Bowser (SSB4)/Forward smash

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's forward smash.

Overview

Bowser performs a leaping dropkick forward. It is the second strongest forward smash in the game, behind King Dedede's, while being nearly twice as fast. The attack possesses a clean hit and late hit, and both subsequently have a sweetspot and sourspot; the former is closer to Bowser's legs. At full charge, when hit clean and sweetspotted, it has enough power to KO any character at 35% from the middle of Final Destination; this is popularly seen as a punish option on opponents that have had their shield broken by Bowser Bomb. When spaced properly, it can even hit opponents hanging on a ledge or lingering just below it.

As with the majority of smash attacks, however, Bowser's forward smash has slow startup with high ending lag, which limits its otherwise outstanding KO ability, as it can be easily predicted and punished if thrown off carelessly. The player also has to space the attack carefully in order to take full advantage of it, as Bowser must be close enough to the opponent in order to land it sweetspotted and clean.

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	23%	0		25	98	0	7.0	3	-10.0	0.0	0.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
1	0	20%	0		25	98	0	5.5	3	-1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
Late hit
0	0	17%	0		10	103	0	6.0	3	-9.0	0.0	0.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick
1	0	14%	0		10	103	0	5.0	3	-1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Kick

Timing

Charges between	3-4
Leg invincibility	20-25
Clean hit	22-23
Late hit	24-27
Interruptible	70
Animation length	77

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Hitbox change

Vulnerable

Invincible

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