Ever felt lost in translation while your teammates are calling out plays? Understanding the vast array of league of legends terms is crucial for effective communication and strategic gameplay. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to decipher LoL lingo and elevate your game.
At a glance:
- Decode essential LoL terms related to strategy, champion roles, and in-game actions.
- Learn how to use common abbreviations and acronyms for concise communication.
- Identify the key phases of the game and associated terminology.
- Discover tips for avoiding communication pitfalls and improving teamwork.
- Quickly reference definitions for confusing terms with a handy Q&A section.
Understanding the Strategic Landscape: Deciphering Game Setup and Macro
Effective strategies in League of Legends hinge on coordinated plays and quick decision-making. Knowing the corresponding league of legends terms is key to acting fast when your allies need you.
- Split pushing refers to diverting pressure to side lanes. Formations like 1-3-1 (one top, three mid, one bot) or 1-4 (one in a side lane, four elsewhere) are common. If your team is running 1-3-1, you'll need to adapt your playstyle to either push your lane or defend against the split push.
- All-in means committing all your resources to secure a kill. For example, a Leona might "all-in" an ADC with her full combo, relying on a follow-up from her lane partner to finish the job.
- Cheesing involves unexpected strategies, often early in the game, to catch opponents off guard. A level 1 invade into the enemy jungle is a classic example of a cheese strategy.
- Camping is when the jungler repeatedly ganks a specific lane. If you're being camped, communicate with your jungler and play defensively.
- Counter picking means choosing a champion who has an advantage over an enemy champion. For example, picking Malphite against a team with multiple auto-attack-reliant champions.
- Diving refers to attacking enemies under their turret. This is a risky play that requires coordination and awareness of enemy cooldowns.
- ELO represents a player's skill level. Low ELO typically includes Iron to Platinum ranks, while High ELO encompasses Diamond to Challenger.
Champion Roles and Attributes: Defining Your Place on the Rift
Each champion has a specific role to play in the game. Knowing the common league of legends terms for these roles and attributes is essential for a well-balanced team composition.
- ADC (Attack Damage Carry) or Bot Carry champions deal high, sustained physical damage, typically playing in the bot lane. Examples include Jinx, Caitlyn, and Xayah.
- APC (Ability Power Carry) champions deal high magic damage. Common APCs include Syndra, Ahri, and Veigar.
- A Glass Cannon champion or build focuses on maximizing damage output at the expense of survivability. Think of a Master Yi building full damage items.
- Junglers farm in the jungle and gank lanes to help their team gain an advantage. Popular Junglers are Lee Sin, Elise, and Sejuani.
- Marksmen are ranged ADCs.
- Peeling involves protecting allies from enemy threats. Supports often provide peel for their ADCs.
- Squishy champions have low health and defenses.
- Tanks have high health and resistances, designed to absorb damage and protect their team.
In-Game Actions and Mechanics: Mastering the Micro
Understanding the actions you'll take in-game and being able to communicate these is one of the most basic uses of league of legends terms.
- AFK (Away From Keyboard) means a player is inactive.
- B (Back) indicates a retreat or a recall.
- A Buff can be a temporary enhancement to a champion or monster or a balance change making a champion stronger.
- Burst refers to dealing a large amount of damage quickly. LeBlanc is known for her burst potential.
- Cooldown (CD) is the downtime after an ability activation.
- Creep Score (CS) is the number of minions, monsters, and wards killed.
- Damage over Time (DoT) is damage dealt gradually. Cassiopeia's Twin Fang applies a DoT effect.
- Damage per Second (DPS) is damage output per second.
- Farming is the act of last-hitting minions or monsters for gold and experience.
- Focusing means prioritizing damage onto a specific target.
- Freezing involves slowing a wave's push to zone an opponent.
- Ganking is ambushing a lane to secure a kill.
- Kiting is attacking while retreating to maintain distance.
- Last-hitting is securing the killing blow on a minion or monster.
- Leashing is helping a jungler clear their first camp.
- MIA (Missing in Action) or SS indicates that an enemy is not in lane and their location is unknown.
- One-shotting means killing a champion with one ability or attack.
- OOM (Out of Mana) means having no mana available.
- Poking is dealing damage from a distance.
