The Honor of Kings S13 marksman meta shifted dramatically after the January 8, 2026 Version 11.2.1.1 update. Critical strikes now grant 1% bonus crit damage per 2% crit rate (capped at 50%), while lifesteal nerfs reshaped sustain strategies. Loong dominates with 55.3% win rate in Diamond+, while Sun Shangxiang dropped to 47.8% after her ultimate scaling fell from 200% to 180%. The meta prioritizes 64+ physical penetration for true damage conversion, three-item power spikes at 12-15 minutes, and Hunt x10 arcana for penetration thresholds.
S13 Marksman Revolution Explained
Version 11.2.1.1 fundamentally altered damage optimization, itemization, and sustainability. The Global Plus Update (November 15, 2026) overhauled crit and lifesteal mechanics, forcing players to abandon previous strategies as crit-focused builds yield diminishing returns without proper penetration.
January 2026 Patch Changes
Three core mechanics changed:
Crit Damage Scaling: Every 2% crit rate adds 1% bonus crit damage, maxing at 50% bonus at 100% crit rate. This linear scaling rewards balanced stats over pure crit stacking.
64 Penetration Threshold: Once penetration ≥64, excess damage converts to true damage, bypassing armor. Hunt arcana x10 provides exactly 64 penetration—optimal against 2+ tank compositions.
Lifesteal Nerf: Effectiveness decreased across all items, forcing alternative sustain approaches through defensive items, positioning, or team composition.
Why These Changes Matter
Impact on three metrics: DPS output, laning trades, and team fight survival. Marksman reach meaningful damage earlier but scale less explosively late game.
Boots of Dexterity (710g, 30% attack speed) delivers 23.67 gold per 1% attack speed—exceptional efficiency creating 4-6 minute power spikes. Completing Eternity Blade before 12 minutes and Bloodweeper before 15 minutes defines mid-game team fight outcomes.
Lifesteal reduction devastated Sun Shangxiang's aggressive trading. Her win rate collapsed from 52.3% to 47.8%, proving mechanical changes can invalidate entire playstyles overnight.
Power Dynamic Shifts
S-Tier Dominance:
Loong: 55.3% win rate, highest among marksman. Ultimate grants 4.5s flight with damage, slow, and attack speed/range buffs
Marco Polo: 53.6% win rate. Every 3 projectiles = 1 Basic Attack for crit/lifesteal calculations
Hou Yi: Passive grants 10-24% attack speed. Ultimate provides global stun + wave clear
Lady Sun: Consistent 52%+ performance across ranks
Traditional crit-dependent marksman without adaptive mechanics struggle. Meta rewards heroes leveraging 64 penetration threshold, reaching power spikes during objective windows, and maintaining threat without lifesteal dependency.
Crit System Overhaul
Old vs New Formula
Previous seasons treated crit rate and crit damage as independent multipliers, creating exponential scaling. New system links them directly: crit rate percentage determines bonus crit damage ceiling.
40% crit rate = 20% bonus crit damage
80% crit rate = 40% bonus crit damage
100% crit rate = 50% bonus crit damage (maximum)
Eternity Blade exemplifies optimal itemization: 1900g for +110 Physical Attack, +20% Crit Rate, +20% Crit Damage, +Lifesteal. Balanced stats synergize with new formula.
Damage Output Across Game Phases
Early (Levels 1-7): Minimal change. First shift at 4-6 minutes with Boots of Dexterity—30% attack speed amplifies DPS without crit mechanics.
Mid-Game (Levels 8-12): Critical power spike window. Three-item core at 12-15 minutes creates damage threshold for threatening squishies while maintaining farm efficiency. Timing coincides with mid-tower sieges and first Lord.
Late Game (13+): Favors heroes with percentage damage amplification or true damage conversion. 64 penetration threshold (Hunt x10 + Daybreaker) makes armor stacking ineffective.
Heroes Benefiting Most
Loong: Build reaches 64 penetration while maintaining 60%+ crit rate. Ultimate's attack speed/range buffs multiply stat effectiveness.
Marco Polo: Projectile-to-basic-attack conversion means effective attack speed triples for crit calculations. Reaches consistency thresholds faster.
Hou Yi: Passive 10-24% attack speed allows prioritizing crit/penetration without sacrificing DPS. Build emphasizes penetration + ability damage.
