Arena of Valor

Arena of Valor is a fast-paced mobile MOBA developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Garena in Southeast Asia, featuring 5v5 real-time battles with over 100 heroes.

Overview

Arena of Valor (known as Honor of Kings in Asia) is a free-to-play 5v5 MOBA developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite internationally. It is one of the most-played mobile games in history, with the Chinese version Honor of Kings regularly recording over 100 million daily active players.

Released internationally in 2017, Arena of Valor adapts the MOBA genre pioneered on PC into a format purpose-built for touchscreen play, with matches designed to run between 15 and 25 minutes.

Core Gameplay

Each match pits two teams of five players against each other on a three-lane map. Players select heroes from over 100 available, each assigned to roles including Tank, Warrior, Assassin, Mage, Marksman, and Support.

The objective is to destroy the enemy team's Core structure at their base. Teams fight over lane control, jungle objectives, and tower denial in matches that move faster than PC MOBA equivalents due to shorter base-to-lane distances and accelerated item purchase pacing.

Hero Roster and Design

Arena of Valor's hero roster includes original characters alongside licensed properties. International versions feature heroes based on DC Comics characters including Batman, The Joker, Wonder Woman, Superman, The Flash, and Aquaman, a partnership unique in the MOBA space.

Heroes are divided by difficulty rating and role complexity. Simpler heroes are recommended for newer players; the high-skill ceiling options reward extensive practice with mechanical precision and decision-making.

Esports and Competitive Scene

Arena of Valor has been part of the Asian Games esports demonstration events. The competitive scene in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan, is one of the most active in mobile gaming with professional leagues, regular tournaments, and dedicated broadcast infrastructure.

Players who enjoy mobile MOBA gameplay may also find Mobile Legends: Bang Bang a worthwhile alternative with a similar format.

Tips for New Players

• Start with heroes rated 1–3 stars in difficulty. Learning the map and objectives is more important than mechanical complexity early on.
• Pick one role and focus on it until you understand its responsibilities before learning secondary roles.
• Use the Practice Mode against bots to learn a new hero's abilities before taking them into ranked matches.
• Prioritise objectives over chasing kills. Securing Dragons and the Abyssal Dragon buff wins more games than kill counts.
• Communicate using quick chat pings. Voice is not always available but pings convey critical information fast.

System Requirements