How to Beat Bowser in Super Mario World

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Bowser is the main villain and last enemy to be defeated in Super Mario World. He has several attacks to unleash, but they all follow a predictable pattern. Learn how to avoid each trap, and how to damage the boss with his own minions, and you can beat Bowser without too many attempts.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Beating Bowser

PDF download Download Article
  1. Soon after the boss fight begins, Bowser will toss a pair of mechakoopas out of his clown car. These will hurt Mario if they touch him.
  2. Unlike a normal koopa, a mechakoopa will become frozen and squished when you jump on it. It won't stay in this state forever, so move fast. [1]
    • Spin jumping (the A button) will destroy the mechakoopa. If you do this, you'll have to wait for Bowser to release more mechakoopas.
    Advertisement
  3. Pick up the stunned mechakoopa, aim upward while Bowser is approaching, and throw it. This will hurt Bowser only if the mechakoopa lands on him from above. Hitting the clown car is not good enough. [2]
  4. Repeat the same steps to throw a second mechakoopa at Bowser. This will trigger the next phase of the fight.
  5. Bowser will fly away, then fireballs will fall from the sky. Stay on the ground so you can see them coming and get out of their way. Two lines of fireballs will fall before Bowser returns. [3]
  6. Bowser's clown car will return to the screen, but the princess will pop her head out and throw a super mushroom to the left. Pick this up if you need it.
  7. Bowser's car will float over you, turn upside down, and drop a large bowling ball (a "Big Steely") that rolls toward you. [4] Get out of the car's way when it turns over, and spin jump with A to leap over the ball. Use the same tactic to avoid the second bowling ball.
    • You can jump over the ball with a regular jump, but spin jumping allows you to touch the top of the ball without getting damaged.
  8. Stun and throw the mechakoopas just as you did before. Bowser will fly away again after the second hit. The clown car will return and give you a second super mushroom.
  9. Bowser will now follow you around and stomp on the floor, trying to crush you. Since Bowser bounces off the edge of the stage, it's usually impossible for him to reach you if you run to the left edge and duck until he stops stomping. [5] This does not work in the Gameboy Advance version of the game, so you'll need to dodge his jumps instead. Bowser jumps in a steady rhythm, so it's not too hard to time it correctly. The moment after he starts an upward jump is a good time to run under him. Keep running after you're through, as Bowser changes direction quickly.
    • Avoid the propeller of the clown car, which can damage you.
  10. Bowser will drop another bowling ball, then toss out more mechakoopas. Throw two more mechakoopas at Bowser to win the game. This time, Bowser will keep stomping on the ground while the mechakoopas are around. This is the toughest part of the fight, so it may take a few attempts.
    • Bowser will destroy stunned mechakoopas if he bounces too near them. [6] If you can, grab a mechakoopa when you're at the opposite side of the screen from browser.
    11. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Defeating Bowser with a Cape

