A change that makes something weaker.

To nerf something is to reduce its power, usually through a balance patch. The name comes from the foam toy brand. The opposite is a buff.

Example
They nerfed my favorite character’s damage by 20%.

Cite this page

VGS Daniel. “Nerf.” Video Game Scholar, 25 Sept. 2026, videogamescholar.com/dictionary/nerf.

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