Honor of Kings Reveals Major Esports Updates for 2025

Following its global launch, Honor of Kings will host its first-ever Philippine invitational tournament—but the most significant change comes with the introduction of a new global ban & pick system for competitive play.

Honor of Kings’ 2025 Competitive Roadmap

2024 marked a milestone year for Honor of Kings with its worldwide release, and 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. The new invitational series kicks off in the Philippines from February 21st to March 1st, but the real game-changer is the adoption of the competitive ban & pick format—effective in the Season 3 invitational and all future tournaments.

How the Ban & Pick System Works

For those unfamiliar, the system is straightforward: when a team selects a hero in a match, that hero becomes unavailable for their squad in all subsequent games during the tournament. Importantly, the restriction applies only to their own team, allowing opponents to still pick the hero if available.

This introduces a major strategic shift, particularly for MOBA veterans who specialize in mastering select heroes. Well-known figures like League of Legends' Tyler1 (synonymous with Draven) exemplify how players often dominate with signature picks—making this rule especially impactful.

Why This Changes the Competitive Landscape

Ban & pick mechanics are no novelty in esports—games like League of Legends and Rainbow Six Siege employ similar restrictions. However, they typically involve pre-match team decisions. Honor of Kings’ approach puts individual choice front and center, emphasizing teamwork in a fresh way.

• Do you draft a strong situational hero that your teammate has mastered?
• Or save your main pick for crucial late-tournament matches?

This dynamic should bring heightened tension and strategy to matches, making the esports scene even more compelling for both veterans and newcomers.