League of Legends
Dota 2
World of Warcraft
What Is CC (Crowd Control) in Games?
Effects that limit what an enemy can do, such as stuns, roots, slows and silences, used in MOBAs and MMOs.
What does CC mean in games?
CC stands for crowd control: any effect that limits an enemy’s control over their character. Stuns stop all actions, roots stop movement, slows reduce speed and silences block abilities. CC is what makes ganks, engages and team fights work in League of Legends, Dota 2, World of Warcraft and many other games.
Types of CC
| Type | Effect | Hard or soft |
|---|---|---|
| Stun | No movement, attacks or abilities | Hard |
| Knock-up / airborne | The target is lifted and cannot act | Hard |
| Fear, charm, taunt | The target is forced to move away, toward you or attack you | Hard |
| Root / snare | No movement, but attacks and some abilities still work | Soft |
| Slow | Reduced movement or attack speed | Soft |
| Silence | No abilities, but basic attacks and movement still work | Soft |
How games counter CC
- League of Legends: Tenacity reduces the duration of most CC, and Cleanse or Quicksilver items remove it.
- Dota 2: dispels remove many debuffs, and Black King Bar gives spell immunity that blocks most disables.
- World of Warcraft: in PvP, repeated CC of the same category has diminishing returns: each new one lasts shorter until the target becomes briefly immune.
Using CC well
- Chain it, do not overlap it. Use the second stun as the first ends, instead of wasting both at once.
- Save CC for the right target, often the enemy carry or the player trying to dive your backline.
- Track enemy [cooldowns](term:cooldown). Engage when their escape or cleanse is down.
- Combine with your jungler. A slow or root from the laner makes a gank far more likely to succeed.
Example
In a team fight, Leona stuns the enemy ADC, then Lux roots him as the stun ends. The chain lasts long enough for the team to kill him before he can use Flash, and the fight is won 5v4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hard CC and soft CC?
Hard CC takes away control completely, like a stun. Soft CC only limits it, like a slow or a root that still lets you attack.
Does CC exist in shooters?
Yes, in games with abilities. Flashes, concussions and slowing abilities in Valorant or hero shooters work as crowd control too.