In order to be eligible to participate in S3 as a player, an individual must have reached the age of majority in their home country (the place where the player is a citizen or lawful permanent resident) and be at least 16 years of age as of 23:59(UTC+8) 19 January 2025.

To maintain the regional identity of the teams competing in this global tournament, each Team must have at least four (4) players who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of countries within the Team's home region. Teams are allowed one player from a country or region outside the Team's home region. More roster and regional requirements are outlined in Section 4 (Roster).

A player may only be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of a single country for purposes of the S3 roster rules. For example, one player can not represent both Malaysia and Singapore on the roster of a Team.

Team Members may not be employees by Tencent Holdings Limited, any third-party tournament organizer engaged to operate S3 (“Tournament Organizer”), or any of their respective affiliates during the tournament.

A player’s gamer tag or in-game nickname (“Gamer Tag”) may only include English characters and Arabic numerals and may not exceed 12 characters. Players may not use Gamer Tags that are identical or similar to the names used by heroes in Honor of Kings. A Gamer Tag may not include all or part of a sponsor’s name or any other corporate name or make use of the trademarks or other intellectual property of any third party. Gamer Tags may not include any word or phrase in any language that is offensive, toxic, or hurtful. Gamer Tags will be selected at the time of registration and may not be changed during the tournament. All Gamer Tags must be reviewed and approved by the S3 Committee before they can be used at a tournament.

Each Team must designate an individual to serve as the Team’s coach (“Coach”). During Matches, the Coach provides strategy, guidance, and support, while ensuring all players comply with tournament rules and maintain professionalism and good sportsmanship. The Coach also represents the Team in gameplay-related discussions or disputes with tournament officials, serving as the primary advocate for the Team during competitive events. The Coach must accompany the Team to all tournament-related events.
A Team may (but is not obligated to) designate a person to act as the Team’s manager (“Manager”). The Manager oversees the administrative and logistical aspects of the Team’s participation in the tournament. This includes handling required documentation, coordinating travel and accommodations, and managing schedules. A Team’s coach may also serve as its manager. Players on the Team’s roster are not eligible to serve as a coach or a manager.
Proxima and the Tournament Organizer may rely upon any communications from the Coach and Manager as being made by all owners of the Team. A Team may not change its Coach, Manager or operational staff during the tournament.

A Team must register its Coach, Manager, players, and operational staff prior to the start of the tournament, as further discussed in Section 4 (Roster). All of these individuals are subject to review and approval by the S3 Committee. Announcement of the designation prior to approval by the S3 Committee is prohibited and will be subject to sanctions.

The Coach must be present on-site during the Ban&Pick Phase for every Game in which the Team participates. In case of emergencies preventing the Coach's attendance, the Team must designate an interim coach who cannot be a player on the roster.

To maintain the integrity and fairness of the tournament, only one team representing a brand, organization, or corporate entity is allowed to participate on the S3 main stage.

The S3 Committee will deem the individual(s) or entity who registered the Team in accordance with the tournament’s registration requirements to be the sole owner(s) of the Team and the Team’s slot in S3. Accordingly, if a Team wins the right to progress to the next stage of S3, that right is owned by the Team and its owner(s), not by the players or any other person or entity.

No individual or entity may have an ownership interest, operational control or voting control, directly or indirectly, of more than one Team in the S3.

During the S3, each Team must maintain a minimum 6 members (with one Coach and five players) and a maximum 10 members (with not more than one Manager, one Coach, one staff member, and seven players). The S3 Committee will cover the cost of travel and accommodations for seven Team Members during S3. Teams must submit their official rosters on or before 23:59 UTC+8 19th January 2025 or such other date and time as may be announced by the S3 Committee.

Each Team in S3 must register in one of the following regions (each, a “home region”):
- Americas: North America; South America (including Brazil)
- Europe: West Europe; East Europe; Türkiye
- MENA: Middle East; North Africa
- Pacific: South Asia; South Korea; Japan; Australia
- Southeast Asia
- Hong Kong, China; Macau, China; Chinese Taipei
Each Team must list its principal place of business at the time of registration (“home country”). The Team’s home country must be located in the Team’s home region. For purposes of illustrating the forgoing, if a Team registers in the Pacific home region, the Team’s home country could be Japan or Korea but could not be Germany.

A player is considered a “resident” of a particular country or region for purposes of these Rules if:
(a) The player is a citizen of the country or region; or
(b) The player has been a lawful permanent resident (e.g., Green Card holder) in the country or region for more than one year before the roster lock date, provided that in countries or regions that do not offer lawful permanent resident or an equivalent status, a player can be considered a resident if they meet all the following criteria:
- They have lived in the country or region for at least consecutive five years, and
- They hold a long-term visa or equivalent documentation and pay income taxes as required by law in the country or region.

(a) Each Team is allowed up to ONE player from a country or region outside the Team’s home region.
(b) Each Team must have at least TWO players who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Team’s home country.
(c) Each Team must have at least FOUR players who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of countries within the Team’s home region.
To illustrate the foregoing, if a Team is registered in the Americas region and has listed the United States as its home country at the time of registration, and the Team has one player from Singapore, two players from Mexico and two players from the United States, the Team has satisfied the regional roster requirements in this Section.

Before the start of S3 competition, each Team must register its roster using the roster registration tools provided by the S3 Committee. The Team’s roster must satisfy the following registration requirements:
(a) Each Team must have a minimum of five (5), and a maximum of seven (7), players who are registered on the roster.
(b) Each Team must register one coach.
(c) Each Team may (but is not obligated to) register one manager and one staff member on the roster.
(d) Each player on the roster must have signed a contract with the Team, and the Team’s name on the contract must align with name used in the roster. If a player is loaned to another team, the loaning team is required to provide official documentation to the S3 Committee for verification.