Crit Rate Thresholds
40% (20% bonus): Cost-efficient against squishies, suits early-mid game focus
60% (30% bonus): Optimal balance for most builds. Requires Eternity Blade + one crit item
80-100% (40-50% bonus): Only for hypercarries in protect-the-carry comps. Opportunity cost often outweighs damage increase
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Lifesteal Mechanics Deep Dive
Exact Adjustments
Practical impact: healing-per-second during combat dropped 30-35%. Previously, 20% lifesteal + 200 attack damage sustained through 400-500 damage from minion waves. Post-nerf: only 260-325 damage.
Eternity Blade remains core for damage amplification, not sustain. Lifesteal is secondary benefit.
Sun Shangxiang's 52.3% → 47.8% win rate drop correlates with aggressive laning becoming unsustainable. Ultimate nerf (200% → 180%) compounded this.
Impact on Sustain and Trading
Effective lifesteal requires: sufficient attack damage, attack speed for frequent application, and safety to execute multiple attacks. S13 changes make the third condition more restrictive—you need more attacks for equivalent healing, increasing exposure to retaliation.
Laning (0-8 min): Minimal value—lack attack damage and lifesteal percentage.
Mid-Game (12-20 min): Optimal window with three-item cores. Reduced effectiveness means you can't face-tank damage.
Late Game (20+ min): Value diminishes vs burst threats. Enemy assassins/mages eliminate marksman faster than lifesteal responds.
Alternative Sustain
Defensive Items: Health/armor/magic resist creates effective HP pools lifesteal can't match against burst.
Team Composition: Support shields/heals/mitigation allows full damage itemization.
Superior Positioning: Maintaining max range, using terrain, timing around cooldowns prevents damage better than healing through it.
Item Priority Shifts
Three-item core (12-15 min) prioritizes damage over sustain: Boots of Dexterity → Sparkforged Dagger → Eternity Blade → Bloodweeper. Reaches power spikes faster while maintaining adequate lifesteal through Eternity Blade alone.
Penetration items gained priority vs tanks. 64 threshold (Hunt x10) provides more damage than additional lifesteal/crit against armored targets.
Sixth items favor utility/defense over pure damage. Lifesteal nerf indirectly buffed build flexibility.
S13 Tier List Rankings
Based on Diamond+ win rates, optimal itemization, and team synergy.
S-Tier: Game-Breaking Picks
Loong (55.3% WR)
Ultimate: 4.5s flight with damage, slow, attack speed/range buffs
Build: Boots of Dexterity → Sparkforged Dagger → Eternity Blade → Bloodweeper → Daybreaker → Doomsday
Power spikes: 4-6 min (Boots), 12 min (Eternity), 15 min (Bloodweeper)
Reaches 64 penetration + 60% crit rate + 2.0 attack speed
Strategy: Safe farm until Boots, aggressive trades 4-6 min, team fight participation post-12 min
Marco Polo (53.6% WR)
Every 3 projectiles = 1 Basic Attack (triples effective attack speed for crit/lifesteal)
Skill 1 + Ultimate enable crits and lifesteal on ability damage
Burst windows eliminate squishies before retaliation
Shorter range requires aggressive positioning—master attack-move-attack rhythm
Hou Yi (S-Tier)
Passive: 10-24% attack speed (enables penetration builds without DPS loss)
Ultimate: Global stun + wave clear
Build: Daybreaker → Starbreaker → Inferno Blade → Shadow Reaper → Boots → Frostbite → Destruction Bow → Dawn Blade
Prioritizes penetration + ability damage over crit/attack speed
Strategy: Ultimate wave clear for push priority, split-push mid-game, ultimate initiation late game
Lady Sun (S-Tier)
52%+ win rate, consistent across ranks
Self-sufficient kit with mobility/defensive mechanics
Standard build path, doesn't require specialization
A-Tier: Solid Meta Choices
49-52% win rates in Diamond+. Reliable performance without S-tier advantages. Excel in specific comps but lack universal applicability. Require more team resources (peel, vision, setup).
B-Tier: Situational
46-49% win rates. Require specific conditions or exceptional mastery.
Sun Shangxiang (47.8% WR): Ultimate nerf (200% → 180%) + lifesteal reductions removed aggressive trading advantage. Serves as learning platform for fundamentals.
C-Tier: Avoid
Sub-46% win rates. Fundamental kit limitations exacerbated by meta mechanics. Common issues: lifesteal dependency, lack mobility/self-peel, late power spikes, ineffective damage profiles.
