Bowser (SSBM)/Up special

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's up special, Whirling Fortress, when grounded.

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's up special, Whirling Fortress, when aerial.

Overview

Bowser retreats into his shell and starts spinning. A recovery move with very little startup, the attack has great knockback when used on the ground, and in the air, it is good for racking up damage. The attack usually hits once on the ground; however, if the move is started when too close to Bowser, it can hit twice dealing 17%, but usually denying KO attempts. In the air, it hits multiple times and can rack up a maximum of 32%. It is a great horizontal recovery, but does not cover much vertical distance. It can be used to grab the ledge quickly when grounded facing either direction.

The grounded version is one of Bowser's fastest and best moves, intangible from frames 1-4 and hitting on frame 5 (multiple hits until frame 46). It also functions as a KO option, particularly against floatier characters, KOing Jigglypuff consistently at 80%, except on Dream Land, where it KOs around 105%. However, its primary use is to threaten overly aggressive opponents and allow Bowser the breathing room to set up his other slower options.

It is also sometimes used as a combo starter due to its vertical angle and likelihood to trade with another move, due to the first active frame being the first vulnerable frame and the move covering most of Bowser's body. This is known colloquially as a Shell Shock and is caused by trading with a low-knockback move such as Falco's Blaster or Sheik's Needle Storm — or any other move that does not put Bowser in significant hitstun — and then following up out of the low hitstun with another move.

Hitboxes

Ground

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound
Clean hit
0	0	13%	3		90	80	0	7.812	0	0.0	7.4214	-3.906						Burn
1	0	13%	3		90	80	0	7.812	0	0.0	7.4214	7.812						Burn
Mid hits
0	0	5%	0		80	50	0	4.6872	0	0.0	7.4214	-3.906						Slash
1	0	5%	0		80	50	0	4.6872	0	0.0	7.4214	7.812						Slash
Late hits
0	0	3%	0		50	50	0	4.6872	0	0.0	7.4214	-3.906						Slash
1	0	3%	0		50	50	0	4.6872	0	0.0	7.4214	7.812						Slash

Air

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound
Hit 1
0	0	10%	3		80	60	0	8.9838	0	0.0	8.2026	0.0						Paper
Hits 2-6
0	0	3%	0		50	20	0	7.812	0	0.0	8.2026	0.0						Slash
Hits 7-11
0	0	2%	0		50	20	0	7.812	0	0.0	8.2026	0.0						Slash

Timing

Grounded

Intangible	1-4
Clean Hit	5-6
Head and Limbs Intangible	6-49
Mid Hits	7-10 11-14 14-18 19-22 23-26
Late Hits	27-30 31-34 35-38 38-42 42-46
Animation length	79

Hitboxes

Entire body

Head and limbs

Aerial

Clean Hit	5-6
Head and Limbs Intangible	7-49
Hits 2-6	7-10 11-14 14-18 19-22 23-26
Hits 7-11	27-30 31-34 35-38 38-42 42-46
Animation length	49

Hitboxes

Head and limbs

Landing lag

Animation length	10

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Hitbox change

Vulnerable

Intangible

Bowser's moveset

Neutral attack (1 · 2) · Forward tilt · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Forward roll · Back roll · Spot dodge · Air dodge · Techs
Floor attack (front) · Floor getups (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor getups (back)
Edge attack (fast) · Edge getups (fast) · Edge attack (slow) · Edge getups (slow)
Neutral special · Side special · Up special · Down special