smurf

A smurf is an experienced player who uses a new or low-ranked account to play against beginners. Smurfing lets them win easily, which is why most players see it as unfair.

What smurfing looks like

In ranked online games, matchmaking tries to pair people of similar skill. A smurf breaks that by creating a fresh account, so a veteran ends up stomping players who just installed the game. Some smurf to play with lower-ranked friends or to test new strategies without risking their main rank; others just enjoy easy wins.

Many competitive games discourage smurfing or try to detect it.

Examples

• “That level-3 account just went 30–2. Definitely a smurf.”
• “He smurfs to carry his little brother through ranked.”
• “Smurfing ruins the game for new players.”
• “Is she smurfing or just cracked?”

Where smurf comes from

The term goes back to the mid-1990s game Warcraft II. According to Inverse, two top players, known as Shlongor and Warp (spellings vary), made alternate accounts named “PapaSmurf” and “Smurfette” because opponents refused to play against their real names. Their fake accounts kept beating people, and “smurf” stuck as the name for the practice.

Related terms

• Cracked: extremely skilled.
• Noob: a beginner.
• Hard carry: winning a match almost single-handedly.
• Sweaty: playing far too seriously.

Find more gamer talk in our gaming slang dictionary.