With the global release of Honor of Kings, 2024 has been a monumental year, and 2025 promises even more exciting developments. The game is set to launch a new invitational series in the Philippines for the first time, kicking off on February 21st and wrapping up on March 1st. However, the most significant announcement for the upcoming year is the introduction of a global ban&pick format for the season three invitational and all future tournaments.
But what exactly is ban&pick? It's simpler than you might think. In this system, once a hero is selected and used by a team in a match, that hero is banned for the rest of the tournament for that team, but not for their opponents. This adds a strategic layer to the game, as players often focus on mastering a limited pool of characters. For instance, consider the well-known League of Legends player Tyler1, who is famous for his mastery of Draven.
The ban&pick system is a popular choice in the MOBA genre, and while Honor of Kings is not the first to implement it, their approach is unique. Unlike other games like League of Legends or Rainbow Six Siege, where bans are typically agreed upon beforehand by teams, Honor of Kings puts the decision in the hands of individual players. This emphasizes team cohesion and strategic decision-making. Players must choose whether to select a character suited for a specific situation, even if a teammate has mastered it, or to use their main character to secure early wins and save them for later stages.
This new format is expected to make Honor of Kings' esports events even more thrilling and attractive to new audiences, enhancing the competitive nature of the game and showcasing the skill and strategy involved.
