E-Sports Terms Glossary: E-Sports Terms in 2024
A
Achievement
An achievement is a goal or milestone that players can accomplish in a game, often providing rewards or recognition.
Adc
ADC, or Attack Damage Carry, refers to a role in games where the primary focus is dealing physical damage to enemies.
Afk
AFK stands for 'Away From Keyboard', used to describe a player who is temporarily or intentionally not participating in the game.
Apc
APC, or Ability Power Carry, refers to a role in games where the primary focus is dealing magical damage to enemies.
B
Balance
Balance in a game refers to the state of fair competition and gameplay, where no character, strategy, or mechanic is significantly stronger or weaker than others.
Baron Nashor
Baron Nashor is a powerful neutral monster in some games that provides significant buffs and rewards when defeated.
Beta
Beta refers to a stage of game development where the product is released to a limited audience for testing and feedback.
Boosting
Boosting refers to a service where a highly skilled player plays on behalf of another player, often for a fee, to help them achieve a higher rank or improve their in-game performance.
Bootcamp
A bootcamp refers to a focused training or practice session, often before an important event or tournament, where players intensively prepare and improve their skills.
Buff
To buff refers to the act of increasing the power, effectiveness, or strength of a character, item, or ability in a game.
C
Camping
Camping refers to the strategy in a game where a player stays in a static position, often in a hidden or advantageous location, to surprise or ambush opponents.
Carry
Carry refers to a player or character who has the potential to deal significant damage or carry the team to victory.
Caster
Caster, short for commentator, is an individual who provides live commentary and analysis during e-sports matches or tournaments.
Casters
Casters, short for commentators, are individuals who provide live commentary and analysis during e-sports matches or tournaments.
Censorship
Censorship in games refers to the act or process of altering or removing content, such as violence, profanity, or sensitive themes, to adhere to societal or regulatory standards.
Cheat Code
A cheat code is a sequence of commands or inputs that, when entered, enables special abilities, unlocks content, or modifies the gameplay in a game.
Cheating
Cheating in a game refers to the act of using unauthorized methods or software to gain an unfair advantage over other players.
Cheese Strategy
Cheese strategy refers to unconventional or unexpected tactics used by players to catch their opponents off-guard.
Coaching
Coaching in E-sports involves knowledgeable individuals providing guidance, analysis, and strategy to players or teams.
Combat
Combat refers to the part of a game where players engage in battles, fights, or conflicts against each other or non-player characters (NPCs).
Cooldown
Cooldown refers to the period of time after using a specific ability or action in a game before it can be used again.
Creep
Creep refers to non-player units controlled by the game that offer additional challenges or objectives for players.
Cross-Platform
Cross-platform refers to the ability of a game or application to run and allow players from different platforms, such as PC, console, or mobile, to play together.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a method of financing or fundraising where a large number of individuals contribute small amounts of money to support a project or venture.
D
Damage Dealer
Damage dealer refers to a role or character in a game whose primary role is dealing damage to opponents.
Demo
A demo refers to a limited version of a game that allows players to try or preview the game before deciding to purchase the full version.
Disengage
Disengage refers to the act of removing oneself or one's team from a fight or engagement to avoid further damage.
Dpi
DPI stands for Dots Per Inch and refers to the sensitivity setting of a computer mouse, often adjusted to control the cursor or camera movement in-game.
Dragon
Dragon is a powerful neutral monster in some games that provide various buffs or advantages to the team that defeats it.
E
E-Sports
E-sports, also known as electronic sports, is a form of competitive video gaming where professional players or teams compete against each other in various multiplayer games.
Engage
Engage refers to the act of initiating or starting a fight or engagement with the enemy team.
Esports Organization
An e-sports organization is a professional team or group that supports and manages players who compete in e-sports tournaments.
Exploit
Exploit refers to a specific technique or action that takes advantage of a flaw or loophole in a game's mechanics or design.
F
Fanbase
A fanbase refers to a dedicated group of fans who actively support and follow a specific e-sports team, player, or game.
Farm
Farm refers to the act of collecting resources or earning in-game currency in order to become stronger.
Farming
Farming refers to the act of repeatedly killing or defeating enemies or completing specific tasks to gain experience points, resources, or in-game items.
Flame
Flame refers to insulting, derogatory, or offensive comments made by players towards each other.
Fps
FPS stands for first-person shooter, which is a genre of video games where the player experiences the game from a first-person perspective and typically involves shooting enemies.
Frag
Frag is a term used to describe a kill or elimination of an opponent in a game.
Freemium
Freemium refers to a business model where a game is initially available for free, but additional features or content can be purchased with real money.
G
Game Balance
Game balance refers to the state in which a game's mechanics, characters, or strategies are fair and evenly matched.
Game Mechanics
Game mechanics refer to the rules, systems, and interactions that govern gameplay in a particular game.
Game Mode
Game mode refers to different variations or formats of a game, each with its own rules, objectives, or mechanics.