Each Team must maintain, at all times during the tournament, five players on the Team’s starting lineup (“Starters”), all of whom play in the Match. A Team may add up to two additional players to act as substitutes (“Substitutes”). Requests to modify the starting lineup for the Team's first Game of each Match day may not be submitted later than 8 hours prior to the start of the Match. Requests must be made by the Team’s Coach. A Team’s failure to designate the starting lineup before the deadline will result in a default starting lineup for the first Game.

Each Team must maintain, at all times during the tournament, five players on the Team’s starting lineup (“Starters”), all of whom play in the Match. A Team may add up to two additional players to act as substitutes (“Substitutes”). Requests to modify the starting lineup for the Team's first Game of each Match day may not be submitted later than 8 hours prior to the start of the Match. Requests must be made by the Team’s Coach. A Team’s failure to designate the starting lineup before the deadline will result in a default starting lineup for the first Game.

A Team’s Starters, Substitutes and Coach form its “Active Roster”. No individual may simultaneously hold two or more of the roles listed above.

A Player/Manager/Coach/Staff may register for, and represent, only one Team and cannot be listed on the Active Roster of more than one Team.

Each Team must submit its Active Roster before 23:59 (UTC+8) 19 January 2025. The Active Roster must be the same at all times during the tournament, unless a roster change request is approved by the S3 Committee as provided in Section 4.1.2 or a force majeure event necessitates a change, such as a player's sudden illness or an accident that prevents the player from traveling for a Match. If a request is submitted after 23:59 (UTC+8) 19 January 2025, the S3 Committee, at its discretion, may require the Team to pay or reimburse the incremental costs associated with the Substitute’s visa and travel. The S3 Committee reserves the right to approve or deny any request to modify an Active Roster to ensure compliance with these Rules.

A Team may substitute players between Games of a Match. The Team must notify a tournament referee and have the substitute approved no later than 5 minutes after the end of the previous Game.

In the event of an emergency, a tournament referee will give the Team a certain amount of time to find a Substitute. If the Team is unable to find a Substitute before the allotted time has expired, the Team will forfeit. The S3 Committee will determine if an event qualifies as an emergency. A Substitute must satisfy the requirements stipulated in these Rules for Player Eligibility.

Each Team must have a unique name that does not include all or any part of the name of another team or esports organization. Team names must have an abbreviation that is at least 2 characters long and that does not exceed 4 characters. The full name of a Team and any abbreviations of that name must only contain English characters and Arabic numerals. Unless otherwise specified by the Team in writing, the S3 Committee and its licensees are entitled to use the full Team name and/or the abbreviations of that name for any purpose during the tournament.

Each Team must have a unique logo which differs in design from the logos used by other teams and esports organizations. The Team logo must be a single, cohesive design and cannot be a combination of two or more separate images or logos. Unless otherwise specified by the Team in writing, the S3 Committee and its licensees are entitled to use the Team’s logos for any purpose during the tournament.

Team uniforms, including the T-shirts, jackets, hats, and pants worn by players during the tournament, must have a unique design. Players shall, in official tournament settings (game days, media days, meetings with sponsors), wear the official Team uniform. Team jerseys must prominently display the Team’s logo on the front. The sponsor logos used by a Team on its uniforms should be consistent (in terms of the number, size, and placement of the logos) with past practice in Honor of Kings professional tournaments.

Team names and logos may not include all or part of a sponsor’s name or any other corporate name or make use of the trademarks or other intellectual property of any third party, except that a sponsor name can be used in a Team’s name and logo if: (1) the sponsor owns more than 50% of the Team's outstanding, voting equity, (2) the Team has obtained a worldwide license to use the sponsor name with the right to grant a royalty-free, fully-paid sublicense to the S3 Committee and its licensees for all purposes related to the tournament, and (3) the Team agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Proxima, the S3 Committee and their licensees harmless from all claims and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the use or display of the sponsor name or logo. Team names and logos may not contain any word, phrase, or element in any language that is (a) subject an infringement, misappropriation, or other claim, or (b) offensive, toxic, or hurtful.

All Team uniforms are subject to review and approval by the S3 Committee. This review will include checking to ensure that the design of the uniform meets basic aesthetic standards, including with respect to the number, size, placement, and appropriateness of sponsorships and logos. The S3 Committee may require modifications to all or any part of a uniform prior to its approval. Once a uniform design has been approved, a Team may not change any element of the uniform during the tournament without the prior written approval of the S3 Committee. A Team will be subject to disciplinary action if a Team Member wears any camera-visible item of clothing during a Match that has not be previously approved in writing by the S3 Committee.

2025 Honor of Kings Invitation Season 3 starts on February 21st and ends on March 1st.
(A) Group Stage: February 21st – 24th.
(B) Knockouts: February 26th – February 28th.
(C) Finals: March 1st.

The following twelve (12) teams will be the participants for S3:
1. The top three (3) from the S3 Philippines Qualifier (including one slot for the host country)
2. The top two (2) from the S3 Indonesia Qualifier
3. The top two (2) from the S3 Malaysia Qualifier
4. The champions from the S3 Wildcard Qualifier
5. The champions from the S3 Americas Qualifier
6. The champions from the S3 MENA Qualifier
7. The champions from the S3 Europe Qualifier
8. The champions from the S3 Japan and South Korea Qualifier

The following four teams will be the seeds for S3:
1. The champions from the S3 Philippines Qualifier.
2. The champions from the S3 Indonesia Qualifier.
3. The champions from the S3 Malaysia Qualifier.
4. The champions from the S3 Americas Qualifier.

