Honor of Kings is the world's most played mobile MOBA, developed by TiMi Studio Group. Its massive popularity stems from its high-quality graphics, deep strategic gameplay, and cultural resonance, particularly in China where it integrates social networking features. The game features fast-paced 5v5 battles, a vast roster of heroes inspired by Chinese history and mythology, and a highly polished competitive ecosystem.

While both games are developed by TiMi Studios and share core gameplay mechanics, they are distinct titles. Honor of Kings was the original Chinese release, while Arena of Valor was developed as an international adaptation with westernized hero designs and lore. However, Honor of Kings has recently launched its own global version, bringing the original heroes and aesthetics to players worldwide, separate from AoV.

There are six primary roles: Tank (absorbs damage and initiates), Warrior (balanced offense and defense), Assassin (high burst damage to eliminate carries), Mage (magical damage and crowd control), Marksman (sustained ranged physical damage), and Support (protects allies and provides utility). A balanced team composition typically includes one of each to cover all strategic bases.

The ranked system is divided into several tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and King. Players earn stars by winning ranked matches to progress through sub-tiers. Reaching the 'King' tier is a prestigious achievement, and top players can compete for global rankings. The game uses a 'Brave Points' system to protect players from losing stars occasionally if they perform well despite a loss.

For beginners, heroes with straightforward mechanics are recommended. Angela (Mage) offers high burst damage with simple aiming. Arthur (Warrior/Tank) is durable and has easy-to-land abilities. Hou Yi (Marksman) provides high continuous damage with simple positioning requirements. Luban No.7 (Marksman) is also popular for his high area-of-effect damage, though he requires protection.

The Jungler plays in the neutral area between lanes, farming monsters to gain gold and experience. Their primary role is to 'gank' (ambush) lanes to help teammates secure kills and objectives like the Tyrant and Overlord. A good Jungler controls the game's tempo, securing resources for the team and applying pressure across the map.

Key objectives include the Tyrant (provides team-wide gold and XP), the Overlord (spawns powerful Vanguard minions to push lanes), and the Tempest Dragon (the ultimate late-game boss providing a massive shield and damage buff). Securing these neutral objectives is often the turning point in matches, forcing team fights and strategic rotations.

No, Honor of Kings is strictly free-to-play regarding gameplay balance. Heroes can be unlocked with in-game currency earned by playing. Real money is used primarily for cosmetic items like skins, which provide only negligible stat bonuses (often disabled in competitive play) or none at all. Skill, teamwork, and strategy are the deciding factors in matches.

Arcana are stat-boosting items that players equip before a match to enhance their hero's attributes, such as attack damage, health, or cooldown reduction. Players build custom Arcana pages to suit different heroes and playstyles. A full set of level 5 Arcana provides a significant early-game advantage, similar to runes in other MOBAs.

Matches in Honor of Kings are designed to be faster than PC MOBAs, typically lasting between 15 to 20 minutes. This accelerated pace is achieved through faster gold gain, shorter cooldowns, and map objectives that encourage decisive team fights, making it perfect for mobile gaming sessions.