A Battle Between Recently Globalized Honor of Kings and Already Dominant E-Sports MOBA Mobile Legends!
With the recently globally launched MOBA Honor of Kings, the player community of the dominant MOBA game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been in uproar. Mobile Legends aka MlBB is a MOBA game owned by Moontoon Studios owned by the Chinese company Byte Dance while HoK is owned by the tyrant of most popular games Tencent.
If you’re a gaming enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of Fortnite, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and PUBG, among others. These are some of the popular games that are either owned by or have received investment from Tencent. Even if you are not, let us start with:
What is a MOBA?
You should know the concept of MOBA before diving deep into the article. It stands for “Multiplayer Online Battle Arena.” It is a genre of mobile games in which players form teams and compete against enemy teams in real time using unique heroes with unique abilities.
The main goal always is to destroy the enemy’s base while defending yours. So, this genre is a mix of strategic planning, team coordination, and fast-paced actions. The most fun part of destroying and defending the bases is killing the enemies with the skills you master with your characters. Most of them sure have their own unique lore.
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Background Comparison: Mobile Legends vs Honor of Kings
| Feature | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor) |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Moonton | TiMi Studio Group (Tencent Games) |
| Release Date | July 14, 2016 | November 26, 2015 |
| Region of Popularity | Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East, and Latin America | China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America |
| Gameplay Style | Multiplayer Online Battle Arena | Multiplayer Online Battle Arena |
| Main Currency | Battle Points and Diamonds | Starstone, Tokens |
| Esports Scene | Extensive, with major tournaments like MPL | Extensive, with major tournaments like KPL |
| Cultural Influence | Diverse heroes inspired by various cultures | Heroes and skins are often based on Chinese mythology |
| Graphics | Softer, more cartoonish graphics | High-quality, realistic graphics |
| Monetization | Fair gacha system, in-game purchases | Gacha system, in-game purchases |
Differences and Similarities Discussion
1. Maps
The maps in MOBA games are usually one of the main elements every player should keep an eye on; otherwise, an enemy may swipe your base away! Let’s compare the map arenas where exciting 5v5 games unfold in real-time.
Mobile Legends, the global epitome of mobile MOBA games, has a primary map named Land of Dawn, which has other varieties and styles of its own. It’s divided into 3 main lanes: the Exp Lane, the mid lane, and the Gold Lane. Nestled between these lanes, it consists of the vast jungle where we can find different buffs like red and blue buffs, monsters, creeps, and a turtle that later evolves into the lord, becoming the main objective in winning rank games. It has many bushes for ambushes and strategic positioning while surfing in this fast-paced game.
Honor of Kings, on the other hand, has made its recent global debut and has a very similar map to that of MLBB. Well no offense here, since both the games take inspiration from their predecessor League of Legends, and the original MOBA game, DOTA 2. Unlike the turtle and lord in MLBB, it focuses on the Dragon and Baron, providing team-wide buff and strategic benefits. It features larger, more detailed, and more vibrant maps than in MLBB.
2. Gameplay
The gameplay of MOBA games has the same objective: destroy the enemy and enemy bases before they destroy us! Both have similar gameplay, with little variance in how the objective is achieved.
MLBB focuses on fast-paced action, with both individual skills and teamwork required, along with quick strategies to counter enemy heroes. When one reaches the rank of Epic, it has a hero-banning system in which the enemy team can ban 3 heroes and vice versa.
Heroes are simultaneously banned, with neither team able to see the bans until the phase concludes. This banning ability increases by one when rising in rank. Matches are quite short, the longest going around 40 minutes, while on average they last around 17–25 minutes. With Classic, Ranked, and Brawl, it has a unique magic chess mode.
HoK has longer-paced games and needs more strategic and tactical planning until late-game, and team coordination is a top requirement in rank matches. Its main modes are Classic, Ranked, and Brawl, without a theme like Magic Chess. Well, a team must be composed, balancing all roles in both games.
3. Ranks
We discuss MOBAs and do not mention the ranks and ranking system of the ranked matches, which is not fair! Both the games offer 10 different ranks with different names.
MLBB starts the rank of every new player with the warrior and goes on to rank the Elite, the Master, the Grand Master, the Epic, the Legend, the Mythic, the Mythical Honor, the Mythical Glory, and the top of all Mythical Immortals.
Here, the rank from warrior to grandmaster can be assumed to be that of a beginner player; the rank from epic to legend is above average; and the rank series starting with mythic and above are all quite skilled players. All the ranks up to Legend are divided into 5 sub-tiers from I to V. In the rank of the mythic and beyond, divisions are marked by stars. One needs 25 stars to reach the mythical honor of the myth.