Four (4) seeded teams will be randomly drawn into four (4) different groups. Then the rest of the teams will be randomly drawn into four different groups. Each group consists of three (3) teams.

According to Group Draw results, all teams are divided into four distinct groups. A best-of-five (BO5) with Global Ban&Pick single round-robin format is employed within each group. This entails that each team will compete in exactly one match against every other team in its respective group. This sequence of matches will be meticulously organized and scheduled in advance. After the round-robin group stage, the top 2 teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage and the last place of each group will be eliminated from the tournament.

In cases where two or more teams accumulate the same number of Matches they have won, their ranking within the group will be determined by the total number of Game Win Differentials. (e.g., if Team A ends up 3:1, 3:0 and 1:3 in Group Stage, the total number of Game Win Differentials will be 3). Should these teams have an equal number of Game Win Differentials, their rankings will be determined by head-to-head records. A Tiebreaker game will be held if the head-to-head records are still equal.

If three Teams are tied for first place in the group, a BO1 round-robin tiebreaker tournament will be initiated. The order of match-ups will be determined by drawing. The first team to win two games will be the 1st place within the group. Subsequently, the winners of the remaining two teams' final game will be the 2nd place in the group, while the losing team will be the 3rd place.

If teams are still tied after the tiebreakers, no more tiebreakers will be initiated. The rankings will be determined by the total amount of time of all winning tiebreaker games. The team with shorter duration of winning games will rank higher; if the duration of winning games is equal, the team destroyed more enemy towers will rank higher; if the number of towers destroyed is equal, the team with more total kills will rank higher; if the number of kills is equal, the team with more gold will rank higher.

The Tiebreaker Games will be scheduled to occur immediately following the conclusion of the last match of Group Stage. The Tiebreaker Games will continue until all ties have been decisively resolved, with the rankings of all teams involved clearly determined.

Following the completion of the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage. A draw will take place to determine the positioning of the first-place teams of Group Stage in the Knockout bracket. Subsequently, the Quarterfinals matchups will be randomly drawn adhering the same-group avoidance rules.

Eight teams will play in a Best-Of-Seven (BO7) with Global Ban&Pick and Ultimate Battle single elimination bracket based on the Knockout Draw. Both winners of the semifinal will advance to the Finals.

The BO7 with Global Ban&Pick and Ultimate Battle format is employed for Finals. First team to win four Games will be the Champions of 2025 Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 S3.

Prizes include taxes and will be awarded to Teams based on final Team standings. Prizes will be paid out to Teams and are non-transferable. Each team ("Potential Winners") is eligible for one prize package for the tournament. Potential Winners who are eligible for the award of a prize assume all liability for the use of the prize.

Potential Winners must comply with Official Rules and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. Potential Winners shall have no right to any prize unless the conditions set forth in these and any other applicable rules are satisfied. Potential Winners will be notified after the end of the Tournament. Each Potential Winner is required to follow the instructions in the notification. In order to be eligible to claim a prize, each Potential Winner will be required to fill out and sign, within the prescribed period in the notification, an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release form, as well as all applicable governmental and tax forms required to receive a prize.

Participants are responsible for any and all costs and expenses associated with their prize that are not specifically outlined herein. National or local taxes, including VAT taxes, which are associated with the receipt or use of any prizes are the sole responsibility of the Participant.

The version of Honor of Kings used at S3 will be determined by the S3 Committee at its discretion. Restrictions may be added at any time before or during a Match, if there are known bugs with any items, heroes, skins, or other elements.

Player Accounts will be provided by the S3 Committee to each player of the Team’s Active Roster. Players are allowed to adjust their account settings to suit individual preferences. Player Account information may not be disclosed by a player to any person or entity. Players are not allowed to add friends in the game client, without the permission of a tournament referee.

No devices (other than the equipment provided by the S3 Committee) will be allowed in the tournament area. The S3 Committee will provide the player’s Gaming Phone (including its charger, converter and cables), headset (noise cancellation) and/or earbuds and/or microphones, table and chair, backup phone, and camera.

Before each Match, players will have time to check on their competition phones. The match devices must be properly set according to the requirements specified by the S3 Committee. During a S3 Match, players are not allowed to change any settings without the permission of a tournament referee,including FPS and volume settings. Players are not allowed to use their match devices to browse any social media platforms or websites on stage. Players are not allowed to use their match devices to watch S3 live while on stage. During Ban&Pick Phase, it is not allowed to move a phone from its holder. Players are not allowed to touch the phones after Ban&Pick Phase until the tournament referee has given permission.

Audio equipment, including headphones, microphones, and audio controllers, will be provided by the S3 Committee. Players will be required to maintain the minimum volume (or higher) set by the referee; the level of which will be shown on the audio controller. The referee has the right to ask players to turn up the volume if he/she considers the volume level too low. Headphones must be placed directly on a player 's ears and must remain there for the entire Match. Players are not allowed to obstruct the placement of headphones by any method or placing any item, including hats, scarves, or other articles of clothing, between the headphones and the player's ears.

Voice chat in each S3 Match must be conducted through the communication system pre-set in headphones provided by the S3 Committee. The referee reserves the right to decide, at his/her discretion, whether to monitor the players' chat. Third-party voice chat apps are not allowed, unless the referee, at his/her discretion, decides to change the voice chat arrangement under possible special circumstances. In a Match, the Coach will be given a headphone which can only be used by Team Members.

