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Overview

The Refinement System is the core combat class mechanic in Honor of Kings: World. "Refinements" is the official in-game term for what are also referred to as Flow Styles or combat classes. Each Refinement is based on a hero from the original Honor of Kings MOBA, with that hero's abilities converted into a full 3D action RPG moveset. The system is the game's signature mechanic, distinguishing it from other action RPGs by allowing players to deploy two Refinements simultaneously and switch between them freely during combat.

Core Concept

Rather than locking players into a single class for the duration of a play session, the Refinement system encourages versatility. Before entering combat, players select two Refinements from their unlocked roster. During fights, a single button press swaps the active Refinement, instantly changing the player's abilities, attack animations, and role. This dual-Refinement approach allows a single player to cover multiple roles within a fight: for example, tanking a dangerous attack with a Confrontation Refinement, then swapping to an Assault Refinement to deal damage during the recovery window.

The Flowborn protagonist channels the power of these heroes through the Flow, the game's universal energy system. Lore-wise, each Refinement represents a connection to the legacy and fighting spirit of that hero, which the Flowborn can invoke and embody.

Unified Control Scheme

Every Refinement shares a unified control layout to ensure players can switch between them without relearning inputs:

This consistent layout means the learning curve for each new Refinement is focused on understanding what the abilities do and when to use them, rather than memorizing new button combinations.

Role Archetypes

Refinements fall into three broad role archetypes that define their function in combat:

Dual-Refinement Strategy

The two-Refinement system opens up significant strategic depth. Players must consider how their two choices complement each other:

• Tank + DPS: A common solo loadout. Use the tank Refinement to survive dangerous attacks, then swap to DPS to deal damage during safe windows.

• DPS + DPS: Maximizes damage output at the cost of survivability. Works well for experienced players or when a dedicated tank and healer are present in co-op.

• Tank + Support: A full defensive loadout ideal for party play, where the player serves as the group's anchor by alternating between absorbing damage and healing allies.

• Support + DPS: A flexible hybrid that can adapt to the team's needs, providing utility when required and contributing damage during low-pressure phases.

In four-player co-op and eight-player raids, coordinating Refinement selections across the party is important. A balanced group typically includes at least one Confrontation Refinement to hold aggro, several Assault Refinements for damage, and at least one Support Refinement for healing.

Unlocking Refinements

Players begin the game with a starter Refinement and unlock additional ones through gameplay progression. New Refinements become available through:

• Story progression: Completing main story chapters unlocks specific Refinements tied to the narrative.

• Side quests: Certain side quest chains award Refinements as completion rewards.

• Character encounters: Meeting and building relationships with hero characters in the open world can unlock their corresponding Refinement.

Customization

Each Refinement can be further customized through the Talent System, which allows players to specialize a Refinement's abilities toward specific playstyles. Combined with gear choices and the dual-Refinement loadout, the system creates extensive build variety. Two players using the same Refinement can have meaningfully different capabilities depending on their talent allocations and equipment.

Confirmed Refinements

The following Refinements have been confirmed for the game. Each is based on a hero from the Honor of Kings MOBA: