With Arena of Valor, Tencent brings a MOBA for mobile devices. Whether a download is worth it for you and what you experience in the game can be found out in this test by our author Patrick. He is surprised at how quickly and intuitively the MOBA plays.
In a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), two teams compete against each other in an arena. Popular MOBA games on the computer include Dota 2 or League of Legends. But now there is new support for mobile devices like tablets and smartphones: Arena of Valor. The free-to-play game is published by Proxima Beta (Tencent Games).
But is such a MOBA actually suitable for mobile devices, or do you end up breaking your fingers while gaming? That was the question I plunged into the mobile adventure on my smartphone with. Surprisingly, I had to realize that I managed the controls much better than I thought before the test.
Understandable explanation in Arena of Valor’s tutorial
Right after starting Arena of Valor, I was greeted by the tutorial. In the menu, everything was clearly marked that I was supposed to press – There was no way around the game’s explanation. For MOBA beginners, this is probably just right so they are not thrown into the deep end.
Type in names and let’s go. On a special practice map, I was first explained how to control my character and its abilities. In the tutorial, you play with the hero Valhein, who as a ranged shooter has cool attacks like stuns and area attacks.
With the left thumb you control the hero, and with the right thumb you execute attacks and skill shots. The goal is to destroy the enemy towers and then the opponents’ core. The game principle was already familiar to me through my experience in League of Legends and is also easy to understand for beginners.
After the basic goals and actions were explained in the tutorial, I was ready for my first game outside of the practice area. As a reward for completing the introduction, I was also gifted Valhein, with whom I took my first steps in the game.
Game modes and class selection
After the tutorial, I continued with a game against AI opponents. This serves to explore the green 5v5 map of Arena of Valor, to navigate the shop, and to get used to the controls. Visually, the map should not be a big surprise for MOBA veterans. Three lanes and a jungle await in the 5v5 mode “Big Battle”.
The computer opponents posed no threat to my team. We quickly tore down their base and destroyed the enemy core. That was easy and took only 5-10 minutes.
Next came the first match against “real opponents” – real people! In the game mode menu, you can select between the following modes:
- 5V5 Big Battle: The typical 5v5 format with three lanes and a jungle. Takes about 12-18 minutes
- 3V3 Skirmish: A kind of mini-game for a quick fight, lasts 4-6 minutes
- 5V5 Shadow Gorge: All players meet on one lane and play with random heroes. Takes 8-12 minutes
Excited, I confirmed the “Big Battle” and was in the queue for about 3 seconds. A sound rang out, the smartphone vibrated – A match was found. Nine other players wanted to play at the same time and were in the hero selection with me. I was now a bit familiar with Valhein, so I chose the lethal shooter. I wanted at least “some” security in the new game against real opponents.
Top, Mid and Bot – Familiar map and intuitive gameplay
The loading screen was only visible for less than ten seconds, and we were already on the map. It starts in the base.
Immediately, the shop symbol popped up on the edge of the screen, signaling that I should buy starting items. Recommended items for attack or defense made the decision on how to equip my shooter easy.
The recommendations are displayed clearly next to the shop symbol and can be purchased with a single tap. This is simple and a great help for beginners. The advantage of the shop: You can shop from anywhere on the map and do not have to return to base first. This way, there are no interruptions and the flow of the game is not interrupted – Even more speed.
After that, it goes to a lane. Usually, the team splits according to the 2-1-2 principle, with 2 players at the top, 1 player in the middle, and 2 players at the bottom. I didn’t see a setup with only one player on the top lane and a jungler in my test games. That could also be because my account is still new and this arrangement is rather used by experienced players.
Upon arriving on the lane, I was able to control my opponent with skill shots. These can be easily positioned and precisely controlled. I would have thought that it would be much harder for me, especially when gaming on a small smartphone display (iPhone 6s – NOT “6s Plus”).
In the upper left corner, you see the mini-map, which is present but not disturbing during the match. You can easily recognize enemies and allies there. If you want a closer look, there is also a zoom button.
Other spells like healing, sprinting, or backporting to base are easily reachable on the display.
I farmed on the lane, just as I was used to from MOBAs. I made last hits on the minions to earn more gold and regularly gave my opponent a beating. The duels and team fights pass quickly and fit well with the fast-paced gameplay. A duel with my lane opponent lasted maybe 5-10 seconds – and that right at the beginning of a match, without many items.
After a short time, my team was far ahead. We relentlessly dominated the opponents and were able to destroy the enemy core after about six minutes. 28:0 kills for our team. Ouch. It becomes clearer: In Arena of Valor, you search in vain for slow, tactical gameplay. It’s all about quickly taking down the enemy – and doing it as fast as possible!
Despite concerns: The control and overview work
Before the test, I had thoughts about the game. It is my first MOBA on a smartphone and I couldn’t imagine how the controls would work. How would that function? Managing skill shots with one thumb while controlling my hero with the other?
