Super Smash Bros. Brawl/Bowser

Bowser, Mario's archenemy, returns in smash after being in Super Smash Bros. Melee. First appearing in Super Mario Bros. Bowser grew to be quite the popular boss for the Mario series.

Bowser's moveset remains mostly the same from the Melee version.

Bowser's Whirling Fortress is his best move, also the best out of shield option in the game. Bowser's next most useful move would be his jab attack, which is a great "get off me" move. These moves along with the flying slam (used in the air) and his Forward air should be your main attacks. If Bowser gets a grab in, it is very important to not throw the opponent. Keep bashing the grabbed opponent until they break free, which lets you get a free jab in (10%), or a dash grab. You can even mix it up by jabbing only once and dash grab.

Basic Attacks

 * Double Claw||Two quick claw swipes. This is one of Bowser's main moves.
 * Tripping Lunge||Running headbutt.
 * Bowser Knuckle||Punches while leaning his body forward. Can be aimed up or down.
 * Upward Claw||Swats the air above him.
 * Low Swipe||Claw swipes while crouched. Does two hits.
 * }
 * Bowser Knuckle||Punches while leaning his body forward. Can be aimed up or down.
 * Upward Claw||Swats the air above him.
 * Low Swipe||Claw swipes while crouched. Does two hits.
 * }
 * Upward Claw||Swats the air above him.
 * Low Swipe||Claw swipes while crouched. Does two hits.
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 * Low Swipe||Claw swipes while crouched. Does two hits.
 * }
 * }

Smash Attacks

 * Horn Bash||Does a powerful headbutt. Try to catch your opponent off guard then use this for the kill.
 * Spike Slam||Hurls his shell upwards then crashes down.
 * Shell Spin||Spins his shell. Hard to escape.
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 * Spike Slam||Hurls his shell upwards then crashes down.
 * Shell Spin||Spins his shell. Hard to escape.
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 * Shell Spin||Spins his shell. Hard to escape.
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Pummels and Throws

 * Headbutt||Bowser headbutts the opponent. Very slow for a pummel.
 * Forward Hurl||Bowser launches the opponent forward.
 * Backwards Hurl||Bowser launches the opponent backwards.
 * Spike Spin||Bowser places the opponent on his shell and spins.
 * Bowser Slam||Throws his body on to the opponent.
 * }
 * Backwards Hurl||Bowser launches the opponent backwards.
 * Spike Spin||Bowser places the opponent on his shell and spins.
 * Bowser Slam||Throws his body on to the opponent.
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 * Spike Spin||Bowser places the opponent on his shell and spins.
 * Bowser Slam||Throws his body on to the opponent.
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 * Bowser Slam||Throws his body on to the opponent.
 * }
 * }

Air Attacks

 * Shell Spin||Spins around midair while in his shell.
 * Claw Swipe||Bowser swipes his claw. Possibly his best air attack.
 * Shell Bash||Throws his shell backwards, bashing opponents with spikes.
 * Head Swing||Bowser swings his head upwards, great for upwards KOs.
 * Inverted Shell||Spins in his shell downwards. Hits if he lands on the ground before the attack ends.
 * }
 * Shell Bash||Throws his shell backwards, bashing opponents with spikes.
 * Head Swing||Bowser swings his head upwards, great for upwards KOs.
 * Inverted Shell||Spins in his shell downwards. Hits if he lands on the ground before the attack ends.
 * }
 * Head Swing||Bowser swings his head upwards, great for upwards KOs.
 * Inverted Shell||Spins in his shell downwards. Hits if he lands on the ground before the attack ends.
 * }
 * Inverted Shell||Spins in his shell downwards. Hits if he lands on the ground before the attack ends.
 * }
 * }

