Bowser

General Overview
Here's the deal with Bowser; He is a great captain, and extremely viable and usable. But the sad truth is that he

is outclassed by Petey and DK as a defensive-power captain. Don't get the wrong idea though. Bowser is not far behind these captains, and if he is used properly, he can be very strong. Bowser is full of untapped potential, and if mastered, he can be a huge threat to the other top captains.

Techniques and Abilities
Bowser is a powerhouse with a very respectable shot. Although Petey and DK are a bit more reliable you will still think twice about letting this monster get a shot off. He is very great at defense. His hit rivals Petey's for the best in the game. Although not as wide as Petey, Bowser is massively tall. Bowser can smash airborne players that Petey would fly right under. Although this a small detail, it goes far in making Bowser a menacing defensive force on the field. Bowser's size attributes to another thing as well. If you thought Boos getting in the way of shots was bad, then Bowser is going to be your nightmare. He is so large that he will often just absorb shots from the opposing team. If Bowser is coming towards an opponent charging up an item shot he will more than likely block it. His lifeless body will then continue to block the rebound shots the opponent tries to take after the first shot. Unfortunately, this is a double sided sword, as Bowser has no qualms over blocking any shots that his teammates try to take. There is nothing worse than using a mushroom and having Bowser's girth simply block your path and entirely mess up your timing on the chip you were attempting to perform. Bowser certainly takes up space, and he is in many ways still the same hazard from Super Mario Strikers.

Among other things Bowser can summon mushroom speed whenever he chooses. This massive monster who is so large that he noticeably impairs goals with his girth can also move faster than any character on the field whenever he has the ball? Yes, it's true, and Bowser is the only one with this ability known as the shuttle glitch. It can only be performed when Bowser has the ball, and it is done by turning 180 degrees as fast as possible and then reverting the motion while chipping the ball. If done correctly, Bowser will launch off a massive chip as if he had been using a mushroom, and he will also be running at mushroom level speeds for a few seconds. The chip charge is irrelevant to the glitch, meaning Bowser can use this trick for mid-court chips, serve it ins and pretty much any trick. This glitch sounds great in text, but in reality it is much harder to utilize in practice. This would be much more exploitable with a speed captain, but alas, it was Bowser who was granted this speed. This isn't to say that this technique is worthless however. The move itself can often be hard to execute which has hindered it's development. But in the hands of a skilled player the shuttle can most definitely be used effectively for unexpected tricks and start-offs. Keep in mind that if Bowser has the ball too long in the back court people will know that you are up to no good. This move requires a combination of technical skill and mind games to be used effectively. Generally it is not advisable to use an item for the sake of this trick if you could use that same item to get off an item shot. Also this glitch will still work even when shrunken by Bowser Jr.'s special.

Bowser's deke is nothing special. He retracts into his shell and repels all enemies. There is some lag time after the move where he is vulnerable and cannot perform any action. Because of this using more than two dekes in a row will almost always result in the ball getting stolen, so use it conservatively.

Special
Fire Storm! Not a good special. It is usable, but compared to other captains, this special is lacking. Bowser is given a limited supply of fire with which he can set enemies on fire including both Kritters. Here are your best options: You can use his fire to ignite defenders in front of you and use your deke to cover the rest of his body. If used well, this can get you open for a trick. It can also be used to get an item shot open. The restriction with this special is that it is very situational. Only use it when you are sure that you you will reap the benefits. An example being that Bowser and a Boo are chasing a free ball. Ignite the Boo and get off an item shot. This special definitely requires some thought, otherwise it will be of no help to you at all. It can also be used for defense. Prevent a start off by simply setting the opposing captain on fire. It is also very effective at countering other specials. If you are playing Mario or Luigi, then saving this to counter their special is not a bad idea. Also, it directly counters Wario's special by igniting his fart gas and causing it to explode. There should be little trepidation in using this special for defense seeing how its offensive capabilities are limited. It should be noted that Bowser CANNOT use the shuttle glitch when Fire Storm is active. Aside from Toad's skillshot, Bowser's special is the only other way to set Kritter on fire on competitive stages. When kritter is on fire, he is easier to score on and he wont use his hands. This also allows characters to get closer to him before he hits them. You can abuse this to actually walk in the goal but it's not a viable move. Setting Kritter on fire is only really helpful to steal the ball from Kritter, and that is about it.

Setups
Bowser feels best with 2 Boos and a Birdo by his side. Birdo's great ratios can ease the pain of some of Bowser's droughts that he will inevitably get. Since Bowser is an amazing defender, he, like Petey, can also utilize Hammer Bro or a third Boo. Be wary using 3 Boos with Bowser, however, because he should not be relied on to score all the goals for your team. Bowser, like DK and Petey, has a myriad of options that can work well with him. He is a great captain, but he requires the necessary team support to truly be used effectively.

Counters
In most cases, Bowser is not your biggest threat on the field. If your opponent is using a Birdo, then you are more likely going to want to defend that over Bowser. Bowser shoots decent, but not as well as Birdo. He also has an unfortunate back slide that, unlike any other character, will sometimes result in the ball bouncing off his slide if timed incorrectly. The success rate of him getting a backslide shot off is respectable, regardless of that fact, however. Remember to abuse Bowser's deke. Take advantage of that vulnerable period for a quick steal. Always be wary of the shuttle glitch, however. Most times, it is very easy to read when someone is attempting a shuttle goal. Whenever Bowser is holding the ball for too long, it is imminent that they are planning some type of shuttle goal. If you suspect a shuttle goal is coming, simply run back to your goal and get ready to intercept the chip or hit Bowser if he is attempting an off-the-wall trick. Also, it is not advisable to attempt a full-court self-pass with Boo or Waluigi when Bowser is on the field. It is simply too likely that he will get in the way of you intercepting the chip at the other end of the field. Also, at the start of the game, if you are using a speed captain, it is a good strategy to simply shoot the ball instantly. This works well on a lot of power-defensive characters, but especially on Bowser. It will effectively knock him over, and you can easily retrieve the first possesion.

Trivia
Bowser was originally a field hazard in the original Super Mario Strikers. But he has emerged from the inferno as a playable captain in MSC.

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