rulescarries

Rulescarries is a term used in online gaming communities, particularly in competitive multiplayer games. It describes a situation where one player on a team is significantly more skilled or experienced than their teammates. This skilled player, often referred to as the "rulescarrier," is expected to perform exceptionally well and essentially "carry" the team to victory, often by overcoming disadvantages caused by less skilled teammates. The term implies that the rulescarrier is upholding the team's chances of winning due to their superior abilities.

The concept of rulescarries can arise from various factors. It might be a deliberate team composition strategy where experienced players intentionally queue with newer ones. Alternatively, it can happen organically in matchmaking systems where skill disparities exist between players. The burden on the rulescarrier can be substantial, as they may need to compensate for mistakes or lack of coordination from their teammates throughout a match.

While often used to acknowledge exceptional performance, the term "rulescarries" can also carry negative connotations. It can imply frustration from the skilled player dealing with perceived underperforming teammates, or it can be used sarcastically by opponents to describe a situation where one player is carrying a weak team. The effectiveness of a rulescarry is highly dependent on the game's mechanics, the specific roles within the team, and the overall skill gap.