Game Modes[ | ]
Matchmaking Modes[ | ]
All Pick[ | ]
Available in: Forests of Caldavar, Grimm's Crossing, The Grimm Hunt
The default pick mode in HoN. All heroes in the hero pool can be chosen. Players have 90 seconds to choose a hero.
Single Draft[ | ]
Available in: Forests of Caldavar
Each players are given three heroes to choose from, one from each primary attribute. Players have 2 minutes to choose a hero. You cannot see the other team's picks during the picking phase.
Banning Pick[ | ]
Available in: Forests of Caldavar
Before picking heroes, the team's captain may ban 4 heroes each. Bans alternate between teams. Then, picks alternate between teams (1-2-2-2-2-1).
Balanced Random[ | ]
Available in: Forests of Caldavar
Each team will be given a set of 5 random heroes, chosen by hero role. Each team will have a Carry, an Initiator, a Support, a Ganker, and one completely random hero (chosen from Melee, Ranged, or all heroes based on other four picks). Repicking will pick another hero from the entire pool.
In addition, all players start with 250 extra gold, like All Random.
Blind Ban[ | ]
Available in: Mid Wars
Before picking heroes, each player may choose a hero to ban, barring them from being playable in the current game. Players can see bans chosen by their teammates, but not the enemy's. Bans from the opposing teams can overlap.
All Random[ | ]
Available in: Mid Wars
Heroes are chosen randomly. In addition, each player is given an 250 extra gold at the start.
Duplicate Heroes[ | ]
Available in: Mid Wars
Allows a hero to be picked by more than one player. In Mid Wars matchmaking, Blind Ban settings are used as well.
Shuffle Pick[ | ]
Available in: Rift Wars
Shuffle Pick is used to play Rift Wars. First, each player will choose a hero, which they will play as for the duration of the game. Then, each player can select two heroes to add their abilities to the pool of random abilities.
Blitz Mode[ | ]
Available in: Blitz Mode
Blitz Mode gives all heroes greatly decreased cooldowns and mana costs, large regeneration, extra speed and double autoattack damage. In Blitz Mode matchmaking, Blind Ban settings are used as well.
Hosted Games only[ | ]
Bot Match[ | ]
Allows the game to be played with Bots. Available in Co-Op only.
Random Draft[ | ]
Both teams are given 24 random heroes to choose from. Picks alternate between teams (1-2-2-2-2-1).
Banning Draft[ | ]
Both teams are given 24 random heroes to choose from. Before the pick phase, the team's captains can ban 2 heroes, alternating between teams. Picks alternate between teams (1-2-2-2-2-1).
Lockpick[ | ]
In Lockpick, the captain of each team will do the picking, banning, and locking. First, each captains will blind ban 2 heroes. These bans can overlap. Then, captains alternate locking 3 heroes each, which can be picked later. Then, captains will ban 3 heroes each, alternating between teams. After the locking and banning, captains will pick 3 heroes, alternating between teams (1-2-2-1). Then, each captain will pick 2 heroes from the locked hero pool (1-1-1-1).
Captains Mode[ | ]
Captain's Mode alternates between picking and banning between teams. First, each captain bans two heroes, alternating between teams. Then, captains will pick 3 heroes. Then, captains can ban 3 more heroes, and finally pick 2 more heroes.
Game Options[ | ]
Matchmaking Modes[ | ]
Casual Mode[ | ]
Casual Mode allows for quicker, less stressful games while still leaving some fundamental elements in the game. Casual Mode features include no gold loss on death, denies no longer reducing experience gain, and increased hero gold bounty.
Verified Only[ | ]
Allows only Verified members to be matched up in Matchmaking or to join Hosted Games. Verified means the player is at least Level 5 or has purchased Goblin Coins.
Hosted Games only[ | ]
Core Pool[ | ]
Core Pool is designed to teach new players the basics of the game with fundamental heroes, without subjecting them with the burden of knowledge of learning what every hero in the full hero roster does. Core Pool reduces the hero pool to 40 heroes.
No Leavers[ | ]
Prevents players with Leave percentages higher than 5% from joining the game.
No Stats[ | ]
Stats are not recorded, including Leave percentages.
Private Game[ | ]
Players need an invitation to join this game.
More Options[ | ]
| Option | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Shuffle Teams | Automatically balances teams based on PSR.? |
| No Hero Repick | Prevents players from repicking heroes. | |
| No Hero Swap | Prevents players from swapping heroes with teammates. | |
| No Agi Heroes | Heroes whose primary attribute is Agility cannot be used. | |
| No Intel Heroes | Heroes whose primary attribute is Intelligence cannot be used. | |
| No Str Heroes | Heroes whose primary attribute is Strength cannot be used. | |
| Drop Items | Hero will drop all their items on death. (Needs testing if items can be picked up by enemies.) | |
| No Power-Ups | Runes will not spawn. | |
| No Respawn Timer | Players will instantly respawn on death. | |
| Alt Hero Picking | Players in each team alternate between picks (1-2-2-2-2-1), similar to Banning Pick. | |
| Reverse Hero Select | Teams will pick heroes for the opposite team. | |
|
Hardcore | Denies give no experience, denying towers gives no gold, and no passive gold gain. (Unknown interaction with Casual Mode.) |
| Auto Balanced | The game lobby will auto-balance the teams based on PSR before starting the match. | |
| Tournament Mode | Allows host to choose who gets first pick/ban. Also prevents players with mods installed from joining the game. |
Removed Modes/Options[ | ]
| Option | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Easy Mode | Doubles passive gold gain, decreased experience requirement per level, and reduces tower damage and armor. Replaced with Casual Mode. |
|
Dev Heroes | Allow Dev Heroes to be picked. Used for public testing for  Gauntlet and  Balphagore before their official release.
|
|
Deathmatch | On death, the dead hero cannot be picked again by the team and player must choose a new hero. Was bugged, and did not work. |