HoK ranks start with the Bronze, leading to the Silver, the Gold, the Platinum, the Diamond, the Master, the Grand Master, the Mythic, the Epic, and, above all, the Legend. The Bronze and Silver are divided into 3 sub-tiers, and the Gold and Platinum are divided into 4 sub-tiers, leading a tier ahead. Then come the Diamond and Master, with 5 sub-tiers.
At last, for the Grand Master and above, it is the same star system. If it is about rank names, HoK appears to lack creativity, even though it was released a year earlier. We can see the names of the ranks mixed and matched within different ranking systems.
4. Monsters and Creeps
Monsters and Creeps, despite being quite dangerous creatures in most of the games, are not the case for MOBA games; rather, they are a crucial part of each match. All the strategies and team fights are unique elements of MOBA and are useless without them. Each of them has different roles that somehow affect the gameplay.
In MLBB, the jungle consists of 4 types of monsters. The first and most useful throughout the game are buff monsters. There are 2 Buff monsters. The first one is Blue Buff, known as Blue Sentinel or Core Guard; it provides mana regeneration and cooldown reduction. Second is Red Buff, also known as Red Brambleback or Lizard Elder; it adds a slow effect and buffs damage.
The second category of monsters are creeps found throughout the jungle. They are Little Wanderer, which provides movement speed and vision; Rock Golem; and Giant Mouth Monster, which gives experience and gold.
The third category is turtle. It provides significant gold and experience, along with the shield, to teammates. It is crucial for early game advantage. In the fourth category, a turtle evolves into a Lord after a specific duration. Upon its defeat, it aids players in clearing the enemy team’s base. This character receives a buff at the 12-minute mark, making it vital for the late-game siege. It also includes lane creeps like minions.
In HoK, the gameplay remains largely consistent, yet it features distinct character names and monster designs. We already know the buffs they provide, so let us know the names. The Read and Blue Buff are called Red Golem and Blue Golem, respectively. The creeps include the wolf, bear, and lizard. We also have an important early-game monster, the Tyrant, which later evolves into the Overlord. And for sure, we have lane creeps, which are minions.
5. Roles and Lanes
The roles of the heroes controlled in-game by players are important, along with lane understanding in rank matches. These decisions are crucial because, even if you have to play the hero you have not played before due to bans, this element always helps to deliver consistent performance in-game.
In MLBB and Hok, Lane’s segments and roles are pretty much alike. They include three primary lanes: the Exp lane, the Mid lane, and the Gold lane. The most used yet unspoken lane is the jungle and roaming since they do not have a precise way paved out like other lanes.
The hero roles include mage, support, marksman, tank, fighter, and assassin. The mid-lane is primarily occupied by mages and heroes with dual roles, often involving magic. The Exp lane is mostly occupied by fighters, providing the necessary experience that every in-game fighter needs early in the game. The goal lane is the domain of the marksman and it supports gold gains.
If we talk about roaming, it includes covering the whole map and supporting teammates, which is done by tanks and supports. It is a tiring task, if you ask me. The most useful and important lane game is the jungle. Assassins mostly dominate this lane. But the fighter can also handle the jungle.
6. Heroes
Let us discuss the most important and interesting part of Mobile Legends and the Honor of Kings: the heroes, hero designs, and skill effects!
The MLBB and HoK are very similar in this aspect. In the given pictures, you can see the hero roles, designs, skills, and animations are the same in some way. The designs are the same, but the skills are different. If the skills are the same, the gender and design are different. Most of these MOBA games are supposed to take inspiration from their predecessors or historical roles and figures. The games are copying each other under the pretext of combination.
However, the major difference is that MLBB has taken inspiration from characters and myths worldwide, creating diversity, while HoK is purely based on Chinese lore. This is the case for HoK since it had a strong fanbase in China before the global launch. If we start to discuss it further, it deserves a separate article and detailed analysis.
7. Animation and Graphics
Today graphics and animation have become the main elements for many games to attract players. This element is crucial in the initial stage of any game to pull the player’s attention along with engaging lore and gameplay mechanics to keep them on the game.
MLBB features bright and vibrant graphics and smooth animations, though they are not detailed. It offers diverse cultural variants on the heroes and every skin and flashy skill of heroes. It has a bold and broad visual appeal to the characters, making them mute on the details. However, the story and event animations are top-notch compared to the gameplay animations of the map, and the characters complement the fast-paced gameplay.
