Overview
The Flow is a mystical energy that permeates the continent of Primaera in Honor of Kings: World. It is the foundation of the game's combat system, the source of the Flowborn's abilities, and a driving force in the world's lore. VGC's preview described the Flow as "the connective tissue linking combat, exploration, and narrative."
Origin
According to the game's mythology, the Flow originated from the planet Primaera itself. When ancient humans fled their dying homeworld and arrived at Primaera using an Ark powered by "the heart of the universe," they discovered a planet rich with this energy. Over millennia, the former humans absorbed the Flow and transformed into godlike beings who built Celestia and the Twelve Wonders.
The Flow is connected to the Ark Core, a source of creation and destruction that the goddess Nuwa eventually sealed away. Control over the Flow, and by extension the Ark Core, was the central cause of the ancient War of Gods between Nuwa and the god Diqun.
The Flow and combat
In gameplay, the Flow is what allows the Flowborn to channel Flow styles, the fighting movesets based on Honor of Kings heroes. The Flowborn discovered this ability instinctively when weapons began emerging from a magical bracelet on their arm. The Flow materializes as visible energy during combat, powering skills, ultimates, and the dual-style swapping mechanic.
Students at Jixia Academy study the nature and application of the Flow as part of their education. The Flowborn's unusual natural affinity for it, requiring no formal training, is what draws attention from Headmaster Fuzi and other important characters.
The Flow and the world
The Flow's influence is visible across Primaera's landscape. Certain regions have stronger concentrations of Flow energy, which affects the local environment, wildlife, and the types of enemies found there. When the Flowborn returns from studying abroad at the start of the game, they notice that the Flow has begun running amok, which is one of the early story hooks driving the investigation into what has gone wrong.
Connection to the main story
The main campaign follows the Flowborn's journey to understand the Twelve Wonders, the sealed Ark Core, and the true nature of the Flow. Diqun, who has mysteriously revived as a bodiless consciousness three thousand years after his death, appears to be connected to the disruptions in the Flow. The explorer Marco Polo is searching for the sealed Ark Core, possibly to restore Diqun's physical form.