Bowser (SSB4)/Up special/Default

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's grounded Whirling Fortress.

Hitbox visualization showing Bowser's aerial Whirling Fortress.

Overview

Bowser's up special in SSB4 is Whirling Fortress. When this move is used, Bowser tucks into his shell and travels upwards a moderate distance before he slows his ascent and goes into a helpless state. Mashing the special button towards the beginning of the move decreases the vertical distance travelled, while mashing the special button towards the end of the move increases the distance travelled. When used from the ground, Bowser will not travel upwards, but instead spins on the ground, sliding in the direction the player inputs. When used in the air, the move's first hit launches players, while the following hits do not. On the ground, only the last hit will launch players. This move is often Bowser's most frequently used out of shield option, as it comes out on frame 6 and can carry Bowser away from the enemy if needed.

Update history

1.1.3

• All variations of Whirling Fortress can grab ledges from behind much sooner (frame 48 → 8).

Hitboxes

Ground

ID	Part	Rehit rate	Damage	SD	Angle		BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			SDIx	H×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Type	Effect	G	A	Sound	Direct	Hit bits	Blockable	Reflectable	Absorbable	Piercing	Heedless	No GFX	Flinchless	Stretch
Hits 1-7 (frames 6-38)
0	0	5	1%	0		Standard	0	100	50	2.5	0	0.0	7.0	0.0	0.8x	1x	0%							Slash		63								0.0	5.0	0.0
1	0	5	1%	0		Standard	0	100	70	2.5	0	0.0	10.5	-6.0	0.8x	1x	0%							Slash		63								0.0	3.5	-7.0
2	0	5	1%	0		Standard	0	100	70	2.5	0	0.0	10.5	6.0	0.8x	1x	0%							Slash		63								0.0	3.5	7.0
Final hit (frame 39)
0	0	0	4%	0		Standard	70	150	0	8.0	0	0.0	7.6	-4.0	1x	1x	0%							Slash		63								—
1	0	0	4%	0		Standard	70	150	0	8.0	0	0.0	7.6	8.0	1x	1x	0%							Slash		63								—

Air

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			SDIx	H×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Type	Effect	G	A	Sound	Direct
Hit 1
0	0	10%	3		80	60	0	7.0	0	0.0 0.0	4.5 4.5	3.0 -3.0	1x	1x	0%							Kick
Hits 2-6 (loop)
0	0	3%	0		50	20	0	6.0	0	0.0 0.0	4.5 4.5	3.0 -3.0	1x	1x	0%							Slash
Hits 7-11 (loop)
0	0	2%	0		50	20	0	5.0	0	0.0 0.0	4.5 4.5	3.0 -3.0	1x	1x	0%							Slash

Timing

Grounded

Multihits	6-38
Final hit	39
Interruptible	82
Animation length	83

Aerial

Hit 1	6-7
Hits 2-11	8-11, 12-15, 16-19, 20-23, 24-27, 28-31, 32-35, 36-39, 40-43, 44-47
Animation length	79

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