Sonix and I

Here's the easiest way to understand why Delay Mod can disadvantage someone who isn't using it: Smash uses **delay-based netcode.** Basically, both Switches have to stay in sync. One Switch isn't supposed to just run ahead of the other. Think of two people carrying a heavy table together. The table is the Smash match. Normally, both people are forced to walk at the same pace. If one person's Wi-Fi is bad and they start falling behind, the other person has to slow down and wait for them. That's basically what Smash does. Even if YOU have great internet and LAN, the game still has to account for the slower connection because both Switches need to stay together. Now give one person Delay Mod. The mod removes some of the normal delay from THEIR Switch, meaning they're allowed to start moving sooner. In the table analogy, one person can suddenly move faster while the vanilla player is still forced to walk. But remember: **You're still carrying the SAME table.** The mod didn't make the internet faster. It didn't improve their Wi-Fi. And it didn't make their information magically reach the other Switch sooner. So now Smash has two players operating on different timing while it STILL has to keep the match together. In effect, the vanilla side can end up having to wait longer while Smash tries to recover that timing difference and keep both sides synchronized. Using the table analogy: The modded player moves ahead. The vanilla player stumbles and has to stop and re-grip the table. That "re-gripping" represents the extra waiting/delay needed to get everything lined back up. And this is the important distinction: **The mod itself isn't directly adding delay to the vanilla Switch.** The mod creates the timing difference. **The timing difference caused by the Delay Mod forces Smash's sync process to recover from that difference, and the solution for the netcode is to sync the timing is to add more frames of delay to the unmodded player.** So saying: "But the mod is native! It only changes MY Switch!" doesn't really answer the issue. Yes, the modification happens on your Switch. But both Switches are still playing the SAME synchronized match. It's like putting faster shoes on while we're carrying a table together and saying: "Don't worry, the shoes are only on MY feet." That's true. **But I'm still attached to what you're doing.** And there's also the actual player to consider. My Switch has to receive what's happening. Then I have to SEE it, understand what's happening, react and press a button. Then my input still has to go through the normal vanilla delay. Meanwhile, you've externally reduced that delay on YOUR side. That can turn situations that should feel reactable into situations where the vanilla player feels like they're constantly a step behind. That's also why there's a fairness issue. If BOTH players agree to use Delay Mod, that's one thing. But secretly using it against somebody playing vanilla means you've given yourself an outside timing advantage while they're still playing under Nintendo's normal timing. Calling it "native" doesn't make that fair. It just tells us **where the mod is installed.** It doesn't mean the other player can't be affected by the advantage. **The mod is local. The match isn't.**