Special Attacks

 * Fire Breath|| Bowser lets out a large stream of fire that will decrease in length the longer you use it.
 * Flying Slam||Bowser grabs the opponent, jumps up into the air and slams them down to ground. This attack is best used in the air, and should be one of Bowser's main attacks. The attack can be slightly controlled depending on the hit percentage. A good method is to do it off the edge, throwing your opponent down before you. It can be used as a Suicide move as you'll win if you and the opponent both have 1 stock left.
 * Whirling Fortress||Bower retreats in his shell and rapidly spins around, similar to DK's Spinning Kong. This is Bowser's best move.  Abuse this as much as possible, and remember to use this out of shield.
 * Bowser Bomb||Bowser's version of a butt-stomp, he will decend to the ground quickly to pummel anyone under him. If Bowser is in midair when using this move, he slams to the ground with a butt-stomp. If he's on the ground doing this, he will leap forward diagonally before performing the move, it's possible to hit the opponent with the initial jump. Similar to Yoshi's Down B only stronger.
 * }
 * Flying Slam||Bowser grabs the opponent, jumps up into the air and slams them down to ground. This attack is best used in the air, and should be one of Bowser's main attacks. The attack can be slightly controlled depending on the hit percentage. A good method is to do it off the edge, throwing your opponent down before you. It can be used as a Suicide move as you'll win if you and the opponent both have 1 stock left.
 * Whirling Fortress||Bower retreats in his shell and rapidly spins around, similar to DK's Spinning Kong. This is Bowser's best move.  Abuse this as much as possible, and remember to use this out of shield.
 * Bowser Bomb||Bowser's version of a butt-stomp, he will decend to the ground quickly to pummel anyone under him. If Bowser is in midair when using this move, he slams to the ground with a butt-stomp. If he's on the ground doing this, he will leap forward diagonally before performing the move, it's possible to hit the opponent with the initial jump. Similar to Yoshi's Down B only stronger.
 * }
 * Bowser Bomb||Bowser's version of a butt-stomp, he will decend to the ground quickly to pummel anyone under him. If Bowser is in midair when using this move, he slams to the ground with a butt-stomp. If he's on the ground doing this, he will leap forward diagonally before performing the move, it's possible to hit the opponent with the initial jump. Similar to Yoshi's Down B only stronger.
 * }
 * Bowser Bomb||Bowser's version of a butt-stomp, he will decend to the ground quickly to pummel anyone under him. If Bowser is in midair when using this move, he slams to the ground with a butt-stomp. If he's on the ground doing this, he will leap forward diagonally before performing the move, it's possible to hit the opponent with the initial jump. Similar to Yoshi's Down B only stronger.
 * }

Taunts

 * He roars. The taunt he uses in Super Smash Bros Melee.
 * He starts chomping at the air around him.
 * He stands on one foot and dances around.
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 * He starts chomping at the air around him.
 * He stands on one foot and dances around.
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 * He stands on one foot and dances around.
 * }
 * }

Final Smash
Giga Bowser Transformation: Bowser transforms into Giga Bowser (from Super Smash Bros. Melee) temporarily, making him bigger, stronger, fiercer, and nearly invincible. If Giga Bowser is hit, even with a smash attack, there will be no knockback, but he still takes damage as normal. Many of his attacks now do noticably more damage and his smash attacks now have elemental properties ranging from Ice, Fire, Shadow, and Lightning. The transformation in its entirety lasts from 12-16 seconds.

Mario
Mario is slightly faster than you, and he has useful tools to help him win. He will probably start the match shooting some fireballs and chasing in to get a grab, then proceed to Down Throw you to start a combo. He's air attacks combo very well especially with your large size means you'll get hit a lot. He also has the cape, which he will use to flip you around. This will prevent your attack hitting him and leave you vulnerable. What's worse is that he can simply jump of the edge and cape you when you're recovering, making you go even further from the stage. Try to use attacks that hit both ways and recover carefully to prevent this. You outrange his attacks so not to worry about that. Mario might seem to easily rack up your damage, he has some trouble killing, especially when you're the heaviest character in the game. Just watch out for the smash attacks at high percentages. Bowser on the other end can handle this pretty well. His moves slightly outrange Mario's, and he can easily deal chunks of damage and go for the KO. This matchup isn't too bad if you play it correctly, just play carefully and you will prevail at the end.

Luigi
Luigi is a slightly faster vesion of Mario. His forward air is annoying and it will easily deal some damage. His other aerials outspeed yours, so fighting an aerial battle is not recommended. On the ground, you outrange him, so as long as you dodge his fireball (which has pathetic range) you'll be OK. Luigi also has bad mobility and traction, so he'll have a hard time approaching you. However, he can easily combo you and rack tons of damage. When you're at high percentages,'Watch Out as his forward smash and Fire Jump Punch can easily kill even a heavyweight like you. His Green Missile can also randomly misfire, which makes it very powerful. Stay out of his range to be safe. Luigi's a middleweight, so you should have no trouble KOing. Luigi definately holds the advantage in this matchup, so stay out of his attacks and use your ranged attacks and try not to get too much damage on you.

