Honor of Kings is making major esports waves in 2025! Following its global launch, the game is bringing its first-ever invitational tournament to the Philippines, running from February 21st to March 1st. But the biggest news is the global adoption of a new ban & pick format for Season Three and all future tournaments.

What exactly is ban & pick? It's simpler than it sounds. Once a hero is used by a team in a match, that hero is banned from use by that team for the remainder of the tournament. This means a player's hero choice directly impacts their team's options, but not their opponents'.

This change is significant for MOBA fans. Many players specialize in a small roster of mastered heroes. Think of Tyler1 and his iconic Draven in League of Legends—this new format adds a layer of strategic depth.

Ban & pick is a popular concept in MOBAs, used in games like League of Legends and even Rainbow Six Siege. However, in those games, bans are usually pre-determined. Honor of Kings' implementation puts the decision directly in the players' hands, emphasizing team coordination and strategic thinking. Players will face tough choices: prioritize a known strong pick, or stick with their mastered hero, potentially impacting early game wins or saving it for later? This exciting change is sure to attract even more viewers to Honor of Kings esports.