Honor of Kings Introduces No Rank Restrictions in the New Ranked Season

As part of its Year-End celebrations, Honor of Kings is launching a brand-new experiment in the upcoming Ranked Season. Starting December 16, players will be able to enter Ranked matches without any rank restrictions for a limited time. This unprecedented feature has already sparked mixed reactions within the community, generating excitement for some and serious concerns for others about the future of competitive balance.

Premade Teams Across All Ranks: A New Challenge for Competitive Integrity

With rank restrictions temporarily removed, players of any skill level can now queue together in Ranked matches. For example, a Grandmaster-ranked player can invite a Gold-ranked friend into the same ranked lobby—something that was previously impossible.

While this opens the door to more social play, it also raises the risk of severely unbalanced matches. Teams may end up heavily skewed toward either high-ranked or low-ranked players, leading to uneven gameplay. In extreme cases, one side may be stacked with experienced players, while the other struggles to keep up, increasing frustration and potential toxicity.

Solo Queue Players May Feel the Biggest Impact

Solo Queue players are likely to be the most affected by this change. Those who usually climb the ladder alone may now face premade groups with wide rank disparities, putting them at a clear disadvantage.

Ranked matches are already demanding for solo players, and adding unevenly ranked teammates or coordinated premade opponents could make the experience even more stressful. While there is always a slim chance of being matched with stronger players and benefiting from it, such situations are far from consistent and cannot be relied upon.

The Bright Side: Freedom, Experimentation, and Learning

Despite the concerns, the No Rank Restrictions feature does offer several notable advantages. Players can freely form 3-player or 5-player premade teams, experiment with creative compositions, and enjoy Ranked matches with friends regardless of skill gaps.

Lower-ranked players also gain a valuable learning opportunity by playing alongside more experienced teammates, observing advanced strategies, positioning, and decision-making in real time. Additionally, removing strict rank barriers can reduce pressure and make Ranked feel more approachable during the event.

Final Thoughts

Honor of Kings’ No Rank Restrictions feature is a bold and risky experiment that could significantly reshape the Ranked experience—at least temporarily. This seven-day window promises unpredictable matches, chaotic moments, and memorable games, setting the stage for an intense and unconventional start to Ranked Season 13.

Whether this experiment will strengthen the community or highlight deeper balance issues remains to be seen.