What is Nerf?
1.
To make worse or weaken, usually in the context of weakening something in order to balance out a game.
Why the hell did Blizzard nerf Marines' attack damage?
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2.
To weaken or make less dangerous. Taken from the "Nerf" brand name, which makes sports equipment toys out of a soft foam (e.g., the Nerf football is soft foam rather than the hard leather of a real football). Used frequently in the context of computer game balance changes.
"The chaingun was awesome til they nerfed it, now you can't hit shit with it."
3.
To diminish the power or effectiveness of...
To make less potent.
Originally, this was a product line of foam based toys for children. It was adopted by the online gaming community to refer to the reduction in power of a game feature for the sake of balance.
This term is now seeing more widespread generic usage, usually in reference to mechanical devices, or personal powers within a business framework.
antonyms: Buff(v), Spike(v)
My dad totally nerfed my access to the internet. Life suxx0rz since the advent of the NetNanny!
Did you hear that Henley got Nerfed?? It's probably because he handled the Parker account so poorly.
4.
Usually in first person shooters and RPGs, when game developers think a weapon is far too powerful, and threatens the stability of the game, and weakens the aspects of that power drmatically to rebalance it.
When diablo 2 came out, everyone played either a necromancer or a barbarian. Now necromancers is nerfed to a point where its intolerably difficult to duel against other players without people just dodging your summoned minions and shove a axe into your face.
5.
Nerfs are grumpy, antlered herbivores, resembling yaks, raised on many planets, including Alderaan, Gestron and Corellia, for their milk and meat. Herders of the beasts are well known for being as scruffy looking and surly as their livestock, and to be called a "nerf herder" (as Han Solo is by Princess Leia) is considered a strong insult.
"Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder!"
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6.
A. When something unexpectant happens
B. When an overpowered thing gets decrease in skill or value
A. Oh man, nerf you. How did you do that?
B. Thanks god warlocks were nerfed, they were raping the fagget outta me.
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7.
to lower the strength, experience, or any attribute of a certain character in any MMORPG via patching.
The word originated from Star Wars Galaxies (Sony online entertainment, Lucas Arts). By Ryan Nero and Rob Preusse. As a joke they invented several words in game and were curios to see if they stuck.
"They totally nerfed the XP in groups...", "My mage got soooo nerfed on the last patch!"
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