2025 HoK Draft Guide: Ban Lam & Augran for 55% Win Rates

Ever feel like the draft phase is where games are won or lost before the first minion spawns? This guide dives into the 2025 ranked drafting must-knows—ban priorities for threats like Lam and Augran, role-specific picks that shine, and counter strategies that turn the tide. Meta stats back it up: S-tier heroes are hovering at 52-55% win rates. We'll walk through step-by-step processes and tweaks for the Season 12 patch dropping September 24, 2025, whether you're grinding from Bronze or eyeing Legendary glory.

Getting the Draft Right in HoK Ranked for 2025

Why Ban/Pick Matters More Than You Think

Think about it— the ban/pick stage can swing 30-40% of your match outcomes just by shutting down the enemy's big guns. Smart drafts zero in on heroes boasting 65%+ win rates and 40%+ pro pick/ban rates. Take Lam, for instance; she showed up in 98% of games at the King's World Cup 2025 (September 15-October 24). Or Mai Shiranui, banned at an 80.9% clip in Invitational Season 3 because her bursty mobility wrecks ganks left and right. Here's how to play it: Scout the enemy's recent games for picks like Loong (39.2% pro pick rate), then dole out bans to neuter meta staples. All while keeping versatile picks like Yaria in your back pocket for that sweet support synergy.

What's Shaping the 2025 Meta?

This year's meta leans hard into self-sufficient carries that scale like crazy, thanks to patch 1.10.5 on October 16—it bumped Charlotte's movement speed into A-tier territory and dialed back Sun Shangxiang's ultimate damage. S-tier standouts? Augran (55.1% win rate, 45.2% ban rate) and Loong (55.3% win rate) for their sustain and late-game DPS punch. Over on Asian servers, it's all about raw mechanics; EU and NA crews thrive on team coordination. Build yourself a tight hero pool—2-3 per role, say Lam for jungle (54.9% win rate) or Daji for mid (54.7% win rate). Season 12, launching September 24, catapults Umbrosa straight to S-tier tank status. And don't sleep on last-hitting; it nets you a 50% gold bonus to supercharge your draft edge. Need a quick boost? Honor of Kings recharge fast through Buffget hooks you up with instant top-ups at killer prices—secure deals, tons of hero and skin options, and it's pulling 4.9/5 stars for round-the-clock speed and rock-solid reliability.

Bans That'll Carry You Up the Ladder

Heroes You Gotta Ban First—No Mercy

First things first: Lock out S-tier nightmares like Lam (98% presence in King's World Cup, 67% win rate across 64 matches) and Augran (47.6% ban rate thanks to her 1v5 vibes) to stop those early snowballs dead. Yaria's another one—87% pick/ban in tourneys for her CC shielding that just won't quit. The move? In your opening ban rotation, snag Lam or Augran to blunt aggressive jungles. Follow up with Daji (91% tournament presence) to kill mid-lane burst potential. Use those global bans wisely to block hero repeats across the board.

Tailoring Bans to Roles

For jungle, hit Lam (those lightning-fast clears and level 2 ganks) and Feyd (with his hardened marks for sneaky recovery plays). Mid bans? Go after Daji and Angela (53.3% win rate on her global ultimate). October 2025 tier lists crown Arthur as S-tier tank (54.2% win rate); ban Dyadia (47.6% ban rate) to cut off those roaming heals. Break it down: 1) Peek at enemy roles before draft kicks off; 2) Ban one per lane—Loong for farm dominance (55.3% win rate) is a prime target; 3) Save your last bans for nasty synergies, like Mar-Yaria combos that crumble under early invades.

Don't Fall Into the Overban Trap

Here's a pitfall I've seen trip up too many solo queue warriors: Overbanning leaves your own pool wide open—stick to 4-6 key targets. The Korean meta's pushing 57.1% bans on Arli for her mechanical edge. Pro tip: Ban Augran against sustain-heavy comps, but snag Dian Wei (52.7% win rate) as your counterplay. Keep an eye on the minimap for 70%+ kill participation, per those SSS ratings. And for those mid-climb slumps? Honor of Kings recharge fast via Buffget keeps things smooth—instant top-ups, competitive pricing, full server coverage, and top-notch after-sales support. Users rave about it at 4.9/5 for the hassle-free vibe.