I was supposed to handle on the small display what I usually do on the PC with a mouse and keyboard. At first, this sounded really complicated, and I can understand if you have similar concerns.
However, it turned out while playing that it’s not so difficult. After the first few minutes, you get the hang of the controls and can position your skill shots well. This is also not a problem for inexperienced mobile gamers.
The 3V3 mode in Arena of Valor is particularly fast!
After three to four successful rounds in the 5V5 mode “Big Battle”, my curiosity was piqued. The gameplay was fluid and easy to follow. The objectives were clear (the game and your teammates mark what should be attacked or defended in between) and the matches played smoothly. Do all modes have that much fun?
Next, I wanted to try the 3V3 mode of Arena of Valor. Announced with a game duration of 4-6 minutes, I honestly couldn’t imagine what this mode would be like. At first, everything went as usual: logging in, hero selection, loading screen, shop.
At the start, I could immediately invest three talent points into my skills. This improves the heroes and ensures more damage and higher speed right from the beginning. And that’s how it felt. Only one lane is available, where everyone meets. There’s a tower on it, followed by the core. Fast and straightforward. If the tower is destroyed, you can attack the core. Core destroyed: Game won.
Here, you don’t spend minutes earning gold as you do in other MOBAs. The players engage each other immediately and fight. The minions seem more like a well-meaning addition.
15 kills in 3 minutes
6 minutes were indicated as the average game time for this mode. That seemed increasingly realistic as we started the first attacks on the enemy core after 2 minutes. Then there was a team fight, and suddenly we won. 2 minutes and 47 seconds – 14:1 kills. This mode really goes quickly.
To find out if that was just a coincidence, I played another round of 3V3. This one ended after about 6 minutes because the teams were better balanced. The times are therefore realistic and provide a whole new MOBA feeling. Admittedly, the short times also invite you to say “oh come on, one more round. It doesn’t matter about the five minutes anymore…”
5V5 with random heroes – On to the fun of the Shadow Gorge
The next mode was on the agenda. Five against five on one lane. The Shadow Gorge mode is indicated with a duration of 8-12 minutes. So, it’s the middle ground between “Big Battle” and “Skirmish”. This means: All players get assigned a random hero with which they fight on the middle lane. There are no other lanes, so hero selection is also out of the question. This mode is suitable for learning the gameplay of the heroes assigned to you.
In terms of gameplay, there are no significant differences from the other game modes. Except that you cannot teleport back to base. And if you want to shop, you can’t do it on the go, but must first die and shop in base. Two towers must be destroyed before the core can be attacked.
Now it’s time to tank
I had a tank hero named Mina, who could pull enemies towards her and taunt. Although I had usually always been responsible for the damage, I was now the one on the team who should take the hits. Great.
At the shop, I grabbed resistances to endure more damage and oriented myself with my four teammates to our tower. The enemies were already waiting for us. Even in the role of the tank, I felt comfortable after a few minutes. After about 10 minutes, we were able to decide the match in our favor.
The purpose of the game mode was fulfilled, as I got to know a new hero and can continue playing this one in the future or know how to assess him when an opponent rushes at me with Mina. To expand your hero pool, Shadow Gorge is a good choice.
Conclusion: No PC MOBA alternative, but a supplement
Arena of Valor is just right for those of you looking for a fast MOBA for on-the-go that does not compromise on core elements.
There is a large selection of heroes: Of the displayed 40 heroes, only 7 are free, while others can be obtained through achievements in the game or purchased with in-game currency or real money. I could not find a pay-to-win component during the test. However, there are heroes that are currently only available for the voucher currency (which you can purchase with real money).
The heroes are easy to control, and even tricky skill shots like grabs, where you pull enemies towards you, can be precisely aimed on smartphone displays.
In the item shop, you can tailor your heroes to your play style. There is a wide range of items for defense, attack, lifesteal, cooldown reduction, etc.
For me, a mobile MOBA could not replace a MOBA game on the PC because I also like to spend half an hour or longer in matches where overall strategy matters. However, Arena of Valor is definitely a successful alternative. The short, snappy matches can be comfortably played during lunch breaks at the office or while waiting in other games.
Registered for LFR in WoW and nothing to do? Are you waiting in your favorite shooter for your friend to be ready to search for a match? A 4-10 minute match fits in here easily and is also fun.
Is Arena of Valor for YOU? As a MOBA fan who loves to try new things, you should give the mobile MOBA a chance. Before the test, I assumed that the controls would not be easy and that skill shots would be a torture, but I was quickly proved wrong. The short matches still create some MOBA feeling, but this is now paired with increased speed. While the short matches do not offer the depth of a lengthy game on the computer, that can be quite pleasant at times.
