What is CWs?

Scrims, prac matches, or CWs are practice games between teams played outside official tournaments. These matches help teams refine strategies, improve coordination, and test drafts in a setting close to real competition.

• CW stands for “clan war,” a term rooted in the early days of games like CS 1.6 and Warcraft 3. It's still commonly used in the Russian-speaking Dota 2 scene;
• A scrim (short for scrimmage) is the internationally accepted term for such training matches, especially common in English-speaking communities and the pro scene;
• A prac (from practice match) refers to the same type of game, with an emphasis on the training aspect. It’s generally used as a synonym for scrim.

These matches are typically not streamed or published, as the goal isn’t to win but to practice tactics and build synergy. Results have no bearing on tournament standings but are often analyzed internally. Scrims are usually arranged directly between teams.