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".

For example: From Melee to Brawl, Zelda is slightly quicker, Din's Fire was improved, and some attacks were made more powerful.

Characters who had attributes buffed from SSB to SSBM

• Samus: Recovery, new projectile.
• Link: Much better recovery (from arguably the worst to one of the best), faster character
• Captain Falcon: Horizontal aerial movement, his great new Knee Smash.
• Jigglypuff: Rest is much stronger, increased priority, Pound is much faster, all jumps give height, increased range, better horizontal aerial movement.
• Donkey Kong: Giant Punch is faster, much faster air speed, faster character overall.
• Mario: Front air has changed, which has the ability to Meteor Smash.
• Luigi: Front air has changed and has much more KO potential. Down air has also changed (slightly) and can Meteor Smash like Mario's new F-air.
• Kirby: Kirbycide is easier and has more B choices, thanks to the bigger cast of characters. He can also Meteor Smash better (D-air has more knock back).
• Ness: Has a very strong projectile (PK Flash) and has the Chain Jacket.
• Yoshi: He can Moonwalk and his recovery improved.
• Pikachu: Has a down smash that can combo up opponents and a good KO move (Skull Bash).
• Fox: Has the ability to infinite shine, wave shine, shine jump cancel, he's quicker in speed and in attacks, he has stronger attacks, and a lot more recovery choices.

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