The Meta's Current State: What November 2025 Actually Looks Like
Here's the thing about Patch 1.10.5 – it didn't just tweak numbers, it fundamentally shifted how we approach team fights. Sun Shangxiang's ultimate nerf (dropping from 200% to 180% attack damage) was honestly overdue, and Athena's crowd control reduction from 2.5 to 1.8 seconds? That's what finally opened up space for more aggressive junglers to breathe.
Charlotte's movement speed buffs caught everyone off guard. What seemed like a minor adjustment for Clash Lane viability turned into a complete game-changer for split-pushing strategies.
The November 15 Plus Update introduced something I've been advocating for years – performance-based matchmaking that actually rewards individual skill. Getting +2 Stars for SSS ratings even in losses? That's revolutionary. The system evaluates your recent 20-game metrics, including role-specific damage dealt/taken and kill participation. Finally, carrying matters more than coin-flip teammates.
King's World Cup 2025 wrapped up October 24, and honestly, watching Wolves Esports demolish Dynasty 4-2 was a masterclass in mobility compositions. Shadow's 8.7 KDA on Lam across 64 matches wasn't just impressive – it validated everything we've been seeing in ranked. Lam's 98% pick/ban rate with 67% win rate? Loong's 96% presence with 71% win rate? Those aren't flukes.
Rush Down compositions featuring Charlotte/Lam/Daji/Marco Polo/Yaria achieved 68% win rates in tournament play. That's not just meta – that's dominance.
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The S-Tier Breakdown: Who Actually Matters Right Now
Let's cut through the noise. Here's who's genuinely carrying games in November 2025:
S-Tier Heroes by Role:
- Jungle: Lam, Augran (and honestly, nothing else comes close)
- Marksman: Loong, Marco Polo
- Mid Lane: Daji, Yixing
- Clash Lane: Arthur, Charlotte
- Roaming/Support: Yaria, Da Qiao
These aren't just good heroes – they're maintaining 52-55% win rates in Diamond+ while facing constant bans. When Augran gets banned in 45.2% of matches and still maintains a 55.1% win rate? That tells you everything about power level.
Lam's 54.9% win rate with a 38.7% ban rate is particularly telling. Players would rather waste a ban than deal with his early gank potential.
Clash Lane: Where Duels Actually Matter
Arthur and Charlotte: The Unstoppable Force Meets... Another Unstoppable Force
Arthur's sitting pretty at 54.2% win rate, and that +10% HP buff from the November 15 update? Game-changing doesn't begin to cover it. He's not just surviving burst anymore – he's laughing at it.
But here's what's interesting about Charlotte's rise. Those movement speed buffs in Patch 1.10.5 seemed minor on paper, but they've completely transformed her engagement potential. Split-pushing scenarios that used to be risky? Now they're free real estate.
Arthur's Build Path: Resistance Boots → Dominance Ice → Shield of the Lost → Twilight Armor.
Run Vitality x10 arcana for that crucial 20% early damage reduction. It's not flashy, but it works.
Charlotte's Core: Warrior Boots → Muramasa → Blade of Despair → Fenrir's Tooth. Focus on armor penetration and movement speed. The goal isn't just to win trades – it's to dictate when they happen.
Sun Ce's hanging in A-tier at 53.2% win rate. His hybrid initiation style still works, especially when you can create those crucial 5v4 advantages with smart ultimate usage.
The November item rework introduced 12 defensive items with +10% HP grants. Tank-oriented Clash Laners are eating well this patch.
Jungle: The Role That Actually Decides Games
Lam and Augran: Why Everyone Else is Fighting for Third Place
Lam's Hunter passive providing true damage isn't just strong – it's oppressive. Combined with exceptional clear speed and a kit that includes Wavebreaker (30% cooldown reduction with health restore), Space Split mobility, and Death From Below execution? That 98% professional pick/ban rate makes perfect sense.
Augran's different beast entirely. 55.1% win rate from pure 1v5 sustain scenarios, 94% King's World Cup presence. He's not just versatile – he's a safety net that turns bad fights into team wipes.
Lam's Optimal Pathing: Red buff start (00:30) → Crimson Golem (00:45) → Azure Golem and small camps → Level 3 gank by 01:15.
Those Level 2 ganks between 1:00-1:30? They provide a 73% win probability boost. That's not luck – that's math.
Augran Strategy: Red buff start for mid-lane coordination. Build hybrid: Resistance Boots → Dominance Ice → Shield of the Lost. You're not just a tank – you're a tank that kills people.
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Mid Lane: Where Games Get Decided at 15 Minutes
Daji vs. Yixing: Burst or Control?
Daji's 54.7% win rate and 91% King's World Cup presence tells the whole story. In Rush Down compositions, she's hitting 65% win rates. Her combo – Chaos Cinders stun → Scorching Barrage → Blazing Brilliance shield – isn't just effective, it's game-ending.
Build path: Staff of Nuul → Arctic Orb → Fleeting Time. Your job? Delete their carry. Simple as that.