Players must wear official team uniforms, approved by the S3 Committee, during all S3 matches and pre-match and post-match interviews, as further discussed in Section 5.3. Players must wear dark long pants and closed-toe shoes, as well as visible team-branded apparel on their upper body, during the entirety of any S3 event or appearance. The on-stage apparel includes T-shirts, jackets, and pants. For the avoidance of doubt, short pants, sweatpants, athletic pants, and pajama pants will generally not be considered appropriate attire. Coaches must wear business casual attire or team jerseys while at the Match area. Players and Coaches must avoid chewing gum and wearing hats, sunglasses, and jewelry while at the Match area. Players, Coaches, and any other staff may not wear any camera-visible clothes or jewelry during a Match that have not approved by the S3 Committee.

If equipment or technical problems are suspected during the tournament at any time, a player or a representative of the S3 Committee may request a technical review of the situation. Referees will diagnose and troubleshoot problems, as needed. Referees may request that the S3 Committee order the replacement of any malfunctioning equipment, at their discretion. Decisions regarding the replacement of any equipment are solely at the discretion of the S3 Committee.

No Team Member may touch or otherwise interfere with lights, cameras, or other studio equipment using during the tournament. Team Members may not stand on chairs, tables, or other studio furniture. Team Members must follow all instructions of the S3 Committee while at the venue where the S3 event is held.

Before traveling to the host location, the S3 Committee will set up a video conference to inform the players of logistical issues relating to the tournament, such as schedule, the client version of the game that will be used, match procedures, emergency measures, etc.

Teams may conduct rehearsals at the times and places specified by the S3 Committee. During rehearsals, the tournament officials will inform Team Members about the stage route, game day player-related arrangements, and instructions for presetting devices.

A team's Starting Line-up and side selection must be submitted no later than the allotted time.

Players must sit in the order as (Left) Clash Lane / Jungle / Middle Lane / Farm Lane/ Roamer (Right) or (Right) Clash Lane / Jungle / Middle Lane / Farm Lane/ Roamer (Left) following the Starting Line-up.

On the match day, Team Members on Active Roster must arrive at the Match area before the time specified by the S3 Committee. Any failure to arrive on time will be subject to sanction as provided in Sections 12.3 and 12.4.

Players will have designated blocks of time prior to their Match to ensure they are properly prepared. Setup time begins once players enter the Match Area, at which point they are not allowed to leave without permission of the on-site referee and accompaniment by another official. The setup includes following:
(A) Ensuring the quality of all provided equipment.
(B) Connecting and calibrating peripherals.
(C) Ensuring proper function of the voice chat system.
(D) Setting up Equipment and Arcana pages.
(E) Adjusting in-game settings.
(F) Limited in-game warm-up (only in Bootcamp).

Before a Match, players will be granted access on the stage, where referees will check the provided equipment with every player. Players will then submit the Pre-Match Confirmation Card and return to the Team Lounge. Then after the player introduction before the Match, players will have one minute to get ready and submit the second Pre-Match Confirmation Card to the referee. The Team captain will make sure all players have finished Game settings, including Equipment and Arcana and other basic settings. Failure to make correct settings will not be an acceptable reason for a restart.

The referee will create the in-game official Game Room. Players shall be directed by the referee to join the Game Room.

Once all ten players in a Match have submitted the second Pre-Match Confirmation Card, players may be asked by referees to end the warm-up game and immediately join the Game Room.

The referees will be available to assist and to troubleshoot any problems encountered during the setup time. If a player encounters any equipment problems during any phase of the setup process, the player must alert and notify referees immediately. Players have an obligation to identify any technical issue during a Game with the referee.

For each Match, teams’ side selection for Game 1 will be decided by coin flip. For all games after the first, the losing team of the previous Game will have side selection right. The team obtaining the privilege of choosing sides could independently decide whether to be the Red Side or the Blue Side. Side selection between Games will be decided after a Game. The team with the side selection right for the next Game will have two minutes (after the Crystal is destroyed) to select their side for the next Game, during which the Coach shall inform the referee about their selection. If the process mentioned above fails to complete within the allotted time, the team will be considered as having waived the side selection right. If so, the referee will, at his/her discretion, decide whether to give the side selection to the other team, or whether the side selection of the last Game will be applied in the next Game.

Once all ten Players have joined the Official Game Room, the referee will request confirmation that both teams are ready for the Ban&Pick (B/P) phase. The time limit for each B/P round is on the B/P Order & Time Limit Table below. Help Pick is not allowed, once both teams confirm readiness, the referee will instruct the lobby Room to start the Game. During a consistent Game, in the event of an erroneous selection or trading of Heroes, Ban&Pick, Summoner Skill, Arcana, or pre-match setting due to players' mistake, including due to an accidental touch on the screen or failure to finish the Ban&Pick within the allotted time, the Game will continue, and the team will bear all consequences for its mistakes.
Four-Ban Matches B/P Order & Time Limit Table (A) Blue Side Pick-&-Ban time limit: 225s (30s*4+30s+30s+45s=225s)
(B) Red Side Pick-&-Ban time limit: 270s (30s*4+30s+30s+45s+45s=270s)

Global Ban&Pick mode introduces the following rules:
(a) Heroes used in the previous Games cannot be used for the remaining Games. Each hero can only be used once per Team in a Match.
(b) The referee will automatically ban heroes used in the previous Games and these heroes cannot be banned or picked during draft.
(c) The usage limit of a hero applies to the Team as a whole, not individual players.

