Editing Bowser (SSBU)
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However, in spite of his potent strengths, Bowser is not without his drawbacks. Despite his excellent options to rack up damage, his frame data is below average overall, which means that faster opponents can beat Bowser to the punch, and he is susceptible to being punished if his attacks are whiffed, shielded, or dodged. This ties in with Bowser's biggest weakness, which is his great vulnerability to heavy pressure of any kind. Bowser's combination of extremely high weight, large hurtboxes, fast falling speed, and high gravity makes him exceptionally susceptible to combos, and as such, characters like {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBU|Mario}}, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, and {{SSBU|Ryu}} can easily punish and combo him for large amounts of damage if he makes a single mistake. His below average frame data and frame 4 [[air dodge]] also results in an inability to effectively break out of combos. Although Bowser has remarkable range, his is mostly melee-based, so characters with weapons that grant them disjointed reach (like {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Cloud}}, and {{SSBU|Shulk}}) can prove to be difficult for him to overcome, especially if they're able to space their moves efficiently. As Bowser essentially lacks a projectile (due to Fire Breath's range being short and strict to Bowser's frame), he can also have difficulty at approaching characters with strong zoning games, like {{SSBU|Min Min}}, {{SSBU|Samus}}, and Toon Link, especially since their melee range also tends to be comparable to his. The latter two methods of pressure also give Bowser trouble at properly approaching. | However, in spite of his potent strengths, Bowser is not without his drawbacks. Despite his excellent options to rack up damage, his frame data is below average overall, which means that faster opponents can beat Bowser to the punch, and he is susceptible to being punished if his attacks are whiffed, shielded, or dodged. This ties in with Bowser's biggest weakness, which is his great vulnerability to heavy pressure of any kind. Bowser's combination of extremely high weight, large hurtboxes, fast falling speed, and high gravity makes him exceptionally susceptible to combos, and as such, characters like {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}}, {{SSBU|Mario}}, {{SSBU|Pikachu}}, and {{SSBU|Ryu}} can easily punish and combo him for large amounts of damage if he makes a single mistake. His below average frame data and frame 4 [[air dodge]] also results in an inability to effectively break out of combos. Although Bowser has remarkable range, his is mostly melee-based, so characters with weapons that grant them disjointed reach (like {{SSBU|Marth}}, {{SSBU|Cloud}}, and {{SSBU|Shulk}}) can prove to be difficult for him to overcome, especially if they're able to space their moves efficiently. As Bowser essentially lacks a projectile (due to Fire Breath's range being short and strict to Bowser's frame), he can also have difficulty at approaching characters with strong zoning games, like {{SSBU|Min Min}}, {{SSBU|Samus}}, and Toon Link, especially since their melee range also tends to be comparable to his. The latter two methods of pressure also give Bowser trouble at properly approaching. | ||
Landing with Bowser while he's being juggled can prove a notable issue despite his high gravity and fast falling speed, as his most notable options for landing, [[down aerial]] and Bowser Bomb, are laggy and predictable due to being [[stall-then-fall]] moves. Landing with his other aerials, although seemingly not an issue thanks to his forward aerial's range and knockback, can also prove a liability due to none of them being particularly safe on shield. His [[roll]]s are also short-distanced, and his [[tech]]s are slow and have low durations, which makes him prone to tech-chasing. Bowser's recovery, while serviceable and much better than most of the other super heavies, tends to be mediocre in practice, as it is rather slow and doesn't offer Bowser as much protection as other recovery moves would; as a result, he is particularly vulnerable to being edgeguarded, especially by counters or moves that can 2-frame. His out of shield game, despite being consistent, is nevertheless predictable due to Whirling Fortress being his most viable option out of shield; all other options can be punished or do not have the proper range to punish well-spaced moves. Moveover, his damage-based armor (on his grounded attacks) and universal knockback-based armor (from his signature Tough Guy ability) fails to compensate for all of this, as they do not compensate for his lack of medium-ranged and zoning or counterzoning options. Altogether, despite his great mobility and excellent tools to punish melee-focused options making him not as susceptible as his fellow super heavyweight contemporaries, Bowser's defensive game remains just as poor overall compared to them, due to him being so susceptible to pressure. | Landing with Bowser while he's being juggled can prove a notable issue despite his high gravity and fast falling speed, as his most notable options for landing, [[down aerial]] and Bowser Bomb, are laggy and predictable due to being [[stall-then-fall]] moves. Landing with his other aerials, although seemingly not an issue thanks to his forward aerial's range and knockback, can also prove a liability due to none of them being particularly safe on shield, and he also has among the highest landing lag for his aerials overall, making him very easy to punish if he fails to auto-cancel them. His [[roll]]s are also