Honor of Kings: World - Complete Guide to the Open-World RPG 2025

Honor of Kings: World represents a revolutionary expansion of the beloved MOBA franchise, transforming it into an expansive open-world action RPG. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about this exciting new chapter in the Honor of Kings universe.

What is Honor of Kings: World?

Honor of Kings: World is an open-world action RPG developed by TiMi Studio Group, set in the same universe as the original Honor of Kings MOBA. Unlike its predecessor, this game offers:

Massive Open World: Explore the vast Kingdom of Chang'an with seamless exploration
Action RPG Combat: Real-time combat system with combo-based gameplay
Story-Driven Experience: Deep narrative following iconic HoK characters
Single-Player & Co-op: Play solo or team up with friends
Stunning Graphics: Powered by Unreal Engine 4 with next-gen visuals

Key Differences from Honor of Kings (MOBA)

| Feature | Honor of Kings (MOBA) | Honor of Kings: World (RPG) | |---------|----------------------|----------------------------| | Genre | MOBA | Open-World Action RPG | | Map | Fixed battle arenas | Massive open world | | Matches | 10-20 minute matches | Continuous exploration | | Objective | Destroy enemy base | Story progression & quests | | Multiplayer | 5v5 competitive | Co-op & solo gameplay | | Character System | Multiple heroes to switch | Single character progression |

Release Date & Availability

Global Release Status (October 2025)

China Release: Available since December 2024
Southeast Asia: Launched August 2025
North America: Expected November 2025
Europe: Expected December 2025
Latin America: Expected Q1 2026

Pre-Registration Rewards

Pre-register now to receive:

Exclusive Character Skin: Limited edition outfit
5-Star Weapon: Legendary starter weapon
10,000 Gold: Premium in-game currency
5x Gacha Tickets: For character pulls
Title: "Pioneer of Chang'an"

How to Pre-Register:

Visit the official Honor of Kings: World website
Sign in with your account
Click "Pre-Register Now"
Claim rewards on launch day

Game World & Setting

The Kingdom of Chang'an

The game is set in a beautifully realized version of ancient China during the Tang Dynasty, featuring:

Major Regions:

1. Chang'an City (Capital)

Bustling metropolis with markets, palaces, and districts
Main quest hub and social center
Craft workshops and guild halls
Dynamic day/night cycles with different activities

2. The Northern Wilderness

Snowy mountains and frozen tundra
Home to barbarian tribes and mythical beasts
Ancient ruins with powerful artifacts
Extreme weather challenges

3. Southern Forests

Lush jungles and bamboo groves
Hidden villages and secret temples
Rare materials and exotic wildlife
Mystical fog that conceals dangers

4. Eastern Coastline

Beach areas and fishing villages
Naval exploration and underwater caves
Pirate encounters and trade routes
Beautiful sunset vistas

5. Western Desert

Vast sand dunes and oases
Ancient Silk Road trading posts
Sandstorms and nomadic encounters
Buried treasures and lost civilizations

World Size & Scale

Playable Area: 64 square kilometers
Fast Travel Points: 50+ waypoints
Dungeons: 30+ instanced dungeons
Towns & Villages: 20+ settlements
Points of Interest: 200+ discoverable locations

Characters & Classes

Playable Heroes

At launch, Honor of Kings: World features 15 playable characters from the original MOBA, each reimagined for open-world gameplay:

Warrior Class

Lu Bu - The Berserker

Role: Melee DPS
Weapon: Halberd
Playstyle: Aggressive close-combat with high damage
Special: Rage mode for increased attack speed
Starting Stats: High ATK, Medium DEF

Guan Yu - The Righteous General

Role: Tank/Fighter
Weapon: Dragon Moon Blade
Playstyle: Balanced offense and defense
Special: Horseback combat for mobility
Starting Stats: High HP, High DEF

Zhao Yun - The Dragon Warrior

Role: Balanced Fighter
Weapon: Silver Lance
Playstyle: Fast-paced combo attacks
Special: Dragon spirit summons
Starting Stats: Balanced across all stats

Mage Class

Diao Chan - The Illusionist

Role: Magic DPS
Weapon: Mystic Fan
Playstyle: Long-range spell casting
Special: Illusion clones for crowd control
Starting Stats: High MATK, Low DEF