In a BO7 Match series, if the Match is tied 3-3 after Game 6, the Ultimate Battle will commence.
(a) After the crystal is destroyed, Game 6 losing team coach will have 60s to choose side.
(b) After the side selection, Coach and registered staff are allowed to come on stage for 3 minutes to complete the hero lineups and challenger spells sheet for Game 7. The time will start counting when the Coach comes to the stage, and the referee will give a signal for the countdown at 1 minute, 30 seconds, and 10 seconds. At the end of this period, the Coach must submit the sheets to the referees.
(c) After the lineups are confirmed with referees, Coaches from both sides need to shake hands at the center of stage. Then both teams may go back to waiting room for game break.
(d) Game 7 will be played in Normal 5v5 mode with no Bans. Players must choose the same hero and use the challenger spells submitted.
(e) A sanction, amounting to 30% of the Team's final prize pool earnings, will be imposed if players do not adhere to the submitted hero lineups and challenger spells. The Game must restart until the final lineups match the submission.
(f) If a Team fails to submit the hero lineups and challenger spells within 3 minutes, the Team must use the lineup from Game 6 in Game 7.

After the Ban&Pick Phase, the Coaches of both teams shall have a handshake before leaving the stage and going to the designed position. After a Game starts, the Coach will not be granted the access to the stage, except for the Ban&Pick phase. Out of the need for broadcasting convenience, the Game will not start immediately after the loading process until the referee grants permission. At this point, the referee will remove all irrelevant articles from the Match Area, including notes written by Team Members. Players are not allowed to quit a Game during the time between the completion of Ban&Pick and the Game launch.

If a Team requires a substitution, the Coach must make the substitution request to the referee before the previous Game ends (before one Team's crystal is destroyed). Each Team is allowed a maximum of two substitutions per game. Substitutions can only be made after the referee's confirmation.

Before the Match, the referee will inform Teams of the break time. If a Team fails to return to Match Area after break time, the next Game will commence as scheduled. The referee reserves the right to choose, at his/her discretion, whether to use a player's account to enter the Game Lobby. After Ban&Pick phase begins, as long as one player or the Coach is present in the Match Area, that individual can conduct the Ban&Pick phase for the Team. If all five players are not in the Match Area after the Ban&Pick phase, the Team will be considered to have forfeited this Game.

After each Match, players will have designated time to communicate with each other until informed by the referee to shake hands with their opponents. After the handshake, the players on the winning team will bow to the audience.

The referee will confirm and record the Game result. Thereafter, both Teams shall sign the Match Result Confirmation Form to affirm their agreement with the outcome. Players will be informed of their standing within the tournament and upcoming scheduled Match.

Players will be informed of all post-match obligations (including media appearances, post-game and backstage interviews), and may be given additional instructions for post-match matters by the S3 Committee. Players must follow the schedule and travel itinerary established by the S3 Committee and all reasonable instructions from the S3 Committee relating to the schedule and itinerary. Unauthorized actions that depart from the schedule and itinerary (including changing hotel rooms, changing means of transport, or not returning to the hotel during at the scheduled time), are all prohibited. Players are not allowed to bring visitors to the team room, the hotel, or transportation arranged by the S3 Committee without permission.

Matches won by forfeit will be reported by the maximum margin it would take for one Team to win the Match (e.g., 2-0 for best-of-two matches). No other statistics will be recorded for forfeited Matches.

A pause is recognized as an official halt during a Game, initiated either by the referee's order or at a player's request. While the Game is paused, the Match is still considered active, requiring players and coaches to abide by the referee's directives. In the event of a pause, the referee may issue troubleshooting steps to address and swiftly rectify any issues causing the stoppage. Players are obligated to assist the referee in identifying and resolving reasons for the pause. The referee holds the authority to initiate a Game pause or to implement a pause command on any player's device, exercising complete discretion. Players must not request Game pauses in a trivial manner or without good cause. Only Team Members listed in the Active Roster are eligible to request a pause, with the frequency and conditions under which a pause can be requested determined by the referee based on specific circumstances. The referee retains the right to approve or deny pause requests, and the Game continues until the referee's authorization. Deliberate disconnections will not warrant pause approvals. Should a player intentionally disconnect the Game or audio without prior notification to the referee, for unjustifiable reasons, that player and the Team may be subject to disciplinary action.

Players may request a pause in the Game immediately following any of the events described below, but the player must signal the referee immediately by using the real-time audio (by saying “pause”)and raising his/her hands. The referee will then verify the situation and decide if it may become an authorized pause. Acceptable reasons include:
(A) An unintentional disconnection, which may include Game, voice chat, or audio disconnection caused by a hardware or Internet malfunction.
(B) Unstable Internet connection, with a ping of 100ms or higher.
(C) Player's sudden physical illness or injury.

During a Game, if a medical issue, including illness, injury, or other conditions, renders a player unable to continue and necessitates a pause, the Team is required to arrange for a Substitute player from their Active Roster within 5 minutes. The Substitute must play with the same hero, utilize identical equipment, and adhere to the same settings as the player being replaced, and will proceed with the Match without any adjustments. It is important to note that a player who is substituted due to a medical condition will be ineligible to participate in any of the remaining Games on that match day. Should a Team find itself with four or fewer available players, the S3 Committee will exercise its discretion to determine the outcome. Players may not unpause the game themselves. The Game will be resumed once the countdown concludes or resumed by the Game Observer with referee's permission.

If a Player pauses or unpauses a Game without permission from the referee, it will be considered unfair play, and sanctions will be applied at the discretion of the S3 Committee.

