Editing Buff

[[File:FalconDownAirBuff.png|thumb|An example of a buff, involving slightly increased hitbox sizes in [[Captain Falcon]]'s down air.]]

==Notable Examples of buffs in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==

**Additionally, {{SSBM|Link}} and {{SSBM|Samus}} now have a [[grab aerial]]; which they can use as a extra attack or as a additional recovery option.

*[[Air dodge]]s have been introduced where the player can dodge in the air into any direction they want to. This not only gives everyone a defensive option in the air but it also gives characters an additional recovery option. When performed diagonally into the ground, it will make the player slide across the ground known as [[wavedash]]ing. Wavedashing gives characters an additional movement option on the ground which especially benefits characters with low [[traction]]; most notably {{SSBM|Luigi}}.

*When the player lets go off a [[ledge]], it will no longer cancel the [[intangibility]] gained from grabbing the ledge. This allows multiple characters to safely stall at the ledge with {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}} being the character who can abuse it the most. The player can also quickly waveland onto the stage after getting off the ledge which can allow them to perform many of their moves while still being intangible with {{SSBM|Fox}} and Luigi being two characters who can solidly abuse this.

 

*Jigglypuff significantly benefits from ''Melee''{{'}}s universal changes and its aerial mobility has been significantly increased; with its back and forward aerials also having less ending lag. These changes make Jigglypuff's [[Wall of Pain]] much more effective than it was previously. [[Rest]] has also received a significant increase to its already extreme strength and [[Pound]] has become a much more effective stalling option. A mid-tier character in ''Smash 64'', Jigglypuff is now considered among the strongest characters in ''Melee''.

*As previously mentioned, Luigi immensely benefits from the addition of wavedashing, improving his previously unreliable and unsafe ground approach from his poor [[traction]]. Luigi also has better frame data overall and he has gained new combo starters such as his down smash, and neutral aerial. Considered the worst character in ''Smash 64'', Luigi jumped to the mid-tiers in ''Melee'' and commands a sizeable playerbase.

*In the transition, a majority of veterans were overall nerfed in terms of their movesets (especially higher tiered characters) however, the game's universal gameplay changes have significantly benefitted most of the cast resulting in a fair amount of characters being stronger overall even if their toolset is weaker overall.

*Fast falling speeds have been increased across the board; making many characters harder to juggle.

*The effect of hitstun cancelling and DI have been significantly decreased. This has greatly improved the combo potential of many characters with some examples being {{SSB4|Mario}}, {{SSB4|Luigi}}, {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}} and {{SSB4|Sheik}}.

*The effect of [[SDI]] has been reduced which makes many multi-hitting moves considerably more reliable and difficult to escape.

*Edge hogging has been replaced with ledge trumping; which has made recovering much easier and has made edge-guarding much harder. The only option a player has to stop their opponent from grabbing the edge is to hit them during the first two frames of their ledge grab animation which is more difficult and less consistent/effective than edge hogging. This especially benefits characters who had rather poor recoveries in the previous game.  

*[[Roll]]s and especially air dodges are noticeably faster. Air dodges in particular have less startup lag and much less ending lag; making them easily spammable in the air. This further improves each character's recovery and ability to escape juggles.

*Chain grabbing has been removed. While this hinders some characters, it also greatly benefits other characters such as {{SSB4|Fox}} and Sheik.

*[[Rage]] has been introduced where moves deal more knockback as a character's percent increases. This enables players to KO earlier if they themselves are at KO percent. This particularly benefits heavyweights who can easily build up a lot of rage as well as characters who have powerful ladder combos and moves with very high set knockback such as Mario, {{SSB4|Peach}}, {{SSB4|Samus}}, {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}} and {{SSB4|Bayonetta}}. These characters can potentially KO their opponents as low as 0% if they have enough rage.

 

*{{SSB4|Captain Falcon}} has greatly benefited from the game's universal changes, restoring his previously powerful combo ability in ''Melee'', including set-ups into his [[Knee Smash]] due to his altered up aerial. Along with this, buffs to the distance granted by his dash grab also grant Captain Falcon a variety of new combo starters; general increases to his range also made Falcon's approach safer in ''Smash 4'' compared to ''Brawl''. The reworked ledge mechanics also buff his recovery, which was previously considered among the worst in ''Brawl''. Considered one of the worst characters in ''Brawl'', Captain Falcon is generally seen as a high tier in ''Smash 4''.

*Of all characters, {{SSB4|Mario}} is generally considered to have been buffed the most. The game's universal changes greatly benefit him, granting him a much more powerful combo game that the opponent can't escape from. His aerial mobility has also been improved significantly which gives him a much better recovery when combined with various universal changes. With these buffs, he is usually seen as a top tier or at the very least, a high tier.

*{{SSB4|Ness}} also significantly benefits from various universal changes, which benefitted his ability to setup and finish combos, most notably through [[PK Fire]] and his down tilt. Ness' forward aerial also connects better and is a greater combo tool due to universal changes; allowing it to easily chain into itself at low percents. His grab and throw game are even more effective due to various universal changes. Ness' grounded [[grab release]] also has reduced ending lag to match the rest of the cast; removing many grab follow-ups that could previously be performed on the character. A low-mid tiered character in ''Brawl'', Ness is now considered a low high-tier character in ''Smash 4 ''

*Due to her separation from {{SSB4|Zelda}}, {{SSB4|Sheik}} has gained a new down special known as [[Bouncing Fish]]. This new down special gives Sheik a new recovery option and a new KO move; offsetting two of her more notable weaknesses in the previous game. Her air speed is also much higher which also significantly improves her recovery and general mobility in the air. Sheik greatly benefits from the game's universal changes overall with her combo ability being considerably expanded upon and her altered forward aerial has made it an effective combo tool. Initially a low-mid character in ''Brawl'', Sheik is widely considered one of the best characters in ''Smash 4'' albeit to a lesser extent than in earlier versions of the game.

