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".

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

Characters who had attributes buffed from SSB to SSBM

• Captain Falcon: His air speed was increased; has a new f-air in the Knee Smash, a devastating horizontal finisher (his SSB f-air was made his n-air in Melee). His u-smash was changed and made more powerful. His 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; uair 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, can 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 fair with much more knockback; his dair has also changed (slightly) with increased knockback and it can now meteor smash like Mario's new fair.
• Mario: Has a new fair, 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; 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 SSBM to SSBB

• Bowser: Fire Breath now can be aimed up and down, recharges faster, and has longer range; F-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; U-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 and stronger; D-Tilt and F-Tilt (when angled down) now trip; Spinning Kong travels slightly farther (both horizontally and vertically) and has super armor frames (when used on the ground); U-Smash can hit grounded opponents; F-Smash and D-Smash have 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.
• 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.
• Falco: U-smash and u-air 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).
• 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: F-Smash has much higher knockback; B-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 D-air; Cape carries any momentum with it, allowing for new techniques such as the Cape Glide; Cape reverses foes' momentum.
• Marth: Dolphin Slash improved; 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 N-Air), and he can attack after using it; Oil Panic can cancel all knockback dealt to him; larger sweetspot and stronger sourspot in D-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: D-Air 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; U-Smash and D-Smash now have KO potential; PK Flash charges slightly faster and is easier to control; PK Fire is faster; B-Throw is slightly more powerful. Stronger overall.
• 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. He is also capable of performing large chain-throws now (he is one of the four premier chain-throwers).
• 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; U-Air is a much better finisher; sweetspotted aerials have increased in knockback; slightly increased dash speed; faster grab. Stronger overall.

See Also

• Nerf