For the bigger picture and full context, make sure you read our main guide on League of Legends Meanings: Understanding Key Terms In Game.
Ever felt like you were eavesdropping on a conversation in another language while playing League of Legends? That's probably because you're not familiar with the extensive array of lol terminology. This constant barrage of acronyms, abbreviations, and slang can be incredibly confusing for new players.
At a glance:
- Learn common League of Legends terms to understand your teammates.
- Decipher champion-specific slang to coordinate plays effectively.
- Use LoL jargon to communicate quickly and efficiently in-game.
- Avoid common communication pitfalls to improve team cohesion.
- Quickly reference essential terms with our glossary.
The Babel of the Rift: Why LoL Terminology Matters
League of Legends is a team game, and communication is key. But when you're trying to type out "Attack Damage Carry is low on health, let's dive the turret," you're wasting precious seconds. That's where lol terminology comes in. It allows players to communicate complex ideas with just a few keystrokes, enabling faster reactions and more coordinated plays. Understanding LoL's jargon is crucial not just for understanding team strategies but for actively participating in them.
General League Terms: Building Your Foundation
Before diving into more complex strategies, let's cover some fundamental LoL terms:
- AA/Auto: A simple, yet crucial term – your champion's basic attack.
- AFK: "Away From Keyboard." This indicates a player is inactive.
- AoE: "Area of Effect." Refers to abilities that damage or affect multiple targets in a designated area. Example: Miss Fortune's ultimate, "Bullet Time," is a powerful AoE ability.
- B: Short for "back," meaning retreat or recall to base.
- CC: "Crowd Control." Abilities that impair an enemy's actions, like stuns, slows, and roots.
- CD: "Cooldown." The time you must wait before using an ability again.
- CS: "Creep Score." The number of minions and monsters you've killed. A good CS score is vital for accumulating gold and experience.
- FB: "First Blood." The first kill of the game, granting bonus gold.
- Gank: An ambush, usually by the jungler, to surprise the enemy laner.
- HP: "Health Points." Your champion's life bar.
- KS: "Kill Steal." Taking a kill that a teammate was likely to secure. (While not always intentional, it's often frowned upon.)
- Summs: Summoner Spells. Abilities like Flash and Heal, available to all players.
These terms form the basis of everyday communication in LoL. Mastering them is the first step to fluent communication.
Strategic Acronyms: Level Up Your Game Knowledge
Beyond the basics, certain terms relate directly to in-game strategy and decision-making.
- BD/Backdoor: Attacking the enemy Nexus (their main base) while they're distracted elsewhere. Often a risky, high-reward play.
- Dive: Attacking an enemy champion under their turret. This is a high-risk maneuver that requires coordination and burst damage.
- Engage: Initiating a fight with the enemy team.
- Disengage: Breaking off from a fight, often to regroup or avoid a disadvantageous situation.
- Flank: Approaching the enemy team from the side to attack their backline (carries).
- Freeze: Deliberately controlling the minion wave to keep it near your tower, denying the enemy farm.
- Poke: Harassing enemies with long-range abilities without fully committing to a fight.
- Push: Quickly clearing a wave of minions to advance towards the enemy turret.
- Split Push: Sending one or more champions to push a side lane while the rest of the team applies pressure elsewhere on the map.
Understanding these strategic terms enables you to discuss and execute complex plans with your team. For example, you might call for a "dive" on the enemy ADC, or coordinate a "split push" to draw enemy attention.
Champion and Role-Specific Terminology: The Next Level
Each role and champion in League of Legends has its own specific jargon. This terminology often revolves around abilities, playstyles, and common strategies.
- ADC/AD Carry/Bot Carry: Attack Damage Carry, the primary source of physical damage on the team. Typically plays in the bot lane.
- APC/AP Carry: Ability Power Carry, a champion that deals magic damage and scales with Ability Power.
- Tank: A durable champion with high health and resistances, designed to absorb damage and protect the team.
- Heal bot: Derogatory term referring to Soraka contributing nothing but healing.
- Duelist: A champion that excels in 1v1 combat.