(A) For pauses under five minutes, players are prohibited from communicating with one another until the pause concludes, indicated by a pause countdown displayed in the Game. In such cases, only a single player is permitted to interact with the referee for the purpose of identifying or resolving the issue causing the pause. Unauthorized communication during the pause will result in a warning from the referee and ignoring of warning will lead to sanctions for non-compliance.
(B) For pauses more than five minutes, players are allowed to communicate with each other
. (C) For pauses more than ten minutes, players may request to use the bathroom provided all players leave and return together and avoid communicating with other individuals during this period.
(D) During a pause, Coaches are not allowed to interfere with the Match through any means, including by entering the Match Area. Also, Coaches are not allowed to communicate with players through any means, including by means of gestures, voice chat, and written materials.

After the countdown concludes, the Game will immediately resume. No additional restrictions will be imposed for the remainder of the Game.

Within the first fifteen seconds after Game Resume, players are expected to play the game as usual while the referee reviews whether the issue leading to the pause has been resolved. Based on the review, the referee has the discretion to initiate another pause if necessary.

The term "Confrontation State” is defined as a situation where direct damage (damage caused by debuff not included) is made from a Hero to another within four seconds before the pause, or a situation where direct damage is expected between Heroes within four seconds after the Game resumes.
If a pause occurs during a Confrontation State, players are instructed by the referee to move their heroes to a safe area and cease confrontation for a brief duration (typically two to five seconds) once the Game resumes. After this duration, the Game will be paused again and be resumed after the referee ensures both teams are ready. Non-compliance with the referee's instructions, attempting to undermine fair play, or initiating unauthorized pauses will result in sanctions, subject to the S3 Committee's discretion.

In cases of special circumstances such as network instability, equipment malfunctions, or malicious unpause, resulting in an unfair competition environment and significant disadvantages for one Team (such as losing a Tyrant or Overlord, heroes being killed), Coaches can request to activate the "Time Machine" protocol from the referee. The referee, exercising discretion based on the specifics of the situation, will determine the time point at which the issue occurred. The Game will then be reset to the time point and resume once both teams are ready. The referee will prioritize a time point where no confrontation occurred. Given the strong continuity of the Game, the fluctuation caused by Time Machine protocol could significantly disrupt this characteristic. Therefore, it is considered a lower-priority solution.

If a Game is remade in the case of a pause, then the Game statistics before the pause will not be retained. The referees will decide, at their discretion, whether the picks and bans shall be retained in the restarted Game. Retaining picks and bans means maintaining players' former choices of Heroes and Common Skills.

An extreme situation, which means none of the pause protocols listed above can be applied, may include:
(A) The game program fails to operate normally for a long period of time.
(B) An unsolvable bug appears, which would greatly affect the fairness of a Game.
(C) The Match is unable to continue due to force majeure such as Internet connection, electricity, or equipment breakdowns.
If the above extreme situations lead to a prolonged pause, which means the Game cannot be restored to the status that existed before the incident occurred, the referees will, at their discretion, make one of the following decisions:
(A) To continue the Game in the Match Area.
(B) To continue the Game in another environment suitable for Match play.
(C) To remake the Game with picks and bans retained.
(D) To remake the Game without picks and bans retained.
(E) To award one Team victory/defeat.

When a Game or player’s competitive state is disrupted due to unexpected pauses or disruptions, and the referee’s expedited decision leads to one side gaining an advantage, such advantage is considered passively obtained and thereby deemed legitimate.

Team Members failing to adhere to a referee’s decisions may result in:
(A) A yellow-card warning for the first violation.
(B) A red-card warning for subsequent violation following a yellow card, leading to ejection from the current Match and suspension from the next Match.
(C) Further violations will incur escalating sanctions, at the discretion of the S3 Committee.

Referees are officials appointed by the S3 Committee to adjudicate all matters related to a Match, including incidents occurring before, during, and after the Match. Their responsibilities encompass the oversight of Matches, which includes to the following:
(A) Verifying each Team's Starting Line-up before the Match,
(B) Supervising the operation of all segments of the Match and the activities of individuals within the Match venue,
(C) Inspecting and monitoring players' equipment,
(D) Implementing Match procedures,,
(E) Initiating pause and resume commands during a Game
(F) Handling technical issues during the Game,
(G) Making decisions in response to in-game disputes,
(H) Levying sanctions for violations of these Rules during the Match, and
(I) Confirming the completion of the Match and documenting outcomes

A decision made by a referee during the tournament may be appealed to the S3 Committee if it involves (1) a clear error in the application or interpretation of these Rules, (2) material procedural irregularities, or (3) allegations of bias, conflict of interest, or bad faith. Appeals cannot challenge subjective referee judgment calls that do not involve clear violations of these Rules, and appeals made to disrupt or delay tournament proceedings may result in sanctions, including potential disqualification.
Appeals must be submitted in writing by the Coach or the Team’s designated representative within 30 minutes of the decision, including a description of the decision being appealed, the specific grounds for the appeal, and any supporting evidence. Upon receipt, the S3 Committee will consider the appeal, which may include gathering additional information and reviewing evidence. If it is determined that correct protocols were not adhered to by a referee, the S3 Committee has the power to overturn the referee’s decision. The S3 Committee has the authority to review any decisions made before, during, or after a Match to ensure that proper procedures are followed. A decision will be issued by the S3 Committee, and this decision is final and binding.

The Match Area is the designated space where competition devices are situated. Throughout the duration of a Match, access to the Match Area is limited only to the starting players and the Coaches of the teams competing in the Match. No electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets and smart devices (watches), are allowed in the Match Area during the Matches. No food is allowed in the Match Area, other than drinks that are provided by the S3 Committee.

