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Tough Guy

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Revision as of 14:22, March 23, 2021 by The Jacketed Terrapin (talk | contribs) (→‎Trivia: Removing some unnecessary spaces.)
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Bowser not flinching from Kirby's rapid jab.

Tough Guy is a passive fighter ability exclusive to Bowser. It allows him to resist flinching from weak attacks. This mechanic was first introduced in Super Smash Bros. 4, and carried over to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mechanic

Tough Guy is a form of knockback-based armor that triggers against attacks that deal 19 units of knockback or less. This is present in all of Bowser's animations, even when buried or frozen. This notably includes crouching, which thanks to the 0.85× knockback reduction it provides, improves the armor. Tough Guy is also present during attacks that utilize Bowser's armored smash and tilt attacks in Ultimate, giving him effectively two layers of it.

Because of the armor being knockback-centric, Tough Guy's effectiveness directly correlates to his percentage. As Bowser takes more damage, he takes more knockback, which gives Tough Guy a hard limit in every matchup. Additionally, effects that increase knockback, such as rage, will also affect Tough Guy. For a character-specific example, Hero's Psyche Up applies a 1.2× knockback multiplier directly onto his moves which, as a result, significantly decreases Tough Guy's effectiveness until it goes away.

Tough Guy was indirectly buffed in Ultimate due to Bowser's higher weight and the universal knockback reduction in all rapid jabs. The addition of damage-based armor into his moveset also assisted with this, adding a degree of safety at tighter percent ranges. As a result, it's not uncommon to see Bowser armor through rapid jabs until very high percentages and subsequently punish them.

Due to Tough Guy's very low knockback threshold, its usefulness is highly specific to the point of being near-ineffective in many matchups. While characters like Sheik will tend to struggle, others such as Donkey Kong are virtually unaffected.

