Bowser (SSBM)/Neutral special

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's Fire Breath.

Overview

Bowser performing a Fire Breath and a Flame cancelled Fire Breath in Melee 1.00.

Bowser's Fire Breath is one of few long-range projectiles in Melee, reaching around a Battlefield platform in length while dealing decent damage with multiple hits. However, coming out on frame 23 and requiring additional frames to reach its potential range, all while being easy to SDI on reaction, it often fails to achieve anything significant beyond niche edgeguarding situations against spacies; of which are often better-suited for forward aerial in the first place. Due to this, coupled with its extreme endlag leaving no room for follow-ups, means Fire Breath is considered one of the worst projectiles in the game, arguably the worst.

If playing on version 1.00 or 1.01, Bowser has access to Flame cancelling, which allows one to cancel the move on frames 1-22. In doing so, Fire Breath can, in a vacuum, come out instantly. However, the 6 frame jumpsquat and short hop airtime must be considered: While it is technically faster, it is not practically frame 1. Where it brings utility is in reducing possible reaction time, recovering from tech situations where a-landing may not be wise, and giving Bowser a niche off-ledge option, though his fast ledge attack is better-suited for general purposes. However, the massive endlag of the move means that, even if the move comes out on frame 1, it is still extremely possible to be punished on-hit should the opponent SDI the move.

Hitboxes

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			Clang	Rebound	Effect	G	A	Sound	Blockable	Reflectable	Absorbable
0	0	2%	0		12	50	0	2.7342	0	0.0	0.0	0.0						Burn

Timing

Minimum duration

Flames	23-43, 26-46, 29-49, 32-52, 35-55, 38-58, 41-61, 44-64, 47-67, 50-70, 53-73, 56-76, 59-79, 62-82
Animation length	92

In general

This article or section may require additional technical data. The editor who added this tag elaborates: Missing loop points & timing data for flame duration at various stages (flames last for less the longer the B button is held. You can discuss this issue on the talk page or edit this page to improve it.

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Prop event

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