Honor of Kings Global Ban&Pick Format Adopted; Philippines Invitational Next

Honor of Kings is set to make waves in the esports scene with exciting announcements for 2025. Following its global release, the game is bringing an invitational to the Philippines for the first time, scheduled to take place from February 21st to March 1st. However, the most significant news is the adoption of a new ban&pick format for the season three invitational and all upcoming tournaments globally.

So, what exactly is ban&pick? It's simpler than you might think. Once a hero is used by a team in a match, that hero is banned for the rest of the tournament for that team, though not for their opponents. This rule adds a strategic layer to the game, as players often specialize in a small pool of characters. For instance, consider the well-known League of Legends player Tyler1, who is almost synonymous with his favorite champion, Draven.

The ban&pick format is not new to MOBAs; games like League of Legends and even titles outside the genre, such as Rainbow Six Siege, have implemented similar systems. Typically, bans in these games are decided by team consensus before the match. Honor of Kings, however, is putting the choice directly into the hands of individual players, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion and strategic decision-making. Players must decide whether to use a character suited for a specific situation or save their main for crucial matches later in the tournament. This innovative approach is likely to make Honor of Kings' esports even more appealing to new audiences.