Leeroy Jenkins

Leeroy Jenkins originates from the online multiplayer video game World of Warcraft, where Leeroy Jenkins was the username of player Ben Schulz.

In May 2005, the video “A Rough Go” first appeared on the World of Warcraft fan site WarcraftMovies.com. In the clip, a team of Warcraft players are seen in a dungeon, working together to come up with a detailed strategy for taking on the baby dragons in the next room. Suddenly, Schulz’s character Leeroy Jenkins separates from the crowd. He ignores the careful planning of his teammates and charges headfirst into the room screaming his own name as a battle cry: “Leeeroooooy Jeeeenkins!” The actions of Leeroy resulted in his entire team getting killed, much to their chagrin.

“A Rough Go” became a pop-culture phenomenon, referenced on TV shows such as South Park, My Name is Earl, The Daily Show, and even Jeopardy! The idea of pulling a Leeroy quickly came to be synonymous with being the one person who, through their own impatience and impulsiveness, sabotages a carefully planned situation and causes the colossal failure of whatever goal they were working to achieve.

While there was always some speculation that the video had been staged, it took 12 years for Schulz to confirm it was indeed a joke. That didn’t make the concept of Leeroy Jenkins—as the one who rushes foolishly into a situation—any less universal.

The Warcraft expansion Warlords of Draenor incorporated Leeroy Jenkins into the game as a non-player character. He was also included as a card in the official World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, though playing that card is detrimental to a player’s team. Additionally Leeroy Jenkins appears on a card in another Warcraft universe spin-off game called Hearthstone, however, summoning him gives a player’s opponent two minions.