Bowser (SSB4)/Dash attack

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's dash attack.

Overview

Bowser leaps forward and performs a side kick. It has decent range, deals above average damage for a dash attack (at 12% when clean) and has very high base knockback, even more so than most other dash attacks. However, its knockback scaling is very low by contrast, such that it renders the move unable to KO under 200% with no DI or rage, although it can KO at around 130% with maximum rage. It also has somewhat slow startup, coming out on frame 11, coupled with high ending lag, making it unable to combo reliably despite its vertical launch angle, and even easier to punish on shield than the average dash attack. Due to these exploitable flaws, the move sees rare practical use overall, usually only as an emergency KO move when Bowser has maximum rage, as in any other case, Bowser's grabs, aerial attacks and even Flying Slam are more reliable approach options that can also rack up more damage and yield KOs earlier.

Update history

Bowser's dash attack was buffed in 1.1.4, dealing 2% more damage both when clean and late, which by extension drastically increased its knockback. However, as mentioned above, it still fails to KO middleweights effectively under 200% without rage, thus making the increase significant only at high rage levels.

1.1.4

• Damage: 10% → 12% (clean), 8% → 10% (late).

Hitboxes

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			SDIx	H×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Type	Effect	G	A	Sound	Direct
Clean hit
0	0	12%	1		110	35	0	7.0	0	0.0	9.0	12.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
1	0	12%	1		110	35	0	4.0	0	0.0	9.0	4.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
Late hit
0	0	10%	1		80	30	0	6.0	0	0.0	9.0	10.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
1	0	10%	1		80	30	0	3.8	0	0.0	9.0	4.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick

Timing

Clean hit	11-14
Late hit	15-20
Interruptible	56
Animation length	60

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Hitbox change

Interruptible

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
Floor attack (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor attack (trip) · Edge attack
Neutral special (def · c1 · c2) · Side special (def · c1 · c2) · Up special (def · c1 · c2) · Down special (def · c1 · c2) · Final Smash