Hok topples MLBB in terms of graphics and animation. It provides detailed, dynamic, and fluid performances on the hero designs, mainly based on Chinese cultural heritage. Providing a lush, smooth, and vibrant color environment, even the skills and skins are detailed and eye-catching. Even the characters are top-notch.
8. Equipment and Spells
Equipment and spells are the things many casual gamers ignore in MOBA games. It is a critical thing you cannot do without during gameplay. These are important to counter enemy heroes aside from your skill.
MLBB and Hok have detailed sets of equipment and spells that you can use depending on the hero you use to counter the enemy. For example, if the enemy has CC heroes who can debuff or stun you, then you can change the spell called Emblem to purify the debuff. It only works on certain heroes’ abilities; it cannot be sustained with the suppress debuff.
For equipment you purchase during matches to counter your enemy, if you’re uncertain about which equipment to choose, following the game’s recommendations is a good strategy. Both games offer a diverse and intricate array of equipment and spells can have identical effects but come with different names and designs.
9. MMR System and In-App Purchases
The MMR system to rank heroes and in-game purchases are major things that keep players hooked in the game. It aims for a balanced and competitive gameplay environment.
Mobile Legends applies a straightforward method for rank matches and MMR systems. If the player wins the rank match, MMR increases depending on performance and decreases with every loss. It is focused on the individual hero’s power.
There is even a regional-to-global hero ranking system for each hero based on it, making the game very interesting and competitive. Purchases include skins, heroes, emblems, and in-game currencies (Diamonds). It also offers hero skins for cosmetic boosts and minor stat boosts. It also has a star-light battle pass system for regular P2W players. Even f2p is rewarded well through the events. It is pretty balanced in this aspect.
Honor of Kings has a fairer and less frustrating MMR system than MLBB. It matches players with comparable MMR. The MMR is not limited to a specific hero’s mastery. It is based on the role. For example, if you play many types of marksmen and win in the rank matches, the MMR increases. It is more performance-based than just winning. As for in-game purchases, it is similar to MLBB but does not provide extra stat boosts, making it suitable only for cosmetic purposes.
10. Esports Presence
The E-sport presence is something that every competitive game wants to be part of. It is very crucial for the game’s long-term running stability. If you earn e-sports recognition globally, it tends to increase their player bases, in turn increasing revenue and profit.
MLBB, having gained prevalence in the global market through its early release, boasts a strong presence in E-sports. It is popular and dominant in Southeast Asia and other nearby regions. It holds regular tournaments and events like the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL). It has world championships like the Mobile Legends World Championship (M1, M2, etc.). The prize pool is quite lucrative, attracting players around the world. It commands millions of viewers across many platforms with regular events.
HoK has just been globally released and is struggling to gain e-sport fame in the pre-dominant market ruled by Mobile Legends. It will take time, but it has a strong grip on the Chinese player base, hosting tournaments and events like the King Pro League (KPL). It also has international competitions like the Honor of Kings World Champion Cup, which lures players with a significant prize pool.
Overview of the Current Situation:
Honestly, both the games copy and take inspiration from each other and their predecessors, especially on the mobile platform. Since more prominent MOBA games like League of Legends are mostly PC-optimized and have launched the mobile version too, they have not been able to take off in that e-sport like the other two. The Honor of Kings is a new player in the global industry of MOBA games, trying to earn its place among the top dogs like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on mobile devices. And it looks like Honor of Kings is fully geared up to go against the Mobile MOBA king MLBB.
Only time will tell if it succeeds to topple MLBB or if there will be constant trifling with each other. Sensing the danger, MLBB has now started to cater to its player base more generously than ever before. The start of the promotional diamond events, free skins through events, and many other features have been exciting. As players, let’s grab our popcorn and glasses to watch where this competition takes the two titans of mobile MOBAs.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between HoK and MLBB?
HoK has just been released globally, while the MLBB was on the global market before it. Both are mobile MOBA games that are very similar, but HoK heroes are purely based on Chinese mythology, while the MLBB has diversity in this case.
2. Which is better, Honor of Kings or Mobile Legends?
It depends on different factors. Since HoK has just recently entered the global gaming market, it will take time to answer that question. Both of them have positive and negative points to be mentioned.
3. Are Hok and MLBB owned by the same company, Tencent?
No, HoK sure is owned and funded by Tencent, the gaming industry giant, but MLBB is from Moontoon Studios, supported by the Chinese company Byte Dance.