Pokemon Go Gym Battle has changed quite a bit since Niantic issued the 0.39 update. It seems the developer also added a buffering system to the gym battles.
Pokemon Go 0.39 Update on Battle Gym
Niantic's decision to include a buffering system in Pokemon Go gym battles has significantly changed the fighting dynamics in the game. Before the update, gym players would have to wait for their turn in making their moves. For example, a player would have to wait for the attack animation of the opposing player to end before making his own move.
The lag between moves made many players resort to button mashing which basically means quickly tapping the screen several times believing that a counter move or attack will get through after the enemy's attack animation ends.
Button Mashing No Longer Best Option
The recent Pokemon Go 0.39 update has rendered button mashing as unnecessary and even cost players to lose the gym battle, according to Trainer Tips. The new buffering system allows players to tap their move without waiting for the opponent's move animation to end. For example, if player has input a dodge command while the attack animation is ongoing, the opponent will immediately launched an attack again in response to the dodge move.
Pokemon Go players should now be careful in making their moves since button mashing tends to freeze them in attack animation and also makes it impossible to dodge attacks from the opposing Pokemon. The Niantic's recent Pokemon Go update clearly wants to eliminate button mashing as a practice.
Some Pokemon Go players believed that the buffering system also speeds up the server response time in gym battles. It will take a little getting used to especially for those who are prone to button mashing. Pokemon go players will just have to adapt to the new Gym battle mechanics.
