- Bowser Kaboom Squad is an 8-player co-op boss battle mode against Impostor Bowser.
- Core loop: break crates, carry bombs to the cannon, and unload 20 bombs per volley.
- Impostor Bowser has 120 HP across three phases: green, yellow, and red.
- Collect 100 coins to trigger Bonus Time with golden double-damage bombs.
- Five rounds, 90 seconds each: fail to win and the arena is destroyed.
Bowser Kaboom Squad Overview
Bowser Kaboom Squad is one of the Bowser Challenges modes in Super Mario Party Jamboree (also included in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition). Eight players team up in a city-themed arena to take down Impostor Bowser by collecting bombs from crates and loading them into a cannon. The cannon fires once it holds 20 bombs — or fewer, if that volley is enough to finish the boss.
Video Highlights:
- Full five-round match against Impostor Bowser
- Crate-breaking, bomb carrying, and cannon loading in action
- Minigame results screen showing S-rank item rewards
- Bonus Time sequence with golden bombs
- Final victory animation with Super Stars
The mode is structured around five rounds of one and a half minutes each. Between rounds, players compete in an 8-player minigame, and the final rank determines which support items they can pick. Stages are named after the enemies that appear in them, such as Chargin' Chucks and Bomber Bills.
The cannon fires automatically at 20 bombs. If your squad feeds it steadily, you get roughly one volley per round — enough to defeat Impostor Bowser comfortably within five rounds if Bonus Time damage is added on top.
Impostor Bowser: HP Phases and Attack Patterns
Impostor Bowser starts with 120 HP, shown on a three-segment health bar. Each segment changes his behavior, so your team should adjust priorities as the fight progresses.
| Phase | HP Threshold | Behavior | Attacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 120–80 HP | Chases players directly | Body attacks, pursuit |
| Yellow | Below 80 HP lost (40 HP dealt) | Mixed aggression | Fire Breath, claw swipe |
| Red | Below 40 HP remaining (80 HP dealt) | Heavy area control | Sky fireballs creating lava puddles, homing shell |
Key details for each phase:
- Green segment: Impostor Bowser follows and attacks players directly. This is the safest window to farm crates and coins.
- Yellow segment: Watch for Fire Breath and claw swipes, especially when carrying bombs back to the cannon.
- Red segment: Fireballs launched into the sky become lava puddles on landing, and a homing shell can chase a single player across the arena.
Any player hit by an attack is trapped in a bubble. A teammate must hit the bubble to revive them — never leave a bubbled ally behind, because rescue count affects your final rating.
Every second a player stays bubbled is lost bomb-carrying time. Designate the nearest teammate to pop bubbles immediately; rescued-player count is one of the factors in your end-of-match star rating.
Round-by-Round Strategy
Consistent round structure wins matches. Follow this loop every round to keep cannon pressure high while minimizing downtime.
Break Crates Early
Sprint to the nearest crates at round start. A Hammer slows your swings but increases damage per hit; an Iron Hammer maxes out hit strength for instant breaks.
Carry Bombs to the Cannon
Each player carries bombs back to the cannon. Use Dash Panels to speed up delivery — later rounds allow placing more panels at once.
Trigger the Cannon at 20 Bombs
The cannon fires at 20 bombs (or fewer if that finishes the boss). Keep the count climbing so it fires every round without interruption.
Grab Coins Between Deliveries
Coins appear across the arena throughout the match. Collecting 100 coins triggers Bonus Time: bombs turn golden for 30 seconds and deal double damage.
Win the End-of-Round Minigame
Your minigame rank (S, A, or C) decides which items you can select. Aim for S-rank to unlock the strongest support items.
Golden bombs during Bonus Time deal double damage. If your team saves crate bombs and coordinates during the 30-second window, a single Bonus Time can strip an entire health segment.
Item Rewards by Minigame Rank
End-of-round minigame performance directly translates into support items. Higher ranks unlock stronger, stacked versions of each item.
| Item | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Dash Panel | Temporary speed boost | Faster bomb delivery runs |
| Hammer | Slower swings, higher damage per hit | Breaking crates quickly |
| Iron Hammer | Maxes out hit strength | S-rank exclusive, instant crate breaks |
| Triple/Double Bananas | Distracts Impostor Bowser | Emergency escape when chased |
| Triple/Double Lightning | Disrupts Impostor Bowser | Interrupting Red-phase attacks |
| Bowser Bell | Attracts Impostor Bowser | Drawing him away from crate routes |
| Mighty Glove | Boosts player strength | Faster crate destruction |
Rank-based rewards summary:
| Rank | Reward Tier |
|---|---|
| S | Triple/Double stack items, Iron Hammer, Mighty Glove, Bowser Bell |
| A | Double/single versions, standard Hammer, Mighty Glove |
| C | No items |
Delivery Build
- Dash Panels
- Banana for escapes
- Best for fast carry loops
Crate-Breaker Build
- Iron Hammer or Hammer
- Mighty Glove
- Best for high bomb output
Support Build
- Lightning
- Bowser Bell
- Best for protecting the squad
In the Spanish, French, and Italian versions, ranks are ordered A, B, C, and D from highest to lowest — the same convention used in Super Mario Party.
Victory, Defeat, and Star Rating
Two endings are possible in Bowser Kaboom Squad:
| Outcome | Condition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Victory | Deplete 120 HP within five rounds | Players grab Super Stars, become invincible, and send Impostor Bowser flying |
| Defeat | Time expires with HP remaining | Impostor Bowser destroys the arena with fireballs |
After a win, players are rated from one to five stars based on several performance factors:
- Minigame performance across all rounds
- Total time taken to defeat Impostor Bowser
- Number of players rescued from bubbles
A fun detail: when Impostor Bowser wins, he uses his victory animation from Mario Party 10 (amiibo Party) and Super Mario Party, and he performs his defeat roar from those same games when his health bar turns red.
Match Goals for a Five-Star Rating:
- Load the cannon with 20 bombs every round
- Trigger Bonus Time at least once
- Earn S-rank in three or more minigames
- Revive every bubbled teammate quickly
- Defeat Impostor Bowser before round five
Defeat time is a scoring factor. Aggressive crate routes, coordinated Dash Panel placement, and stacked Bonus Time windows are what separate three-star clears from five-star clears.
FAQ
Q: How many players does Bowser Kaboom Squad support?
Bowser Kaboom Squad is an 8-player co-op mode. All eight players fight Impostor Bowser together in the arena, sharing one cannon and one health bar for the boss.
Q: How much HP does Impostor Bowser have in Bowser Kaboom Squad?
Impostor Bowser has 120 HP split across a three-segment bar: green at the start, yellow after losing 40 HP, and red after losing 80 HP. Each phase unlocks more dangerous attacks like lava puddles and a homing shell.
Q: What does Bonus Time do in Bowser Kaboom Squad?
When the team collects 100 coins, Bonus Time begins. For 30 seconds, all bombs turn golden and deal double damage to Impostor Bowser, making it the best window to unload the cannon.
Q: What happens if the team runs out of time?
If Impostor Bowser is not defeated by the end of five rounds, he destroys the arena with fireballs and the players lose. Winning requires depleting all 120 HP before the final timer expires.