PDF download Download Article
  1. The easiest place to do this is level 2-1, the first level of Donut Plains. Jump on the "super koopa" with a flashing cape at the very start of the level. Collect the feather that pops out to get the cape.
    • The cape win is usually used for speedruns or just for fun. Since you need to keep the cape power-up the whole time on your way to Bowser, the normal method above is usually easier.
  2. Practice flying . When you have the cape, you can launch yourself into the air by pressing B while Mario is running. The more speed Mario picks up, the higher you'll go. To keep flying, hold the B button and alternate hitting the left and right arrows of the D-pad to rock Mario back and forth. [7] Press forward on the D-pad to make Mario dive and pick up speed, then press back to use this speed to ascend higher again. Practice this until you can stay in the air for any length of time without falling. You can also use these moves: [8]
    • Use X or Y to spin around, knocking objects and enemies next to you with the cape.
    • Spin jump with A while Mario is running at maximum speed to launch yourself very high.
    • Glide down slowly by holding A or B.
  3. This is the second level in the Valley of Bowser, and it contains a secret that lets you skip most of Bowser's Castle. (This will make keeping the cape power-up easier.) Play through the first two screens as usual, until you enter the second pipe.
    • If you lose the cape early on, you can get it back. Right after you enter the second screen, jump up the steps to your left and look for a hidden block up near the top left corner of the stage. [9]
  4. On the third screen, the pipe spits you out in the middle of the moving yellow "maze." Jump through this quickly, and you'll soon reach a gap with a mole in it. At this point, use your cape to fly up through the top of the screen, and go left. Walk left across the top of the stage, and you'll fall into a room with a secret door leading to a secret level, Valley Fortress. [10]
  5. Most of this level involves timed jumps or movement to run through skewers, or to avoid spikes that fall from the ceiling (which are a slightly different color from normal spikes). Once you beat this level, and the familiar fortress boss at the end (Reznors), you'll unlock the secret Back Door level. [11]
    • You can get a cape here as well. Hit the green block right after the first set of skewers. [12]
    • You do not need to keep your cape to beat this level.
  6. The Back Door skips over most of Bowser's Castle, and does not add any new challenges. Just make sure to keep your cape throughout this whole level if you want to use it for the boss fight.
  7. The cape makes it easy to avoid most of Bowser's attacks by flying over him, and allows you to spin the cape to stun the mechakoopas.
    • The fastest way to defeat Bowser using a cape involves jumping on him from above, timing it so you land on a mechakoopa right as he releases it. [13] This can take quite a bit of practice and precise timing.
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I kick Mechakoopa upwards (what buttons do I press)?
    Community Answer
    You have to jump on the Mechakoopa, then walk into it while holding Y to carry it. Hold up and release Y to throw it up.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 33
  • Question
    How do I keep Mario suspended in air until it's the right time?
    Community Answer
    Use the B button to keep Mario falling slowly, then release it when you want him to fall quickly.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 20
  • Question
    How does bowser breathe fire?
    Community Answer
    He moves offscreen and sends fireballs raining down. Move in-between them to avoid them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 20
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Try to keep Bowser near the center of the screen when he's about to throw mechakoopas. If he throws one too far off screen, it will not walk back and you'll need to wait for another. [14]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • If Mario has the cape and takes damage while flying, you will automatically spin jump and start falling, but you will not lose the cape. Fly whenever possible to reduce the chance that you lose the cape before you reach Bowser.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      • Some speedruns use a complex glitch that creates a permanent cloud power-up. You can even use this cloud to skip phases of the Bowser fight, by taking advantage of how the Mario game uses memory.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Connect an Xbox Controller to Switch
      How to
      Hack Your Nintendo Switch and Install Games
      How to
      Play with 2 Players on the Nintendo Switch
      An Easy Guide to Connecting a Switch Pro Controller to a PC
      Connecting a Switch to a TV Without a Dock: How-to (with pictures)
      How to
      Get Max FPS on Your Nintendo Switch
      7 Simple Ways to Fix Nintendo Switch Not Connecting to TV
      3 Simple Ways to Connect Your Switch to Hotel Wi-Fi
      2 Quick Tricks to Restart Animal Crossing: New Horizons
      10 Solutions to Fix a Nintendo Switch Dock That Isn't Working
      How to
      Know if Your Nintendo Account is Suspended or Banned
      How to
      Share Nintendo Switch Games with Friends and Family
      Complete Guide to Building Bridges in AC: New Horizons
      Finding & Unlocking Brewster & The Roost In ACNH
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.mariowiki.com/Mechakoopa#Super_Mario_World
      2. ↑ https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/519824-super-mario-world/answers/6412-how-do-i-beat-bowser
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj-Mf0ZVoGs
      4. ↑ http://www.mariowiki.com/Big_Steely
      5. ↑ http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Super_Mario_World/Front_Door#Bowser
      6. ↑ http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Super_Mario_World/Bosses#Bowser
      7. ↑ http://www.ign.com/wikis/super-mario-advance-2-super-mario-world/Basics
      8. ↑ http://www.mariowiki.com/Cape_Mario
      9. ↑ http://www.mariowiki.com/Valley_of_Bowser_2
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIi5RcUOFm4
      2. ↑ http://www.mariowiki.com/Valley_Fortress
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jeoZn3ZRuk
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubeVWlgnAWs
      5. ↑ http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Super_Mario_World/Bosses#Bowser

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 164,971 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement