Heroes of the Storm glossary

AD

Attack Damage. Term for the damage done by the Hero's basic attacks, and the stat that increases it. Some heroes also have special abilities which are increased by attack damage.

AP

Ability Power. Term for the damage done by the Hero's special abilities, and the stat that increases it.

Assassin

Hero type. Deals a lot of damage, but can't take much without dying.

B

Returning to base, using a hearthstone. "I'm B" or "B"

bait

Trick an enemy hero into over-extending, usually making themselves vulnerable to your allies or structures.

Bot

Used to refer to the bottom-most lane on the map. Also occasionally a term for AI heroes.

Bruiser

Hero type term from other MOBAs, a melee hero who can take damage and exercise good CC or damage.

Care

Take care, be careful. Often used to suggest caution as an enemy player is missing/MIA.

Carry

Hero type term from other MOBAs. From a Heroes perspective, basically an assassin. Implies they may need assistance from a support or other hero to be at their most effective.

CC

Crowd control. Incapacitating, stunning or slowing effects.

Creeps

Term for what Heroes of the Storm calls Minions -- the little NPCs that appear in lanes.

D, Def

Defend

DK

Occasionally used as an abbreviation for Dragon Knight. Not to be confused with Arthas, the Death Knight hero.

Doubloons

Collected on Blackheart's Bay to hand in to the pirate in the center of the map, by killing NPC camps and destroying chests. Also sometimes referred to as Gold.

E

Similar to the other letter-bound abilites. People will often refer to the one bound to E by default as "your E" rather than its ability name.

Feeding

Dying repeatedly to the other team, thereby granting them XP.

Focus

Direct everyone's attacks onto one hero, structure, etc. "Focus Arthas!"

Fort

Large structure, behaves similarly to a tower in that it will shoot you, but with more ammo and more health.

Gank

A surprise attack. Often said as an imperative "gank top" -- asking for fast help, or a warning that a hero is MIA -- "watch for the gank."

GG

Good game

GJ

Good job

Gold

Earned by completing quests on a player account level. In game, can refer to Doubloons. Gold in the LoL sense -- an in-match item shop -- doesn't exist in Heroes.

Golem

A large and powerful NPC, similar to a merc, which will fight for you when captured. In Haunted Mines, collecting skulls defines the strength of your Grave Golem -- a key map mechanic.

Jungle

The area between lanes.

Jungler

Player/Hero who spends their time lurking in the jungle, aiming to gank opposing heroes in lanes.

Keep

Large structure, behaves similarly to a tower in that it will shoot you, but with more ammo and more health.

Kite

Remaining out of range, forcing an enemy to chase you. Key to baiting.

Lane (noun)

Term for the paths that run from one base to another, sometimes three in Heroes maps such as Dragon Shire, or two in Haunted Mines.

Lane (verb)

To kill minions in lanes in order to gain XP, other MOBAs have a "laning phase" where players are just building up to a certain level.

Last-hitting

Key in League of Legends, not relevant in Heroes, but you may hear it. Having the killing blow on a creep/minion/hero.

Merc

Mercenary. Heroes has several mercenary camps throughout the maps that can be captured to have them fight for you.

Mid

Used to refer to the middle lane on the minimap.

Mines

On Haunted Mines there are entrances to a lower level where you collect skulls. This area is called the Mines.

Missing/MIA

Used to describe an enemy hero that is no longer where they were, e.g. has left the bottom lane and is not visible. "Arthas MIA." Often a warning to expect them to appear suddenly elsewhere.

Moonwell

A structure that can be used to regenerate health and mana with a cooldown. Usually situated near gates.

OOM

Out of mana

Palace

The structure you're working to protect. Destroying the enemy palace ends the game.

Poke

To move into enemy range and use short bursts of ranged attacks and abilities, then quickly retreat before the enemy can counter.

Push

To push a lane is to focus on destroying the minions and structures in that lane.

Q

Similar to the other letter-bound abilites. People will often refer to the one bound to Q by default as "your Q" rather than its ability name.

Shrine

Area captured on Dragon Shire by standing in it.

Skillshot

An ability that has a controlled direction, not a target, requiring the player to aim it

Skin

Accessory allowing you to change the look of your hero.

Skulls

Collected by killing NPCs in the mines on Haunted Mines.

Specialist

Hero type. Specialized, unique heroes that might fulfill any of the other roles or something completely different

Split Push

To have most of the team, usually 4, pushing one lane, while other members push another lane.

SS

Used to describe an enemy hero that is no longer where they were, e.g. has left the bottom lane and is not visible. "Arthas SS." Often a warning to expect them to appear suddenly elsewhere.

Support

Hero type. Heal, buff, or use other abilities to assist their allies as well as dealing some damage. Often "Sup"

Tank

Hero type term from other MOBAs. From a Heroes perspective, a Warrior who is focused on survivability over damage.

Top

Used to refer to the top-most lane on the minimap.

Tower

The turret-like structures that are usually either side of gates, they shoot you if you get too close.

Town

A collection of buildings, in Heroes usually a couple of towers and a gated point to push into.

Tribute

Item collected on Cursed Hollow by clicking it. Collecting three will cause your enemy to become cursed.

Ult

Your Ultimate ability, a powerful extra ability bound to R by default, called a Heroic Ability in Heroes and granted at level 10.

Vision

Something that grants vision shows you any enemies in that area.

W

Similar to the other letter-bound abilities. People will often refer to the one bound to W by default as "your W" rather than its ability name.

Warrior

Hero type. Deals a fair amount of damage, can also take a fair amount of damage.

Watchtower

A capturable point that grants vision in the area