Honor of Kings’ “Thrilling” Update Brings an Undying Hero, Arcade Weekends, and a Pet System Worth

Why This Update Actually Matters

Honor of Kings is going big with its second major update since June, and it caught my attention for three reasons: a new warrior with a built-in revive, a limited-time arcade mode that cranks everything to 11, and a “first-ever MOBA gaming buddy” system that screams both wholesome and monetization trap. The patch, called “Honor of Kings Thrilling,” starts rolling out now with weekend Awakening phases from September 27 to October 13.

• Umbrosa is a Clash Lane bruiser with a 4-second post-death revival-expect wild dive plays and some early balance drama.
• Ultimate Awakening is a weekend-only mode where you unlock power-ups by scoring kills and leveling mid-match.
• Spriteling companions (human or cat) arrive with customization, events, and blind box rewards-cute, but keep an eye on FOMO design.
• Plenty of log-in incentives and limited windows mean it’s a good time to jump in, especially if you’ve been on a break.

Umbrosa’s Undying Kit: Fun Chaos or Ranked Headache?

Umbrosa, the Fallen Austren, joins as a Clash Lane warrior (think your solo bruiser lane). The headline is her ultimate: upon death, she stays alive for four extra seconds. Mechanically, that’s closer to a “Sion/Guardian Angel” moment-one last window to trade, finish a kill, or stall a tower siege. On paper, it encourages high-risk dives and outplays; in ranked, it can create frustrating cleanup scenarios where Umbrosa forces 1-for-1s or turns skirmishes on a dime.

Her kit leans aggressive: a returning Flying Blade basic for poke, Feverish Dance for circular AoE and slow, Feathered Tempest as a forward dash with knockback, and Final Frenzy for a damage spike. It’s the kind of “I’m in your face and staying there” package that punishes squishy backlines. If you hate sticky duelists, start practicing disengage and hard CC now—knockups and stuns should still shut down her revive window.

Balance-wise, built-in revival tends to inflate risk-taking. If Umbrosa starts dictating drafts, expect quick tuning passes. For now, prepare for a few weeks where every Clash Lane looks like a highlight reel and death timers feel optional.

Ultimate Awakening Weekends: Controlled Chaos Done Right

From Sep 27-29, Oct 4-6, and Oct 11-13, Honor of Kings is running “Ultimate Awakening,” a limited-time mode focused on pumping your hero into an overpowered sandbox. You level to unlock Core Enhancements, race to three kills to hit an Awakening Form (more power, more risk), farm Awakening EXP for stronger skills, and then freely choose and upgrade talents in real time. Fifteen heroes are available in this first phase.

This reads like Honor of Kings’ answer to the URF-style chaos we’ve seen in other MOBAs: big numbers, fast fights, reckless creativity. The key is that it’s time-boxed to weekends. That’s smart—let people blow off steam without warping ranked. If the mode nails build diversity and comeback mechanics, it could become a staple “see you Friday” ritual for the community.

Spriteling: Charming Companion or FOMO Machine?

Level Infinite is calling Spriteling the “first-ever MOBA gaming buddy.” Let’s be real: companions and cosmetic pets aren’t new to multiplayer games, but making a lobby-and-matchmaking buddy with personalities in both human and cat forms is a fresh spin for Honor of Kings. It’s cute, it’s customizable, and—unsurprisingly—it arrives with layers of events, currencies, and blind boxes.

• Sign-in campaign with milestone rewards across 7/14/21/28 days, including the Batik Cat Spriteling and a Di Renjie skin.
• Spriteling Blind Box Exchange Shop runs Sep 24–Nov 12: trade Spriteling Coins for Bee-themed boxes and costume “Selection Pearls,” with strict purchase caps.
• Earn Free Spriteling Blind Boxes (Sep 24–Oct 8) by playing matches solo or with friends to collect Basic/Special/Exceptional cards, convertible to Dragon Crystals or bundled into Bee Mystery Boxes.
• October adds a Spriteling Battle mini game to face off buddies and win extra boxes, common and rare Spritelings.

As a vibe feature, I like it—it gives solo queue grinders something light to engage with between matches. As a system, the blind boxes and multi-currency maze (Coins, Cards, Crystals) are classic gacha design. If you’re completionist, set boundaries. The good news: there are clear free routes via log-ins and playtime; the catch is timing—miss a window, and you’ll feel that FOMO pressure.

What Gamers Need to Know Right Now

If you main Clash Lane or love skirmish-heavy comps, Umbrosa is worth instant testing—just expect early hotfixes if she runs the lobby. For everyone else, Ultimate Awakening weekends are the low-stress on-ramp: jump in, experiment with builds, and rediscover heroes outside the standard meta. And if Spritelings are your thing, start the sign-ins now; most of the best freebies are front-loaded to consistent log-ins and early event participation.

Producer Dean Huang framed the update as a way to “release any tension.” That’s true for the arcade mode—less so for grinding event checklists. Overall, though, “Thrilling” feels like a healthier kind of live-service drop: a bold hero design to shake matchups, a weekend playground to keep queues lively, and a companion system that’s charming even if the monetization leans predictable.

TL;DR

Umbrosa’s built-in revive will make dives spicier and drafts weirder—watch the balance patches. Ultimate Awakening weekends look like fast, fun chaos done right. Spritelings are cute and customizable, but the blind box economy is textbook FOMO—enjoy the freebies, don’t chase the rabbit hole.