Honor of Kings to adopt ban&pick format globally, with upcoming Phillipines invitational scheduled

With the global release of Honor of Kings, 2024 has been a landmark year, and as we move into 2025, the game is set to roll out exciting updates for the coming year. A major highlight is the introduction of an invitational series in the Philippines, scheduled from February 21st to March 1st. This event marks the first time Honor of Kings will host an invitational in the country. However, the most significant news is the adoption of a global ban&pick format, which will be implemented starting with the season three invitational and all subsequent tournaments.

But what exactly is ban&pick? It's simpler than you might think. In this format, once a hero is chosen by a team during a match, that hero becomes unavailable for the rest of the tournament for that team, though it remains open for their opponents to use. This system adds a strategic layer to the game, as players often specialize in a limited number of heroes. For instance, in League of Legends, the well-known player Tyler1 is almost synonymous with his mastery of Draven.

The ban&pick format has been a successful addition to many MOBAs, including League of Legends and even games outside the genre like Rainbow Six Siege. However, while those games typically allow bans to be agreed upon by teams beforehand, Honor of Kings is putting the decision directly in the hands of individual players. This approach emphasizes team strategy and cohesion, forcing players to decide whether to select a hero best suited for the situation or to save their main hero for a crucial match later in the tournament. This twist is expected to make Honor of Kings' esports events even more thrilling and appealing to new audiences.