Buff

A buff is a term used to describe the improvement of a character (or aspect of a character), either through updating a game or by releasing a sequel. The opposite term is "nerf" which means to weaken the character between sequel games.

A good example of a character being buffed is Zelda in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where she has quicker, stronger attacks, in strong contrast to her attributes in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Characters who had attributes buffed from Super Smash Bros. to Melee

• Captain Falcon: His air speed was increased; has a new forward aerial, the Knee Smash, a devastating horizontal finisher. His SSB forward aerial is now his neutral aerial. His up smash was changed and made more powerful. Lastly, the Falcon Kick restores his second jump.
• Donkey Kong: His Giant Punch is faster and has less ending lag, his air speed is much faster, and he is a faster character overall; up aerial can now combo opponents.
• Fox: He now has the ability to infinite shine, wave shine, shine jump cancel; he has faster movement and attacks; his attacks are stronger; and he has an additional recovery option with Fox Illusion.
• Jigglypuff: Rest is much stronger; Pound is much faster; all jumps now give height; increased reach in its attacks; its air speed is faster.
• Kirby: Forward tilt is stronger. Kirby can also now Kirbycide. Also his swallow buffed due to the better self destruct method and having more characters to choose from.
• Link: His recovery is much better (from arguably the worst to one of the best); he is a faster character overall. Better SHFFL so he can combo easier and his air game is improved.
• Luigi: Has a new forward aerial with much greater knockback; his down aerial has also changed (slightly) with increased knockback and it can now meteor smash like Mario's new forward aerial; has a new special move, Green Missile, which can aid in horizontal recovery as well as be a devastating KO move if it misfires.
• Mario: Has a new forward aerial, which has the ability to meteor smash; he has a reflector in his Cape; he has also gained the ability to chain throw opponents.
• Ness: He now has a very strong projectile in PK Flash.
• Pikachu: Its down smash can now combo opponents; Quick Attack can now hit opponents; has a new special in Skull Bash that can be a powerful KO move as well as aid in recovery.
• Samus: Her recovery was improved, has a new very effective projectile in the Smash Missiles; she is also a faster character overall.
• Yoshi: His recovery was improved.

Characters who had attributes buffed from Melee to Brawl

• Bowser: Fire Breath now can be aimed up and down, recharges faster, and has longer range; forward tilt has better range; Bowser Bomb falls faster, is much stronger (can reliably KO under 100%), and also hits during the rising animation when used on the ground; up smash has longer range; increased jump height; increased air speed. Faster overall.
• Captain Falcon: Falcon Punch now charges faster, Raptor Boost now is easier to use for both attacking and recovery, Falcon Dive can grab foes on a ledge, making him harder to edgehog.
• Donkey Kong: Fully charged Giant Punch now has super armor frames; Headbutt is faster, stronger and can bury opponents from midair; down and forward tilts (when angled down) now trip; Spinning Kong travels slightly farther (both horizontally and vertically) and has super armor frames (when used on the ground); up smash can hit grounded opponents; all smashes hit opponents with much higher knockback; Hand Slap has more range and damage; better approach options; increased shield size. Several other attacks have slightly increased range, speed, and/or power, making him an overall better character.
• Falco: Up smash and up aerial are much stronger. Falco Phantasm is faster and travels farther, making it a better attack and recovery move. Down throw can now chain throw and is one of the best chain-throws in the game (it is arguably the most versatile chain-throw in Brawl). He is also less vulnerable to combos and chain-throws (he is perhaps, the fast-faller least vulnerable to chain-throws).
• Ice Climbers: Both can grab ledges simultaneously; Belay is a tether recovery if near the ledge; lone Belay gives slight distance; the partner's AI is increased.
• Kirby: Improved throws; increased priority; much stronger smashes; slightly faster air speed (still slow); Swallow can eat items; his hammer no longer requires sweetspotting; increased range; throws are now inescapable. Faster and much more powerful overall. He is on par with Mr. G&W for being the most buffed character in Brawl.
• Luigi: Forward smash has much higher knockback; back throw is stronger; Green Missile can be charged infinitely, and misfire travels a shorter distance to prevent SDs; Vertical momentum is carried into Green Missile and Luigi Cyclone rather than just stopping and the attack executing; much easier to move vertically with Luigi Cyclone; Super Jump Punch is more like its SSB counterpart and covers more horizontal distance when helpless; lateral air speed is generally faster (but is still the second-slowest); down taunt has higher set knockback. Stronger overall.
• Mario: Super Jump Punch has more knockback; down air (which is now the Mario Tornado) is faster and has more knockback than his Melee down aerial; Cape carries any momentum with it, allowing for new techniques such as the Cape Glide; Cape reverses foes' momentum.
• Marth: Dolphin Slash has invincibility frames and more KO potential; Counter damage now scales with the countered attack; Dancing Blade is faster and easier to perform.
• Mr. Game & Watch: Increased priority; larger shield; Fire now produces a parachute (instead of his neutral aerial), and he can attack after using it; Oil Panic can cancel all knockback dealt to him; larger sweetspot and stronger sourspot in down smash. Even though his overall speed didn't change, brawl's gameplay slowed down, putting him at a less disadvantage than melee. He is on par with Kirby for being the most buffed character in Brawl.
• Ness: Down aerial has higher range, speed, and power; Dash Grab has better range and is faster; PK Thunder 2 has less lag and is much more powerful; up smash and down smash now have KO potential; PK Flash charges slightly faster and is easier to control; PK Fire is faster; back throw is slightly more powerful. Stronger overall.
• Peach: Three weapons in her forward smash is stronger. Tennis Racket's sweetspot deals more damage, higher horizontal knockback and now has a stronger semi-spike (now can KO above 60%). Golf Club deals more damage and knockback (now can KO above 99%). Frying Pan's sweetspot deals more damage and knockback (now can KO above 100%). Up smash's sweetspot is stronger in terms of knockback (now became the highest KO potential of all Peach's attack). Peach Bomber covers more distance. Her aerial attacks have less lag. Peach Parasol covers more vertical and horizontal distance. Dair deals more damage and knockback. Toad comes out faster and lasts longer. Larger chance of pulling out bob-omb, beam sword, and Mr Saturn when vegetable is used. Her new up tilt has large hitbox and has disjointed hitbox.
• Pikachu: Thunder has less ending lag and is stronger when it connects with Pikachu; increased grab range (no longer the shortest); Quick Attack can now be used to perform a QAC. It is also capable of performing large chain-throws now (it is one of the four premier chain-throwers).
• Sheik: Forward tilt can now lock most characters, Chain moves more freely and can be used as a tether recovery, Vanish has less lag and is stronger in terms on knockback, Needle Storm now stops charging when it is fully charged (instead of having to press Z to save them).
• Yoshi: Egg Toss can be used for recovery; several tilts and aerials improved; faster air speed (ranked the best in the game).
• Zelda: Din's Fire now has larger hitbox, is much faster and stronger, and has less ending lag; Farore's Wind creates an explosion upon reappearing; up aerial is a much better finisher; sweetspotted aerials have increased in knockback; slightly increased dash speed; faster grab. Stronger overall.

See also

• Nerf