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slang.fyi

raid wipe

/reɪd waɪp/

Common

When every member of a raid or group dies, ending the attempt and forcing a reset.

The word 'wipe' in gaming specifically implies a full group death. A single death is not a wipe. The term carries a sense of shared failure and the need to regroup.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01raid wipe on the very first pull. someone aggro'd the whole roomThe group died immediately because a player accidentally pulled every enemy at once.x, 2024
027 wipes on the same boss tonight. we're getting closer thoughThe group failed the encounter seven times but is making progress.reddit, 2024
03that presentation was a raid wipe. nobody knew what was happening and the client left earlyThe meeting was a total disaster with complete collective failure.x, 2023
04wipe it and reset, healer is out of mana and we're at 40%The group should intentionally die and restart since the attempt is unsalvageable.reddit, 2023

Use it when

  • The entire group died during a raid or dungeon encounter.
  • Describing a total team failure in a group game context.
  • Metaphorically, when a group project or plan collapses completely.
  • When a team pulls trash before the group is ready and everyone dies.

Do not use it when

  • Only one person died.
  • The group cleared the encounter successfully.

Variations and related forms

wipe

Shortened form. Used as both noun and verb in the same sense.

Raid wipe vs DPS check

raid wipe

Raid wipe is the outcome: everyone is dead, attempt is over.

VS

dps-check

DPS check is one specific mechanic that can cause a wipe if you fail it.

Origin and context

The term 'wipe' in the context of total party kills became standard in MMO raid culture. 'Raid wipe' makes the group context explicit. Popularized through World of Warcraft and similar games in the mid-2000s.

First seen
2000s
Confidence
medium

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/raid-wipe
Updated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0

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