Quick definitions for terms that show up in shops, tooltips, and this wiki. Definitions follow public English UI and official marketing language.
If a live patch renames a term, the client wins. This page stays short on purpose: it is a dictionary, not a substitute for the systems guides.
Dictionary
Core terms
When two terms seem to overlap — item versus relic — remember the layer: relics rewrite the run rules, items rewrite a single hero's performance.
Use this glossary when a shop tooltip or community post assumes vocabulary you have not internalized yet. Pair it with the systems page if you need the full combat model, and with the economy page if Shards and auctions are the confusing part.
Terms can gain new sub-rules in weekly patches. If a tooltip disagrees with this table, trust the client and send a correction to the wiki email with a screenshot when possible.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Autobattler | You place units; combat resolves without direct attacks. |
| Rift | The run setting — torn openings the guild is sealing. |
| Guild | Your collection of heroes for the current run. |
| Party | Fielded heroes placed into combat. |
| Reserve | Bench heroes; may still help via Backup. |
| Shards | Primary run currency for shops and offers. |
| Rank (C–S) | Hero power steps that unlock specialization choices. |
| Specialization | A branch ability choice that reshapes a hero's job. |
| Relic | Mostly team-wide run modifier item, often high impact. |
| Item | Equipment that transforms a specific hero. |
| Rush | Ability keyword that triggers early in a fight. |
| Stall | Ability keyword that triggers later in a fight. |
| Backup | Ability keyword that can work from Reserve. |
| Auction | Act-end shop with stronger exclusive offers. |
| Trial | Event node with forked rewards for a challenge. |
| Endless | Post-structure mode that continues until death for score. |
| Difficulty ladder | Eight progressive challenge tiers unlocked by clears. |
Reading order
How to use these terms in a run
When a shop opens, scan for class tags and Backup text before you stare at raw stats. When a relic appears, ask whether it wants mono-class, rainbow-class, or a combat trigger such as Shard gain. When a trial offers forked rewards, map each option to Shards, item, or relic layers from this glossary.
New players should re-read Party versus Reserve after their first loss where a bench unit never contributed. If the unit had no Backup keyword, it was a pure sideboard body; if it had Backup and you still ignored it, the board plan left free value on the table.
Rank letters are not cosmetic prestige alone. Each step is a decision gate. If you blindly take damage branches on a tank shell, you may create a glass unit that fails the next boss pattern. The glossary term for that failure is usually specialization, not unlucky shops.