Access to the Bench Area is exclusively reserved for Team Members. Coaches may watch the Game and monitor players' real-time audio communications during Games in the Bench Area. No food is allowed in the Bench Area, other than drinks that are provided by the S3 Committee.

Access to the Team Lounge is reserved for Team Members and others whose entry has been approved by the S3 Committee. Team Members are prohibited from causing any damage to the lounge facilities or engaging in unprofessional conduct, including loud or disruptive behavior, harassment, or actions that violate the Code of Conduct below. Any violations of this provision may result in sanctions, including fines, suspension of lounge privileges, or disqualification from the tournament.

Teams and Team Members are encouraged to develop relationships with sponsors. However, to preserve the integrity of competition and the reputation of Honor of Kings and Proxima, neither a Team nor any Team Members shall enter into any sponsorship, endorsement, advertising or related agreement with any person or entity that is determined by the S3 Committee to conduct business within any product or service category that is prohibited. A list of prohibited product or service categories is provided below and may be updated by the S3 Committee from time to time.
(A) Casino or gambling websites.
(B) Websites and products related to pornographic imagery and sex.
(C) Firearms, handguns, or ammunition providers.
(D) Alcohol
(E) Drugs
(F) Tobacco or cigarettes, including e-cigarette and vaping products.
(G) Web3, cryptocurrency, NFT and Blockchain.
(H) Any business that promotes the use of in-game hacks, cheats, exploits, skins gambling, or ingame currency farming.
(I) Any political party or committee officially registered with local country elections commission.
(J) Any product or service prohibited by applicable law in the jurisdiction where the tournament is held; and
(K) Any competitor of Proxima or its affiliates, any games that are not published by Proxima or its affiliates, and any esports leagues, tournaments or events, other than S3.
It is prohibited for any social media posts, team jerseys, or any other form of publicity associated with the team to display a prohibited sponsor’s logo, or incorporate any slogans, hashtags, or keywords related to the above prohibited sponsor categories.
Teams and Team Members are allowed to acquire sponsorship with third party payment and app store organizations. However, the S3 Committee will decide whether the sponsor's logo can be included on the team jerseys and other assets used in the Tournament.

All Team and Team Member sponsorships that are camera-visible at any time during the tournament must be reviewed and approved by the S3 Committee before the tournament begins to ensure compliance with tournament policies and standards. Teams and Team Members must submit information on sponsors to the S3 Committee, including the sponsor’s name, a description of the sponsorship agreement, and any promotional materials no later than 23:59 UTC+8 19th January 2025. The S3 Committee will review sponsorships to ensure they align with the tournament’s values, do not conflict with official sponsors or partners, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and are not associated with any entity on the tournament’s prohibited list of sponsors, which is provided above and may be updated by the S3 Committee by written notice. If a sponsorship is deemed non-compliant, the Team or Team Member must amend or terminate the agreement to participate in the tournament. Failure to submit sponsorship information by the deadline, or promoting unapproved sponsors during the tournament, may result in sanctions, including fines, disqualification, or revocation of prizes.

Collusion is strictly prohibited in all aspects of the tournament and is defined as any agreement, arrangement, or coordination between players, teams, or other parties to influence the outcome of a match or tournament in a manner contrary to fair competition. Prohibited examples of collusion include intentionally losing a match or conspiring to manipulate match results, sharing information or strategies with opponents during active competition to gain an unfair advantage, agreeing to split prize money or other rewards as part of a pre-arranged outcome, or any behavior that undermines the integrity of the competition.

Teams are expected to play at their best at all times within any Game and to avoid any behavior inconsistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, honesty, or fair play.

Teams and players are not allowed to buy, sell, rent, or transfer game materials, game accounts or in-game items that belong to King Pro League (KPL) or Honor of Kings.

Cheating in any form is prohibited. Examples of cheating include: (1) unauthorized modifications of the Honor of Kings game client by any players, teams, or any individuals or organizations acting on behalf of a player or a team, (2) any use of equipment or accessories not permitted by the S3 Committee, such as signaling devices, or (3) any other cheating actions such as gesturing, the use of unauthorized grip powder or match phone cases and films.

Intentionally using any in-game bug to seek an advantage is exploiting and is prohibited. Exploiting includes glitches in any game function that, in the sole determination of the S3 Committee, is not functioning as intended.

Looking at or attempting to look at the spectator's monitors is prohibited.

Playing under another player's account or soliciting, inducing, encouraging, or directing someone else to play under another player's account is ringing and is prohibited.

A Team Member may not, in any Game, Match, media interview or in any communication relating to the tournament or Honor of Kings, use any language that is profane, offensive, insulting, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, obscene, discriminatory, threatening, foul or vulgar. A Team Member may not post, repost, transmit, or otherwise disseminate any such prohibited communications on social media or during any public-facing events, including in any streams of Honor of Kings. This rule applies to speech in all languages. In addition, Team Members may not encourage members of the public to engage in any activities that are prohibited by this rule.

No Team Member may disable or interfere with the lights, cameras, or other studio equipment used at the tournament.

All communication devices must be removed from the Match Area before the game. Players are not allowed to text/email or use social media while in the Match Area. During the match, communication by a Starter shall be limited to the players of the Starter's team.

Doping is prohibited in the tournament. For the purposes of these Rules, “doping” is defined as the use of substances or methods to artificially enhance cognitive, attention, or physical performance in a manner that provides an unfair advantage or is detrimental to the spirit of fair competition.

A player is not allowed to cover his/her face or attempt to conceal his/her identity from the referee. For this reason, hats and sun glasses are not allowed on the stage.

