What Is Honor of Kings?
Honor of Kings (王者荣耀) is a 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Tencent. Available globally as Honor of Kings (previously Arena of Valor in Western markets), it is one of the most-played mobile games in the world, with an especially dominant presence in China and Southeast Asia.
The objective is simple in concept: destroy the enemy's Crystal (main base structure) before they destroy yours. In practice, achieving that requires teamwork, map awareness, and a thorough understanding of your hero and role.
Understanding the Map
The standard map features three lanes — Top, Mid, and Bottom — connected by a jungle. Key locations include:
- Towers — Defensive structures guarding each lane. Destroying them gives your team map control and access to the enemy base.
- Dragon (Jungle Boss) — Killing the Dragon rewards your entire team with powerful buffs. Contesting Dragon is a central mid-game objective.
- Overlord (Baron equivalent) — A powerful late-game jungle boss that empowers minions upon being slain.
- Jungle Camps — Neutral monsters that provide gold and buffs when killed by the Jungler.
The Five Core Roles
| Role | Primary Job | Lane/Position |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior / Fighter | Frontline damage and durability | Solo Lane (Top) |
| Assassin / Mage | High burst damage, picks kills | Mid Lane |
| Jungler | Farm camps, gank lanes, secure objectives | Jungle |
| Marksman | Sustained ranged damage, carry team fights | Bot Lane (with Support) |
| Support / Tank | Protect carries, provide utility | Bot Lane (with Marksman) |
Choosing Your First Heroes
As a beginner, prioritize heroes with straightforward skillsets before moving to mechanically complex picks. Good starting heroes include:
- Han Xin (Jungler) — High mobility assassin with clear mechanical indicators.
- Liu Bei (Fighter) — Durable warrior with easy-to-land abilities.
- Diaochan (Mage) — Area-of-effect mage with manageable skill curves.
- Hou Yi (Marksman) — Reliable ranged carry with a crowd-control ultimate.
Use the in-game Practice Mode extensively when learning a new hero — understanding your abilities before entering a real match is essential.
Core Beginner Mechanics to Master
Last Hitting
Gold is earned by landing the killing blow on minions (called "last hitting"). Prioritize getting as many last hits as possible in lane — this is the primary source of your hero's income and item progression.
Map Awareness
Glance at the minimap every few seconds. If an enemy lane opponent disappears, assume they are rotating to another lane or attempting a gank — back off or call a warning for your teammates.
Objective Priority
Winning fights is satisfying, but winning the game requires taking objectives. After a successful team fight, immediately push to take a tower, Dragon, or Overlord rather than recalling to base.
Itemization
Honor of Kings has a recommended item build system for each hero. As a beginner, follow these recommended builds until you understand how items interact with specific playstyles and team compositions.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Overextending in lane without vision — always place wards near river brushes.
- Fighting under enemy towers — tower damage adds up quickly and turns won trades into losses.
- Ignoring Dragon spawns — losing Dragon control consistently gives the enemy team a significant power advantage.
- Going solo against multiple enemies — respect numbers; rotate as a team for big objectives.
Honor of Kings has a high skill ceiling, but its mobile-friendly design means progress is rapid. Focus on one role and two to three heroes, master the fundamentals, and your win rate will climb steadily.