List of attacks affected by Tough Guy

An icon for denoting incomplete things.
  • Bold percentages represent the damage limit if Bowser were crouching.
  • Moves with damages labeled "Limitless" means that Tough Guy will always trigger against the move.
  • Moves that are available as custom moves are in italics.
User/Item Move Part of Move Damage Limit Notes
By Characters
Banjo & Kazooie Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 83%/318%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
503%/737%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Egg Firing / Breegull Blaster Breegull Blaster LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to the 13th egg, and all others preceding; all ranges except for point-blank
Bayonetta Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 116%Super Smash Bros. 4
205%/333% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Closest hitbox
282%/410% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Bullet Climax Entire move 116% Super Smash Bros. 4
120%/157% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Uncharged bullets
Bowser Up Throw Attack hitbox 6%/23%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 7
Bowser Jr. Neutral Attack Jab 1 18%Super Smash Bros. 4
Rapid Jab 617%/842% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dash attack Entire move 3%/18% Super Smash Bros. 4
22%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Farthest hitbox; applies to hits 1 - 5
Forward smash Entire move 29% Super Smash Bros. 4
LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1 - 5
Byleth Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 363%/597% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
503%/737%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Captain Falcon Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 356%/500% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Charizard Down Throw Attack hitbox 4%/23% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage
Flamethrower Entire move 34%Super Smash Bros. 4
35%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Weak hitbox
Fire Fang LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4 Embers
Fireball Cannon 46%/92%Super Smash Bros. 4 Weak hitbox
Chrom Double-Edge Dance 4th hit; angled down 279%/349%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1-4
Corrin Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 180%/293% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward smash Yato hitboxes LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Daisy Neutral Aerial Entire move 3%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Late hitbox
Down Aerial 6%/53%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 3
Dark Pit Neutral Attack Rapid Jab LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
617%/842% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Down Aerial Entire move 3%-5%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Meteor hitbox
Silver Bow Entire move 3%Super Smash Bros. 4
0%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Uncharged
Donkey Kong Neutral attack Jab 1 7%Super Smash Bros. 4
Jumping Headbutt Entire move 81%/101%Super Smash Bros. 4 Tough Guy does not trigger if Bowser is hit while airborne
Dr. Mario Neutral Attack Jab 1 88%/145% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Jab 2 36%/136% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Duck Hunt Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 13%/169% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
363%/597% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Clay Shooting Reticle shots 306% Super Smash Bros. 4
Falco Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 500%/663% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Blaster Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
Explosive Blaster Applies to hits 1 - 4
Fox Neutral Attack Jab 1 7%/81% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Jab 2 30%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rapid Jab 36%/143%Super Smash Bros. 4
270%/378% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Farthest hitbox in Smash 4
Neutral Aerial Entire move 2%Super Smash Bros. 4
4%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Late hitbox
Greninja Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 50%/94%Super Smash Bros. 4
617%/842% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Back Aerial Entire move 0%/11%Super Smash Bros. 4
0%/12% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hit 1
1%/13%Super Smash Bros. 4
1%/14% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hit 2
Water Shuriken 3%/28% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Uncharged
Hero Magic Burst Entire move 368%/523%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate At MP 100; does not include the last hit
743%/LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate At lower to lowest MP; does not include the last hit
Whack 4%/23%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ice Climbers Ice Shot Entire move 27%/47%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest range
30%/53%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest range
Blizzard Entire move 27%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
35%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Middle Hitbox
Ike Aether Falling hit 54%/73%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Inkling Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 363%/597%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
712%/947%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Up Aerial Entire move 0%-1%/43%-44%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hit 1 only; farthest hitbox
Ivysaur Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 147%/222%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Side Tilt Entire move 8%/88% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 6
Neutral Aerial 55%/130% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 7
Bullet Seed 29%-31% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate All seeds, except the last
Jigglypuff Neutral attack Jab 1 5%Super Smash Bros. 4
Spinphony Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4 Bowser is still turned around
Joker Gun/Gun Special Entire move 5%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Close range
48%/67%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Mid range
King Dedede Neutral Attack Rapid Jab LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
494%/681% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Farthest hitbox
382%/569% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
Super Dedede Jump Stars 4%Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Quick Dedede Jump
Kirby Neutral Attack Jab 1 74%/119%Super Smash Bros. 4
Rapid Jab LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