Peach
Peach is a troubling one. She can spawn items at will and float and all the other gimmicks. She will always throw turnips at you throughout the match so try your best to avoid them. She also has her AA combo to quickly slap you away. She also has a chaingrab on you until about 35%, so beware. Try to approach with short bursts of Fire Breath and get a grab release chaingrab in. If Peach is approaching, she will definately throw a turnip then follow up with a dash attack or a grab. Peach has a unique property as she can float. She can use a technique called ground floating to use her good aerials near the ground. Her down aerial easily racks up your damage and her neutral aerial has good power. She has her strong up which stops aerial approach attempts very well. She is also almost impossible to edgeguard due to her nice horizontal racovery. She has a countering move, but it's slow and she's vulnerable from behind. Her Peach Bomber is laughably easy to counter, just claw her or even just Up B her. At higher percentages Peach starts having some problems. She doesn't have a reliable KO move and she's pretty light herself. However she can still survive. Her KO moves are her forward air, forward smash, up smash and, if she's lucky, a stitchface turnip or a vegetable-pulled bob-omb. You shouldn't have trouble killing her. Peach holds an advantage here, as she has a good moveset and a unique ability. However, play patiently and you should be able to win this matchup.

Bowser
This is a fun one. Your opponent has the same moves as you. He has the same speed as you, the same range as you and the same weight as you. The key to this matcup is knowing your character and how your opponent plays. Bowser is big, so you shouldn't have many problems landing a grab release chaingrab. Beware when attacking 'cause if he shields it he'll Whirling Fortress you. When it comes to KOing, make him perform a laggy attack, then use a powerful KO move, since Bowser is very heavy. This matchup pretty much centers upon whose skill is better. You have no advantage or disadvantage against him. Just play your best and you can win this.

Donkey Kong
Two big heavyweights face off! Donkey Kong and you both have tools to help them. You have your flame breath which reaches just longer from most of DK's moves. He has fast, long ranged and powerful attacks that are deadly if it catches you off-guard. Both of you have large body sizes so it wouldn't be surprising if you get hit everywhere. He will charge up his Giant Punch and he can save the charge at any time. He will approach from the air with a back air or confront you with a grab, which has bigger reach than yours.. Try to shield them or dodge them, then grab his massive frame and start a grab release chaingrab. DK wins in the air, he has his back air to keep you at bay. DKs will like to throw in a spinning kong or a ground pound once in a while to abuse their fast startup and good hitboxes. You can shield those then simply Whirling Fortress him. When it comes to killing, DK has no trouble with his Down Smash, Up Air or a charged Giant Punch. He himself is heavy, so you will need to chip a good deal of damage off him. Overall, utilize a hit and run strategy, chip in some damage and go for the kill.

Diddy Kong
This matcups biggest problems is bananas. Diddy Kong can spawn these items at will and use them as projectiles. They will easily throw one at you to make you trip, then attacks you while you're vulnerable. They will also use them for stage control, limiting your options greatly. He also has his Peanut Popgun as a quick damage racker. This matchup pretty much favors Diddy Kong. You must to avoid the bananas at all costs, and try to get a grab release in. Every percent counts! If Diddy Kong wants to approach you, he will use his Monkey Flip, which acts as a grab (so it can't be shielded), and as an attack if you try to counter it. Answer that with a Whirling Fortress in his face. You can also try throwing his bananas back at him but that isn't going to be very effective since you don't have anything fast enough to followup. However, its still very useful to control the stage. When its time to KO, Diddy will throw a banana at you then finish with a deadly Down Smash. His air attacks are also quite reliable, especially his front air. Diddy himself is pretty light, so you should finish him easily. Odds are against you here, just play as careful as you can, and you can win this matchup.

Yoshi
Yoshi has a very versatile projectile that he can camp with, that is his Egg Throw. He will easily target you so try to shield them. Yoshi is good at the ground, with all of his attacks outspeeding or outranging yours at some degree. However, he has laggier than average air attacks, which you should take advantage of. You can try to get him from the air, but he will ward you off with his eggs. You must slowly approach from the ground. One thing to watch out is his dragonic reverse. A good Yoshi will utilize this technique to confuse you and attack. If a Yoshi tries to Egg Roll to you, just shield grab him.Yoshi's worst weakness is his reliance on his midair jump. If he is hit out of his jump, all he can do is Egg Throw, which won't go anywhere. Actually KOing him is a bit harder, since you will need to quickly land a move in during the cooldown of his better ground moves. Yoshi's KO power is less then average. He will have trouble KOing a heavyweight like you. In this matchup you're required to be strategic to be able to pull off a win.