Gaming House
A gaming house is a residence or facility where professional players live and train together, often provided by e-sports organizations to support team synergy and practice.
Gank
Gank is a term used to describe the act of ambushing or surprising an opponent in a game, usually with the objective of gaining an advantage or securing a kill.
Gg
GG, short for 'good game', is a term used to express sportsmanship and respect after completing a match.
Glitch
A glitch is a programming or technical error in a game that causes unexpected behavior, often allowing players to exploit or gain unfair advantages.
Gosu
Gosu is a term used to describe an extremely skilled or talented player in a game.
H
Hotfix
A hotfix is a small software update or patch that is released to fix critical issues or bugs in a game, typically deployed quickly to address urgent problems.
Hp
HP stands for Hit Points, a measure of how much damage a character or object can sustain before being defeated.
Hud
HUD stands for Heads-Up Display, which is the graphical user interface in a game that presents information, stats, or indicators to the player.
I
Inhibitor
Inhibitor refers to a structure or objective that, when destroyed, grants the destroying team advantages in terms of stronger minions.
J
Jump Spot
A jump spot is a specific location or area in a game map where players can perform a specialized movement to gain a positional advantage.
Jungle
Jungle refers to a role in games where the player focuses on farming neutral monsters in the jungle and providing map control.
K
Kda
KDA stands for Kills, Deaths, and Assists, which are numerical statistics used to measure a player's performance in a game.
Kdr
KDR stands for Kill-Death Ratio, which is a statistic that represents the number of kills a player has compared to the number of deaths.
L
Lag
Lag refers to a delay or disruption in gameplay caused by a slow or poor internet connection.
Lan
LAN stands for Local Area Network, which is a network infrastructure that enables players to connect and play games together in a localized environment.
Lan Cafe
A LAN cafe is a public establishment where players can rent time on high-performance computers or consoles to play games together in a LAN environment.
Lan Center
A LAN center is a physical establishment where players can gather and play games together on high-performance computers or consoles, often for a fee.
Lan Party
A LAN party is a social gathering of players who bring their computers or gaming consoles to a specific location to play games together over a local area network.
Lan Tournament
A LAN tournament is a competitive event where players gather in person to compete against each other.
Leaderboard
A leaderboard is a ranking system in a game that lists the top players or teams based on their performance or achievements.
Lexicon
Lexicon refers to the vocabulary or set of terms and expressions unique to a specific game, community, or e-sports scene.
Loot Box
A loot box is a virtual item in a game that contains random rewards, and players can acquire them through gameplay or by purchasing them.
M
Massive Multiplayer Online
Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) refers to games that can support a large number of simultaneous players interacting with each other in a shared virtual world.
Matchmaking
Matchmaking is a process or system in games that pairs players together based on similar skills, levels, or other criteria to create fair and balanced matches.
Meta
Meta, short for metagame, refers to the prevailing strategies, tactics, and gameplay styles that are most effective or popular among professional players in a particular game.
Meta Shift
A meta shift refers to a significant change in the prevailing strategies, tactics, or gameplay styles in a game, often influenced by game updates or balance changes.
Meta-Game
Meta-game refers to the strategies, trends, and decisions made outside of the actual gameplay that can influence the outcome of a match or tournament.
Metagame
Metagame refers to the prevailing strategies, tactics, and trends in a game's competitive scene.
Microtransactions
Microtransactions are small in-game purchases made with real money, typically used to acquire cosmetic items, in-game currency, or additional game content.
Mmr
MMR stands for Matchmaking Rating, a numerical value that represents a player's skill level in a matchmaking system.
Moba
MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, which is a genre of video games where teams of players compete against each other in strategic battles.
Mp
MP stands for Mana Points, a resource used to cast spells or abilities in many games.
N
Nerf
To nerf refers to the act of reducing the power, effectiveness, or strength of a character, item, or ability in a game.
Niche Game
A niche game is one that targets a small, specific audience with unique gameplay or features.
O
Objective
In a game, an objective refers to a task, goal, or target that players must complete or achieve to progress, win the game, or gain an advantage.
P
Patch
A patch refers to a software update or modification that is released by game developers to fix bugs, improve gameplay, or introduce new features.
Patch Notes
Patch notes are official documentation that provide details about the changes and updates implemented in a game's patch.
Pentakill
Pentakill refers to the achievement of a single player killing all five members of the enemy team within a short time period.
Ping
Ping refers to the measure of the response time between a player's computer and the game server, indicating the level of latency or delay.
Ping Spikes
Ping spikes refer to sudden and temporary increases in ping, causing brief periods of latency or lag.
Playoffs
Playoffs refer to the final stage or rounds of a tournament, where the top teams or players compete for the championship.
Prize Pool
Prize pool refers to the total amount of money or rewards available for distribution in a tournament or competition.
Pug
PUG stands for 'Pick Up Game', referring to an impromptu or informal game played with a group of people.
Pull
Pull refers to the act of luring or attracting an opponent towards a specific location or situation.
