percents, the vertical knock back employed by ramming the vehicle into an enemy can easily lead into an aerial. At later percents, the spin out can effectively KO enemies from around 125%. If Bowser Jr. jumps out of the move in the air, he will lose his remaining aerial jump, but it can be done even if he has already used his aerial jump. If Bowser Jr. drives off the edge of a platform, he will automatically jump and keep dashing. If Bowser Jr. hits a wall in the air, he will bounce up the wall, ending the dash, but can still use his midair jump. Jump-canceling the start of this move lets you travel faster and plays a unique sound effect. The move has a minimal amount of heavy armor that can withstand attacks that deal no more than 8%.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:

1. Clown Kart Dash	2. Koopa Drift	3. Grounding Dash
"Transform the Junior Clown Car into a kart that speeds forward. Change direction to spin."	"While spinning, the kart careens forward, hitting opponents multiple times."	"A Clown Kart Dash that buries foes. Doesn't go far, and ends in an auto spin."

1. Clown Kart Dash: Default.
2. Koopa Drift: The kart's spinout is made into a multi-hit attack, dealing up to 9% if all hits connect and sliding further. However, this move has slower travel speed, less distance, less distance gained by jumping off, and less KO power. Additionally the dash itself now does much less damage, dealing just 2% damage at top speed, and the spinout has more ending lag. Of note, however, is the fact that spinning out in air does not sacrifice too much vertical height, making it a better aerial horizontal recovery, and on the ground can potentially make the move safe on shield.
3. Grounding Dash: After an increased delay in startup, the kart travels faster and buries anyone who comes in contact on the ground, doing 8% damage. It doesn't do damage in the air, nor is there any damage on the spin out, which instead has a push effect. The dash itself is somewhat short, ending in an automatic spin out, and the jump does not go as high, which when coupled with the increased startup lag, and the fact that the move jumps back further before jumping forward weakens its recovery potential. The move also has extreme ending lag, which allows for the opponent to mash out of the burying status before Bowser Jr. can act, even at high percents.

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  Koopa Drift being used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

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  Grounding Dash being used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Origin

This move is likely based on the Koopa Clown kart body from Mario Kart 7, which in itself was based on the Koopa Clown Car. However, neither Bowser Jr. nor the Koopalings appeared in Mario Kart 7, the only appearance of the Koopa Clown at the time. Before Smash 4, Bowser Jr.'s only appearances in the Mario Kart games were Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii, while the Koopalings were only in Mario Kart 8.

Both Bowser Jr. and the Koopa Clown kart return in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In addition, when the Koopalings are riding the Koopa Clown, its appearance changes to their version of the Junior Clown Car from Smash 4.

Gallery

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  The Koopa Clown body as seen in Mario Kart 7.

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  Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Trivia

• The pipes in the back, along with the rim and propeller, change color depending on Bowser Jr. or a Koopaling being used.

Bowser Jr.'s special moves

Neutral special	Clown Cannon
Side special	Clown Kart Dash
Up special	Abandon Ship!
Down special	Mechakoopa
Final Smash	Shadow Mario Paint