Yixing offers something different – zone control with 52.8% win rate through 45% CDR optimization. That four-minion spawn increase accelerates farming and rotation timing significantly. Clear waves at level 2, rotate for gank assistance between 1:00-1:30. Maximum impact, minimum risk.
Farm Lane: Your Late Game Insurance Policy
Loong and Marco Polo: Why ADCs Matter Again
Loong's 55.3% win rate and 96% King's World Cup presence isn't an accident. Dragon transformation scaling is genuinely broken in the right hands, and Infinite Vastness ultimate provides 4.5 seconds of flight for AOE damage and repositioning.
Core Build: Demon Hunter Sword → Endless Battle → Blade of Despair → Wind Chaser → Immortality. Standard, but effective.
Marco Polo's 53.6% win rate comes from Chain Reaction passive stacking to 10 for 40+35% AD true damage. Fevered Barrage provides blink mobility with 12-barrage burst potential. Pair him with Yaria shields and you're looking at 70%+ win rate combinations.
Speaking of Yaria – Verdant Predator ultimate attachment creates true damage amplification while providing untargetability. 53.8% win rate and 87% King's World Cup pick/ban rate. Build: Magic Boots → Fleeting Time → Holy Grail. Focus on crowd control and shield coordination.
Roaming: The Unsung Heroes
Yaria and Da Qiao: Why Support Actually Matters
Yaria's comprehensive crowd control, healing, and shield capabilities make her indispensable. Verdant Predator creates true damage amplification while keeping your carry alive. It's not flashy, but it wins games.
Da Qiao offers global utility through portal rotations and Eye of the Whirlpool teleports. That enhanced gold income (+15%) accelerates utility item acquisition significantly.
Vision Control Tips: River Sprites provide 126 gold and ward placement. Dragon pit preparation at 3:30, vision placement at 3:45. With 90-second respawn timers, buff control is essential. Keep team health above 70% before major objectives.
Ban Phase: The Art of Removing Problems
Top 3 Must-Bans (And Why)
Priority Order:
- Augran (45.2% ban rate) - Those 1v5 sustain capabilities aren't just annoying, they're game-breaking
- Lam (38.7% ban rate) - Early gank potential without needing crowd control setup
- Daji (91% KWC presence) - Deletes immobile carry compositions instantly
Counter Strategies: Against Augran, use high-burst anti-heal (Daji/Shangguan Wan'er). Against Lam, chain crowd control (Arthur/Dun). Against Marco Polo + Yaria, use global stuns (Hou Yi) or early invasions.
Optimal Draft: First pick Lam/Augran for jungle dominance, second pick Loong/Marco Polo for scaling, complement with Yaria utility and Daji burst elimination.
The Bottom Line: Pick What Actually Works
November 2025's meta rewards three things: mobility, sustain, and individual impact mastery. S-tier heroes provide the highest carry potential across all playstyles, but here's the catch – you need to actually master them.
Focus on 2-3 S-tier heroes per role. Track your performance over 20-match samples for performance-based matchmaking optimization. The system's watching, and it rewards consistency.
Diamond and below: Prioritize Arthur, Augran, Daji, Marco Polo, Yaria. Master the fundamentals before getting fancy.
Master+: Master complex mechanics like Lam combo execution and Loong ultimate positioning. This is where individual skill actually matters.
Monitor your win rates consistently. If you're below 52% on a hero after 20 games, drop them. Invest in adaptable S-tier champions that maintain relevance across patches.
FAQ
Who's the strongest hero in Honor of Kings November 2025? Lam dominates with 54.9% win rate and 98% professional pick/ban rate. True damage Hunter passive, Space Split mobility, and Death From Below execution make him the premier carry champion. No contest.
Which marksman should I play for ranking up? Loong leads with 55.3% win rate and 96% King's World Cup presence. Dragon transformation scaling and Infinite Vastness ultimate provide exceptional late-game carry potential, especially with Yaria support.
What should I ban in ranked matches? Priority bans: Augran (45.2% ban rate) for 1v5 sustain, Lam (38.7% ban rate) for early gank pressure, Daji (91% tournament presence) against immobile compositions. Don't overthink it.
How has the November 15 Plus Update affected ranked climbing? Performance-based matchmaking rewards individual impact with +2 Stars for SSS ratings even in losses. The system evaluates role-specific metrics over 20 games, making S-tier heroes essential for efficient climbing. Finally, skill matters more than luck.
What are the best team compositions right now? Rush Down compositions (Charlotte, Lam, Daji, Marco Polo, Yaria) achieve 68% win rates through coordinated engagements. Hypercarry compositions focus on late-game scaling with carry protection. Both work – pick based on your team's skill level.
How do I counter the mobility meta? Chain crowd control (Arthur/Dun) against mobile assassins, high-burst anti-heal (Daji) against sustain champions, global utility (Hou Yi stuns) against dive compositions. Position behind tanks, maintain vision control, and don't chase kills into unwarded areas.
