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Bowser (SSBM)/Forward aerial

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Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's forward aerial.

Overview[edit]

Bowser performs a downward claw swipe. Being one of Bowser's faster aerials at frame 8 — and quite a long-ranged, high-damaging one at that — it serves numerous roles in his kit. This is mostly in respect to spacing: it forms most of Bowser's approach game in neutral, but also prevents Bowser from being approached himself while active. It applies in force in respect to anti-air utility, as it's slightly disjointed and hits quite high early on while sending at a low-ish angle. On hit, it usually sends the foe to the ledge, in part thanks to its Sakurai angle backed by high damage; this also makes it a strong edgeguarding tool because the range, angle, and damage give it massive kill power; it also trades well with Fox and Falco's up specials. Finally, against mediocre attacks on-shield, it can be used out of shield despite Bowser's jumpsquat. Overall, in many situations, this is the move Bowser uses most-often.

Forward aerial has middling base knockback, but high damage, which comes together to mean it doesn't send into tumble at lower percentages. This makes it a strong grab confirm at this point if L-cancelled successfully, as Bowser will usually land very close to the opponent. When it does send into tumble, it allows for numerous tech chase opportunities, be it a grab, second forward aerial, or even Koopa Klaw. Forward aerial is confirm-able through Koopa Klaw's forward throw itself, up throw, and the landing hitbox of up smash.

However, forward aerial isn't stellar for a few reasons, mostly in respect to Bowser's terrible jumpsquat. Having 8 frames, this adds inherent lag to most conventional uses, making it frame 16 out of jumpsquat, and this doesn't count the annoying landing lag. Bowser is frequently seen being punished before even jumping, which makes forward aerial difficult to justify under pressure. Ergo, while a strong move on its own, Bowser's properties as a character severely hamper what he can achieve with the attack, despite how much it's used in his metagame.

Hitboxes[edit]

ID Part Damage SD Angle BK KS FKV Radius Bone Offset Clang Rebound Effect G A Sound
0 0 14% 0 Sakurai angle 50 80 0 6.2496 38 0.0 0.0 0.0 HitboxTableIcon(Clang).png HitboxTableIcon(Rebound).png EffectIcon(Normal).png HitboxTableIcon(GroundedTrue).png HitboxTableIcon(AerialTrue).png L Punch
1 0 12% 0 Sakurai angle 50 80 0 4.6872 34 0.0 0.0 0.0 HitboxTableIcon(Clang).png HitboxTableIcon(Rebound).png EffectIcon(Normal).png HitboxTableIcon(GroundedTrue).png HitboxTableIcon(AerialTrue).png L Punch
2 0 11% 0 Sakurai angle 50 80 0 4.6872 60 0.0 0.0 0.0 HitboxTableIcon(Clang).png HitboxTableIcon(Rebound).png EffectIcon(Normal).png HitboxTableIcon(GroundedTrue).png HitboxTableIcon(AerialTrue).png L Punch

Timing[edit]

Initial autocancel 1-7
Hitbox 8-11
Ending autocancel 31-
Interruptible 42
Animation length 45
FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Hitbox).png FrameIcon(Hitbox).png FrameIcon(Hitbox).png FrameIcon(Hitbox).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Interruptible).png FrameIcon(Interruptible).png FrameIcon(Interruptible).png FrameIcon(Interruptible).png
FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png FrameIcon(Autocancel).png

Landing lag[edit]

Animation length 30
L-cancelled animation length 15
Normal  FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png
L-cancelled  FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Lag).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png FrameIcon(Blank).png
Legend (1 square = 1 frame)
FrameIcon(Lag).png
Lag time
FrameIcon(Hitbox).png
Hitbox
FrameIcon(Autocancel).png
Autocancel
FrameIcon(Interruptible).png
Interruptible