Push
Push refers to the act of aggressively advancing towards the enemy's base or objectives to gain an advantage.
Pve
PvE stands for Player versus Environment, which refers to a game mode or activity where players cooperate to defeat non-player characters (NPCs) or complete objectives.
Pvp
PvP stands for Player versus Player, which refers to a game mode or activity in which players directly compete against each other, often in combat or strategic scenarios.
Q
Qualifier
Qualifier refers to a tournament or competition where teams or players compete for spots in a larger or more prestigious event.
Queue
Queue refers to the waiting line or system in place for players to find matches or join games.
R
Rage Quit
Rage quit refers to the act of abruptly and angrily quitting a game out of frustration, often due to losing or facing unfavorable circumstances.
Recoil
Recoil is the backward movement or kickback experienced by a player's character or weapon after firing a shot, affecting accuracy and control.
Replay
A replay is a recorded gameplay session that can be watched or analyzed later, often used by players, coaches, or commentators to review strategies, tactics, or mistakes.
Respawn
Respawn refers to the process in a game where a player who has been defeated or killed is brought back to life and re-enters the game.
Respawn Timer
Respawn timer refers to the amount of time a player must wait before they can respawn after being defeated.
Rng
RNG stands for Random Number Generator, which is a system or algorithm used in games to introduce random events, outcomes, or probabilities.
Role
In team-based games, a role refers to a specific position or function that a player takes on, often with unique responsibilities or abilities.
Roster
A roster refers to the list or lineup of players on a team or organization, often specifying their roles, positions, or responsibilities.
Rotation
Rotation refers to the movement of players or teams across the game map to secure objectives or gain advantages.
Rts
RTS, or Real-Time Strategy, is a genre of video games that require players to control and manage resources and units in real-time.
S
Scrims
Scrims, short for scrimmages, refer to practice matches or games in which teams compete against each other to improve their skills, teamwork, and strategies.
Single-Player
Single-player refers to a game mode or experience that is designed for a single player, typically involving a story-driven or objective-based gameplay.
Skill Ceiling
Skill ceiling refers to the highest level of skill or proficiency that can be achieved in a game, often associated with complex mechanics or advanced strategies.
Skill Shot
A skill shot refers to an ability or attack in a game that requires skillful aiming or timing to successfully hit the target.
Skillshot
A skillshot is an ability or attack in a game that requires manual aiming or precise timing to hit an opponent, making it more difficult to land compared to other attacks.
Skins
Skins are cosmetic items in a game that change the appearance of characters, weapons, or other in-game elements, but do not affect gameplay.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship refers to a partnership or financial support provided by a company or organization to e-sports teams, players, or events in exchange for advertising or brand promotion.
Strat
Strat is an abbreviation for strategy, often used to describe specific tactics or plans employed by players or teams.
Strategy
Strategy refers to the overall plan or approach used by players or teams to achieve their goals and outperform their opponents.
Stream Sniping
Stream sniping refers to the act of watching a streamer's live broadcast to gain an unfair advantage by preemptively knowing their in-game actions or location.
Streamer
A streamer refers to an individual who broadcasts their gameplay live over the internet, often providing commentary and engaging with their audience.
Streamer House
A streamer house is a location where multiple streamers live together, often collaborating on content creation and streaming.
Streamer Mode
Streamer mode is a feature in some games that allows streamers to hide or censor certain elements, such as in-game usernames or personal information, to maintain privacy while broadcasting.
Stunlock
Stunlock is a term used to describe a situation in a game where a player is repeatedly stunned, immobilized, or prevented from taking action by the opponent.
Support
Support refers to a player or character who provides assistance, healing, or protection to their team.
T
Tank
Tank refers to a player or character who has high durability and is capable of absorbing damage for their team.
Team Composition
Team composition refers to the specific combination of characters or roles chosen by a team in a game.
Teamfight
A teamfight refers to a scenario in a game where multiple players from each team engage in combat simultaneously, often in a specific area of the game map.
Tier List
Tier list refers to a ranking or classification system that categorizes characters or items based on their perceived strength or viability.
Tilt
Tilt refers to a state in which a player becomes emotionally or mentally frustrated, leading to a decrease in performance.
Tournament
A tournament is a competitive event in which players or teams compete against each other to win prizes, titles, or recognition.
Trading
Trading refers to the exchange or transfer of in-game items, currency, or resources between players, often done to obtain desired items or achieve in-game progression.
Twitch
Twitch is a popular live streaming platform primarily used by gamers to stream their gameplay and engage with viewers.
Twitch Chat
Twitch chat refers to the live chat room on the Twitch streaming platform, where viewers can interact with the streamer and other viewers.
U
Ultimate
Ultimate refers to a powerful, game-changing ability that is typically earned or charged over time.
V
Viewership
Viewership refers to the number of people watching an E-sports event or live stream.
W
World Championship
World championship refers to the highest level of competition in a particular game, where teams or players from around the world compete.