- Assassin: A champion designed to quickly eliminate high-priority targets.
Beyond roles, individual champions often have nicknames or abbreviated ability names. For instance, players might refer to Nasus as "Dog" or "Doge", or abbreviate champion abilities using "Q," "W," "E," and "R."
Deciphering the "Meta": Understanding the Current Trends
The "meta" refers to the current state of the game, including which champions, items, and strategies are considered the most effective. Keeping up with the meta is important for competitive play. A champion getting "nerfed" means its power has been reduced through a game patch. Conversely, a "buff" increases its power. Staying informed about the meta helps you choose strong champions and adapt your strategies accordingly. Learning this aspect of lol terminology will greatly improve your overall knowledge. Understanding LoL Game Terms is crucial to improving your gameplay.
Common Community Slang: Navigating Social Interactions
LoL's community has its own unique slang, ranging from expressions of encouragement to, unfortunately, toxic remarks.
- GJ: "Good Job!" Simple praise for a teammate's play.
- GLHF: "Good Luck; Have Fun!" A friendly greeting at the start of a game.
- GG: "Good Game." Typically said at the end of a match.
- GG EZ: "Good Game, Easy." Considered extremely poor sportsmanship.
- Boosted: A player who is ranked higher than their actual skill level, often implying they were carried by others.
- Tilted: When a player becomes frustrated and starts making mistakes due to emotional distress.
- Int: Short for "intentional feeding," meaning deliberately dying to the enemy team. (A reportable offense.)
- Clown Fiesta: A game with many mistakes made by both sides.
- KYS: "Kill Yourself." (Never use this phrase. It carries a zero-tolerance policy and willresult in a ban.)
- Elo Hell: A perceived level where it is difficult to progress.
- Role Gap/Role Diff: Refers to the difference in skill between a player and their role counterpart in the opposing team.
- 200 Years: Referring to a champion that has a convoluted or superfluous amount of attributes, resulting in them being extremely frustrating to play against.
It's important to be aware of these terms, both to understand what others are saying and to avoid using offensive language yourself.
Avoiding Communication Pitfalls: Etiquette on the Rift
While lol terminology is essential for efficient communication, it is possible to misuse it. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
- Overusing Acronyms: While brevity is helpful, don't sacrifice clarity. If a teammate is clearly confused, spell things out.
- Being Toxic: Negative comments and insults are never helpful. Focus on constructive criticism and encouragement.
- Spamming Pings: Excessive pings can be distracting and annoying. Use them sparingly and strategically.
- Arguing Over "KS": Obsessing over who gets the kill is usually unproductive. Focus on securing objectives and winning the game.
Effective communication requires both understanding the language and using it respectfully.
Practical Playbook: Putting It All Together
Here’s how to immediately improve your use of LoL terminology:
- Start Small: Focus on learning the most common general terms first.
- Observe and Learn: Pay attention to how experienced players communicate in-game.
- Practice Actively: Use the new terms you learn in your own communication.
- Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you're unsure about something.
- Be Patient: Learning a new language takes time and effort.
Example: Instead of typing "The enemy jungler is coming to our lane," try "Jg ganking bot."
Quick Answers: FAQs About LoL Terminology
- Q: What if I don't understand a term someone uses?
- A: Don't hesitate to ask! Most players are happy to explain. You can also search online for definitions of unfamiliar terms.
- Q: Is it okay to use slang like "GG EZ"?
- A: While technically not against the rules, it's considered extremely poor sportsmanship and can create a negative atmosphere. It's best to avoid it.
- Q: How important is it to learn all this terminology?
- A: While you can play without knowing every single term, understanding lol terminology significantly improves your ability to communicate and coordinate with your team, ultimately increasing your chances of winning.
From Beginner to Polyglot: Your Next Steps
By mastering lol terminology, you'll not only understand your teammates better but also be able to contribute more effectively to team strategy and gameplay. This knowledge empowers you to make faster decisions, coordinate complex plays, and ultimately climb the ranks in League of Legends. Don't be afraid to dive in, practice often, and embrace the unique language of the Rift!