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Dry Bowser (also known as Dry Bones Bowser, Bowser Bones, or The Skeletal version of Bowser) is an undead and skeletal version of Bowser, with his name obviously playing off of Dry Bones. Dry Bowser is the king of the Dry Bones similar to how Bowser is the king of the Koopas[1] and is shown leading them in various games such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, like other bony beings throughout the series, Dry Bowser possesses an immunity to fireballs. He made his debut in New Super Mario Bros., where he ascended as the result of Mario defeating Bowser by dropping him into lava at the end of the first castle. Several later games such as Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, and Mario Party: Island Tour have shown Dry Bowser to appear separately from Bowser with the latter interestingly revealing Dry Bowser to be a close family friend to Bowser.[2]


Appearance[]

Dry Bowser is a skinless version of Bowser. He has coal-black eyes with glowing red pupils. He has blackish-red spike cuffs and he has grayish-white bones. He has two horns and tomato-red hair. He wears a coal-black shell with wiggly, stationary, tomato-red lines going across the shell without bumping each other. Like Morton Koopa Jr, he has a ribbed stomach of the same color, but slightly yellow in color (not tan like all other Koopalings). His feet don't have any skin and they are white in color with claw-like nails. His personality is malicious and he makes a bloodcurdling, noisy howl which can be heard almost far away. His ability is to throw bones and he can breath blue fire just like King Boo from Super Mario 64 DS does. He is highly resistant to fire, unlike all of the other bosses from New Super Mario Bros.

Appearances[]

New Super Mario Bros.[]

When Mario confronts Bowser at the end of World 1's Castle, Bowser is dropped in a pit of lava like in the original Super Mario Bros. Instead of disappearing off screen, Bowser briefly appears with his flesh burning off. Following this, Bowser Jr. takes his father's remains.

Much later, in World 8's Castle, Mario encounters him in a fight for the first time. Dry Bowser fights similar to Bowser, except he throws bones like Bowser threw hammers in Super Mario Bros. However, he can still spit fireballs too. He is invulnerable to most attacks, including fireballs. He also moves at a faster speed than the regular Bowser. Shell Mario can defeat him by sliding into him at full speed, and Mega Mario can defeat him by simply making contact with him.

After the Castle, a bridge appears to another section of World 8. After this, the Bowser Castle is located. At the end of this castle, Bowser Jr. throws Bowser's bones into a magic pot and Bowser is revived, leading to a final confrontation between Mario and the Koopas.

In world 8, Dry Bowser can be easily defeated by jumping over him and pressing the switch to destroy the platform below him (Just like in Super Mario Bros.)

Super Mario 3D Land[]

Dry Bowser appears in every castle in the special worlds 1-8. He acts the same as Bowser, except he breathes blue fire. This blue fire has no special capabilities whatsoever.

A few moments after Mario rescues Peach from Bowser’s clutches, Dry Bowser returns and, to lure his archenemy into the Special Worlds, takes Mario’s younger twin brother, Luigi, hostage and locks him up in the first Special World. The two however get found by Mario, who came in the Special Worlds to rescue his twin. Despite getting defeated by Mario, Dry Bowser returns twice for his revenge, but gets defeated again by him and Luigi.

Skelebowwii

Official art of Dry Bowser in Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii[]

Dry Bowser appears in Mario Kart Wii as a heavyweight character. According to early leakers of the game, he is unlocked by obtaining a Rank 1 Star in every 150cc Wii Grand Prix course.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[]

Dry Bowser also appears in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games as a boss on the final level. You have to play him and three Dry Bones in a hockey match. In DS version of this game, he kidnapped of Frosty 's second friend. He challenges Mario and Sonic to play Supersonic Downhill. When you vanquish him, he will free Pola and run away.

Mario Kart 8[]

Dry Bowser appears as a downloadable playable character in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, in the former, he is a downloadable DLC character in the second of two add-on packs while in the latter, he is available from the game's star. Bone-Dry Dunes also has a part of his head on the cliff face over the cave, and an advertisement on Twisted Mansion for "Undead Motors" uses his emblem.

Mario Kart Tour[]

Dry Bowser is a high-end tier character and was one of the very few high-end characters available at launch. His special item is the Bowser's Shell. There is also a variant of him, known as Dry Bowser (Gold) was introduced in the Cooking Tour and is also a high-end tier character. Dry Bowser (Gold) uses the Bob-omb Cannon as his special item.

Dry Bowser (Gold)

Dry Bowser (Gold) from Mario Kart Tour

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Trivia[]

  • Bowser has previously been seen falling in lava in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan) without showing his apparent demise. In Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS, however, Bowser wasn't affected when falling in lava in Bowser in the Fire Sea. Additionally, in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Bowser comments that he loves the smell of lava in his castle.
  • In New Super Mario Bros., He started throwing bones in an upwards direction, making this the first time Bowser did throw his projectiles in a New Super Mario Bros game, and the first time Dry Bowser throwing projectiles.

References[]

  1. Mario Kart Wii Official Guide pg. 28 - After a little dip in lava, Dry Bowser, king of the Dry Bones returns invincible. Fortunately though, he's driving the same karts and bikes as everyone else!
  2. Bowser in Mario Party: Island Tour - "Meh, WHATEVER! The next guard is a close family friend. BWAHAHA!"
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