Zhou Yu - The Strategist

Role: Support Mage
Weapon: Feather Fan
Playstyle: Area damage and buffs
Special: Fire-based area spells
Starting Stats: High INT, Medium MP

Wang Zhaojun - The Ice Queen

Role: Control Mage
Weapon: Ice Staff
Playstyle: Freeze and slow enemies
Special: Ice storm ultimate
Starting Stats: Very High MATK, Low HP

Assassin Class

Li Bai - The Poet Blade

Role: Stealth Assassin
Weapon: Dual Swords
Playstyle: Hit-and-run tactics
Special: Invulnerability frames during dodge
Starting Stats: High SPD, High CRIT

Ling - The Shadow Walker

Role: Mobility Assassin
Weapon: Blade
Playstyle: Wall-running and aerial attacks
Special: Enhanced parkour abilities
Starting Stats: Very High SPD, Medium ATK

Ranger Class

Hou Yi - The Legendary Archer

Role: Ranged DPS
Weapon: Longbow
Playstyle: Long-range precision attacks
Special: Charged shots that pierce enemies
Starting Stats: High ATK, High ACC

Marco Polo - The Explorer

Role: Gunslinger
Weapon: Dual Pistols
Playstyle: Mobile ranged combat
Special: Rolling gunfire mechanics
Starting Stats: Medium ATK, High SPD

Support Class

Cai Wenji - The Healer

Role: Healing Support
Weapon: Zither
Playstyle: Buff allies and heal
Special: Music-based area buffs
Starting Stats: High HEALING, Medium MP

Da Qiao - The Teleporter

Role: Utility Support
Weapon: Mystic Mirror
Playstyle: Teleportation and protection
Special: Create portals for quick travel
Starting Stats: Medium INT, High MP

Character Progression

Level Cap: 100 (at launch)

Progression Systems:

Experience Points: Earned from combat and quests
Skill Trees: Three branches per character with 50+ skills
Weapon Mastery: Level up weapon proficiency
Constellation System: Unlock passive abilities
Artifact Slots: Equip powerful relics

Combat System

Real-Time Action Combat

The combat system emphasizes skill and timing:

Core Mechanics:

Light Attacks: Fast, combo-building strikes
Heavy Attacks: Slower, high-damage blows
Skills: Character-specific abilities (4 slots)
Ultimate: Powerful finisher with cooldown
Dodge: Invulnerability frames for avoiding damage
Parry: Timed blocks for counter-attacks
Combos: Chain attacks for increased damage

Combat Stats

Primary Attributes:

ATK (Attack): Physical damage output
MATK (Magic Attack): Magical damage output
DEF (Defense): Physical damage reduction
MDEF (Magic Defense): Magical damage reduction
HP (Health Points): Total health pool
MP (Mana Points): Resource for skills
SPD (Speed): Movement and attack speed
CRIT (Critical): Critical hit chance
ACC (Accuracy): Hit rate
EVA (Evasion): Dodge rate

Enemy Types

Common Enemies:

Bandits, wild animals, basic soldiers

Elite Enemies:

Named champions, mini-bosses, rare spawns

Boss Enemies:

Story bosses, dungeon bosses, world bosses

Raid Bosses:

Multiplayer-required encounters with epic loot

Quest System

Main Story Quests

Chapters: 10 main story chapters at launch

Length: 40-60 hours for main story
Narrative: Follow the Three Kingdoms era conflicts
Rewards: Best equipment, skill unlocks, story progression

Side Quests

Types:

Character Quests: Deep dive into hero backstories
Town Quests: Help villagers with local problems
Bounty Quests: Hunt specific enemies for rewards
Fetch Quests: Gather materials and items
Escort Quests: Protect NPCs during travel

World Events

Dynamic Events:

Random encounters while exploring
Timed events with special rewards
Seasonal festivals and celebrations
World boss spawns

Multiplayer Features

Co-op Mode

Party Size: 1-4 players

Co-op Activities:

Story Missions: Play main quests together
Dungeons: Instanced 4-player content
World Bosses: Massive encounters requiring coordination
Exploration: Freely explore the world with friends