Methodology
Win Rate Thresholds: S-tier 52%+, A-tier 49-52%, B-tier 46-49%, C-tier <46%
Data Sources: Diamond+ ranked (Jan 2026), optimal build performance, pro/high-rank pick rates
Sample Size: Minimum 10,000 matches per hero
Top 5 Marksman Deep Dive
#1: Loong - Untouchable Carry
55.3% win rate stems from ultimate's offensive + defensive utility. Infinite Vastness = untargetable engage/escape tool.
Build reaches 64 penetration (Hunt x10 + Daybreaker) + 40% crit rate (Eternity + Bloodweeper) + 2.0 attack speed. Power spikes align with Tyrant (5:00, 8:00, 11:00), tower sieges (8-12 min), Lord (12:00).
Laning: Safe farm until Boots (4-6 min). 30% attack speed spike enables aggressive trades vs incomplete enemy items, forcing recalls for tower plate gold (160g/plate). Post-12 min: team fights, using ultimate for repositioning and escape.
#2: Marco Polo - Burst Specialist
53.6% win rate through unique damage profile. Projectile mechanics triple effective attack speed for crit/lifesteal. Skill 1 + Ultimate enable crits/lifesteal on abilities = burst windows deleting squishies.
Standard build with ability damage adjustments. Vs tanks: penetration to 64 threshold. Vs squishies: additional crit damage for burst.
Positioning: Shorter range requires aggression, increasing CC vulnerability. Master attack-move-attack rhythm—weave movement between volleys.
#3: Hou Yi - Versatile Powerhouse
S-tier through versatility. Passive 10-24% attack speed enables penetration builds without DPS loss. Ultimate: global stun + wave clear = team fight initiation, split-push, objective securing.
Build: Daybreaker → Starbreaker → Inferno Blade → Shadow Reaper → Boots → Frostbite → Destruction Bow → Dawn Blade. Prioritizes penetration + ability damage over crit/attack speed.
Strategy: Ultimate wave clear for push priority, forcing enemy under tower while rotating. Mid-game split-push. Late game ultimate initiation for team follow-up.
#4: Lady Sun - Consistent Performance
52%+ win rate across skill levels. Kit combines reliable damage with self-sufficient survival/positioning tools. Independence valuable in solo queue.
Standard build path. Emphasizes positioning fundamentals, target selection, farming efficiency. Safe S-tier pick for dependable damage.
#5: Emerging Contenders
A-tier/S-tier boundary heroes (51-52% win rates). Monitor patch notes for indirect buffs—item/jungle/objective changes favoring specific kits.
Player innovation elevates heroes through novel builds. Follow pro streams for early meta shift insights.
Optimal Item Builds
Core for Crit-Based Marksman
Universal Three-Item Core (12-min completion):
Boots of Dexterity (4-6 min): 710g, 30% attack speed, 23.67g per 1% attack speed
Sparkforged Dagger: Balanced offensive stats
Eternity Blade (before 12 min): 1900g, +110 Physical Attack, +20% Crit Rate, +20% Crit Damage, +Lifesteal
Bloodweeper (before 15 min): Pushes toward 60% crit rate (30% bonus crit damage)
Timing aligns with Tyrant, tower sieges, Lord contests.
Attack Speed Focused Builds
Heroes with built-in attack speed (Hou Yi's 10-24%) can delay Boots for earlier penetration.
Hou Yi Build: Daybreaker → Starbreaker → Inferno Blade → Shadow Reaper → Boots (5th) → Frostbite → Destruction Bow → Dawn Blade
Reaches 64 penetration by third item. Delayed Boots justified by passive attack speed + Starbreaker. Prioritizes damage-per-hit over hits-per-second.
Defensive Integration
Identify primary threat. Vs 2+ assassins: defensive item in 4th/5th slot provides more value than marginal DPS.
Timing: Purchase around enemy power spikes. If enemy assassin completes core at 14 min, buy defensive at 13-14 min to prevent snowball.
Positioning can substitute for defensive items if mechanically skilled. High-rank players complete full offensive builds through superior positioning.
Situational Choices
Vs Tanks (2+): Hunt x10 + penetration items mandatory. Eternity → Bloodweeper → Daybreaker reaches 64 threshold.
Vs Poke: Movement speed/CDR items for dodge patterns. Boots of Tranquility (900g, +15% CDR, +60 movement speed).
