With a global player base, Arena of Valor (AOV) is a 5v5, mobile-based, MOBA esports title. In this guide we cover the basics of betting on Arena of Valor, the popularity of AOV esports and more.
What is Arena of Valor?
Arena of Valor (AOV) is a mobile-based, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite in China and other publishers for markets outside of mainland China.
Credit: Arena of Valor
In Arena of Valor, two teams of five players are pitted against each other. Each player gets to pick a unique hero, with each performing a different role within the game. The concept of the game is similar to other MOBA titles such as League of Legends and Dota 2, with each hero in Arena of Valor having a unique set of abilities that get stronger as the player earns experience (XP) and gold throughout the match.
The basics of betting on Arena of Valor
As a MOBA game, the objective for Arena of Valor is simple, and that is to destroy the enemy’s base structure known as the ‘core’. Each player will have a role to play in the success of the team. As mentioned previously, players earn XP and gold throughout the match by killing minions, monsters or enemy heroes. The more XP and gold that a player accumulates in the match, the stronger their hero becomes, thus increasing the likelihood of the team winning.
In Arena of Valor, teams will also battle monsters known as the Abyssal Dragon and Dark Slayer. The Abyssal Dragon will grant the team that defeats it XP, Gold, and adaptive damage, and in its enraged state, will also give the team a power buff. The Dark Slayer, on the other hand, is a monster that when defeated by a team will grant the Dark Slayer buff in addition to giving the team the option to summon a Drake that will move through a specified lane attacking enemy minions, structures, and heroes.
How popular is Arena of Valor esports?
Arena of Valor is hugely popular in China, where it is known as Honor of Kings. In terms of viewership numbers, it sits among the most-watched esports titles in the country. In markets outside of China, Arena of Valor enjoys particular popularity in South East Asian countries such as Thailand, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam.
Credit: Arena of Valor
The esports ecosystem for Arena of Valor is extensive with a number of professional leagues that offer a varying amount of prize money. These leagues also offer teams ‘Road to World Cup’ (RTWC) points which contribute to their qualification to the Arena of Valor World Cup which is set to offer a $10,000,000 prize pool. Arena of Valor competes with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and other mobile titles, for market share in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and so on.
Arena of Valor betting - what markets are available?
Similar to other mobile-based MOBA titles, there are a number of markets available to bet on in Arena of Valor. The most common betting market offered for Arena of Valor is the Money Line, or put simply, the winner of a match. Other markets on offer for Arena of Valor include Handicap, Totals, and Correct Score.
How to bet on Arena of Valor
A Handicap is a virtual advantage or disadvantage that is set prior to the start of a match. Its objective is to make the perceived odds of a team winning more equal. A positive Handicap on a team indicates that the team has been given a virtual advantage, while a negative Handicap will indicate that the team has been given a virtual disadvantage, as the team is perceived to be stronger than their opponent.
Totals betting is straightforward in that a bettor will be placing a bet on the number of games a match will get to. A bet on the ‘Over’ indicates that you are betting on a match going over a certain number of games, i.e. ‘Over 2.5’. While the opposite is true for betting in the ‘Under’ of a match, i.e. ‘Under 2.5’.
The final betting market that we will discuss for Arena of Valor is the ‘Correct Score’ market. As the name of the market implies, the bet involves predicting the ‘Correct Score’ of a match, like the exact number of maps played or perhaps the number of kills a team has.
In larger tournaments, such as the Arena of Valor World Cup, the ‘Outright Winner’ market will be available for bettors that want to bet on the winner of the entire tournament.