All Team Members are required to maintain proper hygiene standards throughout the tournament to ensure health and safety for all participants and to uphold the professional image of the tournament. Proper hygiene includes, wearing clean clothing and practicing good personal grooming. Players must also ensure their hygiene practices do not pose health risks or cause discomfort to others. Before a match, a player shall follow the instructions of S3 Committee officials in terms of stage makeup.

Harassment is forbidden. Harassment is defined as systematic, hostile, and repeated acts taking place over a period of time, or a singular egregious instance, which is/are intended to isolate or ostracize a person and/or affect the dignity of the person.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances and is strictly prohibited. The assessment is based on whether the object of a potential sexual harassment action would regard the conduct as undesirable or offensive. There is zero tolerance for any sexual threats/coercion or the promise of advantages in exchange for sexual favors.

Team Members are not allowed to offend the dignity or integrity of a country, private person, or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigrating words or actions on account of race,skin, color, ethnic, national, or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, financial status, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason.

A Team Member may not disclose any confidential information provided or made available by the S3 Committee or its representatives to the Team Member in relation to the tournament.
Confidential information includes the configuration of the stage used at the tournament and other similar information that is withheld from fans in order to preserve the “reveal”.

Team Members must comply with applicable law in all matters relating to the tournament.

Team Member may not commit any act or become involved in any situation or occurrence tending to bring the tournament, Proxima or its affiliates, sponsors, or Honor of Kings into public scandal, ridicule or which will reflect unfavorably on the reputation of any of the foregoing.

Team Members are prohibited from disrupting the peace or engaging in any form of public disturbance during the tournament. Public disturbances include disorderly conduct, loud or disruptive behavior, physical altercations, or any actions that interfere with the tournament operations or the enjoyment of the event by others.

All referees and tournament officials must be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. Any form of abuse, harassment, intimidation, or disrespectful behavior directed toward referees or S# Committee officials is strictly prohibited and constitutes a violation of these Rules. Such behavior includes verbal abuse, physical intimidation, or any actions intended to undermine the authority or professionalism of referees or officials.

No Team Member may offer any gift or cash or other reward to a player, coach, manager, referee,tournament official, or any other person connected with or employed by another Team in order to influence the outcome of a Game or Match.

No Team Member may accept any gift, reward, or compensation from another Team or player (or anyone acting on behalf of another team or player) in connection with the tournament.

No Team Member is allowed to refuse or fail to follow the reasonable instructions or decisions of the S3 Committee made in connection with the tournament.

No Team Member may offer, agree, or conspire to fix a match or take any other action to intentionally and unfairly alter, or attempt to alter, the results of any Game (or any play or component thereof). If a Team Member is asked to “fix” the outcome of a Game or to otherwise take part in any actions prohibited by these Rules, that Team Member must immediately report this request to the S3 Committee.

Documentation or other reasonable items may be required at various times throughout the S3 as requested by the S3 Committee. If the documentation is not completed to the standards set by the S3, then a team may be subject to sanctions.

No Team Member is allowed to take part, either directly or indirectly, in betting or gambling on any results of any Game, Match or other element of the tournament.

Honor of Kings esports competitions are built on the principles of fairness, professionalism, and respect. Rule violations undermine these principles and can disrupt the trust of players, teams, fans, and other stakeholders. Sanctions are therefore necessary not only to deter misconduct but also to uphold the credibility of the tournament and ensure that all participants adhere to the same standards. These measures are critical for fostering a safe, respectful, and equitable environment where teams and players can compete to their fullest potential.

The S3 Committee reserves the right to monitor compliance with these Rules and may investigate potential violations (either directly, or using a third-party investigator). All Team Members are required to cooperate with the S3 Committee in any investigation involving a possible violation of these Rules. Team Members have a duty to tell the truth in connection with any investigation conducted by or for the S3 Committee and have a further duty not to obstruct any such investigation, mislead investigators or withhold evidence. A Team Member's failure to cooperate with an investigation is a violation of these Rules.

Teams are responsible for the actions of their players, coaches, managers, and other Team Members and affiliated personnel. If a Team Member violates these Rules, the Team itself may be held accountable, and disciplinary action may be imposed on the Team in addition to, or instead of, the individual. Teams are expected to ensure that all Team Members understand and comply with these Rules at all times during the tournament.

If the S3 Committee determines that a Team Member or a Team has committed a violation of these Rules, the S3 Committee may, in its discretion, issue any the following disciplinary actions (either alone or in combination):
(A) Verbal Warning(s)
(B) Written Warning(s)
(C) Loss of Side Selection for Current or Future Game(s)
(D) Loss of all four bans for the first Game of the Match.
(E) Loss of all four bans for all Games of the Match.
(F) Cash Fines (10%/30%/50%/70% deduction of the team prize pool).
(G) Game Forfeiture(s)
(H) Match Forfeiture(s)
(I) Player or Team Suspension(s)
(I) Prize Forfeiture(s)
(J) Player or Team Disqualification(s)
(K) Ban for future Honor of Kings tournament events
A Team or Team Member may be subject to the foregoing sanctions and disciplinary actions if he/she/it directs, encourages, knowingly assists, or knowingly permits another person or entity to violate these Rules.

The S3 Committee has developed the sanctions matrix below to guide its decision-making when determining the appropriate disciplinary action for Rule violations. The sanctions matrix considers factors such as the nature and severity of the violation, the intent behind the action, the potential or actual harm caused, and whether the violation is a repeat offense. While the sanctions matrix provides a framework for consistency, the S3 Committee retains the sole discretion to determine the level and severity of the sanction in each case. This allows the S3 Committee to address unique circumstances and ensure that the sanction aligns with the nature of the violation and its impact on the tournament.