Vs Burst: Maximize damage in 3-5s windows. Crit damage + penetration over attack speed.
Timing & Gold Efficiency
Three-item core (12-15 min) assumes 4,000-4,500g from farming, plates, kills. Falling 2+ min behind indicates laning deficiencies.
Opportunity cost: Compare completing next core item vs defensive purchase. If defensive keeps you alive for 15,000 damage across two fights vs 10,000 in one fight before dying, defensive provides superior value.
Gameplay Strategies
Laning Fundamentals
First 8 Minutes: Prioritize last-hitting over harass. Missed minion (50g) = 3 basic attacks on enemy. Consistent last-hitting = 200-250g/min.
Wave Management:
Freeze near tower: Forces enemy overextension for ganks
Slow-push: Kill ranged minions, leave melee. Creates large wave crashing into enemy tower = 60-90s free roaming
4-6 Min Power Spike: Boots completion before enemy's first item enables 300-400 damage trades while taking 150-200. Three trades force recall = free tower plates (160g each).
Tower Plates: If team secures first Tyrant (5:00), rotate to Farm Lane for plates before 8:00. Two plates = 320g = 6-7 minion waves.
Power Spike & Objective Control
12-15 Min Window: Three-item core completion. Coincides with Lord (12:00) and mid-tower sieges. Teams whose marksman completes core 2+ min faster win ~65% of first Lord contests.
Tyrant Priority (5:00, 8:00, 11:00): Team gold/experience accelerates power spikes. Missing two consecutive Tyrants = 1,000+ gold deficit = 2-3 min delay.
Lord Timing (12:00, 3:00 respawn): Complete three items before 12:00 for meaningful first Lord participation. Delaying until 14-15 min = team fights 4v5.
Inhibitor Towers (18-22 min): Complete four items before attempting. Three-item builds lack sustained damage for extended sieges.
Team Fight Positioning
Max Range: Prevents 80% of deaths. Maintain maximum basic attack range from nearest threat = damage output while outside assassin gap-closers.
Target Selection: Safest high-value target > highest-value unsafe target. Attacking overextended tank for 15s deals more total damage than dying in 3s trying to reach enemy mage.
Cooldown Tracking: After enemy assassin uses gap-closer, 8-12s window for aggressive positioning. Requires memorizing enemy cooldowns.
Terrain Utilization: Position with walls/corridors between you and threats. Forces pathing around obstacles = additional reaction time.
Vs Assassin Comps
Defensive Items: Vs 2+ assassins, 4th/5th slot defensive reduces deaths 40-50%. Gold lost returns through survival.
Support Synergy: Pair with shield/peel/CC supports. Communicate positioning and peel priorities.
Vision Control: Wards in jungle entrances near Farm Lane grant 3-4s warning. Missing vision forces farming under tower (20-30% gold/min reduction) or risk death.
Common Mistakes
Overvaluing Lifesteal
Multiple lifesteal items expect sustain that no longer exists. Eternity Blade provides adequate lifesteal—additional offers diminishing returns vs penetration/defense.
Lifesteal can't substitute positioning. Burst damage exceeds healing rate. Preventing 500 damage > healing 200 damage.
Test: Compare healing-per-fight vs damage-taken. If healing 2,000 but taking 5,000, additional lifesteal won't solve survival. Defensive items reducing damage to 3,000 > increasing healing to 2,500.
Poor Build Sequencing
Bloodweeper before Eternity Blade sacrifices gold efficiency. Defensive before three-item core reduces mid-game damage during critical objectives.
Adapt to enemy comp. Penetration vs zero tanks wastes gold. Pure damage vs three assassins = repeated deaths.
Positioning Errors
Forward Positioning: Moving into range before team engages allows enemy initiation on you = 4v5 fight.
Tunnel Vision: Chasing low-health enemies into unwarded areas creates flank opportunities. Accept escapes to preserve positioning.
Static Positioning: Allows skill shot predictions. Constant micro-movements (attack-move-attack) reduces damage taken 30-40%.
Misunderstanding Power Spikes
Forcing fights 500g from Eternity Blade wastes advantage. Delay 60s to complete item.
Conversely, completing core 2 min before enemy creates 120s window. Passive farming wastes advantage—enemy completes items and neutralizes lead.
Track objective timers. Adjust farming to complete items 30-60s before objectives.
