Honor of Kings 2025 Rules: $3M Prizes, 16+ Age & Residency Guide

2025 rules hit hard—16+, 18+ in China, three straight months of residency by Oct 1 (visas only, tourist stamps don't count), roster locked at 5-7 players plus staff by Sept 8. BO3 groups run Oct 12-17, with prizes scaling $1M to $3M. Qualifiers kick off Apr-Jun 2025; first place bags $300k, second $160k. Nail a compliant squad, and you're chasing those top rewards.

Team Eligibility and Residency Rules

Squad members? 16+ everywhere, 18+ in China for 2025. Prove three consecutive months residency by Oct 1 with legit visas—no tourist junk. Can't have Tencent or tourney staff on board. Lock into one region at registration; changes? Approval only. Last year, 2024 events booted non-compliant teams flat out.

Here's the playbook:

1. Double-check residency docs two months ahead of deadlines.
2. Pick your region wisely at sign-up.
3. Submit proofs when the roster locks.

(Quick editor aside: I've seen squads scramble last minute on visas—don't be that team.)

Roster Composition and Submission

Aim for at least six: five players, one coach, one manager, one staff member. Cap at 10 total. Active lineup? Five starters, two subs. For 2025, it's 5-7 players, max one interregional import, two changes per qualifier. Deadline was Sept 8, 23:59 UTC+8 in 2024; subs swap post-game with ref nod.

Build smart:

1. Round up 5-7 players (A-Z/0-9 names only, no sharing accounts), plus coach and manager.
2. Hit submit by those pre-Oct championship deadlines.
3. Get committee sign-off on imports or swaps.

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Tournament Structures and Key Dates

16 teams square off: four seeds, 12 wildcards in BO3 round-robin. Top two advance to double-elim knockouts (Oct 18-20, 25-26). Grand Finals? BO7, first to four wins. 2025 qualifiers: Asia Apr 1-Jun 8, Americas Apr 17-May 4. Prize pools? 2024's $1M (1st $300k), 2025 EWC jumps to $3M (1st still $300k).

Lock it in:

1. Jump on Asia qualifiers early April 2025.
2. Watch seeding for those BO3 matchups.
3. Train hard—top two face BO7 pressure.

Ever wonder why some squads dominate groups? It's seeding smarts.

Match Procedures and Ban/Pick Rules

Coin flip decides sides, then gear and voice checks. Ban/pick phase: 225 seconds blue side, 270 red. Pauses? Only for ping spiking ≥100ms, tech glitches, or illness—no surrenders, subs after games. Post-match handshakes and result confirms are non-negotiable.

Drill this:

1. Tune your voice comms before the match.
2. Practice those 225s blue/270s red clocks.
3. Pause sparingly—ping ≥100ms threshold only; always verify scores.

Match area strict: starters and coach only, no personal devices. Tournament gear or bust.

Prize Distributions and Payments

2024's $1M split: 1st $300k, 2nd $160k, 3rd-4th $100k/$80k, 5-6th $60k, 13-16th $15k. 2025 EWC balloons to $3M, paid out within 60 days—fines slice it first. AG.AL just pocketed $750k from a recent EWC.

Cash in big:

1. Aim top 8 for $40k minimum.
2. Nail interviews to dodge fines.
3. Claim through team account in 60 days.

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Sponsorship, Conduct, and Prohibitions

Hands off gambling, adult stuff, firearms, booze, crypto promos, other games, tobacco. Logos? Get 'em approved early—no Tencent branding. Violations scale: Level 1 warnings/fines up to 5 for DQ/bans. Zero tolerance on match-fixing; appeal via SIAC.

Stay clean:

1. Submit sponsor logos ASAP.
2. No rogue comms; flag medical exceptions upfront.
3. Steer clear of banned backers.

From my editing desk—(editor view: teams trip here more than you'd think, especially crypto temptations).

Entering Tournaments as a Squad

Qualifiers via Toornament: single elim, round-robin, Swiss formats. Drop your game IDs and socials. 2025 EWC slots 15 teams (OG Esports vibes). Full Apr-Jun grind.

Steps to entry:

1. Register with full roster proofs.
2. Provide team name, schedule, game ID.
3. Report results live.

Common Pitfalls in Squad Management

Roster locks bite: max two changes per qualifier. No account shares or multi-team reps. Disruptive behavior? Fines eat your prizes.

Sidestep 'em:

1. Track player activity before lock.
2. Limit to one interregional import.
3. Slot media duties to skip penalties.

FAQ

What's the minimum squad size for tournaments?
Six total: five players, one coach, one manager, one staff; max 10.

When are 2025 Honor of Kings qualifiers?
Asia Apr 1-Jun 8; Americas Apr 17-May 4.

Can squads change rosters after submission?
Max two changes per qualifier, approval required; locked after registration.

What pauses are allowed in matches?
Ping ≥100ms, technical issues, illness; subs only post-game.

How are prizes distributed?
To teams within 60 days; fines deducted (1st $300k from $1M-$3M pools).

What proofs for residency?
Three months' visas by Oct 1; tourist visas invalid, one region only.