*{{SSB4|Sonic}} was significantly buffed due to his KO power being noticeably increased. He now has more KO moves and he overall benefits from the game's universal changes. His multi-hits are more reliable/consistent and his combo game is greater overall. The game's universal changes also considerably aid his KO potential. He has gone from 22nd place in the Brawl tier list to 7th in the Smash 4 list. This also makes him the third highest veteran in the game, and his tournament results are still beyond average as of today.

*{{SSB4|Bowser}}'s mobility has improved drastically and his KO power has also been considerably increased. His up throw is also now a powerful combo tool (as of [[1.1.3]]) which can even lead into an up aerial for an early KO. Bowser also greatly benefits from the inclusion of rage as it further boosts his already higher KO power and due to his extreme weight (which has been significantly increased), he can very easily build up a lot of rage. Considered a low/bottom tier character in ''Brawl'', Bowser is now a solid High tier in ''Smash 4''.

*{{SSB4|Marth}} was significantly nerfed from ''Brawl'', with less effective range, poorer frame data, poor approaching options, and a weakened grab game, resulting in a precipitous fall from the top tier in ''Brawl'' to the bottom tier  in ''Smash 4''. [[Updates]] however, slowly begun to improve Marth's and {{SSB4|Lucina}}'s standing in the competitive community (especially after update [[1.1.4]]), with said updates improving his frame data, range, damage output and KO power. His neutral attack in particular was significantly buffed. In later updates, it launches opponents vertically and received less ending lag; making it a powerful combo tool. With these improvements, Marth's previously small playerbase increased, and his standing in the metagame had improved significantly. He was ranked as a low tier on the first tier list although in the last two tier lists, he has regained his position as a top tier character.

*While {{SSB4|Mewtwo}} received some buffs in ''Smash 4'' compared to ''Melee'', such as improved strength and consistency in its aerial and special moves and speedier movement, Mewtwo was still initially considered a low-tier character in ''Smash 4'', due to its poor approach and grab game in comparison to ''Melee''; furthermore, one of Mewtwo's biggest flaws in ''Melee'', its poor combination of being light, floaty, and large, was made worse in ''Smash 4''. Updates, however, have improved Mewtwo's standing in the metagame, with its mobility being drastically increased as well as having improved frame data, KO power and survivability. Initially a low tier in ''Melee'' and early versions of ''Smash 4'', Mewtwo jumped to the tenth position in the second ''Smash 4'' tier list where it has remained for the past three tier lists.

*In transition to ''Ultimate'', many veterans have been buffed significantly due to a vast majority of universal changes mostly because the game was reworked to speed up gameplay such as landing lag reduction, air dodge mechanics, and offensive plays.

 

*{{SSBU|Roy}} and {{SSBU|Lucina}} arguably benefit the most from ''Ultimate''{{'}}s universal changes and mechanics. The nerfing of defensive options compliment their aggressive playstyle when compared to their parent character {{SSBU|Marth}}, and the universal mobility buffs, landing lag reductions, and ability to cancel a dash into any ground attack greatly improve their approaches and make landing the sweetspot of Roy's sword attacks easier.

*Compared to other fighters, {{SSBU|Pichu}} was one of the most buffed characters. Pichu's recoil, which is one of the big problems that caused its bottom tier status in Melee, was not only decreased, but also now benefits it with thanks to rage. Not only that, but its approach options are more effective, as Pichu's fast mobility has improved and it can now crawl. Not only do Pichu's electric attacks do more damage and less recoil, but it is now much heavier, although it's still the lightest character in the game. This, combined with its fast mobility helps Pichu fight better. Pichu was considered to be a top-tier in the early stages of the game, though it later got noteworthy nerfs through game updates which affected its viability, it nonetheless remains a strong character and drastically better than its ''Melee'' appearance.  

*{{SSBU|Shulk}}'s aerials have decreased landing lag, thus improving his frame data allowing for more guaranteed follow ups along with his buffed Monado Arts which can now be switched faster. Additionally, he can now use the advanced technique {{h2|Monado Arts|dial storage}}.

*{{SSBU|Ryu}} was notorious for his poor performance due to the nerfs he received during his initial release. His [[Echo Fighter]] {{SSBU|Ken}} was slightly more prominent as he performs slightly better than him, though Ken was still regarded as low-tier. Possibly as a result of this, update 3.1.0 addresses several buffs that grants both Ryu and Ken even more combo potential. All of their moves were made to connect into each other much more fluidly such as their held attacks and longer input window.

*Since the early metagame of ''Ultimate'', {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}} was designated as a lower tiered character. His combo game was significantly nerfed, going from among the best to just mediocre. He retains his weaknesses in the form of his bad damage output, bad KO game, and poor recovery. This led to a negative reception where Diddy Kong was regarded as unviable. Luckily, Diddy Kong was heavily buffed in future patches, which made him fare better relative to the cast. Notably, [[Rocketbarrel Boost]] now recovers a further distance when charged.