Gaming Glossary: LFG, SBMM, Smurf and More Explained
Plain-language definitions of the gaming terms you meet while looking for teammates: LFG, SBMM, smurf, elo, MMR, scrims and many more, with examples.
AFK
AFK means away from keyboard: a player who is not at their device. Learn what AFK means in games, why it matters and how games handle AFK players.
Boosting
Boosting means raising another player's rank or progress by playing on their account or carrying them, often for pay. Learn why most games ban it.
Carry
Carry means a player who contributes the most to a team's win and often wins the game alone, or a role built to do so. See examples and how it is used.
Clutch
A clutch is winning a round or match for your team when the odds are against you, often as the last player alive against several opponents.
Comms
Comms is short for communications: the voice chat, pings and callouts a team uses to coordinate in a game. Learn what good comms look like.
Cross-progression
Cross-progression means your account progress, items and unlocks carry over between platforms. Learn how it works and how it differs from crossplay.
Crossplay
Crossplay means players on different platforms, like PC and console, can play the same game together. Learn how it differs from cross-progression.
Duo queue
Duo queue means entering matchmaking as a party of two players. Learn how it works, why ranked limits exist, and how it differs from solo queue.
Elo hell
Elo hell is the belief that you are stuck in a low rank because of bad teammates, not your skill. Learn what it means, whether it exists and how to climb.
Five-stack
A five-stack is a full party of five players who queue together for a team game. Learn what 5-stack means, how it is used, and how it affects matchmaking.
Flex
Flex means a player who can fill any role or pick, or the Flex queue in League of Legends for ranked play with a premade group of 1, 2, 3 or 5 players.
GG
GG means good game: a sign of sportsmanship said at the end of a match, win or lose. See how players use GG, GGWP and GG EZ and what each one means.
Griefing
Griefing means deliberately ruining other players' experience in a game for fun, not to win. Learn what counts as griefing and how to report it.
IGL
IGL means in-game leader: the player who calls strategy, positioning and timing for a team. Learn what an IGL does and how to become one.
LFG
LFG stands for looking for group: a player asking others to team up for a game, raid or match. See examples, how it differs from LFM, and where to post.
LFM
LFM stands for looking for more: a group that already exists and needs extra players. Learn how it differs from LFG, with examples and posting tips.
Main
A main is the character, class or role you play most and know best. 'I main Jett' means Jett is your go-to pick. Learn how the term is used.
Meta
Meta means the most effective strategies, characters or builds currently used in a game. Learn what the meta is, how it changes and when to ignore it.
Nerf and buff
A nerf is a patch that weakens a character, weapon or mechanic; a buff makes it stronger. Learn how developers use both to balance online games.
Ping
Ping is the time in milliseconds data takes to travel between your device and a game server and back. Learn what a good ping is and how to lower it.
Premade
A premade is a group of players who formed a party before entering matchmaking together, from a duo to a full team. Learn how premades affect matches.
PvE and PvP
PvE means player versus environment: you fight computer-controlled enemies. PvP means player versus player: you fight other people. Learn the difference.
PvPvE
PvPvE means player versus player versus environment: other players and computer-controlled enemies can all threaten you in one match. How it works.
Raid
A raid is a large group activity against hard bosses, built for a full party. In extraction shooters, a raid is one run into a map. Both meanings.
SBMM
SBMM stands for skill-based matchmaking: a system that places players in matches against others of similar skill. See how it works and why it is debated.
Smurf
A smurf is an experienced player on a new or low-ranked account who faces weaker opponents. Learn what smurfing is, why it is debated, and the rules.
Solo queue
Solo queue means entering matchmaking alone, so the game fills your team with strangers. Learn how it works, why it is hard, and when to use it.
Static
A static is a fixed group of players who raid or play together on a regular schedule, mostly in MMOs. Learn how a static works and how to join one.
Tilt
Tilt means playing worse because you are frustrated or angry, often after a loss or a mistake. Learn the signs of tilt and how to stop it.
Wipe
A wipe means the whole group dies in a raid or dungeon, or a server resets everyone's progress in survival games. Both meanings of wipe explained.