Skip to main content
Back

Five teams to watch at the Honor of Kings Invitational S3

23 February 2025 Content Team

Now that the Honor of Kings Invitational S3 has kicked off at SM City North EDSA in Metro Manila, the Philippines, all eyes are on the twelve pro teams competing for a share of the US$300,000 prize pool.

One notable absence from this season’s tournament is Honor of Kings Championship 2024 winners, Blackshrew Esport. Their absence leaves the door wide open for a new champion to emerge.

A new champion will likely emerge

Nova Esports, the champions of the Malaysia qualifiers, lead the charge as one of the favorites. Known for their dominance in Southeast Asia, Nova Esports didn’t just win their qualifiers—they also triumphed over other SEA regional winners in the Honor of Kings Invitational S3 – SEA Showdown.

With an unchanged roster and a solid fourth-place finish at the Honor of Kings Championship 2024, Nova Esports has the consistency and chemistry needed to secure the title.

Malaysia qualifiers runners-up, AG Global, are also set to make a statement. This refreshed team has replaced their former Hong Kong players with an all-Malaysian lineup and enters the tournament hungry for success. With Malaysia proving itself as a stronghold for Honor of Kings talent, AG Global is well-positioned to make an impact.

From further afield, European squad Team Vitality has undergone a major transformation ahead of this tournament. While they’ve been a mid-tier presence in past competitions, this time they arrive with an all-new roster. Fans are eager to see if this shake-up will catapult them into the top tier or leave them struggling to find their stride.

Another team worth watching is Nongshim Redforce from South Korea. As the winners of the Japan-Korea qualifier, they defeated Japanese squad Scarz in a nail-biting 3-2 final. This is also the first time a South Korean team will compete in an Honor of Kings tournament, and Nongshim Redforce carries high expectations. Known for excelling in esports across multiple titles, South Korea’s reputation is on the line, and Nongshim Redforce is determined to deliver.

Home ground advantage: the Filipino squads

With the tournament being held in the Philippines, the three local teams—Blacklist International, Elevate, and Rough World Era—have the advantage of competing in front of a supportive home crowd.

Of these, Blacklist International is the most anticipated contender. They’ve already proven themselves with a first-place finish in the S3 Philippines qualifier, where they defeated Elevate 4-1. Blacklist aims to shine even brighter on the global stage, bolstered by their new midlaner, Dragon “Dragon” Hart S. Dajao, who joined the team in December 2024.

The other Filipino squads, Elevate and Rough World Era, will also look to capitalize on the energy of the crowd. Both teams face tough competition but will hope that their familiarity with the local scene gives them an edge.

Familiar faces and dark horses

Beyond the Philippine teams, several familiar names and dark horses stand ready to shake up the tournament. Indonesia’s Kagendra and Bigetron Sigma are no strangers to the Honor of Kings stage. Both squads have shown flashes of brilliance in past tournaments and could surprise with deep runs.

Brazil’s Alpha7 Esports stands out for their commanding performance in the America qualifiers, where they didn’t drop a single game. Meanwhile, the former Team Falcons roster, now competing under Gen.G Esports (a Korean organization based in Morocco), is a wildcard that could upset expectations.

Lastly, don’t overlook Impunity, the Wildcard Qualifier winner. Composed mostly of Myanmar players, they’re looking to improve on their 9th-12th place finish at the Honor of Kings Championship 2024.

Global Ban & Pick shaking it up

The introduction of the new Global Ban & Pick System, which prevents players from using the same hero twice in a series, adds an exciting layer to the tournament.

(Read more about Ban & Pick: How a new hero rotation system is shaking up Honor of Kings Invitational S3)

This change encourages more strategic depth, varied hero picks, and a fluid meta. Fans can look forward to a tournament full of creativity and surprises.

How to watch and stay updated

The group stage runs from Feb 21 – 24, followed by the playoffs from Feb 26 – 28. The event wraps up with the finals on March 1, when the champions will take home the lion’s share of the US$300,000 prize pool.

Fans can catch all the action from the Honor of Kings Invitational S3 and Open Series on the game’s official channels:

Related news

Featured game

Honor of Kings

Explore game
See all
Back to top