In a game patch, the developers change a character. They reduce damage, increase cooldown, or lower health. That is a nerf. The opposite is a buff. Nerfs make a character weaker. They are usually unwelcome. Players complain. But nerfs are necessary. A character that is too strong ruins the game. The nerf restores balance.

The word comes from the toy brand Nerf. Nerf guns shoot soft foam. They are harmless. To nerf something is to make it harmless. The gaming use started in the 1990s. It is now standard. "They nerfed my main." "The new patch nerfed tanks." It is a word of disappointment.

Related terms

• Buff: to strengthen.
• Patch: an update.
• Balance: the goal of nerfs and buffs.
• Power creep: when new content is stronger than old.

Nerfs are a conversation between developers and players. Players complain. Developers adjust. The cycle never ends. A nerf is a correction. It is also a test. If it is too strong, the character becomes useless. If it is too weak, the problem remains. The perfect nerf is invisible. It makes the game better without anyone noticing.