short-distanced, and his [[tech]]s are slow and have low durations, which makes him prone to tech-chasing. Bowser's recovery, while serviceable and much better than most of the other super heavies, tends to be mediocre in practice, as it is rather slow and doesn't offer Bowser as much protection as other recovery moves would; as a result, he is particularly vulnerable to being edgeguarded, especially by counters or moves that can 2-frame. His out of shield game, despite being consistent, is nevertheless predictable due to Whirling Fortress being his most viable option out of shield; all other options can be punished or do not have the proper range to punish well-spaced moves. Moveover, his damage-based armor (on his grounded attacks) and universal knockback-based armor (from his signature Tough Guy ability) fails to compensate for all of this, as they do not compensate for his lack of medium-ranged and zoning or counterzoning options. Altogether, despite his great mobility and excellent tools to punish melee-focused options making him not as susceptible as his fellow super heavyweight contemporaries, Bowser's defensive game remains just as poor overall compared to them, due to him being so susceptible to pressure. | ||
Other weaknesses include a few of Bowser's moves either lacking proper utility or being largely outclassed by his other options. [[Neutral attack]] is Bowser's third fastest attack overall, the first hit can [[lock]] (although this is best suited for bulkier characters), and the second hit can beat spotdodge attempts; however, it is largely outclassed by his Whirling Fortress, since the latter is faster and can be used out of shield. His [[down tilt]], while being equally fast as forward tilt while dealing more damage, has less utility for 2-framing due to its weaker knockback and it is much more punishable, especially on shield. Up aerial, while powerful and relatively quick, has poor range and moderate endlag and landing lag, meaning that up tilt is normally considered a superior vertical KO option. Down aerial, while being Bowser's second strongest aerial and the third strongest meteor smash in the game when hit cleanly, has numerous weaknesses, including its slow startup, stall-then-fall nature, and extreme ending and landing lag. This means that its offstage utility is severely hampered when compared to other down aerials of its nature, such as those of {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}} and {{SSBU|Sonic}}. While [[forward throw]] still has some utility due to its strong knockback, it lacks the damage output of his down throw and the quick release of his back throw, making it somewhat outclassed in terms of KO power and damage. Lastly, while his down special, Bowser Bomb, deals immense damage and is infamous for instantly breaking shields, its slow aerial startup and extreme endlag make it unsuitable for landing and it is agreed to be his worst special as a result. | Other weaknesses include a few of Bowser's moves either lacking proper utility or being largely outclassed by his other options. [[Neutral attack]] is Bowser's third fastest attack overall, the first hit can [[lock]] (although this is best suited for bulkier characters), and the second hit can beat spotdodge attempts; however, it is largely outclassed by his Whirling Fortress, since the latter is faster and can be used out of shield. His [[down tilt]], while being equally fast as forward tilt while dealing more damage, has less utility for 2-framing due to its weaker knockback and it is much more punishable, especially on shield. Up aerial, while powerful and relatively quick, has poor range and moderate endlag and landing lag, meaning that up tilt is normally considered a superior vertical KO option. Down aerial, while being Bowser's second strongest aerial and the third strongest meteor smash in the game when hit cleanly, has numerous weaknesses, including its slow startup, stall-then-fall nature, and extreme ending and landing lag. This means that its offstage utility is severely hampered when compared to other down aerials of its nature, such as those of {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}} and {{SSBU|Sonic}}. While [[forward throw]] still has some utility due to its strong knockback, it lacks the damage output of his down throw and the quick release of his back throw, making it somewhat outclassed in terms of KO power and damage. Lastly, while his down special, Bowser Bomb, deals immense damage and is infamous for instantly breaking shields, its slow aerial startup and extreme endlag make it unsuitable for landing and it is agreed to be his worst special as a result. | ||
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==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''== | ==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''== | ||
Bowser has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in his transition from ''SSB4'' to ''Ultimate'' | Bowser has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in his transition from ''SSB4'' to ''Ultimate''; he has received many improvements which alleviate some of his most severe weaknesses, but some of his biggest strengths from the previous game have been toned down, and the new engine changes compound both his strengths and weaknesses. As a result, it is difficult to determine if Bowser has been buffed or nerfed overall. | ||
Bowser | Among Bowser's biggest nerfs are to his grab game. Much like {{SSBU|Donkey Kong}}, Bowser's infamous up throw, previously a fearsome combo starter with a myriad of followups and KO setups, has lost its combo potential past middling percentages due to its increased knockback and ending lag, which in turn removes its KO setups. Additionally, his pivot grab, notorious for its massive range in ''SSB4'', has shorter range. | ||
