cooldown

Definition

A cooldown is the time before an ability, item, or system can be used again. In gameplay, cooldowns balance strong abilities. In matchmaking, cooldowns refer to queue lockouts after dodges, AFKs, or report-confirmed misbehavior. Repeated misbehavior compounds: a five-minute cooldown becomes 30 minutes, then a day, then a week.

Example

"Three dodges this hour — 30-minute cooldown applied." The matchmaking system penalized repeat dodging with a queue timer.

Related terms

• leaver buster
• queue
• dodge
• ult