The Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 (S3) is making history — it takes place in the Philippines for the very first time.
In February 2025, Manila hosts the prestigious tournament, bringing together twelve of the best teams in the world to compete for their share of a massive US$300,000 prize pool.
HOK Invitational S3 is a celebration of Honor of Kings’ thriving global esports ecosystem. With the introduction of Global Ban and Pick system, the stakes have never been higher.
Here’s your ultimate guide to the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3, including the teams, schedule, format, and where to catch all the action.
What is Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3?
The Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 is the first invitational tournament in the Honor of Kings esports calendar in 2025.
Organized by TiMi Studio Group and Level Infinite, this competition gathers the world’s top Honor of Kings teams to battle for a share of the US$300,000 prize pool and ultimate bragging rights.
For the first time, the tournament is taking place in the Philippines at SM City North EDSA in Manila.
Building on the success of its previous seasons, the Honor of Kings Invitational has become a hallmark of competitive gaming excellence.
Season 1, held in Istanbul, Turkey, saw Vivo Keyd Stars claim the inaugural title, cementing their place in esports history. Season 2, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, delivered a thrilling five-game finale where LGD Gaming MY emerged victorious against fellow Malaysian powerhouse Team Secret.
With the introduction of the Global Ban and Pick system in Season 3, the competition takes a bold step forward.
Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 format
The Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 features a structured format designed to deliver intense competition.
The action begins with the Group Stage where teams are divided into groups to compete in a round-robin format. Each team battles their group opponents to secure a spot in the next phase. This stage is critical, as only the top teams advance to the elimination rounds.
The competition heats up in the Quarterfinals, followed by the Semifinals. These knockout rounds use a single-elimination format, where every match is a do-or-die scenario, raising the stakes for all contenders.
The tournament culminates in the Finals where the last two teams face off in an epic showdown for the championship title.
Adding to the excitement, the Global Ban and Pick system will be implemented throughout the tournament, ensuring no hero can be picked more than once per team in a match series.
This innovative draft format, originally introduced by the King Pro League (KPL), emphasizes strategic diversity and adaptability, challenging teams to demonstrate their full range of skills.
Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 schedule
The Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 runs from February 21 to March 1, 2025, at SM City North EDSA, Manila, Philippines.
The tournament begins with the Group Stage from February 21 to 24, followed by the Quarterfinals on February 26 and 27.
The Semifinals take place on February 28, leading to the highly anticipated Finals on March 1, where the championship title and the biggest share of the US$300,000 prize pool are on the line.
All teams qualified for Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3
| TEAM | REGION |
| Blacklist International | Philippines |
| Elevate | Philippines |
| Rough World Era | Philippines |
| Bigetron Sigma | Indonesia |
| Kagendra | Indonesia |
| Nova Esports | Malaysia |
| All Gamers Global | Malaysia |
| Impunity Esports | Wild Card |
| Nongshim Redforce | Japan and South Korea |
| Gen.G Esports | Middle East and North Africa |
| Team Vitality | Europe |
| Alpha 7 Esports | Americas |
Where to watch Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3
You can watch the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 in the following platforms:
READ MORE: What’s missing? Blacklist International reveals what PH needs to win big in Honor of Kings