Bowser's | However, Bowser has seen comparatively more buffs to help compensate, particularly to his character attributes, his KO potential, and to his side special move, [[Flying Slam]]. Both Bowser's grounded and aerial mobility have improved (along with the rest of the cast), sporting a faster [[jumpsquat]] as well as faster [[dash]]ing, [[air speed|air]], and [[falling speed]]s, noticeably improving his ground-to-air transitioning and making him more adept at [[punish]]ing, while also allowing him to land and escape juggles with less difficulty than before, especially in the case of the former. Bowser is even heavier, and he also received an increase on his defensive game through a higher amplification of damage-based [[armor]] on his [[tilt attack|tilt]]s and [[smash attack]]s, which tones down one of the issues his [[Tough Guy]] armor had in ''SSB4'', improving it in general and making his already excellent endurance better. | ||
Bowser's already high power was made even better in the transition (most notably on moves such as his tilt attacks, [[down throw]], [[Fire Breath]] and [[Whirling Fortress]]), which supplements his higher weight and improved adeptness at punishing. Finally, Flying Slam has significantly faster startup overall, now being on par with other characters' grabs such as {{SSBU|Mario}}, which heavily improves his options against shielding opponents. | |||
The universal changes both help and hinder Bowser. On one hand, the ability to [[Run cancel|use any attack out of a run]] has also improved his ground game, as it gives him more reliable ways to punish the opponent due to his powerful, heavy-armored tilts and smash attacks. On the other hand, the universal nerfing of grabs further compounds some of the hindrances his respectable grab game has received as well. The universally decreased [[landing lag]] has significantly improved Bowser's previously atrociously unsafe landing options, as he has less trouble landing than ever before now, which complements his now fast falling speed and streamlined jumpsquat; however, it has also allowed several characters to combo him with much more ease (comparable to in ''Melee''), especially due to his larger weight and faster falling speed. The changes to [[air dodge]]s, while making him slightly less susceptible to horizontal combos and general juggling since he can use one to escape, they also make him more vulnerable to [[edgeguarding]]. | |||
Overall, Bowser's moveset has seen a general increase in utility, his survivability and speed were improved | Overall, Bowser's ease of KO setups due to his combo throw has been neutered, removing most of the oppressive factor he had on the ground and forcing him to rely on his attributes to deal with pressure, but his moveset has seen a general increase in utility, his survivability and speed were improved further, and he has been generally compensated in terms of damage while keeping his incredible power mostly intact. These changes have made him an "all-rounder" of the game's super heavyweights, and have repurposed his playstyle from a "mighty glacier" with great mobility and grappler capabilities to more of a "lightning bruiser" with all-around decently effective options for different situations. However, Bowser still retains flaws such as a below-average approach and heavy susceptiblility to general pressure (such as combos, zoning, juggling and tech-chasing). Combined with several veterans receiving buffs just as significant as his, decidedly unimpactful changes from game updates, and the introduction of DLC characters such as {{SSBU|Steve}} and {{SSBU|Kazuya}}, Bowser performs similarly effective as in ''SSB4'', though he is slightly worse relative to the cast. | ||
{{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Bowser}} | {{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Bowser}} | ||
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While improved relative to other traditional heavyweights, Bowser has largely not benefited from the power creep that much of the cast has enjoyed in part due to the lack of substantial updates following the early game; this has been reflected in an increasingly smaller competitive base, especially outside of the online meta. Recently, Bowser has experienced a significant downfall in results due to the buffs of some of the characters that he struggles against like {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}} and {{SSBU|Sonic}} and the introduction to the DLC characters that also give Bowser a very hard time like {{SSBU|Steve}} and {{SSBU|Kazuya}}. | While improved relative to other traditional heavyweights, Bowser has largely not benefited from the power creep that much of the cast has enjoyed in part due to the lack of substantial updates following the early game; this has been reflected in an increasingly smaller competitive base, especially outside of the online meta. Recently, Bowser has experienced a significant downfall in results due to the buffs of some of the characters that he struggles against like {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}} and {{SSBU|Sonic}} and the introduction to the DLC characters that also give Bowser a very hard time like {{SSBU|Steve}} and {{SSBU|Kazuya}}. | ||
Overall, Bowser currently sits | Overall, Bowser currently sits as an upper-mid tier character, though he is still considered to be the best traditional heavyweight in the game, ranking 50th on the first and current tier list. | ||
===Most historically significant players=== | ===Most historically significant players=== |