PvP Mode

Arena Battles: 1v1 and 3v3 competitive matches

Ranked Seasons: Climb leaderboards for rewards
Casual Mode: Practice without rank pressure
Custom Matches: Create private matches

Guild Wars: Large-scale faction battles

Territory Control: Capture and hold regions
Siege Warfare: Attack enemy guild fortresses
Resource Competition: Fight for rare materials

Equipment & Crafting

Weapon System

Weapon Tiers:

⚪ Common (1-Star)
🟢 Uncommon (2-Star)
🔵 Rare (3-Star)
🟣 Epic (4-Star)
🟠 Legendary (5-Star)
🔴 Mythic (6-Star)

Weapon Enhancement:

Upgrade weapons with materials
Unlock special effects at higher levels
Refine stats for customization
Evolve weapons to higher tiers

Armor System

Armor Slots:

Helmet
Chest Piece
Gloves
Pants
Boots
Accessories (3 slots)

Set Bonuses: Equip matching armor pieces for powerful effects

Crafting System

Gather Resources:

Mining: Ore and gems
Herbalism: Plants and flowers
Hunting: Animal materials
Salvaging: Dismantle equipment

Craft Items:

Weapons and armor
Consumables (potions, food)
Enhancement materials
Decorative items

Gacha System

Character Gacha

Banner Types:

Standard Banner: All characters available
Rate-Up Banner: Increased rates for featured characters
Limited Banner: Time-limited exclusive characters

Rates:

5-Star (Highest Tier): 0.6% base rate
4-Star: 5.1% rate
3-Star: 94.3% rate

Pity System: Guaranteed 5-star within 90 pulls

Weapon Gacha

Similar to character gacha with weapon-specific banners

Pity System: Guaranteed 5-star weapon within 80 pulls

Free-to-Play Options

Earn Premium Currency:

Complete daily missions
Finish achievements
Participate in events
Reach milestones

Monetization

Free-to-Play Friendly

Honor of Kings: World is free-to-play with fair monetization:

Premium Currency: Jade (can be earned or purchased)

Purchase Options:

Character gacha pulls
Weapon gacha pulls
Battle Pass (seasonal)
Cosmetic skins
Convenience items (EXP boosters)

NOT Pay-to-Win: No exclusive power locked behind paywalls

Beginner's Tips

Starting Out

Choose Your Main Hero: Pick a character whose playstyle you enjoy
Complete Tutorial: Learn all mechanics thoroughly
Follow Main Story: Best progression path early game
Save Your Jade: Don't spend premium currency on random pulls
Join a Guild: Social benefits and group content

Early Game Priorities

Week 1 Goals:

Reach Level 20
Complete Chapter 2 of main story
Unlock first dungeon
Join an active guild
Complete daily missions

Efficient Progression:

Focus main story until you hit level gates
Do side quests during level gates
Craft equipment instead of gacha early on
Save limited-time event rewards

Combat Mastery

Practice These Skills:

Dodge timing to avoid damage
Combo execution for maximum DPS
Skill rotation for efficiency
Positioning in boss fights
Parry timing for counter-attacks

Resource Management

What to Hoard:

Premium gacha currency (Jade)
Enhancement materials (scarce early)
High-tier equipment (don't salvage)

What to Spend:

Common materials (plentiful)
Low-tier equipment (salvage freely)
Food buffs in hard content

Endgame Content

Level 100 Activities

Raids: 8-player coordinated boss fights

Weekly Lockouts: Limited attempts per week
Best Gear: Mythic-tier equipment drops
Mechanics Heavy: Requires teamwork

Nightmare Dungeons: Harder versions of story dungeons

Scaling Difficulty: Multiple tiers
Better Rewards: Enhanced drop rates
Leaderboards: Compete for fastest clears

PvP Season: Competitive ranked play

Seasonal Rewards: Exclusive cosmetics
Ranking Tiers: Bronze to Legend
Meta Balance: Regular balancing patches

World Exploration: 100% completion hunters

Collectibles: 500+ items to find
Achievements: Hundreds of challenges
Secret Areas: Hidden locations with lore

Graphics & Performance

Visual Quality

Graphics Options:

Low, Medium, High, Ultra, Cinematic
Ray tracing support (PC and next-gen consoles)
60 FPS and 120 FPS modes
4K resolution support

