In the world of competitive gaming and esports, recruiting players for your team is a critical process that requires efficiency and clarity. When recruiting, particularly on forums, social media, or in-game chat, abbreviations are commonly used to communicate quickly and effectively. Whether you’re searching for a specific role, outlining your team’s needs, or discussing match strategies, knowing the right gaming abbreviations can make recruitment smoother and more successful.
This article explores some of the most common gaming abbreviations used in team recruitment, along with their meanings and how to use them effectively.
Why Abbreviations Matter in Gaming Recruitment
Gaming, especially in competitive and esports environments, is a fast-paced world where every second counts. Abbreviations allow players and recruiters to communicate swiftly, ensuring that messages are concise but comprehensive. When recruiting for a team, it’s important to convey the right information about the team’s structure, player roles, and performance expectations in a way that everyone understands.
Using standardized abbreviations also helps avoid miscommunication and shows that you are familiar with the gaming lingo, which can make your recruitment efforts appear more professional.
Common Abbreviations for Team Roles
In any gaming team, especially in multiplayer games like MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) or FPS (First-Person Shooter) titles, there are often designated roles that players must fulfill. Below are some common abbreviations for player roles that you’ll encounter when recruiting for a gaming team.
1. ADC (Attack Damage Carry)
In games like League of Legends or Dota 2, ADC refers to a role where the player is responsible for dealing sustained physical damage to the enemy team, usually from a long distance. ADCs typically become more powerful as the game progresses, so teams often need players who can handle this scaling role and perform consistently.
2. AP (Ability Power)
In games that differentiate between physical and magical damage, AP refers to characters that deal magic-based damage. This term is often used in MOBAs like League of Legends. When recruiting an AP, you’re looking for someone skilled in handling mages or other magic-damage-focused champions.
3. DPS (Damage Per Second)
DPS is a broad term used across many games to describe a player whose main responsibility is to deal consistent damage over time. Whether in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or FPS games like Overwatch, recruiting a DPS means looking for players skilled in delivering high damage output while staying alive.
4. Tank
A Tank is a player responsible for absorbing damage and protecting more vulnerable teammates. In team-based games like Overwatch or World of Warcraft, the tank’s role is critical to shielding other players and initiating combat with the enemy team. A good tank player will know how to position themselves well and manage aggro.
5. Healer / Support
A Healer or Support role is focused on healing and supporting the team, often through abilities that restore health, buff teammates, or debuff enemies. Games like World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and Apex Legends all rely heavily on players skilled in these supportive roles. When recruiting, you’ll often see terms like LFG Healer (Looking for Group, Healer) or LF Support used.
6. IGL (In-Game Leader)
In many FPS games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) or Valorant, the IGL refers to the In-Game Leader. This person is responsible for making strategic decisions during matches and ensuring that the team’s tactics are executed correctly. Recruiting an IGL requires finding someone with excellent communication, map awareness, and tactical knowledge.
7. Flex
A Flex player is someone who can fill multiple roles as needed. In games like Overwatch, recruiting a Flex means finding a versatile player who can switch between different positions depending on the team’s needs.
Recruitment Abbreviations for Team Building
When building or recruiting for a team, you’ll often use or come across abbreviations that describe your team’s current situation or what you are looking for in a player. These abbreviations are used across forums, Discord servers, Reddit, and in-game chats to streamline communication.
1. LFG (Looking for Group)
LFG is one of the most common abbreviations used when a player is looking to join a team or group. If you’re a team leader and you see someone posting LFG, they are signaling that they are available to join a group for competitive play, casual gaming, or specific missions.
Example:
- LFG DPS for Ranked Matches
2. LF (Looking For)
LF is a simplified version of LFG but more commonly used when a team is recruiting for specific roles or players. It’s followed by the specific role or type of player the team needs.
Example:
- LF Tank for Ranked Play
- LF ADC for Clash Team
3. LFM (Looking for More)
LFM is used when a team already has a few players and is looking for additional members to complete their squad. It’s often used in larger games like MMORPGs where multiple players are required to form a raid or party.
Example:
- LFM for Dungeon Raid – Need Healer
4. GLHF (Good Luck, Have Fun)
GLHF is a common greeting exchanged at the start of matches or recruitment conversations to express good sportsmanship. While it’s not a recruitment-specific term, it’s important to use as a sign of team-friendly culture and positive communication.
5. CP (Control Point)
In FPS games like Overwatch or Team Fortress 2, CP refers to Control Points, a specific type of objective in many game modes. If a team is recruiting for matches involving control points, you might see CP Specialist or other related terms being used.
6. ELO
ELO refers to a ranking system used in many competitive games, including League of Legends, Rocket League, and CS: GO. When recruiting, teams often specify the ELO range of players they are looking for to ensure they match the skill level of the team.
Example:
- LF Support ELO 1500+
7. PUG (Pick-Up Game)
PUG refers to a Pick-Up Game, where players form temporary teams for matches or competitions. When recruiting for PUGs, you’ll often see abbreviations like LF PUG (Looking for Pick-Up Game) or PUG-ready players.
8. Scrim (Scrimmage)
A Scrim is a practice match between teams, often used to test strategies and team dynamics without affecting rankings. When recruiting, teams might be LF Scrims to practice against others, or Scrim Partners to train consistently.
Example:
- LF Scrim against Diamond ELO Teams
Game-Specific Abbreviations for Recruitment
Certain games have specific abbreviations that are widely used during team recruitment. Here are some examples:
For FPS Games (e.g., CS: GO, Valorant):
- AWP: Sniper rifle in CS: GO. Teams might recruit players skilled with the AWP for specific strategies.
- CT: Counter-Terrorist side in CS: GO. Recruiters might specify roles for players on the CT side.
- OP: Operator in Valorant, a powerful sniper rifle. Teams often seek OP Players for long-range play.
For MOBA Games (e.g., League of Legends, Dota 2):
- Top, Mid, Bot: Refers to the lanes in League of Legends. Teams may recruit Top Lane or Mid Lane players depending on the need.
- JG (Jungle): Jungle role in MOBAs where the player focuses on farming jungle monsters and ganking other lanes.
- Roam: A role where players leave their lane to help other lanes. A Roamer is often recruited for mid-game flexibility.
For MMORPGs (e.g., World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV):
- MT (Main Tank): The primary tank responsible for holding aggro in raids.
- OT (Off-Tank): Secondary tank used for specific raid mechanics or supporting the main tank.
- RNG (Ranged DPS): A DPS player who specializes in ranged combat.
Conclusion
When recruiting for a gaming team, mastering abbreviations is essential for effective communication. Understanding these terms not only streamlines the recruitment process but also ensures you attract the right talent for your team. Whether you are forming a new group for ranked play or expanding an established team for competitive tournaments, using the right abbreviations can make your efforts more efficient and professional.
