Crown bouncing

King K. Rool executing a regular crown bounce.

Crown Bouncing is an advanced technique exclusive to King K. Rool's Crownerang attack. It was discovered by DkDavy. While difficult to set up, it's considered to be a powerful movement option for K. Rool's neutral game. It occurs due to the Crown Catch and Crown Pickup animations being considered special moves. As such, Crown bouncing and its variants are essentially b-reverses and wavebounces.

How to perform

Regular Crown Bounce

This is essentially a forced b-reverse of the Crown Pickup animations. By directing the control stick in the opposite direction just as K. Rool grabs his crown, he will fly in the opposite direction as if he executed a b-reverse. However, he will go further than if he b-reversed Crownerang itself. It is unknown as to why this is.

This is best used with platforms for movement, as K. Rool will experience no landing lag. This is because picking up the crown reduces K. Rool's air speed to the point he doesn't even meet the conditions for soft landing. As such, by buffering actions out of this as K. Rool hits a platform, he will be completely lagless. Wavelanding or using an autocancel can theoretically be used as movement extensions should there be enough time. However, an opponent running in typically makes crown bouncing punishable if the player does it in a tight space.

Crown Bouncing is also used during recovery in circumstances where it is possible, as it adds another bit of horizontal distance that can be crucial if K. Rool is launched far. This is because while there is lag, in edgeguard situations it is far more difficult to intercept than on land. This also allows for buffer options to be performed through the pickup animation, enabling up aerial recovery without hitstun stopping K. Rool from rising. While opportunities are few and far between, crown bouncing is an important aspect of recovery when it's possible. However, the precision necessary to crown bounce for recovery is extremely high, making it an infrequent occurrence in competitive play. It is also extremely situational, as crown has to be specifically returning towards K. Rool from behind. This precision requirement, and how difficult it is to pull off, has generally left it unviable, with players instead using crownless bounce.

Reverse Crown Bounce

In a similar manner to Crown Sliding, it is possible to execute a reverse crown bounce through utilizing the C-Stick, or a very quick directional input in the opposite direction. This serves as a mixup to reduce the distance a normal Crown Bounce would send a player, although overall it is far less notable compared to other Crownerang options. This is because the spacing it provides generally puts K. Rool back in the same position he was in before. However, it does have strong utility with crown landing.

Crown Bouncing can also interact with Crown Pickup Crown Landing in niche circumstances, although the momentum typically makes it difficult to do consistently. It is a very good approach option when a player sets up their situations perfectly, however, as opponents will typically shield and be forced to take a grab. As a result, in situations where it works, this can be a very good play to consider.