Picks That'll Dominate Your Games

Junglers Who Own the Early Chaos

Jungle S-tier starts with Lam (54.9% win rate, 24.1% pick rate)—her fast clears and gank pressure via Death From Below are unmatched. Augran mixes it up for extra survivability (55.1% win rate); Dian Wei brings lifesteal to blaze through top camps. Lock it in: 1) Grab Lam on first pick if she survives bans; 2) Path from red buff to blue to Gromp for that level 2 gank around 2:30; 3) Squeeze in farm between ganks, eyeing Dark Slayer at 5:00 for the 50% gold kick.

Mid-Laners That Counter the Threats

Mid's S-tier boasts Daji (54.7% win rate, pure burst lockdown) and Yixing (52.8% win rate, zone control wizardry). Invitational Season 3 (February 21–March 1, 2025) had Mai Shiranui banned 80.9% of the time for her slippery mobility. Counter game: 1) Shut down Daji with Sima Yi's AoE silences; 2) Roam during enemy recalls to claim river vision; 3) Clear waves quick before jumping assists—time those dragons at 7:30 for solid pushes.

Supports and Tanks You Can't Skip

Supports shine with Yaria (S-tier, Verdant Predator attachment for clutch plays) and Da Qiao (Eye of the Whirlpool teleport) powering 59% tournament wins. Tanks? Arthur (54.2% win rate, CC-loaded ultimate) for crowd control mastery. Roll it out: 1) Snag Yaria to pair with Mar for that killer synergy; 2) Ward up against invades in the 0-5 minute window; 3) Peel for your carries late-game (12+ minutes), grouping tight for Turtle at 11:30.

Counterpicks That Actually Deliver Wins

Handling Assassins and Fighters Like a Pro

Lam, that S-tier assassin, gets reined in by Arthur or Dun's CC chains (53.8% win rate on peels). Augran as a fighter? Hit her with Daji or anti-heal tools like Deadly Blade. In the King's World Cup finals, Wolves Esports countered Lam's mobility with Lu Bu (53.9% win rate), snagging a 4-2 victory. Execute: 1) Slap Guardian's Garb on your tanks; 2) Group early to avoid isolates; 3) Ward those jungle paths and lock down 3+ dragons.

Taking Down Mages and Marksmen

Daji's mage burst? Magic resist shields and Ominous Premonition do the trick. Angela falls to Diaochan's untargetable dashes. Loong (marksman, 55.3% win rate) hates Lam dives before 15 minutes with Stormbreaker. Marco Polo (53.6% win rate) loves Yaria pairing but crumbles against Arli's bullet blocks. Steps: 1) Pick Prince of Lanling for stealth bursts on Angela; 2) Rotate smart to end Loong early; 3) Gear up with Plague Blade to deny sustain.

Lessons from the Pros' Playbooks

King's World Cup 2025 (September 15-October 24) saw Rush Down comps—Lam, Daji, Yaria—crushing at 68% win rates against Dynasty scalers. Invitational Season 3 knockouts (February 26-28): Nova Esports banned Augran 45.2% and post-buff picked Charlotte for mobility-fueled wins. Try this: 1) Echo pro drafts in your solo queue runs; 2) Chase KDA above 6 and 25-30% team damage; 3) Replay reviews to spot synergy weak points. Running low on resources? buy Honor of Kings top up on Buffget gets credits to you fast—price perks, quick delivery, secure setup, broad support, and stellar after-sales. It's all about that high-score user experience.

Your Draft Blueprint, Step by Step

Prep Work Before the Queue

Nail 2-3 heroes per role—Pei (54.8% win rate) for assassin flair, say. Ban Lam if the enemy jungler's a main, based on those win rate trends. Here's the rundown: 1) Scan patch notes (Plus Update November 15, 2025, shakes up tiers); 2) Whip up a counters list, like Hou Yi against mobility; 3) Duo queue to hit 70-80% objective control.

Ban Phase Smarts

Bans alternate: Blue side gets 225 seconds, Red 270 in Bo5—prioritize globals. Loong (96% tournament presence) is ban bait number one. Go like this: 1) Coin flip for side; loser takes Red/Blue; 2) Each team bans 2, hitting S-tier like Yaria; 3) Trade if it fits (20-second window).

Nailing the Pick Phase

Order: Blue1, Red1-2, Blue2-3, Red3. Lock synergies—Zhang Fei + Luban No.7 for shields that save lives. 1) First pick Lam as your carry; 2) Second eyes Marco Polo (53.6% win rate); 3) Fill out with role anchors like Dolia for cooldown cuts.

