Twinking
A controversial practice of equipping low-level characters with high-level gear.
In role-playing games, "twinking" is a practice that other players tend to frown upon. Someone who does it is called a twink. What exactly that means changes depending on the type of game.
In tabletop role-playing games, a twink is basically the same as a munchkin—a powergamer who chases power and loot, often at the expense of their teammates. In MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons), a twink can be anything from a munchkin to a new player to a griefer or someone acting in bad faith. In MMORPGs, twinking usually means giving a low-level character equipment with the help of a higher-level character—especially gear that would otherwise be out of reach. It can also mean keeping a character at a low level while using currency earned by a high-level character to buy them top-tier gear.
A related idea is "smurfing," where a skilled player creates a second account to play against weaker opponents. That term comes from two *Warcraft II* players who used the names "Papa Smurf" and "Smurfette."
In role-playing video games, especially MMORPGs, twinking is about giving a new character items or resources they couldn't normally get. A twink in this sense is a kind of powergamer and munchkin. The word can also refer to the character itself—like saying "My twink has all the best gear." At its simplest, a twink is a character with better equipment than they could have earned on their own.
This is usually done by moving high-end gear from a player's (or a friend's) more experienced characters, who often have extra items that would be more useful at a lower level. It can also mean equipping a character with the best possible gear for their level range and loading them up with end-game enchantments. Many new players dislike this because it gives established players a big head start. Some new players also prefer to earn their own gear rather than have it handed to them.
Twink items are often traded at good prices because demand stays high. Sometimes this inflates prices, since high-level players can pay more than a newbie could.
To counter this, many games put restrictions on items. In *Diablo II* and *The Lord of the Rings Online*, most items require a minimum level or ability score to equip. That didn't fully stop the practice—it just changed what could be passed down.
- Field
- Role-playing games (pen-and-paper, MUDs, MMORPGs)
- Known for
- Outfitting a low-level character with high-level equipment or resources, often via a higher-level character
- Related terms
- Munchkin, powergamer, griefer, smurfing
Lore & Background
In pen-and-paper role-playing games, a twink is often synonymous with a munchkin, a powergamer who seeks power and loot at the expense of teammates. In MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons or Domains), a twink can be anything from a munchkin to a newbie, a griefer, or a bad faith player. In MMORPGs, twinking specifically refers to a character gaining equipment with the assistance of a higher-level character, particularly by giving the low-level character higher-level equipment that is otherwise unattainable. It can also describe keeping a character at a low level while using in-game currency from a high-level character to provide superior equipment.
The term's etymology is uncertain. It may derive from gay slang, where 'twink' connotes a young person who can outfit themselves fashionably due to financial benefits from an older sugar daddy, paralleling the in-game dynamic. The word appeared in the Ultima Online: Renaissance playguide glossary (copyrighted 2000) with a similar meaning. On the MUD Sojourn, which several EverQuest creators played, 'twink' was used to refer to powerleveling and metagaming. Another origin suggests the term came from flags on high-end gear that caused gear to be displayed as '(twinkling) <gear name>.'
Reader's Guide
Twinking has been a persistent issue in role-playing games, particularly MMORPGs, because it gives established players a significant advantage over new players starting a new character. Many new players dislike twinking of others' characters, and some prefer not to have their own characters twinked, as they want to earn equipment themselves. The practice creates a demand for twink items, which are often traded at good values, sometimes inflating prices as high-level players are willing to pay more than newbies. Game developers have implemented countermeasures, such as item restrictions requiring minimum ability scores or levels, and 'soulbound' or 'no trade' tags that prevent transfer of items between characters. World of Warcraft further reduced twinking in player-versus-player battlegrounds by awarding experience points for victories, causing characters to level out of lower brackets, and by removing all equipment stats in PvP arenas in patch 7.0.3. The term 'smurfing' is related, describing a highly-skilled player creating a secondary account to play against less proficient opponents, originating from two Warcraft II players using the names 'Papa Smurf' and 'Smurfette.'
Did You Know?
- World of Warcraft eliminated twinking in PvP combat arenas in patch 7.0.3 by removing all stats gained from equipment upon entry.
- The word 'twink' appeared in the Ultima Online: Renaissance playguide glossary (copyrighted 2000) with a meaning similar to its current one.
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