124%/197% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Link Quickfire Bow Entire move 17%/50% Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
1%/16% Super Smash Bros. 4 Full charge
Bow and Arrows Arrows 0% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Thrown
1%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Z-Dropped
Little Mac Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 120%/158% Super Smash Bros. 4
298%/579% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Also applies when as Giga Mac in Smash 4
Down Aerial Entire move 8%/18% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Clean hitbox
11%/22%Super Smash Bros. 4
12%/23% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Late hitbox; also applies when as Giga Mac in Smash 4
Lucario Neutral Attack Jab 1 7%-4%-1%/84%-67%-48%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Aura Sphere Entire move 0%Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
Piercing Aura Sphere 44%Super Smash Bros. 4
Lucas Down tilt Entire move 24%/55%Super Smash Bros. 4
14%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Farthest hitbox
PK Thunder Projectile 115%Super Smash Bros. 4
118%/169%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to the hitboxes in the "tail"
Lucina Dancing Blade 4th hit; angled down 97%Super Smash Bros. 4
279%/349% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1- 4
Luigi Up Aerial Entire move 0%Super Smash Bros. 4
2%-3%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Late hitbox
Fireball 55%/82%Super Smash Bros. 4
56%/86%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Early hitbox
66%/99% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Late hitbox
Bouncing Fireball 55%/82% Super Smash Bros. 4 Closest hitbox
64%/95% Super Smash Bros. 4 Mid hitbox
77%/113% Super Smash Bros. 4 Farthest hitbox
Super Jump Punch LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sourspot
Mario Neutral Attack Jab 1 5%/72% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Jab 2 37%/139% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Fast Fireball Entire move 193%/298% Super Smash Bros. 4 Weak hitbox
Marth Dancing Blade 4th hit; angled down 97%Super Smash Bros. 4
279%/349% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Hits 1 - 4
Mega Man Neutral Attack Pellets 372%/510%Super Smash Bros. 4
384%/524% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Long/Mid range
Side Tilt
Neutral Aerial
Up Aerial Entire move Limitless Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Late hitbox
Crash Bomber 190%/312%Super Smash Bros. 4
10%/135% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1 - 4
Leaf Shield 17%/79%Super Smash Bros. 4
Meta Knight Neutral Attack Entire move 93%/150%Super Smash Bros. 4
66%/128% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Does not include the finishing hit
Mewtwo Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 52%Super Smash Bros. 4
550%/751% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Shadow Ball Entire move 33% Super Smash Bros. 4
23%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Uncharged
Mii Brawler Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 281% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Mii Gunner Charge Shot Entire move 2%Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
Min Min Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 172% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
340%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Mr. Game & Watch Neutral Attack Jab 1 LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
Rapid Jab LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
101%/201% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward Aerial Entire move Limitless Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hit 1 only
Back Aerial Entire move 2%/16% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 3
Short Order Chef Entire move 101%/256% Super Smash Bros. 4 Steak
120%/300% Super Smash Bros. 4 Skinny fish
Limitless Super Smash Bros. 4 Fat fish
Judge Entire move 8%Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate/32%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Judge #2 only
Mythra Neutral Attack Jab 1 34%/128%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate farthest hitbox
6%/76%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate closest hitbox
Jab 2 174%/268%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate farthest hitbox
Rapid Jab 188%/305%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ness Neutral attack Jab 1 13%/41%Super Smash Bros. 4
Jab 2
Down Tilt Entire move 164%/209%Super Smash Bros. 4
151%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Closest hitbox
189%/258%Super Smash Bros. 4
199% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Farthest hitbox
Down Throw Attacking hitbox 3%/28%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral; applies to hits 1 - 3
PK Fire Pillar 44% Super Smash Bros. 4
66%/128%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Percent in Smash 4 also includes crouching
Lasting PK Thunder Projectile 104%/150%Super Smash Bros. 4 Applies to the hitboxes in the "tail"
Olimar Dizzy Whistle Entire move Limitless Super Smash Bros. 4 Bowser is still turned around
Palutena Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 162%/263%Super Smash Bros. 4
173%/281%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Peach Neutral Aerial Entire move 2%Super Smash Bros. 4
3%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Late hitbox
Down Aerial 6%/53%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Applies to hits 1 - 3
Pichu Neutral Attack Entire move 12%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
Forward Throw Attacking Hitbox 3%/19%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral; applies to hits 1 - 3
Pikachu Neutral Attack Entire move 8%/44%Super Smash Bros. 4
82%/165% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Closest hitbox
34%/74%Super Smash Bros. 4
87%/176% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Middle hitbox
Forward Throw Attacking hitbox 2%/16%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral; applies to hits 1 - 4
Thunder Jolt Entire move 2%/4%/7% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Early/Mid/Late hitbox
Piranha Plant Neutral Attack Jab 1 11%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Jab 2 43%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rapid Jab 593%/622%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Down throw Attacking hitbox 13%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage
Pit Neutral Attack Rapid Jab LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4
617%/842%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Down Aerial Entire move 3%-5%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Meteor hitbox
Palutena Bow Entire move 5%Super Smash Bros. 4
6%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Uncharged