Platform Performance

Mobile (iOS/Android):

Optimized for high-end and mid-range devices
Scalable graphics settings
Touch controls or controller support

PC:

Full keyboard and mouse support
Ultrawide monitor support
Customizable keybindings

Console (PS5/Xbox Series X):

4K/60 FPS or 1440p/120 FPS modes
DualSense features (PS5)
Quick load times with SSD

Cross-Platform & Cross-Save

Cross-Platform Play: Yes (mobile, PC, console) Cross-Save: Yes (same account across devices) Cross-Progression: Yes (all progress syncs)

Community & Social Features

Guild System

Guild Features:

Guild hall customization
Guild quests and events
Guild wars for territory
Shared resources and benefits
Guild chat and voice

Friend System

Social Options:

Add friends across platforms
Join friend's world
Gift items to friends
Co-op bonuses with friends

Photo Mode

Capture Moments:

Free camera movement
Character poses and expressions
Filters and effects
Time of day adjustment
Share to social media

Upcoming Updates & Roadmap

Confirmed Future Content

Version 1.1 (November 2025):

New region: The Forbidden Mountains
3 new playable characters
New dungeon: Temple of Heaven
Quality of life improvements

Version 1.2 (December 2025):

Winter Festival event
Housing system launch
Pet companion system
PvP balancing

Version 2.0 (Q1 2026):

Major expansion with new continent
Level cap increase to 120
New class: Monk
Guild fortress system

Comparison with Other Games

Honor of Kings: World vs Genshin Impact

| Feature | HoK: World | Genshin Impact | |---------|-----------|----------------| | Combat | Combo-focused | Elemental reactions | | Character Switching | Single character | Party of 4 | | Gacha | Separate char/weapon | Combined | | Exploration | More grounded | Fantasy-focused | | Multiplayer | 4-player co-op | 4-player co-op |

Honor of Kings: World vs Tower of Fantasy

| Feature | HoK: World | Tower of Fantasy | |---------|-----------|------------------| | Setting | Ancient China | Sci-fi future | | Combat Speed | Fast-paced | Very fast | | Open World | Large | Very large | | MMO Features | Guild-focused | Server-wide | | PvP | Instanced | Open-world & instanced |

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Honor of Kings: World connected to the MOBA? A: Yes, it shares the same universe and characters but offers completely different gameplay.

Q: Do I need to play the original Honor of Kings? A: No, Honor of Kings: World is standalone with its own story and mechanics.

Q: Is it pay-to-win? A: No, all content is accessible to free-to-play players. Premium currency can be earned through gameplay.

Q: Can I play solo? A: Yes, the entire main story can be completed solo. Multiplayer is optional.

Q: What's the best starting character? A: Lu Bu for beginners (easy to learn), Zhao Yun for balanced gameplay, or Hou Yi for ranged preference.

Q: How long is the story? A: Main story takes 40-60 hours. With side content, expect 100+ hours.

Q: Are there microtransactions? A: Yes, but they're optional and mostly cosmetic or convenience items.

Q: Can I change my main character later? A: Yes, you can unlock and switch between multiple characters freely.

Conclusion

Honor of Kings: World represents an ambitious evolution of the beloved MOBA franchise. With its stunning open world, engaging combat system, and deep RPG mechanics, it offers something for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Whether you're interested in the rich story, competitive PvP, cooperative dungeons, or simply exploring a beautiful rendition of ancient China, Honor of Kings: World has content to satisfy every type of player.

Getting Started Checklist:

✅ Pre-register for launch rewards
✅ Decide on your main character
✅ Download the game on release
✅ Join an active guild
✅ Follow official channels for updates

Prepare to embark on an epic journey through the Kingdom of Chang'an. The world awaits your arrival, hero!

Related Articles:

Honor of Kings Tier List October 2025
Best Heroes for Beginners in Honor of Kings
Honor of Kings vs Honor of Kings World: Complete Comparison
Honor of Kings: World Character Tier List

Last Updated: October 10, 2025 Game Version: Global Pre-Launch

Official Links:

Website: honorofkings.com/world
Discord: Official HoK World server
Twitter: @HonorOfKingsWorld
Reddit: r/HonorOfKingsWorld