What is Frag?

In gaming terminology, a frag refers to a kill or elimination of an opponent player. The term originated from military slang, where 'fragging' meant deliberately killing a superior officer with a fragmentation grenade. In video games, it evolved to mean any kill, regardless of the method used.

The term became popular in early first-person shooter games like Doom and Quake, where players would track their 'frag count' as a score metric. Unlike traditional kill counts, a frag specifically implies that the eliminated player can often respawn and continue playing, making it a temporary elimination rather than a permanent one.

In modern competitive gaming, you'll hear phrases like 'top frag' (the player with the most kills on a team), 'entry fragger' (a player who initiates fights and gets the first kill), or 'bottom frag' (the player with the fewest kills). These terms are especially common in games like VALORANT, Counter-Strike, and Call of Duty.

The concept extends beyond just killing - in some games, getting a frag might include objectives like planting bombs or capturing points. The key distinction is that a frag represents a successful elimination in the context of competitive play, where players can return to the action after being 'fragged.'