Fixing Draft Blunders Before They Sink You

Overlooking Enemy Synergies

Mar-Yaria setups hate Jing invades—ban Yaria if Marco Polo's in play. 1) Flag synergies pre-draft; 2) Grab Arli to block bullets; 3) Mid-game rotates (5-12 minutes) to punish hard.

Picking Counters That Flop

Steer clear of immobile picks like Huang Zhong (C-tier) against divers; win rates tank. Counter Augran with pre-nerf Sun Shangxiang heals. 1) Lean on role tiers—S Assassin Lam over B Marksman; 2) Tweak builds (Cursed Helmet for bulk); 3) Mute the toxics, stay locked in.

Surviving Solo Queue Mayhem

In Bronze-Silver, farm up—ditch those fog chases. 1) Master one hero per role; 2) Ping for vision; 3) Hit 7-day sprints with 3+ heroes after losses to rebound.

Gear Up with Tools for Smarter Drafts

Apps That Break Down the Meta

Follow Lam's 54.9% win rate reign through KPL pick/ban data. 1) Plug in recent patches; 2) Run draft sims; 3) Refresh for Season 12 (September 24, 2025).

Community Spots for Ban/Pick Intel

Swap counters like Daji over Augran; IKL (August 22-October 5, 2025) hammers Lam bans. 1) Jump into forums; 2) Track your stats; 3) Flex for meta clashes.

Weaving in Patch Changes

November 15 Plus patch (beta October 15-30) rolls out Iron to Legendary tiers. Buffs hit Zhou Yu's damage. 1) Digest the updates; 2) Refresh pools monthly; 3) Test Fatih (53.49% win rate) in practice.

Gauging If Your Drafts Are Paying Off

Win Rates That Tell the Story

Drafts pulling 52-55% hero wins speed your climb by 10-15%. Loong's at 71% in tourneys—track it. 1) Log 50 games; 2) Push for 65%+ personal; 3) Tweak bans under 50%.

How Counters Boost Your KDA

Smart counters spike KDA to 6+ with 3+ dragons; Yaria peels for 59% wins. 1) Aim 70-80% SSS kill shares; 2) Check top 2 damage (25-30%); 3) Watch MMR after Gold reset (September 24).

Tracking Your Ladder Journey

Post-reset, from Platinum IV to Gold II—macro's key. 1) Use stars for loss buffers; 2) Duo for sync; 3) Chase peak rewards like fresh skins.

Rolling with 2025 Patches and Meta Twists

Patches drop quarterly, shaking things up; Season 9's two-month run amps impacts, and the June 24 Plus rebrand adds Flowborn custom flair. Athena's CC duration got nerfed. 1) Eye dates (Jujutsu Kaisen collab in September 2025); 2) Test in normals; 3) Lean on Sun Ce (53.2% win rate) for regional tweaks—Asia vs. West can feel worlds apart.

Wrapping It Up: Level Up Your HoK Draft Game

The Big Wins to Remember

Ban Lam and Augran, pick Loong and Yaria, counter smart for those 52-55% edges—adapt to the November 15 patch and watch the climbs happen.

Practice Moves to Make It Stick

Run customs, dissect February 21 Invitational pro drafts, and curate 2-3 hero pools per role. You've got this.

FAQ

What are the top bans for Honor of Kings ranked in 2025?
Prioritize Lam (98% pro presence), Augran (45.2% ban rate), and Yaria first—they fuel ganks, sustain, and shields. Target S-tier with 65%+ win rates to keep things even.

How do I counter popular mages in HoK drafts?
For Daji, grab Athena's Shield for magic resist and Sima Yi's silences; Angela? Diaochan's untargetable dashes shine. Group with vision to starve their bursts—it's a game-changer.

What pick priorities should junglers follow in the 2025 meta?
Go Lam for level 2 ganks (54.9% win rate) or Dian Wei's lifesteal clears; start red to blue early and secure objectives. Early pressure sets the tone.

Why ban certain heroes in Honor of Kings ranked?
S-tier like Mai Shiranui (80.9% ban rate) snowball hard—they dodge counters and scale brutally in comps. Deny them to stay in control.

What are effective counterpicks for assassins in HoK?
Arthur or Dun's CC handles Lam; build Guardian's Garb and ward jungles. Group mid-game to isolate-proof, bumping wins 10-15%.

How to climb ranked faster with better bans and picks?
Master 2-3 heroes per role, ban Loong-level threats, counter synergies—farm that 50% gold bonus and macro-rotate for SSS ratings and MMR jumps. Consistency pays off.