Bowser (SSBM)/Back roll

Hurtbox visualization showing Bowser's spot dodge.

Overview

Bowser retreats into his shell, becoming fully intangible, before spinning along the ground backwards in a manner similar to the animation of his down smash. The move is the worst back roll in all of Melee: while it has the median start-up and number of intangibility frames, it has the 2nd-highest end lag of any back roll (only behind Samus's back roll), and the shortest distance traveled. Even if it did not have such horrible stats, Bowser has a far superior out of shield and escape option in the form of grounded Whirling Fortress, which grants Bowser frame-1 intangibility while also putting out a hitbox, and can even have its end lag cancelled by Fortress hogging. This all leaves Bowser's back roll with no practical use, making it an avoid-at-all-cost move.

Timing

Intangible	4-19
Animation length	39

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

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