Esports language, decoded

Know the call.
Understand the play.

Definitions with competitive context, practical usage, and related concepts—written for players and viewers, not search-engine doorway pages.

12curated core termsEach term has a standalone explainer
Showing 12 terms
S

Scrim

A scheduled practice match between teams or organized groups, usually played outside an official tournament result.

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V

VOD review

The structured review of recorded gameplay to identify decisions, mechanics, communication, and repeatable patterns.

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I

IGL

In-game leader: the player responsible for much of a team’s tactical direction and mid-match calling.

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E

Entry fragger

A player who takes or creates the first high-impact space in an attack, often accepting the opening duel so teammates can trade.

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T

Trade

An immediate return elimination after a teammate is eliminated, preventing the opponent from keeping a clean player advantage.

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F

Frag

A kill or elimination, especially in arena and tactical shooters.

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E

Eco round

A round where a team spends little or saves resources to afford a stronger purchase in a later round.

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F

Force buy

Spending most available resources on an imperfect purchase instead of saving for a stronger future round.

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C

Clutch

Winning a high-pressure situation from a disadvantage or as the last available player.

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M

Meta

The strategies, characters, weapons, or approaches considered most effective in the current competitive environment.

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M

MMR

Matchmaking rating: a value used by a game to estimate player skill and create competitive matches.

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B

Best-of (BO)

A series format where the first competitor to win a majority of the scheduled games or maps wins the match.

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