Advanced Tips
Micro-Positioning
Attack-Move: Bind to accessible key for fluid attack-move-attack rhythm. Maintains DPS while adjusting position. Requires 20-30 hours practice.
Range Indicators: Display max attack range for precise positioning at max distance. Increases effective DPS 15-20%.
Stutter-Stepping: Cancel backswing animations with movement = 10-15% effective attack speed increase. Requires understanding attack animation timing.
Wave Management
Slow-Push Before Objectives: Build large wave 60-90s before Lord. Forces enemy to clear or lose tower = 4v5 at Lord. Kill ranged minions, leave melee.
Freezing: Last-hit without pushing keeps wave near tower. Denies enemy gold/experience. Works best with small lead.
Fast-Push Before Roaming: Clear waves quickly before objectives prevents minion gold loss. Balance wave clear vs mana/cooldown management.
Support Communication
Peel Priority: Tell support which threats require immediate response before fights.
Vision Coordination: Request wards in specific locations based on enemy positions. Limited wards—communicate priorities.
Engage Timing: Confirm readiness before support engages. Ready or need 30s prevents mismatched initiation.
Mid-Game Build Adaptation
Recognize when standard builds underperform. If enemies build three armor items by 15 min, prioritize penetration over crit.
Defensive timing responds to enemy power spikes. If assassin completes core and one-shots you, buy defensive immediately.
Sell early items late game. Boots provides value early but becomes inefficient late. Sell for sixth damage item at 30+ min.
Future-Proofing Gameplay
Expected Meta Evolution
Balance patches every 3-4 weeks. Loong's 55.3% win rate likely triggers nerfs. Learn multiple S-tier marksman to prevent rank drops.
Item adjustments affect marksman dramatically. Monitor patch notes for Eternity Blade, Bloodweeper, penetration changes.
New hero releases disrupt tier lists. Follow pro reactions for early insights.
Heroes to Master
Learn 3-4 across playstyles: early-game focused, late-game hypercarry, utility marksman. Covers most draft scenarios.
Mechanical skill transfers between similar heroes. Loong and Marco Polo share aggressive positioning—skills partially transfer.
Meta-resistant heroes maintain viability through versatile kits (utility over pure stats). Survive nerfs better.
Staying Updated
Patch Notes: Read within 24 hours for immediate adaptations before opponents adjust.
Pro Streams: High-rank players test new builds immediately. Discover optimal approaches days before guides.
Community Forums: Aggregate experiences across thousands of matches. Participate in high-quality discussions.
BitTopup for Competitive Edge
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FAQ
What changed for marksman in S13? January 8, 2026 update: crit grants 1% bonus damage per 2% crit rate (50% cap), lifesteal decreased, penetration ≥64 triggers true damage conversion. Meta shifted from lifesteal-dependent to balanced crit/penetration builds with strong positioning.
Which marksman has highest win rate? Loong dominates at 55.3% (Diamond+). Ultimate provides 4.5s flight with damage, slow, attack speed/range buffs. Marco Polo follows at 53.6% with unique projectile mechanics (every 3 projectiles = 1 Basic Attack).
How does S13 crit work? Every 2% crit rate = 1% bonus crit damage, capped at 50% bonus at 100% crit rate. Linear scaling rewards balanced stats. Example: 40% crit = 20% bonus damage, 80% crit = 40% bonus damage.
What items should marksman build? Universal core: Boots of Dexterity (710g, 30% attack speed) → Sparkforged Dagger → Eternity Blade (1900g, +110 Physical Attack, +20% Crit Rate, +20% Crit Damage, +Lifesteal). Complete Eternity before 12 min, Bloodweeper before 15 min. Vs tanks: Hunt x10 + Daybreaker for 64 penetration.
Prioritize crit rate or attack speed? Balanced distribution outperforms specialization. Boots first (23.67g per 1% attack speed). Then reach 60% crit rate (30% bonus damage) via Eternity + Bloodweeper. Vs tanks: penetration priority once at 40-60% crit, as 64 threshold provides more damage than marginal crit.
Who counters S-tier marksman? Assassin-heavy comps (2+ assassins) exploit positioning vulnerabilities. Vs Loong: targeted CC interrupting ultimate. Vs Marco Polo: tanks with high armor/HP absorbing projectiles + CC chains. Incorporate defensive items in 4th/5th slots vs multiple assassins—survival > marginal DPS.