Part chess and part team sport, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena -- or MOBA -- is a gaming genre that’s becoming extremely popular as an esport.

It pits two teams of five in a closed map, with the first team to demolish the enemy’s base declared the winner. So far, so simple. But in a MOBA, players control a “champion”: A character with a unique skills. There is usually a huge variety of champions in MOBA games, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Success depends on making sure your team has a balanced array of skills.

Players control these champions through a third person perspective. Most MOBA games have a single map, with three “lanes” leading from your base to the enemy’s. Each lane is defended by turrets and “minions”, computer-controlled enemy characters. There are also wild monsters, unaffiliated with either side. Defeating these will power up your champions -- making them stronger for the push to the enemy base.

MOBA games encourage teamwork, with champions assigned different roles. Sample roles include:

- Tank (absorbs damage for weaker teammates)
- Support (heals and enhances teammates’ abilities)
- Carry (typically does the most damage late in the game)
- Jungler (takes out wild monsters)