- Pushing or Shoving means clearing minions quickly to advance a minion wave.
- Scaling means becoming stronger as the game progresses.
- Split-pushing is simultaneously pushing multiple lanes.
- Sweeping involves clearing vision using a Control Ward or Sweeper.
- Trading is exchanging damage with an opponent.
- Wave management is controlling the flow of minion waves.
- Zoning is controlling an area to prevent opponent entry.
Navigating Items, Objectives, and the Game's Progression
Beyond champion control, knowing how to leverage items and secure key objectives is paramount. These league of legends terms are your keys to victory.
- Baron Nashor is a neutral monster that grants a powerful buff. Securing Baron can swing the momentum of a game.
- Blue Buff (from the Blue Sentinel) grants mana or energy regeneration and cooldown reduction.
- Dragon (Drake) is a neutral objective that grants permanent buffs. Different dragons enhance your team in different ways.
- Elder Drake is a more powerful dragon that grants a true damage burn and empowers elemental buffs.
- Items such as BORK/BotRK (Blade of the Ruined King), BT (Bloodthirster), IE (Infinity Edge), Locket (Locket of the Iron Solari), PD (Phantom Dancer), and QSS (Quicksilver Sash) provide champions with additional stats and abilities. Understanding item builds is crucial for optimizing your champion's potential.
Communication and Behavior: Avoiding Tilt and Fostering Teamwork
Effective teamwork relies on clear and respectful communication. Understanding common league of legends terms associated with player behavior helps foster a positive gaming environment.
- Int (Inting) means intentionally dying.
- KS (Kill Steal) is securing a kill that another player had significantly damaged (though it can also mean Kill Secure - securing a kill when conditions aren’t guaranteed to give a kill to a carry).
- OP (Overpowered) means too strong.
- A Smurf is a secondary account played at a lower rank.
- TP (Teleport) is a summoner spell.
- Trash talking in all-chat involves communicating to all players (enemies and allies alike), often in a negative or confrontational manner.
Quick Start: A LoL Lingo Cheat Sheet
Here's a simple guide to get started with understanding some of the more frequently used terms:
- Before the Game: Understand your champion's role (ADC, APC, Tank, Support, Jungler) and typical build path.
- Early Game: Focus on farming (CS), avoid dying (feeding), and communicate MIAs (SS).
- Mid Game: Look for opportunities to gank, push towers, and secure dragons. Coordinate with your team to focus key targets in teamfights.
- Late Game: Control vision, secure Baron Nashor, and push for the Nexus. Avoid getting caught out alone (feeding).
- During Teamfights: Focus the ADC or APC, peel for your carries, and avoid overextending (diving).
Quick Answers: Common Questions About LoL Lingo
Q: What's the difference between "push" and "shove"?
A: They're often used interchangeably, meaning to clear minions quickly to advance a wave. Some players might use "shove" to imply a more aggressive push, aiming to crash the wave under the enemy turret.
Q: What exactly does "scaling" mean?
A: Scaling refers to how strong a champion becomes as the game progresses, typically as they acquire items and levels. Some champions are known for their strong scaling, meaning they become incredibly powerful in the late game. Champs like Veigar and Kassadin are known for their scaling.
Q: Is "KS" always a bad thing?
A: Not necessarily. Securing a kill, even if another player did most of the damage, is generally beneficial for the team. If the carry is in a risky position, "KS" can even mean Kill Secure, and is a crucial play. However, intentionally stealing kills from a fed teammate can be detrimental, hindering that player's ability to carry.
Q: What does "meta" actually mean in League?
A: "Meta" refers to the currently popular and effective strategies, champion picks, and item builds. The meta is constantly evolving as Riot Games makes balance changes and players discover new strategies.
To further expand your understanding of League of Legends terminology and build a solid foundation, Learn LoL Terms Here.
Level Up Your Communication and Gameplay
Mastering these league of legends terms provides an edge, empowering you to communicate effectively with your team, understand strategic nuances, and make informed decisions throughout the game. By incorporating this knowledge into your gameplay, you'll enhance your teamwork and increase your chances of securing victory on the Rift. Keep learning, stay adaptable, and continue communicating efficiently, you'll be climbing the ranks in no time!