Pyra Neutral Attack Jab 1 26%/101%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
3%/59%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
Jab 2 174%/268%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Rapid Jab 173%/281%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Flame Nova Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox; applies to all hits except the final
Richter Neutral Attack Jab 1 5%/74%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Rapid Jab 617%/842%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Holy Water Pillar 131%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Same percent when crouching
Ridley Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 198%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
571%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
R.O.B. Neutral Attack Jab 1 8%/26%Super Smash Bros. 4
33%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Down tilt Entire move 0%
Backwards Arm Rotor Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4 1st hit facing Bowser
Gyro 84%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Uncharged; late hitbox
Slip Gyro 5%Super Smash Bros. 4 Sliding across the ground
Robin Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 47%Super Smash Bros. 4
384%/593%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rosalina & Luma Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 537%/741% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Rosalina
215%/349% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Luma
Grand Star Grand Star looping hits Limitless Super Smash Bros. Ultimate only if Bowser is above on a platform
Roy Double-Edge Dance 4th hit; angled down 97% Super Smash Bros. 4
279%/349% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1 - 4
Ryu Down tilt Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4 Tapped; farthest hitbox
Hadoken Shakunetsu Hadoken 166%Super Smash Bros. 4
335% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Fast-tapped; applies to hits 1-4
Samus Charge Shot Entire move 2%Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
Dense Charge Shot 0%Super Smash Bros. 4
Sephiroth Shadow Flare Initial projectile 54%/106% Uncharged
26%/55% Fully charged
Sheik Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 43%/148%Super Smash Bros. 4
208%/372%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward throw Attack hitbox LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage
Back throw
Up throw
Down throw
Shulk Neutral Attack Jab 1 100% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Buster Art; farthest hitbox
Simon Neutral Attack Jab 1 5%/74%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Rapid Jab 617%/842%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Holy Water Pillar 131%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Same percent when crouching
Sonic Neutral Attack Jab 2 8%/88%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Down Throw Attacking hitbox 23%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage
Double Spring Entire move 8%Super Smash Bros. 4
Terry Neutral Attack Jab 1 238%/351% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Closest hitbox
Jab 2 (1st hit) 47%/172%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Toon Link Pummel Entire move 4% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage
Hero's Bow 6%/24%Super Smash Bros. 4
7% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Uncharged
0% Super Smash Bros. 4 Full charge
Fire Arrow Limitless Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged; direct hit
527%/664% Super Smash Bros. 4 Full charge; direct hit
Piercing Bow 390%/572%Super Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
140%/208%Super Smash Bros. 4 Full charge
Villager Neutral Attack Entire move 122% (lead fist); 10% (rear fist) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Down smash Entire move 3%/11%Super Smash Bros. 4
Wario Wario Waft Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Uncharged
Garlic Breath Closest range
Wii Fit Trainer Neutral attack Jab 3 19%/46%Super Smash Bros. 4
16%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Burying hitbox
Yoshi Neutral Attack Jab 1 87%/144% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Down Aerial Entire move 9%Super Smash Bros. 4
12%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1 - 6
Young Link Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 403%/566%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Zelda Neutral Attack Rapid Jab 320%/448%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward Aerial Entire move 6%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sourspot
Back Aerial
Down Aerial 20%/33% Super Smash Bros. 4
21%/34%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Late sourspot
Nayru's Love 30%Super Smash Bros. 4
31%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Applies to hits 1 - 3
Nayru's Rejection 40%Super Smash Bros. 4 Bowser is still turned around
Zero Suit Samus Neutral Attack Jab 1 127%/208% Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Farthest hitbox
Blast Shot Entire move LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. 4 Uncharged
By Items
Beehive Bees LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Only toughs out the first attack
Fire Flower Thrown item 25%/46%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
19%/36%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dropped item 30-53%/66-88%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Depends on the distance dropped
Mr. Saturn Thrown item 9-10%, 32%/24-25%, 62%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
9-10%, 31%/24-25%, 62%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
7%, 28%/20%, 56%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Depends on distance thrown
Dropped item 9-11%/24-40%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Depends on distance dropped
Staff Shots 5%/25%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Point-blank range
Super Scope Shots 164%/210%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Uncharged
Superspicy Curry Flames 3%/120%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
By Pokémon
Abomasnow Blizzard 19%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Inkay Topsy-Turvy LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Staryu Swift 24%/69%Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
By Assist Trophy
Klaptrap Rapid bites 961%/LimitlessSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate Collateral damage

Trivia

  • In Melee, Nana had 5 units of knockback-based armor at all times, in a virtually identical implementation to Tough Guy[1].
  • Bowser's Tough Guy ability makes him the only character in Smash 4 and Ultimate with armor that isn't triggered by any of his moveset.
  • The attacks of Little Mac that can be toughed out also apply to if he is in his transformation.