Questions About "Buffering"

[DeathlyFerret]

I don't know anything about the technique "buffering", but I've heard about it here and there and I'd like to understand it better.
1. Is it useful/practical?
2. How do you perform it?
3. Is it character specific?
4. Are there any in depth videos or guides on it?

 

[Illuminose]

What buffering allows you to do is perform actions more quickly by inputting the action (buffering it) shortly before another action is complete. In more technical terms, if you input an action within 9 frames before your first actionable frame after the action is complete, and the action will take place on the first actionable frame, as opposed to you having to wait to input your option until the first actionable frame. The main applications of buffering are to get follow-ups out of throws (buffering a jump or other follow-up) and also to act immediately out of really any action, such as an attack, by buffering a shield, roll, jump, or attack. You can also buffer a spot dodge into another spot dodge to minimize vulnerability frames between consecutive spot dodges.

Performed by inputting an action within 9 frames of the ending of the action you are currently in (generally you mash whatever action you wish to perform).

 

[Doval]

What buffering allows you to do is perform actions more quickly by inputting the action (buffering it) shortly before another action is complete.

I wouldn't say it lets you perform actions "more quickly" - you could perform the action just as quickly without buffering. The key benefit is *consistency*. Without buffering you'd have a 1/60th of a second window to execute another action on the first possible frame, and you won't nail that consistently. With buffering you have ten times as much leeway.

 

[teluoborg]

1-Yes, compared to how easy it is to do
2-Simply input your next action before the last one is finished (10 frames more or less) and it will record the LAST command. It's important to grasp this concept because if you compare it to Brawl where you could buffer a SH Nair (by pressing Y then A during the buffer window), trying to do so in Smash 4 will only give you a jab (Y>A, but only A is recorded because it's the last). That's why you could buffer a dash attack in Brawl but you can't in Smash 4.
3-No
4-I don't think so.

 

[LancerStaff]

Buffering is probably something you do naturally if you've played this and Brawl a decent amount of time. Try spamming Dsmashes on Brawl & 4 then go back to Melee and 64 and you'll immediately notice it isn't as smooth.